Canon EOS R50 V Review: Canon Log 3 and a Tally Lamp in a $649 Vlogging Camera

The Canon EOS R50 V is the R50 rebuilt for people who point the camera at themselves. Canon announced it in March 2025 at $649 for the body, or $849 with the new RF-S 14-30mm power-zoom kit lens. It drops the viewfinder and flash, adds a front tally lamp, front and top record buttons, a zoom lever, and a tripod socket on the side for shooting vertical video.

It also gets better video specs than the regular R50, including Canon Log 3 and 10-bit recording. For a camera this cheap, that’s unusual.

The sensor is the familiar 24.2MP APS-C chip with Dual Pixel AF II. It weighs about 370 grams with battery and card.

Video review: DPReview TV

Built around video

4K at 30p comes from the full sensor width, oversampled from 6K, and looks sharp. 4K at 60p uses a 1.56x crop. You get 10-bit 4:2:2 and Canon Log 3, so footage can be graded properly, plus HDR PQ.

There’s a mic input and a headphone jack, which the regular R50 lacks, and Canon’s multi-function shoe works with its digital audio accessories. False color helps nail exposure on faces. The camera works as a USB webcam at high quality over its fast USB-C port.

The side tripod socket is a small, smart touch. Flip the camera on its side for Reels and Shorts without a special bracket.

Autofocus is Canon’s excellent Dual Pixel AF II, with reliable face and eye tracking.

The catch

No in-body stabilization. Video relies on digital stabilization, which crops in a lot, especially in the stronger mode. For walking vlogs at wide angles, that crop hurts. The 14-30mm kit lens helps by starting wide.

No mechanical shutter and no viewfinder, so it’s a weak stills camera in bright sun or with fast action.

The small LP-E17 battery is rated at about 390 shots or around 70 minutes of 4K. Spares or USB-C power are essential for longer sessions.

There’s one SD slot and a micro HDMI port.

Who should buy it

New vloggers and YouTubers on a budget. Social media creators who shoot vertical. Small businesses making product videos. Anyone who wants Canon Log 3 and 10-bit color without spending much.

If you also want proper stills with a viewfinder, the regular R50 is the better all-rounder. The Sony ZV-E10 II has a bigger battery and more lenses at a higher price. For pure vlogging value in Canon’s system, the R50 V is a strong pick.