To put this review in context, I must first describe my purpose and expectations for the camera. Although the M50 is offered as an "entry level" camera, I am hardly a neophyte, having been an avid photography hobbyist since purchasing my first 35mm camera in 1963. My current system consists of an older Canon APSC DSLR (t2i) with multiple lenses, flash etc. I was searching for a more compact "travel" camera to augment that system, not replace it. For that purpose, the Eos M cameras seemed the logical choice since they can be adapted to EF/EFS lenses and accept Canon accessories, but only two of them, the M5 and M50, have viewfinders, which I consider essential (the M6 accepts an optional viewfinder that increases it's cost to that of the M5 and disables the hot shoe; no joy.) According to other reviewers, the M50 has a less robust "feel" and inferior operator interface to the M5, but also has the latest generation processor, enhanced Dual Pixel AF and fully articulated touch screen. The M50's 4K video has been widely criticized, but video is not my priority. Before purchasing the M50, my greatest reservations were the "dumbed-down" user interface (compared to the M5) and the relatively short battery life. When the M50 kit with 15-45mm lens was offered with lens adapter at a 32% discount, I couldn't resist.Out of the box, I like this camera. It is a nice size, shaped to provide a good grip and with a "rubberized" texture on the right hand grip surfaces. The 15-45mm lens is quite compact, making for an easily packable travel camera, as I had hoped. This is a really small lens for a 3:1 zoom on an APS-C camera and the retractable feature helps make it so. The small M50 with 15-45mm lens is a very useful and less obtrusive "walk-around" combination. Some have cited the retraction as an inconvenience and, if so, you can always leave it extended and it is still small for its function. At its longest (45mm), the M lens is physically shorter than the EFS 18-55 at its shortest position (32mm). I like the retractable capability. The 15-45mm also has internal focusing and a non-rotating front element allowing use of a polarizing filter. The lens has a plastic mount but I have been using three other canon lenses with plastic mounts for about 7 years without problems or visible wear so I'm not concerned. The small size is possible, in part, because of a relatively "slow" aperture (f3.5-6.3) that at the long end puts it in diffraction limited territory for a 24MP APS sensor, but that is physics' "fault", not Canon's and applies to all 24mp APS cameras at about f6 or higher. Arguably, 18-20mp is a more appropriate upper limit for APS-C and note that both Canon and Nikon have limited their top-of-the-line APS cameras to about 20-21mp. That said, I've been impressed by the detail available in the M50 images, even at 100% crop. The dual pixel AF is fast and accurate and the large coverage area is a benefit, particularly with the touch focus ability. I have, however, encountered a situation where the spot focus mode missed its mark, presumably due to the size of the spot. With the focus spot centered on the white neck of an egret that was thinner than the spot, the M50 focused on the grass behind, rather than the egret, and this occurred repeatedly usually preferring the higher contrast detail even though farther away. The viewfinder is bright and clear and there is minimal lag or smearing as the camera is panned, unlike my first digital camera (Fuji S602Z). The viewfinder "exposure simulation" brightness is helpful as are the histogram and level. I still prefer an optical finder, but it is nice to have a full array of settings as well as image post-view in the EVF. The fully articulated touch screen is very useful and can be reversed to protect it in the stored position, unlike the M5. No, the handling "feel" of the M50 is not the equal of a DSLR, but is an acceptable trade-off for portability, particularly for situations where photography may not be the primary purpose of the excursion.Regarding the simplified user interface, it is somewhat inconvenient, but not a show-stopper. Most functions are easily accessible, once you learn where to find them and/or have reconfigured the controls to your priorities, but there are exceptions. Auto exposure bracketing is only accessible via menu and cannot be assigned to a control, nor does exposure bias, which has a dedicated button by default, provide a path to AEB. The ability to reassign functions to buttons is a distinct advantage as are configurable user menus but there are simply not enough controls to assign all frequently used functions, so regular menu use is unavoidable, but certainly AEB should be assignable. There is a "Quick Control Screen" accessible by pressing the "Set" button but I don't find it as useful as the "Quickmenu" of my old Canon nor does it provide access to AEB. Fortunately, there is also a "INFO Quick control screen" that will appear on the view screen (not the EVF) as you cycle through display options with the "INFO" button. This is similar to the "Quickmenu" of my DSLR and does provide access to AEB. Alternatively, you can create a custom menu that includes AEB. For most functions, there are multiple solutions; it is a matter of figuring out what combinations best work for you while avoiding conflicts that the manual does not disclose.The greatest handicap to user familiarity is the user manual, which is poorly organized and inadequately indexed with many trivially redundant entries wasting valuable space (it appears formatted for pages that are half the height of the manual as printed). An example is the on-screen level display which is not found in the index or table of contents and if you manage to find it by brute force search through the camera menus, as I did, there is no mention of the fact that the level display is mutually exclusive to tracking AF, a seemingly unrelated function!? Since tracking was already enabled, there was no level display and I only learned of the conflict through an extensive internet search where I found it mentioned in a comment to a review; and this after using the camera for a week. Older Canon manuals were much more descriptive and complete. The pull-up flash is a bit of an anachronism for a camera that emphasizes fully automatic operation, however, that is of no concern since it is as easy to flip up the flash as it is to push a button. What is curious is that raising the flash does not turn it on unless it has been enabled via menu or button (one is dedicated by default). This is not a problem once you know to enable the flash, however, I do not know whether leaving it enabled (either "AUTO" or "ON") affects battery life when the flash is down, therefore, I disable flash when not in use, and it seems a poor use of precious control real estate to need to have it assigned to a button as is the default, unless it is necessary to conserve battery (see below). The flash must also be enabled to use external flash.Silent mode is a potentially useful feature of the M50 that has been rendered virtually useless by its implementation as a "scene" selection, which limits it to fully automatic operation that I am not likely to use. Silent operation would be useful for wildlife photography or for tripod use to eliminate any mechanical vibration (shutter), but why must you forfeit control in order to use it?. Worse, AEB is not available even as a menu option in scene mode and I often need bracketed sequences to process for HDR (in- camera HDR is a scene mode also and is incompatible with raw capture). Speaking of tripod use, another feature that I miss is a remote control jack. Yes, I know that the M50 has WiFi and Bluetooth to allow it to be operated remotely by smartphone and this is a valuable feature allowing remote live-view; but establishing a WiFi connection is a bit fiddly and time consuming and the connection is lost when either device powers down. Once connected, WiFi works well and remote live view with touch focus is a treat. The bluetooth trigger function is easier to connect but provides only a shutter release without focus confirmation, and most curious, it will not function unless WiFi is enabled, even though there are separate menu entries for each. It would often be more convenient to use my existing wireless triggers and I sometimes photograph when traveling where there is no cell service and would have no other reason to carry my phone and keep it charged. This is not hypothetical, as my first use of the M50 was during a trip to West Virginia in areas without cell service and I was also carrying my DSLR (which does not have WiFi) and I needed my triggers anyway.The M50's limited battery capacity has been noted in other reviews and I can confirm that it discharges much faster than my DSLR. It was not a problem when I was away from a charger for only a few hours at a time, but on a trip to Tangier Island, the fully charged battery expired after only 129 shots in 8 hours of intermittent use in ECO mode! Fortunately, no opportunities were missed because I was about to head back to the B&B anyway. I can only speculate that the use of an EFS 55-250mm lens for 89 of the shots is the culprit, which presumably imposes a larger load for its focus motor than does the 15-45mm. Also note that the default focus setting is "continuous", which constantly refocuses even without pressing the shutter button. I didn't know this until I first mounted an EFS lens and saw the front element turning erratically. I will definitely buy more batteries, a total of 3 may suffice, but whereas I also carry 3 batteries for my DSLR, I seldom bring a charger on trips of a few days. With the M50 I will always travel with a charger. The physically smaller battery of the M50 helps facilitate the camera's diminutive size and is an understandable trade-off, but it can be inconvenient.The EFM-EF/EFS lens adapter is sturdy with metal body and lens/camera mounts and nicely finished. The small tripod foot is removable with a captive, knurled knob and the foot is keyed to the adapter so that it fits squarely and securely. I was, however, surprised by the adapter's heft until I realized that much of the mass is the foot, which seems cast of a dense metal, not a light alloy as is (I presume) the adapter body; to hazard a guess, I'd say brass, which is more than 3 times the mass of aluminum. Both the adapter body and the foot have steel 1/4x20 threaded inserts. The entire assembly weighs approx. 5.5oz, of which 2.0oz is the foot alone. The good news is that it works well with all EF/EFS lenses that I have tried, including my Tamron 150-600mm G2 (yes, the M50 does look silly mounted to such a huge lens and you must be cautious to support the lens independent of the camera.). It's worth noting that the adapter is not merely a mechanical adaptation, it involves electronic translation as well since the EFS system has only 8 contacts while EFM uses 9. In addition, EFS lenses have auto/manual and IS on/off switches while EFM have none and are switched in-camera. I'll also note that the M50 manual instructs to turn off the camera before mounting or dismounting a lens while my older Canon does not.My final gripe does not regard the camera, per se, rather Canon's software support of it, specifically the ability to easily transfer files to computer. Previously, Canon provided their "Zoom browser memory card utility" that would automatically organize files into dated folders at the location of your choice on PC. Unfortunately that utility has not been updated to recognize .CR3 files and the new "Image Transfer Utility" only operates via WiFi connection. While this may have some use, it is far less convenient than simply plugging an SD card into a computer, particularly when one must use different methods and software for different cameras of the same make. This is all the more frustrating since most other software options (including Windows) do not yet recognize .CR3 files. This is a particularly bad choice on Canon's part considering the limited battery capacity of the M50 without facility to power from an external source.Regarding software, Canon has revised their Digital Photo Professional (DPP) software for the .CR3 format and the M50 has provision to turn on lens corrections in-camera so that when opened in DPP, they are already applied, saving some processing time. This includes the application of DLO (digital lens optimizer) at what is, I assume, a predetermined optimum value for the lens settings used, but this can be adjusted in post. The 24mp files of the M50 do take significantly longer to process than the 18mp files of my DSLR and, while editing, changes may take some time before they display (I'm using an i7 processor and16GB ram). Regarding noise reduction, the default settings seem more aggressive than my DSLR for some ISO settings, but "High ISO noise reduction" can be adjusted to some degree (3 steps) in-camera and, of course, more finely in DPP during post. Incidentally, DPP v4 ability to play nice with Windows 10 has been substantially improved since its initial release, although I still encounter the occasional issue. For those not using DPP as their raw processor or who may have been turned off by DPP v3, version 4 is greatly improved and, in my view, the lens corrections of DLO are indispensable. DLO virtually banishes all lens aberrations and sharpens the image such that you may think that you have new lenses, particularly if you are using some kit lenses such as the 18-55mm IS II (unfortunately, DLO is for Canon lenses only). DLO v4 does not double the raw file size as did v3. I'm puzzled that DLO does not receive more notice in the photographic press. A note to Lightroom users: according to the Adobe site, they do not intend to add .CR3 support to Lightroom 6, so for now, DPP may be the only viable option for the M50 (and future Canon cameras??).In summary, I think that the M50 is an excellent camera for it's target market but needs better documentation to avoid frustrating buyers, particularly those new to photography to which the M50 seems directed. It is a camera that can be used with no fuss as a "point and shoot" yet incorporates a plethora of features that advanced users will value, albeit with some frustration. For my purposes, I believe the M50 is a valuable, if imperfect, addition to my system that will allow me to carry a camera more often and to more places than I might have otherwise, while using my existing lenses and flash if I choose to carry them, all while producing images that are the equal of Canon's latest APS-C DSLRs. The Ideal travel camera might be a next generation M5, melding the positive features of the M50 with the superior control interface of the M5, but of course the M5 costs significantly more. Until then, The M50 may be the best traveling Canon. If only Canon would update their memory card utility and rewrite the manual. And please, Canon, if you're determined to make cameras that are dependent on wireless connection, improve your connection software and provide enough battery to carry the load.EDIT 9/20/18: After processing and critically viewing more images, I feel that the EFM 15-45mm lens needs more comment with regard to resolution toward image extremes, particularly at the 15mm end. Image corners at wide angle can be rather soft, even while the center (actually, most of the image) is strikingly sharp. As one might expect, this is most noticeable in images shot indoors at ISO 1600 (the highest that I have used) with much detail throughout the frame and the softness is exacerbated by the increased noise in the corners due to correction for vignetting (peripheral illumination correction in Canon speak), which is substantial.Regarding Dual Pixel AF, yes it is fast and accurate - except when it isn't. I alluded to some focus misses above and suggested that the spot focus misses were related to the size of the spot, but after more use I realize that the same issue exists among the smaller focus points in the zone and tracking AF modes. I find it often misses more and is less predictable than my old 9 focus point DSLR. It is also slower to acquire focus, at least when first waking up . Part of the issue is inherent in the horizontal split of the dual-pixel array, which cannot focus on features that are much more than 45 degrees from vertical (I have confirmed this by using a lined legal pad as a target). Whereas modern DSLRs have multiple "cross-type" focus points that are sensitive to any orientation (and my old DSLR has but one), the M50 has none. It is far better than contrast AF, but not up to DSLR standards. Note that the Canon DSLRs that have dual pixel AF still use the more complex pentaprism phase detection system when possible. The touch focus ability of the M50 provides a workaround so that you can better direct the focal point, but using the view screen in this way while looking through the viewfinder will require some retraining on my part.I can confirm that battery life is related to the lenses used; in a recent outing where I used the EFS 55-250mm for 99 exposures, the battery was exhausted after only 118 shots in less than 1.5 hours of use. I may need to rethink the adequacy of carrying only 3 batteries.I mentioned that the noise reduction seems more aggressive than with my older Canon, however I neglected to mention that it is also more effective at reducing both chroma and luminance noise while preserving detail.None of this significantly alters my initial assessment of the M50. It is not a DSLR but is smaller and lighter making it better suited to incidental travel photography while providing versatility and image quality far beyond the best that smart phones or small sensor cameras can offer. I may eventually buy other EFM lenses to further reduce my travel bulk. As I've become more familiar with the M50, I find that it is usually my first choice when heading out and that I am carrying a camera more often. The T2i has mostly remained attached to my largest and heaviest lens (Tamron 150-600mm G2) and my 18-55mm EFS lens has not seen the light of day.

I absolutely LOVE this lens. I take it with me everywhere. It is a must have for anyone with a dslr camera. I love how lightweight it is too. Easy to pack and carry around. It can be very versatile and I'm still figuring out different ways to properly use it. I will say during video mode, it does make noise every time it focuses. It can be irritating for "home videos" but if you plan to remove the original sound for something else then the noise shouldn't be a problem. It does focus pretty fast. Highly recommend this lens.

BACKGROUND:Let me start by saying I'm a hobbyist photographer and I've been shooting with a Canon Rebel T1i (500D) for the past 10 years. I was heavily budget-constrained, so I rocked my OG Canon 50mm 1.8 (non-STM) version since 2010. For $150 at the time, it was a fast lens that was affordable to most novice DSLR photographers like myself.After recently getting back into my hobby after a couple years of being tied up with other stuff, I noticed my 50mm was producing softer images than I remember. It had never been dropped or otherwise abused, but it just seemed to be not performing the way I expected. The autofocus was reasonably quick, but very loud and lacking in smoothness and accuracy.BUILD QUALITY:Now that I had a little more money saved up, I decided to purchase the updated STM version of this lens and this is a MASSIVE leap from the old version. The build quality and finish, while still being mostly plastic, feels way more robust. The cheap shiny finish of the old version was gone in favor of a beefier, textured plastic. Also, the lens mount itself is now made of aluminum which fits very firmly against the camera body.PERFORMANCE:After testing it out I can say BOY is this thing tack sharp. With my old lens, I had to shoot at F/2.8 if I wanted anything with usable sharpness. This lens is producing razor sharp images wide-open and the autofocus is extremely quiet, smooth and accurate. It is still audible but you really have to listen for it. As far as speed goes, it doesn't seem much quicker than the old 50mm, but is way more accurate and reliable. The quiet STM focusing makes this usable for video, whereas the old version simply wasn'tJust keep in mind the manual focus still uses an internal motor to move the lens elements. With the camera turned off, turning the focus ring doesn't do anything. Also, on an older camera body like my T1i, turning off the camera wouldn't retract the lens barrel. Now that I've upgraded to a Canon 90D, I noticed turning off the camera will auto-retract the lens barrel all the way, making it suitable to store in a bag without damaging the lens.SUMMARY:If you're getting into DSLR photography and have a reasonably modern Canon DSLR body, this lens is a must-have. For $125 at the time of this review, it's even cheaper than the old lens (especially accounting for inflation), while out-performing it in nearly every metric. Prime lenses are the kings of affordable speed and sharpness, and this lens is right up there with the very best primes you can buy for under $500. If you aren't jumping on the mirrorless camera bandwagon, this is an excellent lens for both full-frame and crop sensor Canon DSLRs.

As my first DSLR camera, this is an excellent choice. You can start out slow, using more automatic setting modes, but advance quickly to customizing every detail of every exposure.It feels very sturdy, and is much lighter than I anticipated (but that's not a bad thing). Nice hand-grip area, and everything feels comfortable in my larger-than-average hands. My wife, with much smaller hands, can also comfortably hold and handle it, able to access all necessary buttons and features while shooting.Overall it's a great camera. I'm pleased with the 18-55 kit lens, and plan to stick with this camera for 3-4 years while building my lens library and getting some shooting experience.

First thing to get out of the way is that if you need a DSLR mainly for photography (not videography) then you can't go wrong with this one. The thing that will make any difference in your photos/results is NOT the camera body; its your skills/vision/compositions AND the lenses you have. Save money on body, buy this cheaper unit and use your saving to buy a second lens (the 50mm f1.8 is a MUST HAVE).Now onto why i really like this camera:1. Obviously the price! Espacially when paying more does not get you much more. This is espacially true for people who are looking for their first DSLR. These camera and their accessories WILL get expensive. As i said, the camera body is where you can cut some corners without impacting your end-results much. Buying it during holidays saves you more with deals and packages floating around.2. Battery life: My first DSLR was a Rebel XSi. It was very good but the best part was battery life - outstanding! Later i upgraded to T1i and sold my XSi. The T1i offers higher resolution LCD screen BUT that also causes the battery to drain much faster. This T3 is infact sort of a clone of XSi - same resolution, same kind of LCD and yes, same great battery life!3. Light weight: Its also very light and won't cause any trouble even after a whole day of shooting/wearing this on your neck. If you pair it with a light-weight prime lens like 50mm 1.8 or 35mm 2.0 (i would highly recommend both) - the whole package becomes a light-weight amazing photos machine.4. Easy to use: Perfect for beginners and offers much room to grow/get serious with your stuff. If you are coming from a point-and-shoot, it can act like one where you don't have to worry about any settings at all.This is my 2nd body along with my T1i - notice that i did not call it a "backup camera" - it is infact one of my primary camera. I grab either one depending on which one has the lens mounted that i need at the moment.Final note: I was a Canon-guy and Canon was first to bring the affordable DSLR to market so i went with their product. If you are just starting, it might be worth looking at Nikon D3100 as i've heard that is a better entry-level camera. But if you already have a collection of Canon lenses (or like them more), this is your camera.

I'm giving this 4 stars - 5 stars for what it does, and 3 stars for the fiddly.I use a Panasonic Lumix G6 MFT camera, and use full-size DSLR lenses with adapters for telephoto along with the occasional adapter that doubles the focal length of the kit lens. Hey, I'm on a budget!The Booster absolutely performs as advertised. When I first got it, I noticed that it was, well, *plasticky* and didn't feel very strong. It came with two adapters for the hot shoe (which I promptly misplaced but found again), and full directions. It took a bit of fiddling with the shoe mounts to get it seated correctly on the camera. I found that the only way to get it to perform properly was with one of the shoe adapters. With an adapter and the Booster in place, miracles happen.Everybody knows that the pop-up flash that every camera comes with is pretty much crap. Well, this little item with the War of the Worlds looking fresnel lens solves a lot of the issues.This will not work with your regular kit lens. This is meant for telephoto distance shooting, and that's how it best performs. Anything shorter than telephoto means that you'll have a blown out white circle in the middle of your picture! Ask me how I know...The pros of this item are pretty simple: It gives your pathetic pop-up enough power to brighten telephoto pics. After the fiddly part is done, it works perfectly. And it's made in the USA. Boom.The cons are simple, too: Plasticky feel, but may be stronger than it seems. It works on telephoto and ONLY on telephoto. Wish that they'd make one for wide angle!So to sum it up, I'm completely happy with the device and like the way it works. I just wish that the fit and finish would give me a little more confidence in its longevity. If it lasts, I will update it to five stars.

As a Canon DSLR shooter this adapter is a must for owning the EOS M. It's really the only reason why I bought the EOS M. I love the 22mm f2 that comes with it, but being able to use my nearly $10k worth of lens on this makes it a steal. I believe without this adapter the camera is very limited. The adapter fits the camera and lens nicely. I personally feel that the lense attaching to the EOS M feels strange, tight compared to all my DSLRs, but this adapter and lens are snug once attached, and that's what matters.

I have never owned a high end camera, little lone a DSLR. I had read review after review and decided to pick up this model and have to say it is amazing. It is the PERFECT beginners camera. The settings are easy to work with and learn, plus it designed for people like myself who want to take great photos while not going to head on into becoming a professional photographer. The lens is comes with is just a standard lens and upgrading in the future will most likely be a must but that is to be expected with a starter camera. It has a nice feel and the screen and view finder are crystal clear. If you want to get away from the point and click class but not got too crazy with the DSLR crowd.. this is the camera for you.