• 1/2.35 inch 27.3mm2
  • 8.0 megapixels
  • 36.00mm - 180.00mm (35mm eq.)
  • 1/2.3 inch 28.1mm2
  • 12.1 megapixels
  • 28.00mm - 224.00mm (35mm eq.)

Buy From

Differences

Pentax M50 advantages over Canon N

  • Less expensive
    $230 vs $300 (MSRP)
    Save money for lenses or accessories
  • Bigger pixels
    ~ 1.85 vs 1.54 microns
    Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
  • Manual focus
    Yes vs No
    AF is for the weak. Real photographers focus manually.
  • Lighter weight
    116g vs 195g
    Lighter weight

Canon N advantages over Pentax M50

  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
    Yes vs No
    Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
  • Touchscreen
    Touch vs No touch
    Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
  • Larger lens aperture
    f/3.0 vs f/3.5
    Take photos in low-light or isolate your subject
  • Tiltable Screen
    Tiltable vs Fixed
    Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
    Wi-Fi vs None
    Share your photos wirelessly
  • More telephoto lens reach
    224 mm vs 180 mm
    Capture objects farther away
  • Newer
    12 years vs 17 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
    461k 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
  • More pixels
    12.1 vs 8.0 megapixels
    Higher resolution photos
  • Wider angle lens
    28 mm vs 36 mm
    Capture more of the scene
  • Longer exposure
    15 vs 4 sec
    Long exposures for night shots
  • Slow-motion videos
    Yes vs No
    Shoot slow-motion videos

Similarities

Common Strengths

  • Internal flash
    Both provide
    Useful in a pinch for fill flash

Common Weaknesses

  • Focus peaking
    Neither provide
    Your camera will highlight what's in focus
  • Eye-level viewfinder
    Neither provide
    You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
  • In-camera panoramas
    Neither provide
    Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
  • RAW file ability
    Neither provide
    Gives you more flexibility to develop your photos later
  • Built-in Bluetooth
    Neither provide
    Always-on wireless connectivity
  • Built-in GPS
    Neither provide
    Geotag your photos
  • On-sensor phase detect
    Neither provide
    Usually improves live view and video AF performance
  • Integrated ND filter
    Neither provide
    Shoot in daylight with a large aperture or slow shutter
  • External Mic Jack
    Neither provide
    Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
  • HDMI out
    Neither provide
    Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
  • Hot shoe
    Neither provide
    Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
  • Headphone jack
    Neither provide
    Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
  • Bulb shutter
    Neither provide
    Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures

Buy From

Your purchases support this site

Review Excerpt

  • Head-turning (funky, but cool) design and solid build; 8x optical zoom lens with 28-224m-equivalent reach; Built-in Wi-Fi for easy image sharing (Facebook Ready version posts directly to the social site); Full HD 1080p video at 24fps.

  • Unintuitive (almost clumsy) physical controls; Inconsistent exposure and decision-making in Auto mode; Image quality not that much better than good smartphone cameras; Poor battery life (just 200 shots); Only uses microSD cards; Weak LED flash.

The Competition

Compared to Ricoh R50

Pentax M50
Ricoh R50
  • $140
  • 1/2.35 inch
  • Longer exposure
  • Higher extended ISO
  • $250
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • More pixels
Canon N
Ricoh R50
  • $749
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • Touchscreen
  • $250
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Less expensive
  • Manual focus

Compared to Nikon S560

Pentax M50
Nikon S560
  • $140
  • 1/2.35 inch
  • Longer stills battery life
  • Manual focus
  • $250
  • 1/2.33 inch
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • More pixels
Canon N
Nikon S560
  • $749
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Touchscreen
  • Larger lens aperture
  • $250
  • 1/2.33 inch
  • Less expensive
  • Lighter weight

Compared to Olympus FE-370

Pentax M50
Olympus FE-370
  • $140
  • 1/2.35 inch
  • Manual focus
  • Higher extended ISO
  • $136
  • 1/2.35 inch
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
Canon N
Olympus FE-370
  • $749
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Touchscreen
  • Larger lens aperture
  • $136
  • 1/2.35 inch
  • Less expensive
  • Bigger pixels

Compared to Canon 330 HS

Pentax M50
Canon 330 HS
  • $140
  • 1/2.35 inch
  • Bigger pixels
  • Manual focus
  • $596
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • Larger lens aperture
Canon N
Canon 330 HS
  • $749
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Touchscreen
  • Tiltable Screen
  • $596
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Less expensive
  • Thinner

Compared to Canon N2

Pentax M50
Canon N2
  • $140
  • 1/2.35 inch
  • Less expensive
  • Bigger pixels
  • $699
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • Touchscreen
Canon N
Canon N2
  • $749
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Bigger pixels
  • Shoots 24p video
  • $699
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • More pixels
  • Faster JPEG shooting
Compare Other Cameras?