Canon M50 vs Sony A6300

The Canon EOS M50 and the Sony Alpha A6300 are two digital cameras that were announced, respectively, in February 2018 and February 2016. Both the M50 and the A6300 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 M50		Sony A6300
Mirrorless system camera		Mirrorless system camera
Canon EF-M mount lenses		Sony E mount lenses
24 MP, APS-C Sensor		24 MP, APS-C Sensor
4K/24p Video		4K/30p Video
ISO 100-25600 (100-51200)		ISO 100-25600 (100-51200)
Electronic viewfinder (2360k dots)		Electronic viewfinder (2359k dots)
3.0" LCD, 1040k dots		3.0" LCD, 922k dots
Swivel touchscreen		Tilting screen (not touch-sensitive)
10 shutter flaps per second		11 shutter flaps per second
Not weather sealed		Weathersealed body
235 shots per battery charge		400 shots per battery charge
116 x 88 x 59 mm, 390 g		120 x 67 x 49 mm, 404 g

Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Canon EOS M50 and the Sony Alpha A6300? 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.

Body comparison

An illustration of the physical size and weight of the Canon M50 and the Sony A6300 is provided in the side-by-side display below. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three successive views from the front, the top, and the rear 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 A6300 is also available in two color-versions, but different ones (black, silver).

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Sony A6300 is notably smaller (21 percent) than the Canon M50. However, the A6300 is slightly heavier (4 percent) than the M50. It is noteworthy in this context that the A6300 is splash and dust-proof, while the M50 does not feature any corresponding weather-sealing.

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 M50 gets 235 shots out of its LP-E12 battery, while the A6300 can take 400 images on a single charge of its NP-FW50 power pack. The power pack in the A6300 can be charged via the USB port, which can be very convenient when travelling.

The following table provides a synthesis of the main physical specifications of the two cameras and other similar ones. If you want to switch the focus of the display and review another camera pair, just select a new right or left comparator from among the camera models in the table. Alternatively, you can also move across to the CAM-parator tool and choose from the broad selection of possible camera comparisons there.

Camera Body Specifications

	Camera Model	Camera Width	Camera Height	Camera Depth	Camera Weight	Battery Life (CIPA)	Weather Sealing (yes/no)	Camera Launch (announced)	Launch Price (USD)	Street Price (USD)	Used Price (USD)	Camera Model
	Canon M50»	4.6 in	3.5 in	2.3 in	13.8 oz	235	n	Feb 2018	779			Canon M50
	Sony A6300«	4.7 in	2.6 in	1.9 in	14.3 oz	400	Y	Feb 2016	999	-		Sony A6300
	Canon SL3« »	4.8 in	3.7 in	2.8 in	15.8 oz	1070	n	Apr 2019	599			Canon SL3
	Canon G5 X Mark II« »	4.4 in	2.4 in	1.8 in	12.0 oz	230	n	Jul 2019	899			Canon G5 X Mark II
	Canon M6 Mark II« »	4.7 in	2.8 in	1.9 in	14.4 oz	305	n	Aug 2019	849			Canon M6 Mark II
	Canon T7« »	5.1 in	4.0 in	3.1 in	16.8 oz	500	n	Feb 2018	449			Canon T7
	Canon M6« »	4.4 in	2.7 in	1.8 in	13.8 oz	295	n	Feb 2017	779	-		Canon M6
	Canon M100« »	4.3 in	2.6 in	1.4 in	10.7 oz	295	n	Aug 2017	499			Canon M100
	Canon SL2« »	4.8 in	3.7 in	2.8 in	16.0 oz	650	n	Jun 2017	549	-		Canon SL2
	Canon T7i« »	5.2 in	3.9 in	3.0 in	18.8 oz	600	n	Feb 2017	749			Canon T7i
	Canon M5« »	4.6 in	3.5 in	2.4 in	15.1 oz	295	n	Sep 2016	979			Canon M5
	Canon M3« »	4.4 in	2.7 in	1.7 in	12.9 oz	250	n	Feb 2015	679	-		Canon M3
	Nikon D5500« »	4.9 in	3.8 in	2.8 in	14.8 oz	820	n	Jan 2015	899	-		Nikon D5500
	Nikon D7200« »	5.4 in	4.2 in	3.0 in	27.0 oz	1110	Y	Mar 2015	1,199	-		Nikon D7200
	Sony A6500« »	4.7 in	2.6 in	2.1 in	16.0 oz	350	Y	Oct 2016	1,399	-		Sony A6500
	Sony A6000« »	4.7 in	2.6 in	1.8 in	12.1 oz	360	n	Feb 2014	599	-		Sony A6000
	Sony A3000« »	5.0 in	3.6 in	3.3 in	14.5 oz	470	n	Aug 2013	329	-		Sony A3000
Convert to Metric
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.

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 22 percent) than the A6300, 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.

Sensor comparison

The size of the imaging sensor is a crucial determinant of image quality. A large sensor will tend to have larger individual pixels that provide better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixel-units 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, but their sensors differ slightly in size. The sensor area in the A6300 is 11 percent bigger. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have format factors, respectively, of 1.6 (M50) and 1.5. Both cameras have a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 3:2.

Even though the A6300 has a larger sensor, both cameras offer the same resolution of 24 megapixels. This implies that the A6300 has a lower pixel density and larger individual pixels (with a pixel pitch of 3.91μm versus 3.72μm for the M50), which gives it a potential advantage in terms of light gathering capacity. It should, however, be noted that the M50 is much more recent (by 2 years) than the A6300, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that at least partly compensate for the smaller pixel size.

The Canon EOS M50 has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 25600, which can be extended to ISO 100-51200. The Sony Alpha A6300 offers exactly the same ISO settings.

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.

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 A6300 provides a faster frame rate than the M50. It can shoot movie footage at 4K/30p, while the Canon is limited to 4K/24p.

Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. The two cameras under consideration are similar with respect to both having an electronic viewfinder. However, the one in the M50 offers a slightly higher resolution than the one in the A6300 (2360k vs 2359k dots). The following table reports on some other key feature differences and similarities of the Canon M50, the Sony A6300, and comparable cameras.

One differentiating feature between the two cameras concerns the touch sensitivity of the rear screen. The M50 has a touchscreen, while the A6300 has a conventional panel. Touch control can be particularly helpful, for example, for setting the focus point.

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 A6300 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 M50 writes its imaging data to SDXC cards, while the A6300 uses SDXC or Memory Stick PRO Duo cards. Both cameras can use UHS-I cards, which provide for Ultra High Speed data transfer of up to 104 MB/s.

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 M50 and Sony Alpha A6300 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

The M50 is a recent model that features in the current product line-up of Canon. In contrast, the A6300 has been discontinued (but it can be found pre-owned on eBay). As a replacement in the same line of cameras, the A6300 was succeeded by the Sony A6500. Further information on the two cameras (e.g. user guides, manuals), as well as related accessories, can be found on the official Canon and Sony websites.

Review summary

So what conclusions can be drawn? Which of the two cameras – the Canon M50 or the Sony A6300 – has the upper hand? Is one clearly better than the other? Below is a summary of the relative strengths of each of the two contestants.

Arguments in favor of the Canon EOS M50:

• More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (1040k vs 922k dots).
• More flexible LCD: Has a swivel screen for odd-angle shots in portrait or landscape orientation.
• Fewer buttons to press: Is equipped with a touch-sensitive rear screen to facilitate handling.
• More selfie-friendly: Has an articulated screen that can be turned to be front-facing.
• Easier wireless transfer: Supports Bluetooth for image sharing without cables.
• More affordable: Was introduced into a lower priced segment (22 percent cheaper at launch).
• More modern: Reflects 2 years of technical progress since the A6300 launch.

Reasons to prefer the Sony Alpha A6300:

• Better video: Provides higher movie framerates (4K/30p versus 4K/24p).
• Less disturbing: Has an electronic shutter option for completely silent shooting.
• More compact: Is smaller (120x67mm vs 116x88mm) and will fit more readily into a bag.
• Longer lasting: Gets more shots (400 versus 235) out of a single battery charge.
• Easier travel charging: Can be conveniently charged via its USB port.
• Better sealing: Is splash and dust sealed for shooting in inclement weather conditions.
• More heavily discounted: Has been around for much longer (launched in February 2016).

If the count of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a measure, the M50 comes out slightly ahead of the A6300 (7 : 6 points). However, the relative importance of the various individual camera aspects will vary according to personal preferences and needs, so that you might like to apply corresponding weights to the particular features before making a decision on a new camera. A professional wedding photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a travel photog, and a person interested in cityscapes has distinct needs from a macro shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Canon M50 and the Sony A6300 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 comparison of the spec-sheets of cameras can offer a general idea of their imaging potential, it remains incomplete and does no justice, for example, to the way the M50 or the A6300 perform in practice. User reviews that are available, for instance, at amazon can sometimes shed light on these issues, but such feedback is all too often partial, inconsistent, and inaccurate.

Expert reviews

This is why expert reviews are important. The following table reports the overall ratings of the cameras as published by some of the major camera review sites (cameralabs, dpreview, ephotozine, imaging-resource, and photographyblog). 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.

Review Scores

	Camera Model						Camera Launch (announced)	Launch Price (USD)	Street Price (USD)	Used Price (USD)	Camera Model
	Canon M50»	+	79/100	-	4/5	3.5/5	Feb 2018	779			Canon M50
	Sony A6300«	+	85/100	5/5	5/5	5/5	Feb 2016	999	-		Sony A6300
	Canon SL3« »	o	79/100	4/5	-	4/5	Apr 2019	599			Canon SL3
	Canon G5 X Mark II« »	+	82/100	-	-	4/5	Jul 2019	899			Canon G5 X Mark II
	Canon M6 Mark II« »	-	-	-	-	-	Aug 2019	849			Canon M6 Mark II
	Canon T7« »	o	-	3.5/5	-	3.5/5	Feb 2018	449			Canon T7
	Canon M6« »	-	80/100	4/5	4.5/5	4/5	Feb 2017	779	-		Canon M6
	Canon M100« »	+	-	4/5	-	3.5/5	Aug 2017	499			Canon M100
	Canon SL2« »	+ +	78/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	4.5/5	Jun 2017	549	-		Canon SL2
	Canon T7i« »	-	80/100	4.5/5	4/5	4/5	Feb 2017	749			Canon T7i
	Canon M5« »	+	82/100	4/5	4.5/5	4/5	Sep 2016	979			Canon M5
	Canon M3« »	o	75/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	4/5	Feb 2015	679	-		Canon M3
	Nikon D5500« »	+	79/100	4.5/5	5/5	4.5/5	Jan 2015	899	-		Nikon D5500
	Nikon D7200« »	+ +	84/100	4.5/5	4/5	4.5/5	Mar 2015	1,199	-		Nikon D7200
	Sony A6500« »	+ +	85/100	4.5/5	5/5	4.5/5	Oct 2016	1,399	-		Sony A6500
	Sony A6000« »	+	80/100	4.5/5	5/5	5/5	Feb 2014	599	-		Sony A6000
	Sony A3000« »	+	-	4/5	4.5/5	4/5	Aug 2013	329	-		Sony A3000
Notes: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (-) not available.

The above review scores should be interpreted with care, 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. It should also be noted that some of the review sites have over time altered the way they render their verdicts.

Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? In case you would like to check on the differences and similarities of other camera models, just use the search menu below. Alternatively, you can follow any of the listed hyperlinks for comparisons that others found interesting.

Specifications: Canon M50 vs Sony A6300

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.

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