Canon M50/M6 II vs Sony A6500/A6400 vs Fujifilm X-T30

These are the best-selling cameras in the hybrid category. And this is the only category whose sales increase year by year, because they allow to shot quality photos even in low light with a lower weight and a small footprint compared to SLR while offering the same capabilities. They are more expensive and a little more sophisticated than the four cameras seen in a previous comparative: Which hybrid camera to buy?

This comparison includes an exclusive part, "Limitations and crippling " which indicates the removal of capabilities - usually in software - which cost nothing to implement, only to incite to buy the more expensive models to which they were added. This also includes features that competitors have added to cheaper and less advanced models.

Canon M50 vs Sony A6500

Comparison of specs

  Canon EOS M50 Canon EOS M6 II Sony A6400 Sony A6500 Fujifilm X-T30
Sensor APS-C APS-C APS-C
Pixels (million) 24 32.5 24 26
Resolution in 3:2 6000x4000 6960x4640 6000x4000 6240x4160
Standard lens 15-45mm f/3.5-6.3 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 15-45mm f/3.5-5.6
or 18-55mm f/2.8-4
Mount Canon EF-M Sony E-Mount Fujifilm X
Filter diameter 49mm 40.5 mm 52mm / 58mm
Sensibility ISO 100-25600 ISO 100-32000 ISO 100-25600 ISO 160-12800
Focus points 143 425 425
Autofocus modes Dual pixels. Phase detection.
Contrast for 4K video.
Eye detection (for still images).
Hybrid manual + automatic.
Hybrid phase detection / contrast detection for images and videos.
Eye detection with tracking even for animals.
Hybrid phase detection / contrast detection for images and videos.
Eye detection.
Smart hybrid AF. Contrast and phase detection.
Optical / In picture zoom 3x
36x in Full HD
3x
42x in Full HD
25x in 3008x2000
(3.13 x 8)
75x or 150x in Full HD
3.75x
(3 x 1.25)
39x in Full HD
Burst 10 ips 30 ips RAW 11 ips 30 ips
Pre-shot - 0.5s before - 14 images
Still image format JPEG, RAW CR3 JPEG, RAW JPEG, RAW
Panorama - yes yes
IBIS (image stabilization in body) For video only, by software - yes -
HDR still image Yes yes yes
AE Bracketing Yes yes yes
WB Bracketing Yes yes yes
Focus Bracketing - Small set of lenses - yes
Distortion correction Yes yes yes
Speed 1/4000 - 30 secondes 1/4000 - 30 seconds 1/32000 - 30 seconds
Video 4K 25 fps 4K 30 fps 4K 30 fps
Video format MPEG 4 / AVC H.264 MP4, AVCHD 2.0 H.264 MPEG-4 AVC/H.264
Stabilized video By software Lenses yes Lenses
Crippling * ☠ ☠ ☠ ☠ ☠ ☠ ☠ ☠ ☠ ☠ ☠ ☠ ☠ ☠ ☠ ☠ ☠ ☠ ☠ ☠
Microphone Stereo Stereo Stéréo
Video length 30 mn 125 mn 50 mn 10mn 4K- 15mn FHD
Connectors HDMI, USB HDMI, USB-C HDMI, USB HDMI, USB Type C
Bluetooth 4.1 4.1 4.2
Wi-Fi 2.4 GHz 2.4 GHz 2.4 GHz
Integrated flash 5 meters 6 meters 5 meters
Hot shoe Yes yes yes
Viewfinder OLED 2.360 K Option
OLED 2.360K
OLED 2.360 K OLED 2.360 K
Touchscreen Focus and menus For focus only yes
Screen Articulated Flip Flip Tilt Tilt
Remote control Bluetooth yes yes
Storage SD, SDHC, SDXC UHS-1 SD, SDHC, SDXC UHS-II SD, SDXC UHS-1 SD, SDXC UHS-1
Autonomy 235 images 305 images 360 images 350 images 380 images
USB charging - yes yes yes
Weather sealed - yes - -
Size 116.3 x 88 x 58.7 mm 119.6 x 70 x 49.2 120 x 67 x 60 cm 120 x 67 x 53 cm 118 x 83x 47
Weight (body only) 387g - 13.6oz 408g - 14.4oz 400g - 14.1oz 453g - 16oz 383g - 13.5oz
Year 2018 2019 2019 2016 2019

* See "Limitations and crippling" in the descriptions below.

Sony A6500 (or ILCE-6500)

The lenses of Sony are very expensive, but thanks to the stabilization in the body you can make better videos.
With a 400mm lens you can obtain a Full HD image enlarged 1200 times (600mm with the crop factor, 4x digital zoom in 6000x4000 pixels, 24MP / 2MP = 12, ie 25x * 4 * 12.

Advantages:

Drawbacks:

Limitations and crippling:

  1. Sony does not use for its devices (which includes the recent A6600) its latest IMX571 sensor while it is being used by Fujifilm.
  2. No focus bracketing that is found on low-end Panasonic.
  3. The touch screen does not work for menus. A mobile at $30 can do it!

Sony a6400

The advantages on the A6500:

The disadvantages compared to the A6500:

Same crippling as on the A6500.

Canon EOS M50

This model focuses on the quality of images and forgets video and helpers like panorama. More practical to use, it will be better for the beginner. Because of its lower price and its abundance of lenses and ease of use, it may be suitable for artistic photography or memory of events.
With a 400mm lens you can get a Full HD image enlarged 300 times: 600mm with the crop factor is 25x, 24MP / 2Mp = 12, 25x by 12 = 300x.

Advantages:

Drawbacks:

Limitations and crippling:

  1. No digital zoom while it exists on the SX60 and SX70 of the brand.
  2. No Panorama mode while it exists on the SX70.
  3. No focus bracketing.

Canon EOS M6 II

No user experience for now.

Advantages:

Drawbacks:

Creative filters from Canon!

Limitations and crippling:

  1. No digital zoom while it exists on the SX60 and SX70 of the brand.
  2. No Panorama mode while it exists on the SX70.
  3. Focus bracketing limited and no focus stacking as is the case on Panasonic or Olympus.

Should I buy the M6 or M6II?

The main benefits of M6 II are:

Fujifilm X-T30

Fujifilm's recent cameras are praised for the quality of their images. The Fujifilm X-T30 uses a modern Sony 26MP sensor (IMX571) that the latter does not use in its own latest model, the A6600, for fear of cannibalizing the sales of its full frames or video cameras!
This camera is better suited to someone who wants to get involved in the art of photography rather than someone looking for ease of use and quick shoots.

Advantages:

Drawbacks:

Limitations and crippling:

  1. No digital zoom.
  2. Focus bracketing present but no focus stacking as is the case with Panasonic or Olympus.
  3. Memos limited for no reason to 30 seconds.

Conclusion

If we put aside the very subjective opinions of fans of each brand, opinions are generally more favorable to Sony and even more to Fuji. However many are hesitant because the limited touch screen of the Sony and the price of the lenses.
All these cameras have a very advanced autofocus system and always make beautiful pictures. You will therefore decide according to the other criteria that differentiate them: price, ease of use, video capacity, lenses you already own and other factors related to the intended use.

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