Panasonic FZ1000 II vs Canon M50

The Panasonic Lumix DC-FZ1000 II and the Canon EOS M50 are two digital cameras that were officially introduced, respectively, in February 2019 and February 2018. The FZ1000 II is a fixed lens compact, while the M50 is a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera. The cameras are based on an one-inch (FZ1000 II) and an APS-C (M50) sensor. The Panasonic has a resolution of 20 megapixels, whereas the Canon provides 24 MP.

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

Headline Specifications

Panasonic FZ1000 II		Canon M50
Fixed lens compact camera		Mirrorless system camera
25-400mm f/2.8-4.0		Canon EF-M mount lenses
20 MP, 1" Sensor		24 MP, APS-C Sensor
4K/30p Video		4K/24p Video
ISO 125-12800 (80-25600)		ISO 100-25600 (100-51200)
Electronic viewfinder (2360k dots)		Electronic viewfinder (2360k dots)
3.0" LCD, 1240k dots		3.0" LCD, 1040k dots
Swivel touchscreen		Swivel touchscreen
12 shutter flaps per second		10 shutter flaps per second
350 shots per battery charge		235 shots per battery charge
136 x 97 x 131 mm, 810 g		116 x 88 x 59 mm, 390 g

Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Panasonic Lumix DC-FZ1000 II 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.

Body comparison

An illustration of the physical size and weight of the Panasonic FZ1000 II and the Canon M50 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 FZ1000 II is only available in black.

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 (23 percent) than the Panasonic FZ1000 II. In this context, it is worth noting that neither the FZ1000 II nor the M50 are weather-sealed.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete and possibly misleading, as the FZ1000 II has a lens built in, whereas the M50 is an interchangeable lens camera that requires a separate lens. Attaching the latter will add extra weight and bulk to the setup.

Concerning battery life, the FZ1000 II gets 350 shots out of its DMW-BLC12 battery, while the M50 can take 235 images on a single charge of its LP-E12 power pack. The power pack in the FZ1000 II can be charged via the USB port, so that it is not always necessary to take the battery charger along when travelling.

The following table provides a synthesis of the main physical specifications of the two cameras and other similar ones. If you would like to visualize and compare a different camera combination, just use the right or left arrows in the table to switch to the respective camera. Alternatively, you can also navigate to the CAM-parator app and make your selection from the full list of cameras 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
	Panasonic FZ1000 II»	5.4 in	3.8 in	5.2 in	28.6 oz	350	n	Feb 2019	899			Panasonic FZ1000 II
	Canon M50«	4.6 in	3.5 in	2.3 in	13.8 oz	235	n	Feb 2018	779			Canon M50
	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 G7 X Mark III« »	4.1 in	2.4 in	1.6 in	10.7 oz	235	n	Jul 2019	749			Canon G7 X Mark III
	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 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 M5« »	4.6 in	3.5 in	2.4 in	15.1 oz	295	n	Sep 2016	979			Canon M5
	Canon G3 X« »	4.8 in	3.0 in	4.1 in	25.9 oz	300	Y	Jun 2015	999			Canon G3 X
	Canon M3« »	4.4 in	2.7 in	1.7 in	12.9 oz	250	n	Feb 2015	679	-		Canon M3
	Leica V-LUX 5« »	5.4 in	3.8 in	5.2 in	28.6 oz	350	n	Jul 2019	1,249			Leica V-LUX 5
	Leica C-LUX« »	4.4 in	2.6 in	1.8 in	12.0 oz	370	n	Jun 2018	1,049			Leica C-LUX
	Panasonic LX100 II« »	4.5 in	2.6 in	2.6 in	13.8 oz	300	n	Aug 2018	999			Panasonic LX100 II
	Panasonic ZS200« »	4.4 in	2.6 in	1.8 in	12.0 oz	370	n	Feb 2018	799			Panasonic ZS200
	Panasonic FZ2500« »	5.4 in	4.0 in	5.3 in	32.3 oz	350	n	Sep 2016	1,199			Panasonic FZ2500
	Panasonic FZ1000« »	5.4 in	3.9 in	5.2 in	29.3 oz	360	n	Jun 2014	899	-		Panasonic FZ1000
	Sony RX100 IV« »	4.0 in	2.3 in	1.6 in	10.5 oz	280	n	Jun 2015	999	-		Sony RX100 IV
Convert to Metric
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.

Any camera decision will obviously take relative prices into account. The manufacturer’s suggested retail prices give an idea on the placement of the camera in the maker’s lineup and the broader market. 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 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 tend to be associated with larger, more expensive camera bodies and lenses.

Of the two cameras under consideration, the Panasonic FZ1000 II features an one-inch sensor and the Canon M50 an APS-C sensor. The sensor area in the M50 is 186 percent bigger. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have a format factor of, respectively, 2.7 and 1.6. Both cameras have a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 3:2.

With 24MP, the M50 offers a higher resolution than the FZ1000 II (20MP), but the M50 nevertheless has larger individual pixels (pixel pitch of 3.72μm versus 2.41μm for the FZ1000 II) due to its larger sensor. However, the FZ1000 II is a somewhat more recent model (by 11 months) than the M50, and its sensor might have benefitted from technological advances during this time that enhance the light gathering capacity of its pixel-units.

The resolution advantage of the Canon M50 implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the M50 for good quality output (200 dots per inch) amounts to 30 x 20 inch or 76.2 x 50.8 cm, for very good quality (250 dpi) 24 x 16 inch or 61 x 40.6 cm, and for excellent quality (300 dpi) 20 x 13.3 inch or 50.8 x 33.9 cm. The corresponding values for the Panasonic FZ1000 II are 27.4 x 18.2 inch or 69.5 x 46.3 cm for good quality, 21.9 x 14.6 inch or 55.6 x 37.1 cm for very good quality, and 18.2 x 12.2 inch or 46.3 x 30.9 cm for excellent quality prints.

The M50 has on-sensor phase detect pixels, which results in fast and reliable autofocus acquisition even during live view operation.

The Panasonic Lumix DC-FZ1000 II has a native sensitivity range from ISO 125 to ISO 12800, which can be extended to ISO 80-25600. The corresponding ISO settings for the Canon EOS M50 are ISO 100 to ISO 25600, with the possibility to increase the ISO range to 100-51200.

For many cameras, data on sensor performance has been reported by DXO Mark. 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 adjacent table reports on the physical sensor characteristics and the outcomes of the DXO sensor quality tests for a sample of comparator-cameras.

Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but can also record movies. The two cameras under consideration both have sensors whose read-out speed is fast enough to capture moving pictures, but the FZ1000 II provides a higher frame rate than the M50. It can shoot video 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 FZ1000 II and the M50 are similar in the sense that both feature an electronic viewfinder, which is helpful when framing images in bright sunlight. Moreover, their viewfinders offer an identical resolution of 2360k dots. The following table reports on some other key feature differences and similarities of the Panasonic FZ1000 II, the Canon M50, and comparable cameras.

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 FZ1000 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 Panasonic FZ1000 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 FZ1000 II 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.

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 Panasonic Lumix DC-FZ1000 II and Canon EOS M50 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

It is notable that the M50 has a microphone port, which can help to improve the quality of audio recordings by attaching an external microphone. The FZ1000 II does not feature such a mic input.

Both the FZ1000 II and the M50 are recent models that are part of the current product line-up. The FZ1000 II replaced the earlier Panasonic FZ1000, while the M50 does not have a direct predecessor. Further information on the two cameras (e.g. user guides, manuals), as well as related accessories, can be found on the official Panasonic and Canon websites.

Review summary

So what conclusions can be drawn? Is there a clear favorite between the Panasonic FZ1000 II and the Canon M50? Which camera is better? The listing below highlights the relative strengths of the two models.

Arguments in favor of the Panasonic Lumix DC-FZ1000 II:

• Better video: Provides higher movie framerates (4K/30p versus 4K/24p).
• More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (1240k vs 1040k dots).
• Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (12 vs 10 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.
• Ready to shoot: Has a lens built-in, whereas the M50 requires a separate lens.
• Longer lasting: Can take more shots (350 versus 235) on a single battery charge.
• Easier travel charging: Can be conveniently charged via its USB port.
• Sharper images: Has hand-shake reducing image stabilization built-in.
• More modern: Is somewhat more recent (announced 11 months after the M50).

Reasons to prefer the Canon EOS M50:

• More detail: Has more megapixels (24 vs 20MP), which boosts linear resolution by 10%.
• Better image quality: Features bigger pixels on a larger sensor for higher quality imaging.
• Richer colors: The pixel size advantage translates into images with better, more accurate colors.
• More dynamic range: Larger pixels capture a wider spectrum of light and dark details.
• Better low-light sensitivity: Larger pixels means good image quality even under poor lighting.
• Better live-view autofocus: Features on-sensor phase-detection for more confident autofocus.
• Better sound: Can connect to an external microphone for higher quality sound recording.
• More flexible: Takes interchangeable lenses and can thus be used with specialty optics.
• More compact: Is smaller (116x88mm vs 136x97mm) and will fit more readily into a bag.
• 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 2018).

If the count of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a measure, the M50 emerges as the winner of the match-up (11 : 9 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 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 Panasonic FZ1000 II and the Canon M50 place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best Superzoom 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 says little about, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance of the FZ1000 II and the M50 in practical situations. 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 hands-on reviews by experts are important. The adjacent summary-table relays the overall verdicts of several of the most popular 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
	Panasonic FZ1000 II»	-	-	4.5/5	-	4.5/5	Feb 2019	899			Panasonic FZ1000 II
	Canon M50«	+	79/100	-	4/5	3.5/5	Feb 2018	779			Canon M50
	Canon G5 X Mark II« »	+	82/100	-	-	4/5	Jul 2019	899			Canon G5 X Mark II
	Canon G7 X Mark III« »	+ +	-	4/5	-	-	Jul 2019	749			Canon G7 X Mark III
	Canon M6 Mark II« »	-	-	-	-	-	Aug 2019	849			Canon M6 Mark II
	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 M5« »	+	82/100	4/5	4.5/5	4/5	Sep 2016	979			Canon M5
	Canon G3 X« »	+	-	4.5/5	3.5/5	4/5	Jun 2015	999			Canon G3 X
	Canon M3« »	o	75/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	4/5	Feb 2015	679	-		Canon M3
	Leica V-LUX 5« »	-	-	4/5	-	4/5	Jul 2019	1,249			Leica V-LUX 5
	Leica C-LUX« »	-	-	4.5/5	-	4/5	Jun 2018	1,049			Leica C-LUX
	Panasonic LX100 II« »	+	82/100	4.5/5	-	4.5/5	Aug 2018	999			Panasonic LX100 II
	Panasonic ZS200« »	+ +	81/100	4.5/5	-	4.5/5	Feb 2018	799			Panasonic ZS200
	Panasonic FZ2500« »	+	82/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	5/5	Sep 2016	1,199			Panasonic FZ2500
	Panasonic FZ1000« »	+ +	82/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	4.5/5	Jun 2014	899	-		Panasonic FZ1000
	Sony RX100 IV« »	+ +	85/100	4/5	4.5/5	4.5/5	Jun 2015	999	-		Sony RX100 IV
Notes: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (-) not available.

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.

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. As an alternative, you can also directly jump to any one of the listed comparisons that were previously generated by the CAM-parator tool.

Specifications: Panasonic FZ1000 II 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.

Did you notice an error on this page? If so, please get in touch, so that we can correct the information.