CR3 raw

One intriguing new feature of the EOS M50 is its CR3 raw format.

This is capable of storing 14-bit data with the same image quality and in a similar file size to the existing CR2 format (which means it presumably uses the same lossless compression). But it adds a space-saving, full-resolution C-RAW option that promises file sizes 30-40% smaller, depending on the ISO. As with the conventional raws, C-RAW can be reprocessed in-camera after shooting to correct any settings errors, or impart a different aesthetic look.

I decided to shoot C-RAW as a matter of course when testing the camera, to find out whether it had any negative impact on image quality. Even when making some fairly significant brightness and shadow adjustments in Canon’s Digital Photo Pro raw converter, I found there was no apparent penalty in shadow noise or tonality in the highlights. It’s possible that with really extreme adjustments some problems might emerge, but I couldn’t find any obvious reason not to use C-RAW as a matter of course.

Performance