Comparison Canon EOS M50 body vs Canon EOS M5 body

The result shown by the camera in the DxOMark ranking.

DxOMark is one of the most popular and respected resources for expert camera testing. According to the test results, the camera receives a certain number of points; The more points, the higher the final score.

The sensitivity range of a digital camera matrix. In digital photography, light sensitivity is expressed in the same ISO units as in film photography; however, unlike film, the light sensitivity of the sensor in a digital camera can be changed, which gives you more options for adjusting shooting parameters. High maximum light sensitivity is important if you have to use a lens with a low aperture (see Aperture), as well as when shooting dimly lit scenes and fast-moving objects; in the latter case, high ISO allows you to use low shutter speeds, which minimizes image blur. However, note that with an increase in the value of the applied ISO, the level of noise in the resulting images also increases.

The presence of two control dials in the design of the camera.

This design feature makes it easier to control the camera and change settings on the fly: additional operating parameters are transferred to the second disk, and turning it to the desired position is easier and faster than “digging” in the on-screen menu items. This feature is found mainly in semi-professional and professional cameras, which involve frequent use of manual shooting mode.

Bracketing is called shooting a series of frames, in which in each next frame the shooting parameters (exposure, white balance, focus, etc.) change by a certain amount. This allows, for example, to choose the most successful shot from several options, or to determine the effect of changing the settings in one direction or another. Auto bracketing allows you to take such shots automatically. At the same time, it should be taken into account that the set of parameters changed in the process may differ in different camera models. For example, some devices are able to change only the exposure, others — the exposure and/or white balance, etc.

The maximum resolution and frame rate of video captured by the camera in the Ultra HD (4K) standard.

UHD 4K refers to resolutions with a frame size of approximately 4,000 horizontal pixels. Specifically, in cameras for video shooting, resolutions of 3840x2160 and 4096x2160 are most often used. Regarding the frame rate, it is worth noting first of all that a normal (not slow-motion) video is shot at a speed of up to 60 fps, and in this case, the higher the frame rate, the smoother the video will be, the less jerks will be noticeable when moving in the frame. If the frame rate is 100 fps or higher, this usually means that the camera has a slow-motion video mode.

— USB C. A universal USB interface that uses a Type C connector. USB ports themselves (all types) are used mainly for connecting the camera to a computer for copying footage, managing settings, updating firmware, etc. Specifically The Type C connector is comparable in size to earlier miniUSB and microUSB, but has a reversible design that allows the plug to be inserted in either direction. In addition, USB C often operates according to the USB 3.1 standard, which allows for connection speeds of up to 10 Gbps - a useful feature when copying large amounts of content.

- HDMI. A comprehensive digital interface that allows you to transmit video (including high resolution) and audio (up to multi-channel) over a single cable. The presence of such a port makes it possible to use the camera as a player: it can be directly connected to a TV, monitor, projector, etc. and view your footage on the big screen. In this case, broadcast capabilities can include not only video playback, but also demonstration of captured photos in slide show mode. HDMI inputs are present in most modern video equipment, and connection is usually not a problem.
Nowadays, there are several versions of the HDMI interface on the market:

• v 1.4. The oldest version currently relevant, released in 2009. However, it supports 3D video, is capable of working with resolutions up to 4096x2160 at a speed of 24 fps, and in Full HD resolution the frame rate can reach 120...fps. In addition to the original v.1.4, there are also improved modifications - v.1.4a and v.1.4b; they are similar in basic capabilities, in both cases the improvements affected mainly work with 3D content.
• v2.0. Significant HDMI update introduced in 2013. In this version, the maximum frame rate in 4K has increased to 60 fps, and support for ultra-wide 21:9 format can also be mentioned. In update v.2.0a, HDR support was added to the interface capabilities; in v.2.0b this function was improved and expanded.
• v 2.1. Despite the similarity in name to v.2.0, this version, released in 2017, was a very large-scale update. In particular, it added support for 8K and even 10 K at speeds up to 120 fps, and also further expanded the capabilities for working with HDR. This version was released with its own cable - HDMI Ultra High Speed; all features of v.2.1 are available only when using cables of this standard, although basic functions can be used with simpler cords.

— Headphone output. Audio output allows you to connect headphones to the camera. As a rule, it is represented by a classic 3.5 mm mini-jack. The presence of such a connector provides the ability to monitor sound during video recording in real time. This is especially important when filming interviews, vlogs and other similar projects.

— Microphone input. Specialized input for connecting an external microphone to the camera. External microphones are significantly superior to built-in microphones in sound quality. Firstly, they are not so sensitive to the camera’s “own” sounds - from buttons, control wheels, focus motors, etc. (and if the microphone uses a long wire and is not attached to the body, these sounds will not be heard at all). Secondly, external microphones themselves have more advanced characteristics. On the other hand, their use is justified mainly for professional video recording; therefore, the presence of a microphone input, as a rule, corresponds to advanced video recording capabilities

The number of focus points (autofocus) provided in the design of the camera.

The focus point is the point (more precisely, a small area) in the frame from which the autofocus system reads data for focusing. The simplest systems work with a single point, but their capabilities are very limited, and this option is practically not found today. Modern digital cameras have at least three focus sensors, and in the most advanced models this figure can reach several dozen.

The more autofocus sensors there are in the camera, the more advanced its autofocus capabilities will be, the more specific techniques it allows you to use. In this case, the selection of specific points used can be carried out both automatically, simultaneously with the choice of the subject program, and manually (however, the second option is more typical for professional cameras). In addition, the abundance of focus points has a positive effect on the quality of the tracking autofocus (see "Autofocus Modes").

In general, more focus sensors are generally considered a sign of a more advanced camera; however, differences in quality become really noticeable only if the difference in the number of points is significant - for example, if we compare models with 9 and 39 points. A lot also depends on the location of the points in the frame - it is believed that sensors distributed over a wide area work better than densely located in the center of the frame, even if their number is the same.

Continuous shooting speed provided by the camera at the maximum frame resolution. At lower resolutions, the speed may be higher, but this value is considered the key characteristic.

In continuous shooting, the photographer presses the button, and the camera takes several shots in a row, usually at intervals of a fraction of a second. Such shooting is convenient, for example, for capturing fast-moving objects: it allows you to choose the most successful from a series of frames, or to show the dynamics of movement using the entire series. And the higher the speed, the more effective the shooting, the more frames the camera can capture in a period of time. On the other hand, speed requires appropriate hardware and can significantly affect the cost.

The shutter is a system that regulates the duration of exposure, that is, the effect of light on the matrix (for more details on exposure, see above). Here are the main types of such systems:

— Electronic. A type of shutter that is only suitable for digital cameras. Such systems do not have moving mechanical parts; exposure in them is carried out electronically. At the moment the shutter is pressed, when the shutter is “opened”, the matrix is completely reset; and after a certain time (corresponding to the exposure time), when the shutter is “closing”, the accumulated charge is read from it. This allows you to carry out full-fledged photography and work with different shutter speeds without using complex structures. Another advantage over the mechanical shutters described below is that such systems are perfect for Live View (see above): the matrix can constantly broadcast the image on the screen, only sometimes “interrupting” directly into shooting. On the other hand, such a constant work increases the likelihood of heating and the appearance of additional noise in the picture. To compensate for this shortcoming, various solutions are used, and in most cases it is almost invisible; however, for professional photography, electronic shutters are still considered less suitable than mechanical shutters.

— Mechanical. There are many types of mechanical shutters, however, in modern digital c...ameras, systems in the form of a pair of shutters are predominantly found. When the shutter opens, one of the curtains moves, and then the second “catches up” with it, closing the matrix. The main advantage of mechanical shutters is that when using them, the matrix always remains closed and opens only at the moment of shooting for a time corresponding to the set shutter speed (similar to how it happens in film cameras). Due to this, it is possible to avoid heating the sensor and the associated increase in image noise. On the other hand, additional mechanisms noticeably affect the weight, dimensions, cost and power consumption of the camera; when shooting fast moving objects, distortions may occur, and at low temperatures — failures and even failures. In addition, cameras with mechanical shutters are mainly designed to work through an optical viewfinder. For an electronic viewfinder or Live View mode (see above), you either need to install an auxiliary matrix (which further complicates and increases the cost of the design), or completely open the shutters and actually shoot in electronic shutter mode, which makes the very idea of \u200b\u200b"mechanics" meaningless. As a result, this type of shutter is currently used mainly in SLR cameras (see "Camera type") of the middle and top levels; it is also found in other varieties, but much less frequently.

— Electronic/mechanical. Systems that combine both options described above; more precisely, even — mechanical shutters, supplemented by the ability to work in electronic mode. One of the key disadvantages of purely mechanical systems is their poor suitability for ultra-short shutter speeds — it is not easy to provide the necessary shutter speed, and besides, the mechanism is subjected to significant loads in this mode. To eliminate this shortcoming, electronic-mechanical systems were created. They work as follows: at short shutter speeds, a purely mechanical method of operation is used up to a certain limit, and when the possibilities of mechanics are not enough, a combined mode is used. In this mode, the shutter curtains open for a relatively long time (longer than the required shutter speed), while the matrix works electronically (see above for more details), providing the required shutter speed. Theoretically, the combined method allows you to effectively shoot at ultra-low shutter speeds, but in fact the quality of the images is relatively low, and the “hybrid” shutter is often more of a marketing ploy than a really useful tool.