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Canon M100 vs M50 Mark II

The Canon EOS M100 and the Canon EOS M50 Mark II are two digital cameras that were revealed to the public, respectively, in August 2017 and October 2020. Both the M100 and the M50 Mark II are mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras that 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 M100
versus
Canon M50 Mark II
Canon M100   Canon M50 Mark II
Mirrorless system camera Mirrorless system camera
Canon EF-M 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 ISO 100-25,600 (100 - 51,200)
No viewfinder, LCD framing Electronic viewfinder (2360k dots)
3.0" LCD – 1040k dots 3.0" LCD – 1040k dots
Tilting touchscreen Swivel touchscreen
6.1 shutter flaps per second 10 shutter flaps per second
295 shots per battery charge305 shots per battery charge
108 x 67 x 35 mm, 302 g 116 x 88 x 59 mm, 387 g
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Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Canon EOS M100 and the Canon EOS M50 Mark II? 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 M100 and the Canon M50 Mark II. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three consecutive perspectives from the front, the top, and the back are available. All width, height and depth measures are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

Both cameras are available in two different colors (black, white).

Size Canon M100 vs Canon M50 Mark II
Compare M100 versus M50 Mark II top
Comparison M100 or M50 Mark II rear

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Canon M50 Mark II is notably larger (41 percent) than the Canon M100. Moreover, the M50 Mark II is markedly heavier (28 percent) than the M100. In this context, it is worth noting that neither the M100 nor the M50 Mark II 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.

The adjacent table lists the principal physical characteristics of the two cameras alongside a wider set of alternatives. In case you want to display and compare another camera duo, you can use the CAM-parator app to select your camera combination among a large number of options.

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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 M100 108 mm 67 mm 35 mm 302 g 295 n Aug 2017 499ebay.com
2.
 
Canon M50 Mark II 116 mm 88 mm 59 mm 387 g 305 n Oct 2020 599ebay.com
3.
 
Canon M200 108 mm 67 mm 35 mm 299 g 315 n Sep 2019 549ebay.com
4.
 
Canon SL3 122 mm 93 mm 70 mm 449 g 1070 n Apr 2019 599 amazon.com
5.
 
Canon M50 116 mm 88 mm 59 mm 390 g 235 n Feb 2018 779ebay.com
6.
 
Canon T7 129 mm 101 mm 78 mm 475 g 500 n Feb 2018 449 amazon.com
7.
 
Canon G9 X Mark II 98 mm 58 mm 31 mm 206 g 235 n Jan 2017 529ebay.com
8.
 
Canon M6 112 mm 68 mm 45 mm 390 g 295 n Feb 2017 779ebay.com
9.
 
Canon SL2 122 mm 93 mm 70 mm 453 g 650 n Jun 2017 549ebay.com
10.
 
Canon M5 116 mm 89 mm 61 mm 427 g 295 n Sep 2016 979ebay.com
11.
 
Canon M3 111 mm 68 mm 44 mm 366 g 250 n Feb 2015 679ebay.com
12.
 
Canon M10 108 mm 67 mm 35 mm 301 g 255 n Oct 2015 499ebay.com
13.
 
Canon M 109 mm 66 mm 32 mm 298 g 230 n Jul 2012 599ebay.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 listed launch prices provide an indication of the market segment that the manufacturer of the cameras have been targeting. The M100 was launched at a somewhat lower price (by 17 percent) than the M50 Mark II, which makes it more attractive for photographers on a tight budget. Usually, retail prices stay at first close to the launch price, but after several months, discounts become available. 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. Then, after the new model is out, very good deals can frequently be found on the pre-owned market.

Sensor comparison

The size of the imaging sensor is a crucial determinant 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. Moreover, a large sensor camera will give the photographer more control over depth-of-field in the image and, thus, the ability to better isolate a subject from the background. On the downside, larger sensors tend to be more expensive and 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 Mark II uses a more advanced image processing engine (DIGIC 8) than the M100 (DIGIC 7), with benefits for noise reduction, color accuracy, and processing speed.

Canon M100 and Canon M50 Mark II 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 M100 and the M50 Mark II have the same pixel density, as well as the same pixel size. It should, however, be noted that the M50 Mark II is much more recent (by 3 years and 1 month) than the M100, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time.

The Canon EOS M100 has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 25600. The corresponding ISO settings for the Canon EOS M50 Mark II are ISO 100 to ISO 25600, with the possibility to increase the ISO range to 100-51200.

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.

M100 versus M50 Mark II MP

Since 2007, DXO Mark has published sensor performance measurements that have been derived using a consistent methodology. This service determines an overall sensor rating, as well as sub-scores for low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and color depth ("DXO Portrait"). 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 M100 APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60p23.512.9127278
2.
 
Canon M50 Mark II APS-C 24.0 6000 40004K/24p24.013.6193983
3.
 
Canon M200 APS-C 24.0 6000 40004k/25p24.013.5183682
4.
 
Canon SL3 APS-C 24.0 6000 40004K/25p23.913.4179182
5.
 
Canon M50 APS-C 24.0 6000 40004K/24p23.813.3168481
6.
 
Canon T7 APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/30p23.813.3168481
7.
 
Canon G9 X Mark II 1-inch 20.0 5472 36481080/60p21.912.552265
8.
 
Canon M6 APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60p23.412.6131778
9.
 
Canon SL2 APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60p23.613.4104179
10.
 
Canon M5 APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60p23.412.4126277
11.
 
Canon M3 APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/30p22.811.8116972
12.
 
Canon M10 APS-C 17.9 5184 34561080/30p22.211.475365
13.
 
Canon M APS-C 17.9 5184 34561080/30p22.111.282765
Note: DXO values in italics represent estimates based on sensor size and age.
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Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but also of capturing video footage. Both cameras under consideration have a sensor with sufficiently fast read-out times for moving pictures, but the M50 Mark II provides a better video resolution than the M100. It can shoot movie footage at 4K/24p, while the M100 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 Mark II has an electronic viewfinder (2360k dots), which can be very helpful when shooting in bright sunlight. In contrast, the M100 relies on live view and the rear LCD for framing. The table below summarizes some of the other core capabilities of the Canon M100 and Canon M50 Mark II in connection with corresponding information for a sample of similar 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 M100none n3.0 / 1040 tilting Y 1/4000s 6.1/s Y n
2.
 
Canon M50 Mark II2360 n3.0 / 1040 swivel Y 1/4000s 10.0/s Y n
3.
 
Canon M200none n3.0 / 1040 tilting Y 1/4000s 6.1/s Y n
4.
 
Canon SL3optical n3.0 / 1040 swivel Y 1/4000s 5.0/s Y n
5.
 
Canon M502360 n3.0 / 1040 swivel Y 1/4000s 10.0/s Y n
6.
 
Canon T7optical n3.0 / 920 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
7.
 
Canon G9 X Mark IInone n3.0 / 1040 fixed Y 1/2000s 8.2/s Y Y
8.
 
Canon M6optional n3.0 / 1040 tilting Y 1/4000s 9.0/s Y n
9.
 
Canon SL2optical n3.0 / 1040 swivel Y 1/4000s 5.0/s Y n
10.
 
Canon M52360 n3.2 / 1620 tilting Y 1/4000s 9.0/s Y n
11.
 
Canon M3optional n3.0 / 1040 tilting Y 1/4000s 4.2/s Y n
12.
 
Canon M10none n3.0 / 1040 tilting Y 1/4000s 4.6/s Y n
13.
 
Canon Mnone n3.0 / 1040 fixed Y 1/4000s 4.3/s n n
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.
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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 reported shutter speed information refers to the use of the mechanical shutter. Yet, some cameras only have an electronic shutter, while others have an electronic shutter in addition to a mechanical one. In fact, the M50 Mark II is one of those camera that have an additional electronic shutter, which makes completely silent shooting possible. However, this mode is less suitable for photographing moving objects (risk of rolling shutter) or shooting under artificial light sources (risk of flickering).

The Canon M50 Mark II has 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 M100 and the M50 Mark II 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 M100 and Canon EOS M50 Mark II 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 M100-stereo / mono--micro2.0YYY
2.
 
Canon M50 Mark IIYstereo / monoY-micro2.0Y-Y
3.
 
Canon M200-stereo / mono--micro2.0Y-Y
4.
 
Canon SL3Ystereo / monoY-mini2.0Y-Y
5.
 
Canon M50Ystereo / monoY-micro2.0Y-Y
6.
 
Canon T7Ymono / mono--mini2.0YY-
7.
 
Canon G9 X Mark II-stereo / mono--micro2.0YYY
8.
 
Canon M6Ystereo / monoY-mini2.0YYY
9.
 
Canon SL2Ystereo / monoY-mini2.0YYY
10.
 
Canon M5Ystereo / monoY-mini2.0YYY
11.
 
Canon M3Ystereo / monoY-mini2.0YY-
12.
 
Canon M10-stereo / mono--mini2.0YY-
13.
 
Canon MYstereo / monoY-mini2.0---
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It is notable that the M50 Mark II has a microphone port, which can help to improve the quality of audio recordings by attaching an external microphone. The M100 does not feature such a mic input.

Both the M100 and the M50 Mark II have been discontinued, but can regularly be found used on ebay. The M100 was replaced by the Canon M200, while the M50 Mark II does not have a direct successor. Further information on the features and operation of the M100 and M50 Mark II can be found, respectively, in the Canon M100 Manual (free pdf) or the online Canon M50 Mark II Manual.

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Review summary

So what conclusions can be drawn? Is the Canon M100 better than the Canon M50 Mark II or vice versa? A synthesis of the relative strong points of each of the models is listed below.


Reasons to prefer the Canon EOS M100:

  • More compact: Is smaller (108x67mm vs 116x88mm) and thus needs less room in the bag.
  • Less heavy: Is lighter (by 85g or 22 percent) and hence easier to carry around.
  • Easier device pairing: Supports NFC for fast wireless image transfer over short distances.
  • More affordable: Was introduced into a lower priced segment (17 percent cheaper at launch).
  • More heavily discounted: Has been available for much longer (launched in August 2017).


Advantages of the Canon EOS M50 Mark II:

  • 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).
  • Better sound: Can connect to an external microphone for higher quality sound recording.
  • Easier framing: Has an electronic viewfinder for image composition and settings control.
  • More flexible LCD: Has a swivel screen for odd-angle shots in portrait or landscape orientation.
  • Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (10 vs 6.1 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
  • Less disturbing: Has an electronic shutter option for completely silent shooting.
  • Easier time-lapse photography: Has an intervalometer built-in for low frequency shooting.
  • Better lighting: Features a hotshoe and can thus hold and trigger an external flash gun.
  • More modern: Reflects 3 years and 1 month of technical progress since the M100 launch.

If the count of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a measure, the M50 Mark II is the clear winner of the contest (10 : 5 points). However, the relevance of individual strengths will vary across photographers, so that you might want to apply your own weighing scheme to the summary points when reflecting and deciding on a new camera. A professional sports photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a street photog, and a person interested in family portraits has distinct needs from a landscape shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

M100 05:10 M50 Mark II

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Canon M100 and the Canon M50 Mark II place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera listing 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 says little about, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance of the M100 and the M50 Mark II in practical situations. User reviews, such as those found at amazon, can sometimes inform about these issues, but such feedback is often incomplete, inconsistent, and biased.

Expert reviews

This is why hands-on reviews by experts are important. The following table reports the overall ratings of the cameras as published by some of the major 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 M1003/5+....4/53.5/5 Aug 2017 499ebay.com
2.
 
Canon M50 Mark II4/5..4/5..4.5/53.5/5 Oct 2020 599ebay.com
3.
 
Canon M200..+3/579/1004/54/5 Sep 2019 549ebay.com
4.
 
Canon SL34/5o4.5/579/1004/54/5 Apr 2019 599 amazon.com
5.
 
Canon M50..+4/579/100..3.5/5 Feb 2018 779ebay.com
6.
 
Canon T7..o3.5/5..3.5/53.5/5 Feb 2018 449 amazon.com
7.
 
Canon G9 X Mark II4/5..4/575/1004.5/54.5/5 Jan 2017 529ebay.com
8.
 
Canon M6......80/1004/54/5 Feb 2017 779ebay.com
9.
 
Canon SL24/5+ +4/578/1004.5/54.5/5 Jun 2017 549ebay.com
10.
 
Canon M54/5+4/582/1004/54/5 Sep 2016 979ebay.com
11.
 
Canon M34/5o..75/1004.5/54/5 Feb 2015 679ebay.com
12.
 
Canon M10..........4/5 Oct 2015 499ebay.com
13.
 
Canon M3/5+....4/54/5 Jul 2012 599ebay.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 assessments were made in relation to similar cameras of the same technological generation. A score, therefore, has to be seen in close connection to the price and market introduction time of the camera, and rating-comparisons among cameras that span long time periods or concern very differently equipped models make little sense. Also, kindly note that some of the listed sites have over time developped their review approaches and their reporting style.

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Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? In case you are interested in seeing how other cameras pair up, just make a corresponding selection in the search boxes below. There is also a set of direct links to comparison reviews that other users of the CAM-parator app explored.

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    Specifications: Canon M100 vs Canon M50 Mark II

    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 M100 Canon M50 Mark II
    Camera Type Mirrorless system camera Mirrorless system camera
    Camera Lens Canon EF-M mount lenses Canon EF-M mount lenses
    Launch Date August 2017 October 2020
    Launch Price USD 499 USD 599
    Sensor Specs Canon M100 Canon M50 Mark II
    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 no Enhancement 100 - 51,200 ISO
    Image Processor DIGIC 7 DIGIC 8
    DXO Sensor Quality (score) 78 ..
    DXO Color Depth (bits) 23.5 ..
    DXO Dynamic Range (EV) 12.9 ..
    DXO Low Light (ISO) 1272 ..
    Screen Specs Canon M100 Canon M50 Mark II
    Viewfinder Type no viewfinder Electronic viewfinder
    Viewfinder Field of View 100%
    Viewfinder Resolution 2360k dots
    LCD Framing Live View Live View
    Rear LCD Size 3.0inch 3.0inch
    LCD Resolution 1040k dots 1040k dots
    LCD Attachment Tilting screen Swivel screen
    Touch Input Touchscreen Touchscreen
    Shooting Specs Canon M100 Canon M50 Mark II
    Focus System On-Sensor Phase-detect On-Sensor Phase-detect
    Manual Focusing AidFocus PeakingFocus Peaking
    Max Shutter Speed (mechanical) 1/4000s 1/4000s
    Continuous Shooting 6.1 shutter flaps/s 10 shutter flaps/s
    Shutter Life Expectancy100 000 actuations100 000 actuations
    Electronic Shutterno E-ShutterYES
    Time-Lapse Photographyno IntervalometerIntervalometer 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 M100 Canon M50 Mark II
    External Flash no Hotshoe Hotshoe
    USB Connector USB 2.0 USB 2.0
    HDMI Port micro HDMI micro HDMI
    Microphone Port no MIC socket 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 M100 Canon M50 Mark II
    Battery Type Canon LP-E12 Canon LP-E12
    Battery Life (CIPA)295 shots per charge305 shots per charge
    Body Dimensions 108 x 67 x 35 mm
    (4.3 x 2.6 x 1.4 in)
    116 x 88 x 59 mm
    (4.6 x 3.5 x 2.3 in)
    Camera Weight 302 g (10.7 oz) 387 g (13.7 oz)
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