Decision tools · Compare
EOS M50 vs A1
Quick take: The A1 has the highest resolution at 50MP; the EOS M50 is the most affordable; only the A1 is weather sealed.
Where the EOS M50 wins
- Cheaper new: £240 vs £4,199
- Weight: 387g (body only)
- Casual: 5.5 vs 4.8
Where the A1 wins
- Resolution: 50.1MP
- Burst Rate: 30fps electronic with full AF/AE
- Battery Life: ~430 shots (CIPA)
- Weather Sealed: Yes
- Portrait: 8.2 vs 6.1
16 specs side by side·15 genres scored·UK prices from Wex Photo Video, Clifton Cameras, MPB, eBay and Amazon UK
How to read this page. Highlighted cells win that row on the spec alone. Genre scores are the engine's base scores (enthusiast, photo and video); Camera Match re-weights them for your level and priorities. Price buttons are affiliate links; the price you pay is the same.
Sony
A1 2021
Best for Professional sport, wildlife, portrait & hybrid shooting
£4199
new today at Wex Photo Video
Price buttons are affiliate links — GearFrame may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. It never affects a score. Learn more
Size comparedbody only, no lens · drawn to one scale
- EOS M50 116 × 88 × 59 mm · 387 g
- A1 129 × 97 × 81 mm · 737 g
The EOS M50 is 13 mm narrower, 9 mm shorter, 22 mm slimmer and 350 g lighter than the A1.
Drawn to scale from the makers' dimensions (W × H × D). Front shown, depth on the slanted edge.
Verdictwhich should you buy?
EOS M50 — Casual & Vlogging: The EOS M50 is the most complete-feeling entry-level EF-M camera — built-in EVF, fully articulating screen, Dual Pixel AF, and a well-designed compact body. Its 4K video carries a significant crop and loses Dual Pixel AF, making 1080p the practical option — but for stills and casual video, it remains an excellent used-market buy.
A1 — Professional Sport, Wildlife, Portrait & Hybrid Shooting: 50MP, 30fps, 8K — the Sony A1 is the most complete professional camera ever made.
Who should buy what
EOS M50 (2018)
is the right camera for you if…
- Beginner photographers who want an EVF in a compact mirrorless
- Vloggers who want face-tracking AF and a flip screen
- Students stepping up to their first mirrorless camera
- Used-market shoppers wanting a well-rounded EF-M package
A1 (2021)
is the right camera for you if…
- Professional photographers who need resolution and speed without compromise
- Sports and wildlife photographers demanding the absolute fastest Sony
- Studio and fashion photographers who also shoot sport or events
- A9 III or A7R V owners who want a single body that does everything
Full specificationsthe better value in each row is highlighted
| Specification | EOS M50Canon · 2018 | A1Sony · 2021 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £240 usedBest | £4,199 |
| Sensor | 24.1MP APS-C CMOS (Dual Pixel) | 50.1MP Full-Frame Stacked BSI CMOS Exmor RS |
| Resolution | 24.1MP | 50.1MPBest |
| Video | 4K/24p (crop, no Dual Pixel AF), 1080p/60p | 8K/30p, 4K/120p, 1080p/240p |
| Autofocus | Dual Pixel CMOS AF with face and subject detection | Real-time Tracking, AI subject recognition — 759 phase-detect points |
| Stabilisation | — | IBIS — up to 5.5 stops |
| Burst Rate | 10fps | 30fps electronic with full AF/AEBest |
| Battery Life | ~235 shots (CIPA) | ~430 shots (CIPA)Best |
| Weight | 387g (body only)Best | 737g (with battery and card) |
| Dimensions | 116.3 × 88.1 × 58.7mm | 128.9 × 96.9 × 80.8mm |
| Weather Sealed | Not weather sealed | YesBest |
| Viewfinder | Electronic, 2.36M dots, 0.39" type | EVF, 9.44M dots, 0.90× magnification, 240fps |
| Screen | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen, 1.04M dots | 3.0" fully tilting touchscreen |
| Mount | Canon EF-M mount | Sony FE mount (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-I slot | Dual CFexpress Type A / SD UHS-II |
| Connectivity | Micro USB, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC | USB-C, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Bluetooth, Ethernet, HDMI |
Wins the row — price, resolution, burst, battery, weight and sealing are compared; text specs aren't ranked.
How they score by genreengine base scores out of 10
Genre
EOS M50
A1
Portrait
6.1/10
8.2/10
Street
6.5/10
6.1/10
Travel
5.8/10
5.9/10
Wedding & Events
4.7/10
7.9/10
Vlogging & Video
5.2/10
—
Filmmaking
4.6/10
7.8/10
Documentary
4.8/10
7.6/10
Sports & Action
5.5/10
8.8/10
Landscape
4.8/10
7.6/10
Wildlife
5.4/10
8.7/10
Casual
5.5/10
4.8/10
Food
6.2/10
7.4/10
Macro
4.8/10
7.3/10
Architecture
5.0/10
7.9/10
Astrophotography
4.3/10
6.8/10
Scores come from the same engine as Camera Match: verified specifications weighted by what each genre needs, with documented adjustments. The product page and this table show the enthusiast base score. See how scores are calculated →
Next
More comparisons with EOS M50
Camera family history