topic Re: EOS M50 only outputting 480P through HDMI port in EOS DSLR & Mirrorless Cameras

EOS M50 only outputting 480P through HDMI port

Locking_Nut — Sun, 10 Dec 2023 06:32:41 GMT

Hello everyone,

Frustrating issue this. I'm attempting to use my M50 (firmware 1.1) for some video capture via an Elgato Cam Link 4K into OBS.

Setup seems to work normally and the camera connects and generates picture - but only at 720x480 (or 720x576 in PAL video mode). Nothing I have tried so far has successfully raised the resolution, whether it's manually setting the output to 1080p in the camera settings menu (and toggling HDR on and off), or manually forcing the OBS Cam Link capture dialog into a higher resolution (I've tried 1920 x 1080, 1920 x 1200 and 1920 x 1280, none work). The only available preset option when "Custom" is selected in the Camlink dialog are either 720x480 or 720x576 - depending on whether NTSC or PAL video is selected in the camera setup menu.

Connecting the camera to two different television sets' HDMI inputs also gives the same low output resolution whether 1080p output is selected or not.

Anyone any pointers? One obvious questionmark is whether the micro-HDMI to HDMI cable I'm using is faulty in some way. It shouldn't be - it's brand new and rated for 4K60, and I don't have an alternative to try, nor do I have any other devices with a m-HDMI output to test it with.

Any pointers most welcome - thanks in advance for reading 🙂

Re: EOS M50 only outputting 480P through HDMI port

Waddizzle — Sun, 10 Dec 2023 06:48:04 GMT

That just might be the limit of the camera. Have you tried video mode?

Re: EOS M50 only outputting 480P through HDMI port

Locking_Nut — Sun, 10 Dec 2023 06:55:14 GMT

Thanks, but it's not a limit of the camera. If it was, Canon (and Elgato) wouldn't advertise 4K30 and 1080P60 compatibility through HDMI - and others wouldn't already be utililising this functionality as a pseudo-clean HDMI output (albeit autofocus needs to be disabled to remove the focus markers from the video).

And yes, have tried using both video modes - as well as all the stills-priority modes on the selector, no change in behaviour.

Re: EOS M50 only outputting 480P through HDMI port

Waddizzle — Sun, 10 Dec 2023 09:44:49 GMT

The M50 lacks “Clean HDMI” output. I suggest that you review the M50 User Guide. I suspect 4K video is internal recording only. Full HD output might only be available for playback of video.

Re: EOS M50 only outputting 480P through HDMI port

Locking_Nut — Sun, 10 Dec 2023 17:02:36 GMT

Er, thanks, I think. I did clearly mention above that a pseudo-clean output *is* possible by disabling all the on-screen icons - and autofocus. I'm not making this as a random claim, it's well known and is documented and seen working elsewhere in this forum as well as widely over social media - and on Elgato's own website: You trying to tell me otherwise says more about you than it does about the camera - or this particular issue:

The specific issue here is the inability to get anything higher than 576p output from the HDMI port under *any* circumstances - to any device, clean or not, whether shooting or when reviewing/playing back imagery, despite the manual (and setup menu) clearly indicating that this *is* supported.

If the camera didn't support 1080P output via HDMI, I very much doubt that this menu option would exist either:

So, anyone else had similar issues with resolution constraints on the HDMI output of this (or any other) Canon, and if so what was the cause/fix? 🙂

Re: EOS M50 only outputting 480P through HDMI port

deebatman316 — Sun, 10 Dec 2023 17:33:05 GMT

Your camera doesn't have the hardware for Clean HDMI Out. You simply can't add it via a firmware update. So if you want Clean HDMI Out you will need to look into a camera that supports it. Its impossible for your camera to output 2 different resolutions at the same time without Clean HDMI Out. Clean HDMI Out requires the hardware for that. Most EVFs and LCD screens are very low resolutions that you wouldn't expect from modern devices. Most camera LCD screens have resolution of 480p (640x480). This is what's called VGA (Video Graphics Array) it dates back to 1987. Most devices today are 1080p or 4K displays now 480p this is quite low by modern standards. Yes even in PAL regions 480p 60 fps was used for computer displays not 576p 50 fps. CRT computer monitors did NOT use interlaced video either. Those displays natively displayed things in a progressive video format. The whole frame was drawn on the screen. Instead of 1/2 then the other 1/2 was drawn like with analog TV NTSC or PAL.

Re: EOS M50 only outputting 480P through HDMI port

Waddizzle — Sun, 10 Dec 2023 17:51:45 GMT

@Locking_Nut wrote:
Er, thanks, I think. I did clearly mention above that a pseudo-clean output *is* possible by disabling all the on-screen icons - and autofocus. I'm not making this as a random claim, it's well known and is documented and seen working elsewhere in this forum as well as widely over social media - and on Elgato's own website: You trying to tell me otherwise says more about you than it does about the camera - or this particular issue:
The specific issue here is the inability to get anything higher than 576p output from the HDMI port under *any* circumstances - to any device, clean or not, whether shooting or when reviewing/playing back imagery, despite the manual (and setup menu) clearly indicating that this *is* supported.
If the camera didn't support 1080P output via HDMI, I very much doubt that this menu option would exist either:
So, anyone else had similar issues with resolution constraints on the HDMI output of this (or any other) Canon, and if so what was the cause/fix? 🙂

I take exception to your screenshot of “Supported Cameras”. That screenshot is not from these forums or the Canon USA web site. That appears to be a screenshot from Legato. It contains a typo, which should read M50 Mark II, not M50.

Here is a partial list of supported cameras with “Clean HDMI” output. M50 is not listed.

https://www.usa.canon.com/cameras/eos-webcam-utility

Here is a screenshot from that web page. Scroll all the way to the bottom.

If your camera had “Clean HDMI” output, then this [is] the menu you should see. I notice that your menu suggests that high definition output is disabled and unavailable.

Your M50 camera is not capable of doing what you wish. It was superseded by the more capable M50 mark II.

Re: EOS M50 only outputting 480P through HDMI port

Locking_Nut — Sun, 10 Dec 2023 17:46:35 GMT

I haven't mentioned "adding something via firmware update". And, with the best will in the world, I might be new here but I'm neither new to photography or computing so the history lesson's both irrelevant, and nothing to do with the issue at hand.

Again, for want of being any more specific, my camera *does* and should support 1080P output via the HDMI port. The issue is that it's only delivering 480p or 576p (depending on the PAL or NTSC video setting) and I'd like to get to the bottom of why. Does anyone actually have anything constructive to add on *this* point?

Wadizzle: The entry on Elgato's site is *not* a typo. The fact that it's related specifically to the original M50 and not the MkII is obvious from the reference to disabling autofocus to get the clean output. Also the pair of you: If you don't think clean output on the original M50 is possible, this guy here would like to show you otherwise (including the exact context).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJ9HLexTg5I

Again, for the avoidance of doubt, I *can* and *have* got a clean output from my camera. The issue is that it's being delivered at a quarter of the potential resolution.

Re: EOS M50 only outputting 480P through HDMI port

deebatman316 — Sun, 10 Dec 2023 17:56:34 GMT

What you're trying to get your camera to do IS NOT SUPPORTED we have had numerous forums asking about this. It's simply NOT possible with your current camera. Also this supposed "Clean HDMI Out" with the M50 (original version) is NOT really Clean HDMI Out. This is because AF is disabled so you're relying on MF. Using your camera for long periods of time in Live View. Can overheat the image sensor and IS NOT a mode of supported operation. So take @Waddizzle (Bill's) advice you can't make something work that wasn't there in the first place. Most cameras that DO NOT support Clean HDMI Out will only output 480p/ 576p. This is because the camera doesn't have the ability to send each display there native resolution. Thus the camera is forced to use 480p/ 576p and compromise between both displays. If the camera did support Clean HDMI Out then it could output 1080p or 720p to the external monitor.

Re: EOS M50 only outputting 480P through HDMI port

Locking_Nut — Sun, 10 Dec 2023 20:09:27 GMT

Okay let's take this one step at a time. Maybe get a beer and count to ten before hitting reply this time, yes?

First of all, @deebatman316 you are again introducing irrelevances via the line about extended live view usage potentially overheating the sensor. Aside from the fact that this is just as much a risk as when using the camera for extended periods of videography (which Canon sells and warrants it for), I'm not bothered about any of that, and you aren't either, both because you don't know the usage pattern, and it's not your camera anyway.

The image sensor will get exactly the same amount of continuous use whether I'm shooting video to the built-in SD card, or whether I'm outputting video to a computer in real time so quit that one, it's not getting you (or me) anywhere.

Second, Bill, I mentioned further up that I'm aware of the need to disable autofocus to get rid of the focus box graphic. Again I'm not worried about that either, so neither should you be. It's not your camera either.

Forget even that I'm looking at video capture. Focus (no pun) on this: The camera's own setup menu contains an option to force the output to 1080P. Which it wouldn't if it was only capable of 576/480 output. So quit with the "most cameras" generalisms. The fact of the matter is that this camera does/should support 1080P over HDMI. The option in the setup menu says so, and so does the experience of other users. Far from the camera being technically incapable of 'doing what I wish', there's another YouTuber doing exactly what I seek here:

https://youtu.be/zSUr23xHuMU

Again, with the best will in the world, I don't care how much general experience you have. If you don't know a specific answer that pertrains to *this* camera, please, kindly, refrain from commenting because all you are doing is polluting the thread. And that applies to the pair of you.

Re: EOS M50 only outputting 480P through HDMI port

deebatman316 — Sun, 10 Dec 2023 20:26:44 GMT

You bought a stills camera that can record video for 29 minutes & 59 seconds. So its NOT a video camera those are taxed differently. Those cameras have more systems in them to keep the camera from overheating. Also 720p/ 1080p may be limited to Canon's own EOS Utility software which explains why its not allowing 720p/ 1080p output. I haven't used that software to confirm or deny such thing.

Re: EOS M50 only outputting 480P through HDMI port

Stephen — Sun, 10 Dec 2023 20:48:58 GMT

Hey, Locking_Nut!

I'm not a tech, but I have dabbled with gear that is very similar to yours. I've used various EOS models with HDMI to USB capture devices and have never seen them bottlenecked like this. I wonder, could it be your software or hardware on your computer causing the Elgato to "max out?" Are you able to try your setup on a different computer? Maybe even like you originally suspected, try a different cable? The cables aren't super special, but you want a decent one that can push *all* the data possible. If you have a cable that's misrepresented in its specs, it may not actually be able to handle the full stream from the camera. If your Elgato is a USB device, be sure you're connecting it to the FASTEST USB port available. Not one that's plugged into a hub, if possible.

I hope this helps point you in the right direction!

Re: EOS M50 only outputting 480P through HDMI port

deebatman316 — Sun, 10 Dec 2023 20:49:58 GMT

No where in the video did the person ever state that the video output would be HD whether that be 720p or 1080p. Just that disabling AF would clear the screen of the extra info on it.

Re: EOS M50 only outputting 480P through HDMI port

Locking_Nut — Mon, 11 Dec 2023 01:13:22 GMT

Hey Stephen, thanks, a constructive response! 🙂

Unfortunately I've already tried connecting the camera direct to the HDMI inputs on two televisions (one 4K, one 1080p), and a monitor *and* an HD field video recorder, and in all cases the output is 480 or 576P - dependent on the status of the PAL/NTSC setup menu video selection in the camera.

The Cam Link is connected direct to a USB port on the PC that has no bandwidth contention over the PCIe bus, and I've also tested it connecting the output of my laptop to it - and that came straight up in full 4K, so definitely no problem there.

Like you I'm thinking of the cable as one potential problem area. It shouldn't be an issue as it's brand new and rated to handle the bandwidth, but I have another on order. If that doesn't help I'll try resetting the camera and see what that does.

I did immediately find one similar thread on here earlier (albeit with a different camera model). It's interesting to see how that thread developed (😉) but the bottom line again was that there was a positive solution. There are are a couple of other similar ones concerning the M50 elsewhere on the web too - but with no obvious solutions that I haven't already looked at.

Thanks again for the suggestions - we'll see what develops when new cable turns up. 🙂

Re: EOS M50 only outputting 480P through HDMI port

Locking_Nut — Mon, 11 Dec 2023 01:26:34 GMT

"No where in the video did the person ever state that the video output would be HD whether that be 720p or 1080p. Just that disabling AF would clear the screen of the extra info on it."

Rofl, are you being deliberately obtuse/trolling or are you genuinely this slow on the uptake? The author of the video didn't have to say that the output would be in HD, because he was actually filming most of the feature with his M50 and the output from it clearly and visibly *is* HD. It's certainly miles better than the clearly downsampled output I'm currently getting from mine.

You also acknowledge that you don't know how the EOS webcam driver works. The answer is that even in the 'free' mode it defaults to 720p over USB2 (with 1080 available if you pay for it) - thereby debunking your earlier theory about the camera's video pipeline being technically limited to 576/480.

And again quit wasting electrons with the dissemanation about the 29 minute recording limit when I've already told you very straightforwardly that I don't care about that. Again, for want of repetition, you have no idea how that fits into my proposed usage model - which, funnily enough, only requires shooting for a few minutes here and there using hardware I've already got.

Re: EOS M50 only outputting 480P through HDMI port

Waddizzle — Mon, 11 Dec 2023 04:11:35 GMT

Did you notice that the menu screenshot you posted shows HGMI output as disabled?

I am sorry to this. You have the wrong camera for 4K output over HDMI. You have the wrong camera for “Clean HDMI” output. If your video shows something different, then I suggest that you rewatch your video more carefully. Or, contact the content creator about the details of his setup.

Re: EOS M50 only outputting 480P through HDMI port

p4pictures — Mon, 11 Dec 2023 17:44:10 GMT

Can you plug the camera & cable in to a Tv and see what resolution it reports that it's being fed with? If the Tv thinks it's getting 1080p then it suggests that it's something about the Camlink / OBS rather than the hardware - especially as the other guy in the video you linked seems to have it working as you want. If the TV is only shows 720 then it could be cable or camera. I would also try to see what you get when you playback a still or movie clip from the card and see if that runs at 1080p as that would then indicate that the cable is not at fault.

Although it's not exactly the same I use an EOS 80D with the HDMI fed in to a Blackmagic Design ATEM mini and as long as I use video mode and turn the AF off then I get a clean feed from the camera at 1080p. The EOS 80D also won't do clean HDMI officially.

Re: EOS M50 only outputting 480P through HDMI port

Stephen — Mon, 11 Dec 2023 17:54:10 GMT

You know, now that you brought up the T7i thread, it got me thinking about when I actually have seen this in the past - and it was when the display limited the camera's output. Because HDMI is a 2-way communication, the camera can see how much it should be outputting to the "monitor," and if the monitor only supports SD, it will only output SD. Once you've gotten a new cable, and you've connected your camera to a 4K TV see if it registers as 4K.

You might also try to reach out to support to see if they have any quick tips for you. I don't know the ins and outs of how support works in the UK/Europe (I don't want to assume where you are, but the PAL settings tell me you're not in the US), but our team is very well-trained.

Re: EOS M50 only outputting 480P through HDMI port

Locking_Nut — Tue, 12 Dec 2023 04:10:12 GMT

Well well, @Stephen and @p4pictures, thanks much for the suggestions and input. Problem now solved, and the cause *was* the micro-HDMI to HDMI cable. Swapped to a different one and the camera now defaults to 1920x1080P output to every device I've connected it to - including the Cam Link. The menus and on-screen display sit within the 16x9 frame as expected, and I'm now exactly where I want to be in terms of clean output once the OSD and autofocus are disabled.

So for anyone reading this thread in future, if your camera is stuck at artificially low resolution via HDMI like mine was, check your cable. Even though the one I was using was rated well in excess of Full HD data rate, it clearly isn't (or is somehow mangling the EDID data) and will be going back to the supplier tomorrow. Oh, and if anyone on this forum tells you that high resolution output on this camera is not supported, they're demonstrably incorrect. Keep working at the problem and you'll get it fixed 😊

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