Canon M50 Settings: My Photo and Video Setup Guide

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The quick answer

For my Canon M50 settings, I shoot RAW photos when I plan to edit, leave the still aspect ratio at 3:2, and use face and tracking autofocus for people and moving subjects. For video, I usually choose manual exposure and 1080p at 24 fps, switching to 60 fps when I want slow motion.

For JPEGs you want ready to share, choose Large/Fine. I misspoke in the video and called S2 the highest-quality JPEG. S2 is a small image size; Large/Fine gives you the full-resolution, higher-quality JPEG. The settings below are starting points, so adjust them for your subject and light.

Watch the full M50 settings walkthrough on YouTube

Canon M50 settings at a glance

Setting	Starting point	When to change it
Photo file type	RAW for editing; Large/Fine JPEG for sharing	Choose RAW plus JPEG if you want both files.
Still aspect ratio	3:2	Crop later, or select another ratio for a ready-made composition.
Photo autofocus	Face + Tracking; Servo for moving subjects	Use One-Shot or a single point when your subject and composition call for it.
Video	1080p, 23.98 fps	Use 59.94 fps for slow motion, or 4K when extra detail is worth the crop.
Sound recording	Manual, checked before recording	Adjust for your microphone and the loudest expected sound.
Exposure simulation	Enabled for photos	Use the screen preview as a guide and check your result.

Set the mode dial to M for the photo menu walkthrough. For the dedicated video options, switch the dial to movie mode and check those settings separately. The source tutorial uses the original M50; the M50 Mark II is similar, but menus and feature behavior can differ.

Choose the right photo quality

Open the first shooting menu and select Image quality. The camera lets you choose RAW, C-RAW or no RAW, and choose a JPEG size and quality separately. I use RAW because I edit my photos in Lightroom. C-RAW makes a smaller file while retaining a RAW workflow.

If you want a full-size JPEG straight from the camera, select L with the Fine, smooth quarter-circle icon. L means Large; the smooth icon means Fine compression. S2 means Small 2 and does not mean superior. In the video I accidentally recommended S2 as the highest-quality JPEG; use Large/Fine for the highest-resolution JPEG instead.

You can select RAW and Large/Fine JPEG together if you want an editable RAW file and a ready-to-share JPEG from each shot. That takes more storage than either alone. A reliable card helps when you save both: the SanDisk Extreme PRO SD card is the card linked in my video description; check capacity and the exact version before buying.

Aspect ratio, exposure and color

I leave still images at 3:2 to use the camera's native frame and crop later. A square or wide ratio can be useful when you need that framing immediately; RAW files retain flexibility when processed in compatible software.

I enable exposure simulation so the screen gives me an indication of brightness before the shot. When using an automatic exposure mode, exposure compensation can make the camera's chosen exposure brighter or darker. Start around zero, check the result, and adjust for your scene. Keep ISO as low as the conditions allow without sacrificing the shutter speed or aperture you need.

Auto white balance is convenient when the light changes. For a consistent look under controlled light, use a preset or custom white balance. Picture Style affects the camera's JPEG rendering and video look; adjust contrast and saturation to your taste, remembering that heavy grading requires testing first.

Autofocus and stabilization

I use Face + Tracking when photographing people or following a subject. In the video I select Servo AF for moving subjects. One-Shot AF can be a better fit for a stationary subject. Eye detection is useful for portraits when the selected focus mode supports it, but check that the camera has found the eye you want.

For manual focus, I enable focus peaking and use red with a high display level because it is easy for me to see. Peaking is a visual aid, so magnify and check focus when accuracy matters.

For handheld video I enable Movie Digital IS when I need steadier footage. It crops the frame, with a larger crop at stronger settings, so compare it with the lens stabilization or a tripod before choosing it. It is a video setting, not in-body sensor stabilization.

Best Canon M50 video settings

In movie mode, open Movie recording quality. I normally use Full HD at 23.98 fps for regular-speed footage. Full HD at 59.94 fps gives you room for smooth slow motion: interpret it on a 23.98 fps timeline for roughly 40% speed, or use 50% on a 29.97 fps timeline.

The original M50 records 4K at 23.98 fps. It has a substantial additional crop compared with Full HD and uses contrast-detection autofocus in 4K, so it can be less convenient for wide handheld shots or tracking. Canon describes the extra crop as about 1.67x relative to stills or Full HD. For 720p high-frame-rate recording, the camera creates slow-motion footage without audio; I usually prefer 1080p 60 fps for the extra detail.

I prefer manual movie exposure because it lets me control shutter speed, aperture and ISO. Adjust them for the scene and check the exposure rather than treating one combination as a universal setting.

Set audio levels before you record

In movie mode, open Sound recording, select Manual and speak at the level you expect to use. I aim around the -12 dB area, allowing the louder moments to rise without reaching 0 dB or the red clipping indicator. Give yourself room for unexpected peaks and make a short test recording.

In my dedicated M50 audio settings video, I leave the built-in microphone's wind filter off and set the attenuator to Auto. That is the more specific recommendation from my later audio walkthrough; it can help with sudden loud sounds, but it is still important to set levels carefully. An external microphone can be useful depending on what you record.

Frequently asked questions

Is S2 the best JPEG setting on the Canon M50?

No. S2 is a small image size. Choose Large/Fine for a full-resolution JPEG with Fine compression. I misstated this in the video.

Should I use RAW or JPEG?

I use RAW when I plan to edit. Choose Large/Fine JPEG for straightforward sharing, or select both formats if you want the convenience and editing flexibility and have enough card space.

Should I record in 4K or 1080p?

Use 4K when you want extra resolution and can work with the added crop and different autofocus. For a wider view and easier autofocus, I generally use 1080p.

How do I get slow motion on the M50?

Record Full HD at 59.94 fps and slow it down in an appropriate editing timeline. The separate 720p high-frame-rate mode produces slower footage in camera without sound.

Keep reading

For more on the camera itself, see my Canon M50 buying guide.

Watch more camera videos on FoxTailWhipz.