The Canon M50 and Sony Zv1 have been marketed as Vlogging / Youtube Cameras and I want to compare the two to help you make a buying decision on one of these two cameras. For those with a smaller budget, I see these as two of the best cameras for YouTube. Both cameras have gotten workouts on my YouTube channel and I’ve even taken both to a couple of weddings with me. Both of these cameras are pretty impressive for their own set of reasons. In this article we will get into what is similar about these two cameras and what sets them apart.
I happen to use these cameras mainly for video use, but I have also taken pictures with both as well
Let’s get the easy stuff out of the way and discuss the similarities that both the Canon m50 and the Sony Zv1 share. And when I refer to the Canon M50, I am also talking about the Canon M50 Mark II. Both cameras are very similar, but more about that later.
a) Flip Screen
Both of these cameras have a vari-angle flip screen so they flip out to the side and around to face you. This is almost a requirement in a vlogging camera.
b) Full HD Video
c) Auto-Focus
Auto-Focus for both cameras is very fast, but the Sony Zv-1 gives you some more options for customizing the speed and responsiveness of the Auto Focus and there is even a Product Showcase mode that helps the camera focus on an object that is moved closer to the lens instead of your face.
But even though the Canon m50 doesn’t have these more advanced functions, if you do talking head videos on YouTube it works marvelously. And if you quickly need to focus on something else simply tap it on the screen to switch your focus.
Now let’s take a look at some differences between the two cameras.
What’s set’s the Sony Zv1 and Canon M50 Apart
1) 4k Video Shooting
The biggest problem with the Canon M50 is that is marketed as being a 4k camera, but it really is not. The 4k mode crops in so much that it is almost unusable. And to add insult to injury you lose Dual Pixel Auto Focus. Dual Pixel AF is what is used in HD mode and is very helpful when vlogging. It keeps the subject in perfect focus all the time. In 4k mode the focus is still decent but not quite as good as HD mode.
The Sony on the other hand is true 4k and it looks great with no cropping, and Sony’s Phase Detect Focusing still works extremely well giving you great AF for Vlogging. If you really need 4k, the Sony is the clear winner here.
Check out samples of AF and a host of other tests in the comparison video:
2) Sensor Size
The Canon M50 comes with an APS-C sensor which is much larger than the 1 inch sensor that the Sony Zv-1 comes with. This will allow you to get shots that have a blurrier background with the Canon M50 provided you are using the right lens for it. However, this can still be achieved on the Sony too being that it has a aperture of f1.8-2.8mm.
You have to be using it the right lightning scenario and focal length, but it is possible. The bigger sensor in the Canon M50 will also help with the lowlight performance as well. I would have to give the nod to the M50 in sensor performance overall.
I touched on this briefly in the similarities, but the Canon M50 can shoot up to 60fps in 1080p and 120fps in 720p mode. When you move into 120fps, the image is cropped and there is no sound. On the Sony Zv-1 you can shoot all the way up to 120fps in 1080p with no crop and the image quality is outstanding. You also still have audio. To go a step further you can shoot all the way up to 960fps in a burst mode. That’s incredible for a small camera like this. The quality isn’t the greatest and there is no sound, but it is still pretty impressive. Check out this video for samples :
4) Size and Portability
You can clearly see that the Zv-1 is a smaller camera. I have put it in my jacket pocket and pant pocket on a few different occasions. You can’t do this with the Canon m50. This makes the Sony Zv1 a nice light-weight and ultra portable camera for a vlogger.
5) Time lapse mode
Both cameras have a time lapse mode, but the Sony Zv-1 comes with a intervalometer and the Canon’s time lapse mode creates a video for you in the camera. What the means is that the Sony will create a series of pictures that you will need to create a video from in your video editing software and the M50 creates the video without using editing software. The M50 saves time and makes things easier.
6) Image Stabilization
Both cameras come with Electronic Image Stabilization built into the camera and they both work well. In my experiments with the M50, I found that the Stabilization worked best if you were trying to get still shots while trying to pan, tilt or simply turn yourself into a tripod. However, if you’re thinking of doing some kind of walking vlog, it fails miserably. Here’s a look:
The Zv-1 has the added bonus of not only working well when standing still but if you put it in Active SteadyShot mode, you can even walk and use the camera at the same time and get reasonably steady shots hence the name Active SteadyShot…. Well played Sony…well played. The only problem with the Active SteadyShot is the fact that the picture crops in while using it. Check this video for samples Sony.
The same thing happens with the Canon M50 when using their Enhanced Image Stabilization too. And by the way, if you don’t want to use the Stabilization on the Sony you could always use their Catalyst Browse software to stabilize the footage after the fact. Sony is the clear winner here.
7) Lenses
The Sony Zv-1 comes with a fixed lens that is 24mm-70mm – that’s it. You cannot remove the lens. So if you want to shoot wider it isn’t possible, and if you want to shoot closer it is possible but you will using a digital zoom which will reduce the quality of your image in video and in your pictures. I have to say that I wish the lens was a little wider. It would’ve been perfect if it was a 18-135mm lens, but I’m sure that would’ve made the camera a little bigger. It’s not a terrible compromise, but you know…
The Canon M50 on the other hand is a mirrorless camera and not a compact camera, so you have the ability to change the lenses. This gives the photographer or videographer more creative freedom and functionality. You can also get lenses with really fast apertures to improve the lowlight performance, such as the Canon EF-M 22mm f2, Sigma 50mm f1.4, or the Sigma EF-M 16mm f1.4. Personally I see the merits of both, but I would still have to give the nod to the Canon M50 in this category.
8) Picture Profiles
This one will be a big deal to some and others not so much. The Canon M50 has a variety of basic picture profiles and it even allows you to modify settings, such as Contrasts, Sharpness, Color Tone and Saturation, but it is missing Log Profiles and HLG profiles for video. For more advanced users these profiles are nice to have. It allows you to really make the colors in your video image unique and it also helps get the best dynamic range out of your camera. The Sony wins in this category.
9) Ease of Use
Here’s a big one that I think matters to a lot of people, especially those who are looking for beginner camera. How easy is the camera to use? To get the best out of the Sony you have to deep dive into the menu system and it is pretty convoluted. If you need to change from 4k to HD, you need to go into the menu. If you want to change your color profile, you need to go into the menu, focusing speed is the same thing – menu. There is certainly a learning curve, however like any other camera, there is an auto mode for both pictures and video and it will do pretty well. Even still I feel like the Canon M50 is a better starter camera if you are new to the world of cameras.
10) Touch Screen For Settings
To dive further into the ease of use thing, here’s a big one for me and it might be for you too. The touch screen on the Zv-1 only works for focusing. It does not allow you to change any settings. This is huge because you have to use a directional pad and buttons to make changes to everything. You want to switch to manual focus, you need to click buttons and scroll, you want to change your iso, aperture, or shutter, then it’s time to click buttons and scroll, but on the M50, simply click on the screen and touch the settings you want to change. Swipe your fingers or use buttons and directional pad or a combination of both, it makes things so much easier and faster. Using the camera for YouTube is so much easier because the screen is turned towards you. You can click on the screen to change things instead of reaching behind the camera and feeling for buttons. It really slows things down for that particular use case. The Canon is much better in this regard.
11) Direct Streaming to YouTube and Webcam Capability
The Canon M50 Mark II will allow you to stream directly to YouTube and it also works as a webcam via USB. The Sony Zv-1 only works as a webcam via usb, but there is no way to stream directly to YouTube.
Conclusion
I am here to give you a comparison of between of these camera, but I cannot tell you which one is best. It really depends on what and how you shoot. I personally own both, and I use both. It’s hard for me to get rid of either one, because they have their own unique strengths. If you are a person who wants to be a hybrid shooter and capture both video and pictures, I think the Canon M50 may be better option since you can always upgrade your lenses. If your focus is mostly video and you want something that is super portable, then maybe the Sony ZV1 might be a better option. In either case the links to both cameras are below. Choose wisely…
Canon M50 Mark II or Sony Zv-1.
If you want to more information about these cameras be sure to visit my Youtube channel and check out my comparison video.
And there are many more video about both cameras that you can explore via the playlists below:
Want to add a little polish to your videos, than read this article.
Looking for a wedding videographer, then be sure to check out my wedding page!
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