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Canon M50 vs Sony A6000
Even though Sony launched the a6000 back in early 2014, it remains one of the most popular mirrorless cameras you can buy.
The Canon EOS M50 is one of its closest competitors. Features and pricing are similar, even though Canon released it four years later.
If you’re torn between these two cameras, you’re in the right spot.
We’ve broken down all the key differences so you can decide which one fits your photography or video needs best.
Canon M50 vs Sony A6000 Comparison
| Canon M50 vs Sony A6000 | Image Resolution | Burst Shooting | Connectivity | Display | Lens Mount | Lens Type | Video Resolution | Viewfinder | Dimensions | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canon M50 | 24 Megapixels | 10fps | Built-in Wireless | 3" Articulating Touchscreen | Canon EF | APS-C CMOS | 4K (2160p) | 2360k dot Electronic | 4.6 x 3.5 x 2.3 in. | 13.7 oz. |
| Sony A6000 | 25 Megapixels | 11fps | Built-in Wireless | 3" Tilting Touchscreen | Sony E | APS-C CMOS | Full HD (1080p) | 1440k dot Electronic | 4.72 x 2.64 x 1.77 in. | 12.13 oz. |
Key Specifications
Canon M50
- Image Resolution: 24 Megapixels
- Burst Shooting: 10fps
- Connectivity: Built-in Wireless
- Display: 3″ Articulating Touchscreen
- Lens Mount: Canon EF
- Lens Type: APS-C CMOS
- Video Resolution: 4K (2160p)
- Viewfinder: 2360k dot Electronic
- Dimensions: 4.6 x 3.5 x 2.3 inches
- Weight: 13.7 Ounces
Sony A6000
- Image Resolution: 24 Megapixels
- Burst Shooting: 11fps
- Connectivity: Built-in Wireless
- Display: 3″ Tilting Touchscreen
- Lens Mount: Sony E
- Lens Type: APS-C CMOS
- Video Resolution: Full HD (1080p)
- Viewfinder: 1440k dot Electronic
- Dimensions: 4.72 x 2.64 x 1.77 inches
- Weight: 12.13 Ounces
Autofocus
Canon M50 vs Sony A6000 – Autofocus
Both the Canon M50 and Sony A6000 rely on hybrid Autofocus (contrast and phase detection), but there are some notable differences.
Canon’s Dual Pixel CMOS AF gives the M50 99 focus points, and you can bump that to 143 with certain lenses. Those points cover 88% of the sensor.
The M50 has a low-light sensitivity of -2EV, while the a6000 sits at 0EV. The a6000 uses Sony’s Eye AF system with 25 contrast detection points and 179 phase detection points.
Design
Canon M50 vs Sony A6000 – Design
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The M50 has a classic SLR look thanks to the centered EVF hump. The a6000 is wider but lighter, and its flat-top design makes it noticeably shorter.
Neither camera is weather-sealed. The A6000’s grip is bigger but slightly shorter than the M50’s, with a different contour.
Both cameras have a PSAM mode dial and a single exposure control dial on top. They also share a hot shoe and a pop-up flash.
Electronic Viewfinder
Canon M50 vs Sony A6000 – Electronic Viewfinder
The EOS M50’s viewfinder sits in the center of the body. It uses the same size panel as before but with a higher 2360k resolution and a 22mm eyepoint.
The a6000’s EVF is positioned on the left side. Specs include a 0.39″ display with 1440k resolution, 0.7x magnification, and a 23mm eyepoint.
Image and Video Quality
Canon M50 vs Sony A6000 – Image and Video Quality
The EOS M50 shoots Full HD (1080p) video and can also record in 4K (2160p) at 24fps or 25fps. Keep in mind, though, that the sensor gets a 1.6x crop in 4K mode.
The Sony A6000 maxes out at Full HD (1080p) video at 60 frames per second. Using the XAVC S codec, it hits a bit rate of 50Mbps.
Lenses
Canon M50 vs Sony A6000 – Lenses
For more on this, take a look at our Canon ae-1 guide.
The EOS M system has a decent range of native lenses, but the 22mm f/2 and the 32mm f/1.4 are the only fast primes available.
You also can’t use RF full-frame lenses on it because the mount is different from Canon’s newer system.
Going with the A6000 opens up a larger selection of E-mount lenses.
The lineup isn’t the biggest, but it covers fast primes, the 16-55mm f/2.8 zoom, a couple of telephoto zooms, and some nice Sigma options.
Full-frame lenses work too, though some of them are bulky and expensive.
DSLR lenses can be adapted to both cameras, but autofocus on the a6000 will be slower with adapters. With cameras this small and light, lens size and weight become something to think about.
Price
The M50 runs a bit more, at around $630 for the body or $650 with the 15-45mm kit lens.
The a6000 lists at $550, though you can often find it for about $450 body-only or $550 with the 16-50mm lens.
Final Thought
The M50 is very easy to pick up and use, thanks to its articulating touchscreen and modern interface. It has plenty of great features, though 4K video comes with some restrictions.
The A6000 has been around for years, but it still puts out excellent image quality and autofocus performance. The downside? It’s not as beginner-friendly as the Canon, and the menu system can be confusing to navigate.
