Canon EOS M50 Mark II now official in PH, priced

Canon Philippines today announced the local availability of the Canon EOS M50 Mark II mirrorless camera, designed for photography enthusiasts who are also keen to do videos and live stream. Whether you are a parent looking to capture fleeting moments of your child’s milestones; a frequent traveller looking for a compact and fuss-free shooting experience; or someone hoping to start your own YouTube channel; the EOS M50 Mark II is designed to help create captivating photos and videos with ease.

Capture sharper images and video with its 24.1MP APS-C CMOS sensor, while its Dual Pixel CMOS AF provides quicker and more accurate autofocus functions, all while maintaining its ease of operability.

Always had trouble capturing sharp images of your active toddler who is constantly on the move or find it hard to zoom in on your child’s face as he runs across the pitch during soccer practice? The EOS M50 Mark II features an enhanced Eye Detection AF, which is able to detect and focus on a subject’s eye even when the person is far away. This will ensure the eye will always stay in focus, making it possible to use Eye Detection AF for full body shots in addition to the common upper body portrait shot. Users can capture subjects quickly and accurately when they are approaching from a distance, making it great for candid shots as well.

Eye detection AF is also available with Servo AF when shooting still images and Movie Servo AF when shooting video, so you will always be able to capture your subject’s natural expressions even when they are in motion.

The EOS M50 Mark II has a continuous shooting speed of up to 7.4fps with servo AF so users can capture multiple shots of moving subjects such as children or pets. Its built-in high-resolution electronic viewfinder (EVF) makes for easy viewing even when shooting in the bright outdoors.

The AF frame display in EVF or LCD screen of the EOS M50 Mark II, which shows which part of the picture the camera is focusing on, has also been improved. It is now faster and tracks the subject more smoothly, so users will always know which part of the picture will be in focus without experiencing any on-screen lag. Display speed on the AF frame display in the viewfinder or LCD screen has also been improved on the EOS M50 Mark II, allowing for better visualization of the tracking.

An EOS first, the EOS M50 Mark II makes full use of its touch-sensitive display with the new Tap AF feature where users can instantly switch focus from one person to another by just tapping on the screen, which is especially useful in group shots. This is in addition to the Touch & Drag AF, where users can move the AF frame by dragging their finger on the screen while shooting through the EVF.

Fast and stable AF is essential when it comes to shooting videos of moving subjects. On the EOS M50 Mark II, Eye Detection AF works with Movie Servo AF shooting. By simply keeping the subject within the frame while shooting, it will track the subject smoothly. Users can thus focus on the composition of the video while leaving the tracking of the subject to the camera.

With an improved contrast AF algorithm, users can also expect enhanced AF stability during 4K movies shooting with EF-M lenses. This will enable smooth movie recording, with reduced wobbling. EOS M50 Mark II supports movie digital zoom (approx. 3-10x) at the central part of the screen during shooting, which can be combined with optical zoom on a zoom lens to achieve magnified shooting with up-close shots.

With existing cameras, movies shot vertically are displayed smaller in a horizontal position when users playback the movie on a smart device. On the EOS M50 Mark II, an “add rotate info” option enables automatic vertical playback on smart devices, PCs and compatible social media, which enables a better viewing experience.

Vloggers are now able to live-stream directly to YouTube from EOS M50 Mark II by connecting to Wi-Fi without using a streaming unit. The EOS M50 Mark II also supports Canon’s new image. Canon cloud platform and registered users of the platform can upload, store, download and transfer images smoothly between various devices.

Equipped with a Vari-angle LCD monitor and features such as touch screen recording, movie self-timer and an external microphone jack, the EOS M50 Mark II make it intuitive and easy for vloggers to record videos and do live streaming.

The live streaming service of this product supports scheduled live streaming on YouTube only. To use the live streaming service, registration on image.canon is needed in advance together with the latest firmware. In accordance with YouTube’s “Restrictions on live streaming”, users must have a minimum of 1,000 channel subscribers in order to live stream from a mobile device.

Search
-

6 best smartphones for video recording and content creation

It’s getting increasingly difficult to find bad cameras on smartphones these days. Even if you purchase a low-end phone, chances are you’ll experience a decent set of shooters. However, there are smartphones that are better suited for videography.

This list focuses on phones that offer advanced video recording features and well-rounded specifications. We narrowed it down to six, from relatively affordable to the cream of the crop. You can’t go wrong with any of these options but remember: it’s how you use the cameras that matters more.

POCO X3 Pro

  • Specifications and Price:
  • 6.67-inch 1080p LCD at 120Hz
  • Qualcomm Snapdragon 860 processor
  • 6GB RAM
  • 128GB storage and microSD slot
  • 48MP (main), 8MP (ultrawide), 2MP (macro), 2MP (depth) rear cameras
  • 20MP front camera
  • 5160mAh battery
  • PhP 12,990

Although the POCO X3 Pro prioritizes near-flagship-level specs at an affordable price, it still delivers a solid camera experience. It can record up to 4K resolution at 30fps, and there’s a 3.5mm port for plugging in external audio peripherals. In addition, the large 5160mAh battery and expandable microSD storage should extend your recording sessions.

Get it here: Lazada, Shopee, Amazon

Google Pixel 4a

Specifications and Price:

  • 5.81-inch 1080p OLED
  • Qualcomm Snapdragon 730G processor
  • 6GB RAM
  • 128GB storage
  • 12.2MP rear camera
  • 8MP front camera
  • 3140mAh battery
  • PhP 22,990

If you don’t mind an older device with lower-end hardware, the Pixel 4a is a great straight-to-the-point video shooter. It has a single rear camera with optical image stabilization, as well as a 3.5mm audio port; more importantly, it comes with Google’s image processing software which you can’t find on other brands.

It’s a no-frills package, but the 4K video quality is exquisite at 30fps and its smaller dimensions make it easier to handle during recording.

Get it here: Lazada, Shopee, Amazon

RELATED: 5 best affordable tablets for online classes and WFH (2021)

ASUS Zenfone 8 Flip

Specifications and Price:

  • 6.67-inch 1080p Super AMOLED at 90Hz
  • Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G processor
  • 8GB RAM
  • 256GB storage and microSD slot
  • 64MP (main), 12MP (ultrawide), 8MP (telephoto) front and rear cameras
  • 5000mAh battery
  • PhP 39,995

The Zenfone 8 Flip is unlike any other smartphone on this list because of its flipping set of cameras. The mechanism allows the three lenses to act as both rear and front cameras, making both sides equal in quality.

This is vital in recording yourself and your surroundings interchangeably. On top of that, this Zenfone has some of the best specs around, including the high-end Snapdragon 888 5G chipset which can produce 8K video at 30fps or 4K at 120fps.

Get it here: Lazada, Shopee, Amazon

Samsung Galaxy S21

Specifications and Price:

  • 6.2-inch 1080p Dynamic AMOLED at 120Hz
  • Exynos 2100 / Snapdragon 888 5G processor
  • 8GB RAM
  • 256GB storage
  • 12MP (main), 12MP (ultrawide), 64MP (telephoto) rear cameras
  • 10MP front camera
  • 4000mAh battery
  • PhP 43,990

Samsung’s most recent non-folding flagship series ticks all the boxes: top-end processor, lots of RAM and storage, plus three rear cameras that go from ultrawide to telephoto. We recommend the standard S21 because it keeps up with the S21+ in terms of video recording capabilities, and it’s significantly cheaper. You can learn more about it in TMC’s full camera review.

Get it here: Lazada, Shopee, Amazon

RELATED: 5 best affordable laptops for online classes and WFH (2021)

Apple iPhone 13 Pro

Specifications and Price:

  • 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED at 120Hz ProMotion
  • Apple A15 Bionic processor
  • 6GB RAM
  • 128GB storage
  • 12MP (main), 12MP (ultrawide), 12MP (telephoto) rear cameras
  • 12MP front camera
  • Undisclosed battery capacity but Apple says it’s double the iPhone 12’s life
  • PhP 63,990

The recently released iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max have similar specs but we prefer the smaller variant for its easier handling and comparable camera quality. The iPhone 13 series introduces ProRes recording and a new Cinematic mode that are tailor-made to mobile videographers.

Put together, the triple-camera combo gives you 4K video recording at up to 60fps. Once you’re done shooting, you’ll have iOS’s suite of apps to edit that footage.

You’ll have to wait to get one, though, as it’s only for pre-order for now.

Sony Xperia 1 III

Specifications and Price:

  • 6.5-inch 1644p OLED at 120Hz
  • Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G processor
  • 12GB RAM
  • 256GB storage and microSD slot
  • 12MP (main), 12MP (ultrawide), 12MP (telephoto) rear cameras
  • 8MP front camera
  • 4500mAh battery
  • PhP 61,990

If you want a truly video-centric smartphone, you must go for an Xperia.

The Xperia 1 III is the latest from Sony, and it rocks all the high-end specs you’d expect out of a 2021 flagship. The triple-camera setup covers the important focal lengths, and watching your footage on the 4K resolution OLED is a delight.

It also comes with a 3.5mm port for audio accessories and a dedicated shutter button for old-school users. As long as you can stomach the high asking price, it doesn’t get much more complete than this.

Get it here: Lazada, Amazon

Honorable Mentions

ASUS Zenfone 7

In case you can’t score a Zenfone 8 Flip, the Zenfone 7 is the next best thing.

It’s significantly cheaper now and does the same camera flipping trick as the newer Zenfone. Besides the slower processor, the Zenfone 7 pretty much matches its newer counterpart, from the physical dimensions and screen to the battery capacity and overall weight.

Get it here: Lazada, Amazon

OnePlus 8T

OnePlus isn’t known for stellar camera performance, but they do continue to offer older flagships at attractive prices. At the moment, 2020’s OnePlus 8T can be bought for as low as PhP 22,990.

It provides a clean and fast interface, as well as a solid set of cameras. While it may lag behind the options above in terms of videography, it’s still a pleasure to use.

Get it here: Lazada, Shopee, Amazon

Huawei P40 and Mate 40 series

Even though Huawei’s recent flagships lack Google Play Services, they still pack a punch when it comes to video shooting. The P40 and Mate 40 lineups have complete camera setups, high-end displays and processors, plus 5G connectivity to quickly upload your footage.

As long as you can find the video-editing apps you need, they’re certainly capable.

Get it here (Huawei P40): Lazada, Shopee, Amazon

Get it here (Huawei Mate 40): Lazada, Shopee, Amazon

Final Thoughts

We could give the Xperia 1 III the crown and call it a day, but its price and lack of official local support make it one of the less practical choices.

With that in mind, the Zenfone 8 Flip has the best combination of video recording and value. Whether shooting surroundings or yourself, you get the same quality on both ends, and it manages a wide range of resolutions at high frame rates. Best of all, it isn’t as expensive as its closest competitors.

REVIEWS