Canon M50/M6 II vs Sony A6500/A6400 vs Fujifilm X-T30

These are the best-selling cameras in the hybrid category. And this is the only category whose sales increase year by year, because they allow to shot quality photos even in low light with a lower weight and a small footprint compared to SLR while offering the same capabilities. They are more expensive and a little more sophisticated than the four cameras seen in a previous comparative: Which hybrid camera to buy?

This comparison includes an exclusive part, "Limitations and crippling " which indicates the removal of capabilities - usually in software - which cost nothing to implement, only to incite to buy the more expensive models to which they were added. This also includes features that competitors have added to cheaper and less advanced models.

Canon M50 vs Sony A6500

Comparison of specs

	Canon EOS M50	Canon EOS M6 II	Sony A6400	Sony A6500	Fujifilm X-T30
Sensor	APS-C		APS-C		APS-C
Pixels (million)	24	32.5	24		26
Resolution in 3:2	6000x4000	6960x4640	6000x4000		6240x4160
Standard lens	15-45mm f/3.5-6.3		16-50mm f/3.5-5.6		15-45mm f/3.5-5.6 or 18-55mm f/2.8-4
Mount	Canon EF-M		Sony E-Mount		Fujifilm X
Filter diameter	49mm		40.5 mm		52mm / 58mm
Sensibility	ISO 100-25600		ISO 100-32000	ISO 100-25600	ISO 160-12800
Focus points	143		425		425
Autofocus modes	Dual pixels. Phase detection. Contrast for 4K video. Eye detection (for still images). Hybrid manual + automatic.		Hybrid phase detection / contrast detection for images and videos. Eye detection with tracking even for animals.	Hybrid phase detection / contrast detection for images and videos. Eye detection.	Smart hybrid AF. Contrast and phase detection.
Optical / In picture zoom	3x 36x in Full HD	3x 42x in Full HD	25x in 3008x2000 (3.13 x 8) 75x or 150x in Full HD		3.75x (3 x 1.25) 39x in Full HD
Burst	10 ips	30 ips RAW	11 ips		30 ips
Pre-shot	-	0.5s before	-		14 images
Still image format	JPEG, RAW CR3		JPEG, RAW		JPEG, RAW
Panorama	-		yes		yes
IBIS (image stabilization in body)	For video only, by software		-	yes	-
HDR still image	Yes		yes		yes
AE Bracketing	Yes		yes		yes
WB Bracketing	Yes		yes		yes
Focus Bracketing	-	Small set of lenses	-		yes
Distortion correction	Yes		yes		yes
Speed	1/4000 - 30 secondes		1/4000 - 30 seconds		1/32000 - 30 seconds
Video	4K 25 fps		4K 30 fps		4K 30 fps
Video format	MPEG 4 / AVC H.264		MP4, AVCHD 2.0 H.264		MPEG-4 AVC/H.264
Stabilized video	By software		Lenses	yes	Lenses
Crippling *	☠ ☠ ☠ ☠	☠ ☠ ☠ ☠	☠ ☠ ☠ ☠	☠ ☠ ☠ ☠	☠ ☠ ☠ ☠
Microphone	Stereo		Stereo		Stéréo
Video length	30 mn		125 mn	50 mn	10mn 4K- 15mn FHD
Connectors	HDMI, USB	HDMI, USB-C	HDMI, USB		HDMI, USB Type C
Bluetooth	4.1		4.1		4.2
Wi-Fi	2.4 GHz		2.4 GHz		2.4 GHz
Integrated flash	5 meters		6 meters		5 meters
Hot shoe	Yes		yes		yes
Viewfinder	OLED 2.360 K	Option OLED 2.360K	OLED 2.360 K		OLED 2.360 K
Touchscreen	Focus and menus		For focus only		yes
Screen	Articulated	Flip	Flip	Tilt	Tilt
Remote control	Bluetooth		yes		yes
Storage	SD, SDHC, SDXC UHS-1	SD, SDHC, SDXC UHS-II	SD, SDXC UHS-1		SD, SDXC UHS-1
Autonomy	235 images	305 images	360 images	350 images	380 images
USB charging	-	yes	yes		yes
Weather sealed	-		yes	-	-
Size	116.3 x 88 x 58.7 mm	119.6 x 70 x 49.2	120 x 67 x 60 cm	120 x 67 x 53 cm	118 x 83x 47
Weight (body only)	387g - 13.6oz	408g - 14.4oz	400g - 14.1oz	453g - 16oz	383g - 13.5oz
Year	2018	2019	2019	2016	2019

* See "Limitations and crippling" in the descriptions below.

Sony A6500 (or ILCE-6500)

The lenses of Sony are very expensive, but thanks to the stabilization in the body you can make better videos.
With a 400mm lens you can obtain a Full HD image enlarged 1200 times (600mm with the crop factor, 4x digital zoom in 6000x4000 pixels, 24MP / 2MP = 12, ie 25x * 4 * 12.

Advantages:

Stabilization in the body no need for a tripod for videos.
Silent mode.
Reactive autofocus in 4K video. Better 4K video in general.
Panorama mode.
Zebra for help with manual focus (in addition to focus peaking).
Powerzoom.
Better dynamic interval.

Drawbacks:

Touch screen supports only the focus, can not be used for menu or setting up.
Adapters for Sony A lens are expensives compared to EF EF-M adapters.

Limitations and crippling:

Sony does not use for its devices (which includes the recent A6600) its latest IMX571 sensor while it is being used by Fujifilm.
No focus bracketing that is found on low-end Panasonic.
The touch screen does not work for menus. A mobile at $30 can do it!

Sony a6400

The advantages on the A6500:

Newer and more powerful processor.
More advanced and faster autofocus.
Improved colors a bit.
The screen can tilt 180 degrees.
A higher ISO sensitivity.
Time-lapse: making a video from sequence of images with small intervals.
Longer videos.
Weather sealed.
Overheating issue solved.
Enhanced menu.
Cheaper.

The disadvantages compared to the A6500:

No IBIS (no stabilization in the body).
The buffer for burst is smaller.

Same crippling as on the A6500.

Canon EOS M50

This model focuses on the quality of images and forgets video and helpers like panorama. More practical to use, it will be better for the beginner. Because of its lower price and its abundance of lenses and ease of use, it may be suitable for artistic photography or memory of events.
With a 400mm lens you can get a Full HD image enlarged 300 times: 600mm with the crop factor is 25x, 24MP / 2Mp = 12, 25x by 12 = 300x.

Advantages:

Simpler interface.
Full touch screen for menus also.
Cheap adapter for EF lens.
Best autofocus for images.
Timelapse.
You can process RAW images in the camera, and convert them to JPEG.
Cheap.

Drawbacks:

Weak autonomy.
No stabilization in the body for still images.
No power zoom in the kit lens. You have to turn the ring of the lens to get closer to the subject. Long live the Middle Ages.
No panorama.
No digital zoom.
Almost silent shutter only in Auto mode.
Video 4K is cropped.
Buffer too small for burst.
Bad layout on the body that may hinder its use.
No USB charging.

Limitations and crippling:

No digital zoom while it exists on the SX60 and SX70 of the brand.
No Panorama mode while it exists on the SX70.
No focus bracketing.

Canon EOS M6 II

No user experience for now.

Advantages:

Higher resolution of the sensor.
Burst rate.
Focus bracketing.
FHD video at 120 fps.
4K timelapse.

Drawbacks:

Weak autonomy.
Focus bracketing works only with some expensives lens.
Canon is not afraid to offer "creative" effects of noise, soft photo, or distorsion!!!

Limitations and crippling:

No digital zoom while it exists on the SX60 and SX70 of the brand.
No Panorama mode while it exists on the SX70.
Focus bracketing limited and no focus stacking as is the case on Panasonic or Olympus.

Should I buy the M6 or M6II?

The main benefits of M6 II are:

32.5 MP vs 24 MP sensor for the M6 I.
4K video 30 and 24 fps and 120 fps in Full HD. But 4K video is soft.
Burst 30 fps in 18 MP.
Focus bracketing.
USB-C charging.
Electronic shutter with silent mode and 1/16000s.
Better autofocus.
Exposure wheel replaced by a customizable wheel.
Screen more readable in the sun.
HDR Art.
Distortion correction (for Canon lenses).

Fujifilm X-T30

Fujifilm's recent cameras are praised for the quality of their images. The Fujifilm X-T30 uses a modern Sony 26MP sensor (IMX571) that the latter does not use in its own latest model, the A6600, for fear of cannibalizing the sales of its full frames or video cameras!
This camera is better suited to someone who wants to get involved in the art of photography rather than someone looking for ease of use and quick shoots.

Advantages:

The most compact of the three.
Numerous dials and buttons controls on the body.
Joystick to move the focus.
Modern 26MP sensor.
Various color schemes with 16 movie color simulations. Not very useful actually.
Best image quality for JPEG.
Autonomy.
USB 3.0 type C.
Powerzoom (like Sony).
Burst speed with the electronic shutter.
Pre-shot is used to produce burst images as long as the shutter button is half-pressed, and when you press the shutter the last 14 frames are saved as well. This completes burst mode that save images after you press the shutter button.
Start in 0.4 seconds.
Images can be processed directly in the camera, and converted to JPEG.
The Q menu provides quick access to common configuration options.
You can add a 30 seconds voice message to a photo! Stored in a WAV file along the picture.
Fujifilm updates its older cameras while Canon and Sony redirect you to a newer model to get improvements!

Drawbacks:

Complicated menus, hard to find options.
Only proprietary lenses, no or little Tamron or Sigma. However an expensive Fringer adapter gives access to Canon EFs.
No stabilization in the body.
Lack of grip would be a problem with heavy lenses.
Speed wheel is not useful for most users.
The dial of modes offers unusual functions. For example the option of image composition, not of frequent use.
The worst menu among all brands.
The quick menu has convoluted operation which makes it an ergonomic nightmare.
No C1, C2, custom buttons to quickly alternate settings.
No video button.
Limited video time and the camera heats even before reaching the limit.
A "noise special effect" provided is really not useful. Why not a fuzzy mode or a soft corners mode?

Limitations and crippling:

No digital zoom.
Focus bracketing present but no focus stacking as is the case with Panasonic or Olympus.
Memos limited for no reason to 30 seconds.

Conclusion

If we put aside the very subjective opinions of fans of each brand, opinions are generally more favorable to Sony and even more to Fuji. However many are hesitant because the limited touch screen of the Sony and the price of the lenses.
All these cameras have a very advanced autofocus system and always make beautiful pictures. You will therefore decide according to the other criteria that differentiate them: price, ease of use, video capacity, lenses you already own and other factors related to the intended use.

See also...