• 4/3 224.9mm2
  • 12.3 megapixels
  •  
  • APS-C 332.3mm2
  • 24.2 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 25,600

Buy From

Differences

Olympus E-PL1 advantages over Canon EOS M50

  • Lens selection
    Excellent vs Limited
    Better lens selection gives you more options
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
    Yes vs No
    Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
  • Bigger pixels
    ~ 4.29 vs 3.72 microns
    Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
  • Longer stills battery life
    More info 290 vs 235 shots
    Capture more photos
  • More telephoto lens reach
    84 mm vs 72 mm
    Capture objects farther away with the kit lens
  • Thinner
    41 mm vs 58 mm
    Thinner
  • Longer exposure
    60 vs 30 sec
    Long exposures for night shots

Canon EOS M50 advantages over Olympus E-PL1

  • Focus peaking
    Peaker vs Non-peaker
    Your camera will highlight what's in focus
  • Larger sensor
    APS-C vs 4/3
    More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
  • Tilt-swivel screen
    Tilt-swivel vs none
    Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
  • Eye-level viewfinder
    Eye-level vs Rear display only
    You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
  • Shoot 4K video
    4K (UHD) vs 720p
    Make sure you have a fast computer
  • Touchscreen
    Touch vs No touch
    Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
  • Fast startup
    ~1.60 vs 2.2 sec
    Faster startup lets you catch the moment
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
    Wi-Fi vs None
    Share your photos wirelessly
  • NFC
    Yes vs No
    Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
  • Built-in Bluetooth
    Yes vs No
    Always-on wireless connectivity
  • On-sensor phase detect
    Yes vs No
    Usually improves live view and video AF performance
  • External Mic Jack
    Jack vs No jack
    Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
  • Newer
    7 years vs 15 years old
    Newer cameras often support more advanced features
  • Shoots 24p video
    Yes vs No
    Gives your movies a big-screen feel
  • More dots on screen
    1620k vs 230k dots
    Can mean greater resolution or a brighter screen
  • Shoots 1080p video
    Yes vs No
    You'll want this if you shoot video
  • Less shutter lag
    0.07 vs 0.95 sec
    Focus and take a photo quickly (wide angle)
  • More pixels
    24.2 vs 12.3 megapixels
    Higher resolution photos
  • Shoots 60p video
    Yes vs No
    A faster framerate can give you more editing options
  • Wider angle kit lens
    24 mm vs 28 mm
    Capture more of the scene with the included lens
  • Faster JPEG shooting
    10.0 fps vs 3.0 fps
    Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
  • Bigger JPEG buffer
    36 vs 15 shots
    Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
  • Slow-motion videos
    Yes vs No
    Shoot slow-motion videos
  • Faster shutter
    1/4000 vs 1/2000 sec
    Shoot wide open in bright light
  • Higher extended ISO
    51200 vs 3200 ISO
    Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Similarities

Common Strengths

  • Internal flash
    Both provide
    Useful in a pinch for fill flash
  • HDMI out
    Both provide
    Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
  • Hot shoe
    Both provide
    Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
  • Bulb shutter
    Both provide
    Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures

Common Weaknesses

  • In-camera panoramas
    Neither provide
    Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
  • Built-in GPS
    Neither provide
    Geotag your photos
  • Top deck display
    Neither provide
    Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
  • Dual card slots
    Neither provide
    Gives you more storage flexibility
  • Headphone jack
    Neither provide
    Monitor audio recording while you shoot video

User reviews

Buy From

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Olympus E-PL1

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Canon EOS M50
Body Only (Black)
  • Body Only (Black)
  • Kit with 15-45mm Lens (Black)
  • Kit with 15-45mm Lens (White)
  • Kit with with 15-45mm and 55-200mm Lenses (Black)
  • Video Creator Kit (Black)
All EOS M50 Deals

Review Excerpt

  • Comfortable ergonomics and solid build; Versatile EVF and tilt-swivel, touch-screen LCD; Good image quality; Great performance for its class; New C-RAW format saves on raw file size; 4K video is an M-series first.

  • Somewhat limited dynamic range; JPEGs a little soft at base ISO, and more so at higher ISOs; Warm white balance under incandescent light; Poor battery life; Raw buffer is still shallow (but C-RAW helps).

  • Read our Canon EOS M50 Review

The Competition

Compared to Olympus E-P2

Olympus E-PL1
Olympus E-P2
  • $392
  • 4/3
  • Less expensive
  • Internal flash
  • $1100
  • 4/3
  • Eye-level viewfinder
  • Faster shutter

Compare Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus E-P2

Canon EOS M50
Olympus E-P2
  • $579
  • APS-C
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • Focus peaking
  • $1100
  • 4/3
  • Lens selection
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Canon EOS M50 vs Olympus E-P2

Compared to Olympus E-PL2

Olympus E-PL1
Olympus E-PL2
  • $392
  • 4/3
  • $600
  • 4/3
  • Fast startup
  • Higher effective ISO

Compare Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus E-PL2

Canon EOS M50
Olympus E-PL2
  • $579
  • APS-C
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • Focus peaking
  • $600
  • 4/3
  • Lens selection
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Canon EOS M50 vs Olympus E-PL2

Compared to Olympus E-P3

Olympus E-PL1
Olympus E-P3
  • $392
  • 4/3
  • Less expensive
  • $561
  • 4/3
  • Fast startup
  • Higher effective ISO

Compare Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus E-P3

Canon EOS M50
Olympus E-P3
  • $579
  • APS-C
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • Focus peaking
  • $561
  • 4/3
  • Lens selection
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Canon EOS M50 vs Olympus E-P3

Compared to Canon EOS M5

Olympus E-PL1
Canon EOS M5
  • $392
  • 4/3
  • Lens selection
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • $787
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor

Compare Olympus E-PL1 vs Canon EOS M5

Canon EOS M50
Canon EOS M5
  • $579
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • $787
  • APS-C
  • Fast startup
  • Longer stills battery life

Compare Canon EOS M50 vs Canon EOS M5

Compared to Sony A6100

Olympus E-PL1
Sony A6100
  • $392
  • 4/3
  • Lens selection
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • $648
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor

Compare Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony A6100

Canon EOS M50
Sony A6100
  • $579
  • APS-C
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • Higher-res screen
  • $648
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Larger sensor

Compare Canon EOS M50 vs Sony A6100

Compare Other Cameras?