Canon R50 V vs Sony a6700 – Real World Comparison

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The Canon R50 V and the Sony a6700 are both fantastic APS-C cameras aimed at hybrid shooters who want solid performance in both photo and video. Whether you’re vlogging, shooting product videos, or working in low light, these two cameras bring a lot to the table.

Also here you can find the FREE PROJECT FILES for both cameras so you can dive in and explore for yourself. If you're still on the fence after you read this blog, you can take my free "Which Camera Should I Buy?" quiz 

But how do they stack up side-by-side in real-world use?

In this post, I’ll be comparing image quality, color science, skin tones, autofocus, stabilization, and more—in actual environments, not just lab settings.

This isn’t sponsored—Canon didn’t pay me, Sony didn’t pay me. Just honest thoughts based on hands-on experience with both.

Quick Specs Breakdown

🔦 Low Light Performance & Highlight Exposure

In a dark setting, the Canon R50 V shows more crushed shadows and warmer tones—reds and oranges lean stronger here. The Sony a6700 lifts the mids better and tends to show a more purplish hue in skies.

When exposing for highlights, Canon gets noisier, especially in the skin tones. Sony preserves more skin texture with less noise, giving a cleaner look.

Winner in Extreme Low Light: Sony a6700 – cleaner skin and better shadow recovery.

🎭 Skin Tone Comparison

Low Light Skin Tones

Surprisingly, in certain low light scenarios, Canon catches up, especially when there’s just a bit more light to work with. Skin looks warmer but more natural.

Sony, on the other hand, occasionally gives skin a greenish or brownish hue depending on the ambient lighting.

Controlled Lighting

In a controlled studio setup, Sony once again comes out ahead. Canon skin tones are often a bit too saturated, whereas Sony's are more neutral and true-to-life.

Verdict: It’s a tie in some cases, but Sony a6700 takes the edge in controlled lighting and consistency.

🧠 Autofocus & Stabilization

I was surprised to see how well Canon’s autofocus kept up. It's not quite at Sony's level, but it's definitely usable even with kit lenses.

When it comes to stabilization though, the Sony a6700 wins hands down. The 5-axis IBIS makes a massive difference, especially for handheld or vlogging situations. The R50 V relies solely on electronic stabilization, which can result in some jitter.

Winner: Sony a6700 for stabilization. Canon holds its own with autofocus.

🌅 Exposure, Color, and Dynamic Range

•  Saturation: Canon images are more saturated right out of the camera. Sometimes nice, sometimes overdone.
•  Highlight Handling: Sony handles overexposure more gracefully. Canon tends to clip highlights faster, especially with auto exposure at 0.0.
•  Dynamic Range: Sony lifts midtones better in most environments.
•  Sun & Sky Rendering: Both do well in daylight, but Sony gives more cinematic sun flares, especially with its kit lens.

Verdict: Sony for dynamic range and control. Canon offers punchy visuals if you like them vibrant.

🧪 Green Screen & Product Shots

Both cameras performed well for green screen work. Interestingly, Canon retained more shadow detail, while Sony may have been slightly overexposed in one shot.

For macro and product photography, Sony’s cooler tones and EVF make it more precise, especially in tight shots.

Verdict: Tie for green screen, Sony a6700 for product work.

📸 Sharpness & Sensor Performance

When zoomed in at 5000%, the Sony a6700’s 26MP sensor retains more detail than Canon’s 24MP. You’ll especially see the difference in fine textures and lines.

In 4K and 1080p, both cameras perform well, but Sony has the edge in 120fps 4K, giving you more flexibility for slow motion.

Winner for sharpness and resolution: Sony a6700 

🏞 Landscape & ISO Performance

In bright daylight, the Canon R50 V tends to overexpose unless adjusted via exposure compensation. Dropping to -1.0 or -2.0 EV gets better results.

Sony handles ISO better overall. The f/3.5 kit lens gives it a slight exposure advantage over Canon’s f/4.5 in low light, reducing grain.

Verdict: Sony a6700 for landscapes and ISO performance.

🎤 Audio Quality

Both cameras feature mic inputs, but Sony has the added benefit of a headphone jack and EVF, making it a better all-around tool for serious video creators.

Let me know which one you thought sounded better!

⚙️ Features & Design

Canon wins for user interface, while Sony wins for build quality and battery life.

🎬 BONUS: Nostalgia LUT Pack

I've been digging through old 2000s camcorder footage, and something about that warm, low-res vibe just hits different. So I created custom LUTs that mimic that look—for both the R50 V and Sony ZV-E10.

They're free to download, and I also dropped the project files so you can tweak the footage yourself. Links are in the video description.

💡 Final Thoughts – Which Should You Buy?

Here’s the honest take:

💵 Budget Pick – Canon R50 V

If you're just getting started, the R50 V is a great entry point. It’s affordable, compact, and delivers good video quality with vibrant color—especially for social media.

📷 Power User Pick – Sony a6700

If you're doing more serious photography or video work, the a6700’s better low light handling, sharper images, IBIS, and battery life make it worth the extra cost.

📊 Still Not Sure?

I made two free quizzes to help you decide which camera or lens is right for your workflow. It only takes a minute, and you’ll get tailored recommendations based on your shooting style.

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Join the Film Alliance

If you found this helpful, hit that Like button, subscribe, and join the Film Alliance for more real-world camera tests, LUTs, and creative filmmaking content.

🎥 Camera Test Summary

Let me know in the comments which one you would pick—and if you guessed which camera was which during the blind tests!