CANON M50: Two Cheap Cinematic Video Upgrades
The Canon M50 is a neat little camera. I’ve been using it for over six months now and I’m still amazed by what this camera can do. Sure, the Canon M50 has a few flaws but let’s be real… what camera doesn’t? If you’re a photographer, filmmaker or YouTuber, then the Canon M50 might just be the right camera for you. And if you’re into cinematic videos and b-roll, you need these two cheap upgrades…
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Canon M50 vs Cinematic Video
Cinematic videos are popular. Too popular? Maybe, but it’s a cinematic look just looks really good. There are a lot of videos talking about it and a bunch of good tips for getting a cinematic look. Most of those tips are pretty good but the fact is, there are only a few things you need to pay attention two. A cinematic look is not just one look. Watch a few Hollywood movies and chances are they all look different yet cinematic.
Light upgrade
Light is super important for different reasons. A lot of times, in movies, they use soft light. I’m not saying that you can’t make your videos look cinematic in harsh sunlight but it’ll definitely be more difficult. Soft light instantly creates a movie-like atmosphere. If you don’t have artificial light, try shooting in the morning or evening and you’ll see the difference right away.
But light is also important for something else: Depth of field. Usually, movies and cinematic videos have a shallow depth of field. Again, it’s not obligatory but often it just look really good if you use it right. Now, there is a problem if you take your Canon M50 outside. If you want a shallow depth of field, you need to open the aperture all the way.
I have the awesome Canon 22mm f/2.0 and it looks awesome but your footage will probably be overexposed at f/2.0. Because you should film in 24fps and a shutter speed of 1/50s, can only try to adjust the ISO but probably, even if you go to ISO100, your footage will still look overexposed.
Does that mean you can’t shoot cinematic video with your Canon M50? No. What you need is a variable ND filter. An ND filter blocks a certain amount of light from coming in the lens. This will allow you to open the aperture all the way without overexposing, even in bright daylight. It’s cheap but super useful. Also, for photography by the way. I have the Gobe ND Filter and K&F Concept. Both are great! Make sure to buy the right filter size!
Color Grading
Every movie is color graded and it’s not just random. Color grading allows you to create a mood and atmosphere. It’s an art. The problem with the Canon M50 is that it doesn't have a flat color profile and that’s what you need to be able to color grade. You can choose between a few built-in picture profiles but that’s it. There’s no room for color grading if you use those.
Luckily, there is a solution. You can install the CineStyle profile. It’s not the same as a true flat profile like Canon’s C-log but if you want to start experimenting with color grading, it’ll do. I use it for all my videos and have a lot of fun learning about color grading. The downside is that it boosts the shadows quite a lot so, especially in low light situations you have to keep an eye on the shadows because there might be too much noise.
And that’s it. Two super simple and cheap upgrades to start shooting cinematic videos and b-roll with your Canon M50.