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Canon 77D vs M50

The Canon EOS 77D and the Canon EOS M50 are two digital cameras that were announced, respectively, in February 2017 and February 2018. The 77D is a DSLR, while the M50 is a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera. Both cameras are equipped with an APS-C sensor. Both cameras offer a resolution of 24 megapixels.

Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.

Headline Specifications
Canon 77D
versus
Canon M50
Canon 77D   Canon M50
Digital single lens reflex Mirrorless system camera
Canon EF mount lenses Canon EF-M mount lenses
24 MP – APS-C sensor 24 MP – APS-C sensor
1080/60p Video 4K/24p Video
ISO 100-25,600 (100 - 51,200) ISO 100-25,600 (100 - 51,200)
Optical viewfinder Electronic viewfinder (2360k dots)
3.0" LCD – 1040k dots 3.0" LCD – 1040k dots
Swivel touchscreen Swivel touchscreen
6 shutter flaps per second 10 shutter flaps per second
600 shots per battery charge235 shots per battery charge
131 x 100 x 76 mm, 540 g 116 x 88 x 59 mm, 390 g
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Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Canon EOS 77D and the Canon EOS M50? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors, their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.

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Body comparison

The side-by-side display below illustrates the physical size and weight of the Canon 77D and the Canon M50. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three consecutive views from the front, the top, and the rear side are shown. All width, height and depth dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

The M50 can be obtained in two different colors (black, white), while the 77D is only available in black.

Size Canon 77D vs Canon M50
Compare 77D versus M50 top
Comparison 77D or M50 rear

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Canon M50 is notably smaller (22 percent) than the Canon 77D. Moreover, the M50 is markedly lighter (28 percent) than the 77D. In this context, it is worth noting that neither the 77D nor the M50 are weather-sealed.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete since they do not consider the interchangeable lenses that both of these cameras require. Hence, you might want to study and compare the specifications of available lenses in order to get the full picture of the size and weight of the two camera systems.

Concerning battery life, the 77D gets 600 shots out of its LP-E17 battery, while the M50 can take 235 images on a single charge of its LP-E12 power pack.

The adjacent table lists the principal physical characteristics of the two cameras alongside a wider set of alternatives. If you would like to visualize and compare a different camera combination, you can navigate to the CAM-parator app and make your selection from a broad list of cameras there.

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Body Specifications
# image Camera
Model
Camera
Width
Camera
Height
Camera
Depth
Camera
Weight
Battery
Life
Weather
Sealing
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price (USD)
Street
Price
1.
 
Canon 77D 131 mm 100 mm 76 mm 540 g 600 n Feb 2017 899ebay.com
2.
 
Canon M50 116 mm 88 mm 59 mm 390 g 235 n Feb 2018 779ebay.com
3.
 
Canon T8i 131 mm 103 mm 76 mm 515 g 800 n Feb 2020 749 amazon.com
4.
 
Canon M50 Mark II 116 mm 88 mm 59 mm 387 g 305 n Oct 2020 599 amazon.com
5.
 
Canon M6 Mark II 120 mm 70 mm 49 mm 408 g 305 n Aug 2019 849ebay.com
6.
 
Canon T7 129 mm 101 mm 78 mm 475 g 500 n Feb 2018 449 amazon.com
7.
 
Canon M6 112 mm 68 mm 45 mm 390 g 295 n Feb 2017 779ebay.com
8.
 
Canon M100 108 mm 67 mm 35 mm 302 g 295 n Aug 2017 499ebay.com
9.
 
Canon SL2 122 mm 93 mm 70 mm 453 g 650 n Jun 2017 549ebay.com
10.
 
Canon T7i 131 mm 100 mm 76 mm 532 g 600 n Feb 2017 749ebay.com
11.
 
Canon M5 116 mm 89 mm 61 mm 427 g 295 n Sep 2016 979ebay.com
12.
 
Canon T6 129 mm 101 mm 78 mm 485 g 500 n Mar 2016 449ebay.com
13.
 
Canon M3 111 mm 68 mm 44 mm 366 g 250 n Feb 2015 679ebay.com
14.
 
Canon T6i 132 mm 101 mm 78 mm 555 g 440 n Feb 2015 749ebay.com
15.
 
Canon T6s 132 mm 101 mm 78 mm 565 g 440 n Feb 2015 649ebay.com
16.
 
Canon T4i 133 mm 100 mm 79 mm 575 g 440 n Jun 2012 849ebay.com
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.
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The price is, of course, an important factor in any camera decision. The retail prices at the time of the camera’s release place the model in the market relative to other models in the producer’s line-up and the competition. The M50 was launched at a somewhat lower price (by 13 percent) than the 77D, which makes it more attractive for photographers on a tight budget. Normally, street prices remain initially close to the MSRP, but after a couple of months, the first discounts appear. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down.

Sensor comparison

The size of the sensor inside a digital camera is one of the key determinants of image quality. A large sensor will generally have larger individual pixels that offer better low-light sensitivity, provide wider dynamic range, and have richer color-depth than smaller pixels in a sensor of the same technological generation. Further, a large sensor camera will give the photographer additional creative options when using shallow depth-of-field to isolate a subject from its background. On the downside, larger sensors are more costly to manufacture and tend to lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

Both cameras under consideration feature an APS-C sensor and have a format factor (sometimes also referred to as "crop factor") of 1.6. Within the spectrum of camera sensors, this places the review cameras among the medium-sized sensor cameras that aim to strike a balance between image quality and portability. Both cameras have a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 3:2.

Technology-wise, the M50 uses a more advanced image processing engine (DIGIC 8) than the 77D (DIGIC 7), with benefits for noise reduction, color accuracy, and processing speed.

Canon 77D and Canon M50 sensor measures

The two cameras under review do not only share the same sensor size, but also offer an identical resolution of 24 megapixels. This similarity in sensor specs implies that both the 77D and the M50 have the same pixel density, as well as the same pixel size. It should, however, be noted that the M50 is a somewhat more recent model (by 1 year) than the 77D, and its sensor might have benefitted from technological advances during this time.

The Canon EOS 77D has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 25600, which can be extended to ISO 100-51200. The Canon EOS M50 offers exactly the same ISO settings.

Technology-wise, both cameras are equipped with CMOS (Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensors. Both cameras use a Bayer filter for capturing RGB colors on a square grid of photosensors. This arrangement is found in most digital cameras.

77D versus M50 MP

Consistent information on actual sensor performance is available from DXO Mark for many cameras. This service is based on lab testing and assigns an overall score to each camera sensor, as well as ratings for dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), color depth ("DXO Portrait"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"). The following table provides an overview of the physical sensor characteristics, as well as the sensor quality measurements for a selection of comparators.

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Sensor Characteristics
# image Camera
Model
Sensor
Class
Resolution
(MP)
Horiz.
Pixels
Vert.
Pixels
Video
Format
DXO
Portrait
DXO
Landscape
DXO
Sports
DXO
Overall
1.
 
Canon 77D APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60p23.613.397178
2.
 
Canon M50 APS-C 24.0 6000 40004K/24p23.813.3168481
3.
 
Canon T8i APS-C 24.0 6000 40004K/24p24.013.5187383
4.
 
Canon M50 Mark II APS-C 24.0 6000 40004K/24p24.013.6193983
5.
 
Canon M6 Mark II APS-C 32.3 6960 46404K/30p24.013.5184883
6.
 
Canon T7 APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/30p23.813.3168481
7.
 
Canon M6 APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60p23.412.6131778
8.
 
Canon M100 APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60p23.512.9127278
9.
 
Canon SL2 APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60p23.613.4104179
10.
 
Canon T7i APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60p23.713.1158680
11.
 
Canon M5 APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60p23.412.4126277
12.
 
Canon T6 APS-C 17.9 5184 34561080/30p22.011.778166
13.
 
Canon M3 APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/30p22.811.8116972
14.
 
Canon T6i APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/30p22.712.091971
15.
 
Canon T6s APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/30p22.612.091570
16.
 
Canon T4i APS-C 17.9 5184 34561080/30p21.711.272262
Note: DXO values in italics represent estimates based on sensor size and age.
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Many modern cameras cannot only take still pictures, but also record videos. Both cameras under consideration have a sensor with sufficiently fast read-out times for moving pictures, but the M50 provides a better video resolution than the 77D. It can shoot movie footage at 4K/24p, while the 77D is limited to 1080/60p.

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Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a variety of features. For example, the M50 has an electronic viewfinder (2360k dots), while the 77D has an optical one. Both systems have their advantages, with the electronic viewfinder making it possible to project supplementary shooting information into the framing view, whereas the optical viewfinder offers lag-free viewing and a very clear framing image. The following table reports on some other key feature differences and similarities of the Canon 77D, the Canon M50, and comparable cameras.

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Core Features
# image Camera
Model
Viewfinder
(Type or
000 dots)
Control
Panel
(yes/no)
LCD
Specifications
(inch/000 dots)
LCD
Attach-
ment
Touch
Screen
(yes/no)
Max
Shutter
Speed *
Max
Shutter
Flaps *
Built-in
Flash
(yes/no)
Built-in
Image
Stab
1.
 
Canon 77Doptical Y3.0 / 1040 swivel Y 1/4000s 6.0/s Y n
2.
 
Canon M502360 n3.0 / 1040 swivel Y 1/4000s 10.0/s Y n
3.
 
Canon T8ioptical n3.0 / 1040 swivel Y 1/4000s 7.5/s Y n
4.
 
Canon M50 Mark II2360 n3.0 / 1040 swivel Y 1/4000s 10.0/s Y n
5.
 
Canon M6 Mark IIoptional n3.0 / 1040 tilting Y 1/4000s 14.0/s Y n
6.
 
Canon T7optical n3.0 / 920 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
7.
 
Canon M6optional n3.0 / 1040 tilting Y 1/4000s 9.0/s Y n
8.
 
Canon M100none n3.0 / 1040 tilting Y 1/4000s 6.1/s Y n
9.
 
Canon SL2optical n3.0 / 1040 swivel Y 1/4000s 5.0/s Y n
10.
 
Canon T7ioptical n3.0 / 1040 swivel Y 1/4000s 6.0/s Y n
11.
 
Canon M52360 n3.2 / 1620 tilting Y 1/4000s 9.0/s Y n
12.
 
Canon T6optical n3.0 / 920 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
13.
 
Canon M3optional n3.0 / 1040 tilting Y 1/4000s 4.2/s Y n
14.
 
Canon T6ioptical n3.0 / 1040 swivel Y 1/4000s 5.0/s Y n
15.
 
Canon T6soptical Y3.0 / 1040 swivel Y 1/4000s 5.0/s Y n
16.
 
Canon T4ioptical n3.0 / 1040 swivel Y 1/4000s 5.0/s Y n
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.
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One feature that is present on the 77D, but is missing on the M50 is a top-level LCD. While being, of course, smaller than the rear screen, the control panel conveys some of the essential shooting information and can be convenient for quick and easy settings verification.

Both cameras have an articulated rear screen that can be turned to be front-facing. This feature will be particularly appreciated by vloggers and photographers who are interested in taking selfies.

The Canon 77D and the Canon M50 both have an intervalometer built-in. This enables the photographer to capture time lapse sequences, such as flower blooming, a sunset or moon rise, without purchasing an external camera trigger and related software.

Concerning the storage of imaging data, both the 77D and the M50 write their files to SDXC cards. Both cameras can use UHS-I cards, which provide for Ultra High Speed data transfer of up to 104 MB/s.

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Connectivity comparison

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Canon EOS 77D and Canon EOS M50 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

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Input-Output Connections
# image Camera
Model
Hotshoe
Port
Internal
Mic / Speaker
Microphone
Port
Headphone
Port
HDMI
Port
USB
Port
WiFi
Support
NFC
Support
Bluetooth
Support
1.
 
Canon 77DYstereo / monoY-mini2.0YYY
2.
 
Canon M50Ystereo / monoY-micro2.0Y-Y
3.
 
Canon T8iYstereo / monoY-mini2.0Y-Y
4.
 
Canon M50 Mark IIYstereo / monoY-micro2.0Y-Y
5.
 
Canon M6 Mark IIYstereo / monoY-micro2.0Y-Y
6.
 
Canon T7Ymono / mono--mini2.0YY-
7.
 
Canon M6Ystereo / monoY-mini2.0YYY
8.
 
Canon M100-stereo / mono--micro2.0YYY
9.
 
Canon SL2Ystereo / monoY-mini2.0YYY
10.
 
Canon T7iYstereo / monoY-mini2.0YYY
11.
 
Canon M5Ystereo / monoY-mini2.0YYY
12.
 
Canon T6Ymono / mono--mini2.0YY-
13.
 
Canon M3Ystereo / monoY-mini2.0YY-
14.
 
Canon T6iYstereo / monoY-mini2.0YY-
15.
 
Canon T6sYstereo / monoY-mini2.0YY-
16.
 
Canon T4iYstereo / monoY-mini2.0---
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Both the 77D and the M50 have been discontinued, but can regularly be found used on ebay. The M50 was replaced by the Canon M50 Mark II, while the 77D does not have a direct successor. Further information on the features and operation of the 77D and M50 can be found, respectively, in the Canon 77D Manual (free pdf) or the online Canon M50 Manual.

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Review summary

So what is the bottom line? Is the Canon 77D better than the Canon M50 or vice versa? Below is a summary of the relative strengths of each of the two contestants.


Arguments in favor of the Canon EOS 77D:

  • Brighter framing: Features an optical viewfinder for clear, lag-free composition.
  • Easier setting verification: Features an LCD display on top to control shooting parameters.
  • Longer lasting: Can take more shots (600 versus 235) on a single battery charge.
  • Easier device pairing: Supports NFC for fast wireless image transfer over short distances.
  • More heavily discounted: Has been on the market for longer (launched in February 2017).


Reasons to prefer the Canon EOS M50:

  • Better jpgs: Has a more modern image processing engine (DIGIC 8 vs DIGIC 7).
  • Better video: Provides higher definition movie capture (4K/24p vs 1080/60p).
  • More framing info: Has an electronic viewfinder that displays shooting data.
  • Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (10 vs 6 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
  • More compact: Is smaller (116x88mm vs 131x100mm) and will fit more readily into a bag.
  • Less heavy: Has a lower weight (by 150g or 28 percent) and is thus easier to take along.
  • More legacy lens friendly: Can use many non-native lenses via adapters.
  • More affordable: Was released into a lower priced segment (13 percent cheaper at launch).
  • More modern: Was introduced somewhat (1 year) more recently.

If the number of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the M50 is the clear winner of the contest (9 : 5 points). However, the pertinence of the various camera strengths will differ across photographers, so that you might want to weigh individual camera traits according to their importance for your own imaging needs before making a camera decision. A professional wildlife photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a family photog, and a person interested in architecture has distinct needs from a sports shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

77D 05:09 M50

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Canon 77D and the Canon M50 place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best DSLR Camera and Best Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera listings whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the specs-based evaluation of cameras can be instructive in revealing their potential as photographic tools, it remains incomplete and does no justice, for example, to the way the 77D or the M50 perform in practice. At times, user reviews, such as those published at amazon, address these issues in a useful manner, but such feedback is on many occasions incomplete, inconsistent, and unreliable.

Expert reviews

This is why expert reviews are important. The adjacent summary-table relays the overall verdicts of several of the most popular camera review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], digitalcameraworld [DCW], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge, reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.

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Expert Camera Reviews
# image  Camera 
 Model 
 AP 
 score 
 CL 
 score 
 DCW 
 score 
 DPR 
 score 
 EPZ 
 score 
 PB 
 score 
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price (USD)
Street
Price
1.
 
Canon 77D4.5/5..4/582/1004.5/54/5 Feb 2017 899ebay.com
2.
 
Canon M50..+4/579/100..3.5/5 Feb 2018 779ebay.com
3.
 
Canon T8i4.5/5+3/580/1004/53.5/5 Feb 2020 749 amazon.com
4.
 
Canon M50 Mark II4/5..4/5..4.5/53.5/5 Oct 2020 599 amazon.com
5.
 
Canon M6 Mark II..+4.5/585/1004/54/5 Aug 2019 849ebay.com
6.
 
Canon T7..o3.5/5..3.5/53.5/5 Feb 2018 449 amazon.com
7.
 
Canon M6......80/1004/54/5 Feb 2017 779ebay.com
8.
 
Canon M1003/5+....4/53.5/5 Aug 2017 499ebay.com
9.
 
Canon SL24/5+ +4/578/1004.5/54.5/5 Jun 2017 549ebay.com
10.
 
Canon T7i4.5/5..3.5/580/1004.5/54/5 Feb 2017 749ebay.com
11.
 
Canon M54/5+4/582/1004/54/5 Sep 2016 979ebay.com
12.
 
Canon T64/5o4/573/1004/54/5 Mar 2016 449ebay.com
13.
 
Canon M34/5o..75/1004.5/54/5 Feb 2015 679ebay.com
14.
 
Canon T6i5/5....75/1004.5/54.5/5 Feb 2015 749ebay.com
15.
 
Canon T6s5/5+..77/1004.5/54.5/5 Feb 2015 649ebay.com
16.
 
Canon T4i4/5+ +..77/1004.5/54.5/5 Jun 2012 849ebay.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.
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Care should be taken when interpreting the review scores above, though. The ratings are only valid when referring to cameras in the same category and of the same age. Hence, a score should always be seen in the context of the camera's market launch date and its price, and rating-comparisons among cameras that span long time periods or concern very differently equipped models make little sense. It should also be noted that some of the review sites have over time altered the way they render their verdicts.

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Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? If you would like to see a different side-by-side camera review, just make a corresponding selection in the search boxes below. As an alternative, you can also directly jump to any one of the listed comparisons that were previously generated by the CAM-parator tool.

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    Specifications: Canon 77D vs Canon M50

    Below is a side-by-side comparison of the specs of the two cameras to facilitate a quick review of their differences and common features.

    Camera Specifications
    Camera Model Canon 77D Canon M50
    Camera Type Digital single lens reflex Mirrorless system camera
    Camera Lens Canon EF mount lenses Canon EF-M mount lenses
    Launch Date February 2017 February 2018
    Launch Price USD 899 USD 779
    Sensor Specs Canon 77D Canon M50
    Sensor Technology CMOS CMOS
    Sensor Format APS-C Sensor APS-C Sensor
    Sensor Size 22.3 x 14.9 mm 22.3 x 14.9 mm
    Sensor Area 332.27 mm2 332.27 mm2
    Sensor Diagonal 26.8 mm 26.8 mm
    Crop Factor 1.6x 1.6x
    Sensor Resolution 24 Megapixels 24 Megapixels
    Image Resolution 6000 x 4000 pixels 6000 x 4000 pixels
    Pixel Pitch 3.72 μm 3.72 μm
    Pixel Density 7.22 MP/cm2 7.22 MP/cm2
    Moiré control Anti-Alias filter Anti-Alias filter
    Movie Capability 1080/60p Video 4K/24p Video
    ISO Setting 100 - 25,600 ISO 100 - 25,600 ISO
    ISO Boost 100 - 51,200 ISO 100 - 51,200 ISO
    Image Processor DIGIC 7 DIGIC 8
    DXO Sensor Quality (score) 78 ..
    DXO Color Depth (bits) 23.6 ..
    DXO Dynamic Range (EV) 13.3 ..
    DXO Low Light (ISO) 971 ..
    Screen Specs Canon 77D Canon M50
    Viewfinder Type Optical viewfinder Electronic viewfinder
    Viewfinder Field of View 95% 100%
    Viewfinder Magnification 0.51x
    Viewfinder Resolution 2360k dots
    Top-Level Screen Control Panel no Top Display
    LCD Framing Live View Live View
    Rear LCD Size 3.0inch 3.0inch
    LCD Resolution 1040k dots 1040k dots
    LCD Attachment Swivel screen Swivel screen
    Touch Input Touchscreen Touchscreen
    Shooting Specs Canon 77D Canon M50
    Focus System Phase-detect AF On-Sensor Phase-detect
    Manual Focusing Aidno Peaking FeatureFocus Peaking
    Max Shutter Speed (mechanical) 1/4000s 1/4000s
    Continuous Shooting 6 shutter flaps/s 10 shutter flaps/s
    Shutter Life Expectancy100 000 actuations100 000 actuations
    Time-Lapse PhotographyIntervalometer built-inIntervalometer built-in
    Fill Flash Built-in Flash Built-in Flash
    Storage Medium SDXC cards SDXC cards
    Single or Dual Card Slots Single card slot Single card slot
    UHS card support UHS-I UHS-I
    Connectivity Specs Canon 77D Canon M50
    External Flash Hotshoe Hotshoe
    USB Connector USB 2.0 USB 2.0
    HDMI Port mini HDMI micro HDMI
    Microphone Port External MIC port External MIC port
    Wifi Support Wifi built-in Wifi built-in
    Near-Field Communication NFC built-in no NFC
    Bluetooth Support Bluetooth built-in Bluetooth built-in
    Body Specs Canon 77D Canon M50
    Battery Type LP-E17 LP-E12
    Battery Life (CIPA)600 shots per charge235 shots per charge
    Body Dimensions 131 x 100 x 76 mm
    (5.2 x 3.9 x 3.0 in)
    116 x 88 x 59 mm
    (4.6 x 3.5 x 2.3 in)
    Camera Weight 540 g (19.0 oz) 390 g (13.8 oz)
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