topic Re: Refurbished R50 restock in EOS DSLR & Mirrorless Cameras

Refurbished R50 restock

jillyc — Sun, 03 May 2026 20:04:34 GMT

Hi! I'm currently a high school photography student. I’m looking to upgrade from a DSLR to a mirrorless camera, and I thought the R50 would be my best option. Since I don’t make much money at my job, I’m trying to get a refurbished R50, but they are currently sold out, and I haven’t had any luck on eBay without bidding wars. Does anyone know when they will restock the refurbished models or if there is any timeline? Thank you!!

Re: Refurbished R50 restock

March411 — Sun, 03 May 2026 20:26:28 GMT

@jillyc the easiest way to know is to create a Canon account and use the Notify me when available prompt on the R50 page, it's located down low so you'll have to scroll a bit.

It's important to note that if you get notified and miss the inventory you need to set up the notify me when available again. It's a one and done reminder.

Re: Refurbished R50 restock

Waddizzle — Sun, 03 May 2026 22:35:26 GMT

“ Does anyone know when they will restock the refurbished models or if there is any timeline? “

No one knows. Sign up for email alerts. The best course of action is to check the Refurbished site frequently. They have been known to sell out of an item within a few hours.

My best guess says they might restock in time for high school graduation present season. But don’t count on it. No one really knows.

Re: Refurbished R50 restock

SignifDigits — Mon, 04 May 2026 03:44:58 GMT

A colleague recently also suggested keeping an eye on this site - https://www.cpricewatch.com/canon-refurb-stock-tracker/ for refurbished items. Hot items don't last long. I've gotten notifications and didn't respond quickly enough an the product was gone.

It looks like they are on sale now with new cameras going for not much more than used ones. I would recommend getting the camera body alone new for $120 less than the kit and getting a "excellent" used lens for $50 to save yourself $70. That's not a great lens and there are a ton of them on the used market. It's not terrible, of course, but if you can get it for $50 with a six-month guarantee I'd go that route. Then you can save up for a better lens.

Re: Refurbished R50 restock

ebiggs1 — Mon, 04 May 2026 14:22:54 GMT

" I don’t make much money at my job, ..."

There is always the used market but use caution and check out the camera thoroughly. However you can find good buys.

Re: Refurbished R50 restock

LeeP — Mon, 04 May 2026 15:01:00 GMT

If you run across a deal on an R100, don't fear it. I bought one when they came out and it's my go-everywhere camera. It's truly wonderful for street photography. I've been pleased with its low-light performance as well. I think it makes for a great "grow with me" camera.

Re: Refurbished R50 restock

SignifDigits — Mon, 04 May 2026 15:59:24 GMT

The R100, R50 and R10 all use the same sensor, so you can take the same high-quality RAW photos with any of them. Same number of pixels in the EVF as well. The higher ISOs of the R50 and R10 are higher than I'd ever let the camera shoot anyway, and frames per second aren't generally an issue in portraiture. The R50 is a bit of an odd duck in having a lower res LCD and no mechanical shutter. Fewer controls on the R100, so it's both simpler and less capable for on-the-fly changes in settings.

So @LeeP , yeah, nothing wrong with the R100 at all learning photography. Getting just the new R100 body and a used $50 18-45 would be a no-brainer $500 purchase in my opinion. I would personally recommend spending a bit more for a better used lens RF 24-105mm f/4-7.1 STM would be my recommendation there. I personally love that lens for the price. Or (and yes, I'll get yelled at for this, but don't care) go old-school and get the RF 16mm f1.8 for just $260. I just walked around with that one on my R50V last weekend doing urban photography. One fun bundle! Great low-priced lens.

Re: Refurbished R50 restock

BurnUnit — Mon, 04 May 2026 16:11:04 GMT

What DSLR and lens(es) do you currently own? What benefits are you expecting from an upgrade to mirrorless gear?

Re: Refurbished R50 restock

LeeP — Mon, 04 May 2026 18:19:51 GMT

Our photography program just upgraded from T7 cameras to R100 cameras. I wasn't a part of that acquisition process, though I think that the decision made on price will be surprisingly good. We have to provide cameras to students and the T7s lasted pretty well in the hands of one student after another. So far, the R100s are proving reliable. I see the R50/100 as Canon's current "K1000" i.e. cheap, durable, and very capable despite their price points. Great student cameras.

I wasn't aware of the 16mm f2.8, but wow. I may have to get one. I use the 28mm on the R100 making it an almost "nifty" (ick) 50 so the 16mm would be a 26mm effectively on the R100, but it may be better suited to my R8 when doing street photography with it.

Re: Refurbished R50 restock

SignifDigits — Mon, 04 May 2026 19:12:57 GMT

Yeah, f/2.8 not f/1.8 - I WISH it was 1.8! Yeah, putting the 28mm on the R8 is about like having the 16mm on the R100 - GREAT urban/street photo range IMO. If you love the 28mm on your R8 you'll love the 16mm on your R100. 16mm isn't quite the teeny pancake the 28mm is though. I put the switch on "control" and have the control ring set up for aperture, set the ISO to Auto and shoot like I'm on a film camera with fixed ISO and work the (ick- hate to even say this) the triangle via the front ring for aperture and the rear wheel is for shutter speed.

The only really annoying thing I've run into on the R50V is my thumb keeps hitting the multifunction knob and setting it to fire on the 2 second timer (that's most common but I've thumbed other buttons as well). I've missed a few shots that way. Just hand discipline - need to keep my thumb on the wheel.

My Sigma 16-300 is my "I'm going to this outdoor event and want a small camera and have no idea what I'm going to shoot", but the 16mm is my "I'm gonna go have some old-school shooting fun and focus on composition with my feet". I have had the RF 24-105 in the bag, but think I'll start leaving it at home as it's just extra weight. I only use it on the full-frame.

For the Sigma the ring around the rear multifunction is my aperture. No control ring option is only one of two things I don't love about that lens. The other is that DPP doesn't have lens correction for it. But, honestly, I've hardly noticed the need. That's the beauty of APS-C, though. The smaller sensor allows for cheaper glass to do a great job.

Oh, yeah, and the 16mm on the R8 is a pretty sweet wide. My avatar photo was taken in Iceland with an R8 and 16mm. Larger version included here for your viewing enjoyment. That was a fun memory - just kept walking forward until nobody else was there and grabbing the double (if you look hard) rainbows. My ginormous 15-35mm f/2.8 L has taken it's place on the full-frame due to quality and versatility and I don't mind the weight and size on the R6.

Re: Refurbished R50 restock

LeeP — Mon, 04 May 2026 20:06:36 GMT

"The only really annoying thing I've run into on the R50V is my thumb keeps hitting the multifunction knob and setting it to fire on the 2 second timer (that's most common but I've thumbed other buttons as well)."

Occasionally I inadvertently change the mode on my R100, but if you want a truly annoying mode dial try the Pentax 17. First of all, the modes are utterly dumb (a program mode for bright light and another for low light) and counterintuitive in some cases (bokeh mode on a camera with such a slow top shutter speed that it would be impossible to shoot wide open), but the dial has such soft detents that winding the film can result in a changed mode.

Re: Refurbished R50 restock

SignifDigits — Mon, 04 May 2026 20:58:05 GMT

Thanks, but I'm inept enough with what I've got as it is! I occasionally put my R6 Mark II into video mode rather than photos. At least that one is easily recognizable and fixable.

I find I love NOT having a viewfinder on the R50V for the most part, especially in urban settings. People are used to seeing phones used as cameras, and the R50V seems better for being accepted as shooting casually instead of putting my face into the camera. In bright light I've managed to articulate the screen enough to see settings and composition. And I don't miss any menus. The Q button and mode dial put everything I need on the back of the camera and/or the touchscreen.

I didn't like my high-end Samsung Ultra phone settings, Pro mode, etc. to get to raw images, setting and such there. That was a bridge too far for me. The R50V is still "camera-like" for me to like very much.

I know pointing this out knowing that some folks here will be slightly irritated or at least think me a lesser photographer. That's probably correct, and ok with me. I still like what I like and have always been quirky. I will continue to mention a few non-traditional quirky things here to let visitors know a) even here we're not all like and b) it's ok if they aren't as well. I love reading folks getting paid for their work using 7-year-old APS-C DSLR gear. I think that it is super cool to remind everyone that not everyone has to have a $3,000 camera and $3,000 lens to make photographs that people will love.

Our local camera club has a monthly contest and some of those folks are retired professionals and use their phone cameras to win the contests.

Re: Refurbished R50 restock

LeeP — Mon, 04 May 2026 21:10:20 GMT

I have suggested the R50V to a friend who wants an interchangeable-lens camera. I gave him two EF lenses (ultrawide to wide zoom and wide to tele zoom), so a Canon converter would continue the use of those lenses (I have another I plan to give him). I may suggest the 16mm f2.8 and 28mm to him because he likes street photography.

Re: Refurbished R50 restock

normadel — Mon, 04 May 2026 21:43:58 GMT

Used/refurbished cameras cannot be "stocked" like new ones can. Their availability depends on getting good examples to refurbish. Canon, or other used dealers, can't just order used cameras from a supplier.

Ebay isn't the only place to buy used/refurbed, or the best place. Look at the good used equipment dealers, like KEH.com, MPB.com, UsedPhotoPro.com, Adorama.com. They provide warranties on what they sell, as well as grading the merchandise.

Re: Refurbished R50 restock

March411 — Mon, 04 May 2026 22:13:58 GMT

I just received an email with "Camera deals that may be worth taking a quick look at to see if something interests you. Link below.

Camera Deals

Re: Refurbished R50 restock

SignifDigits — Mon, 04 May 2026 23:37:36 GMT

@March411 I can't decide whether to thank you or curse you 🙂 Every time one of these deals comes by I wind up buying something! I felt like I had to pick up one of the refurbed R100s at that price - now my RF24-240 will live on it instead of sitting on the shelf. With the classic flash foot I may also come up with some other uses for it as well. Thankfully I already have memory cards and even an extra wrist strap. But I may have to get yet another Think Tank Turnstyle Sling 🙂

Let's start a rumor - one @LeeP will want to be true. Canon is clearing the shelves of the R100s to make way for a low-cost APS-C retro camera - looks just like the AE-1, and comes in both black and silver tops.

And May the Fourth be with you all!

Re: Refurbished R50 restock

LeeP — Tue, 05 May 2026 00:29:54 GMT

I made Pentaxians (sic) volcanic with rage by saying that Ricoh should license the RF mount and use the R100 engineering for an ME2 (i.e. a retro camera that looks like an ME). The two cameras are strikingly similar in size and market intent. I then spoke blasphemy saying that they could leverage the R8 for a "Spotmatic M".

Pentax could very easily assume the role of a retro/boutique body brand using someone else's engineering. The automotive industry has numerous examples of this. A lot of people don't realize that the Range Rover Evoque is built off of Ford's EUCD platform (Fusion).

Canon could even buy the Pentax name, and treat the brand like something they are reviving kind of like how BMW did with Mini. Current Pentax fanatics believe Ricoh's "plastic fantastic" efforts make Pentax a vaunted brand like Leica. BMW made people believe that Mini was a dearly beloved brand they were restoring. And if it would sell Canons to people who would not buy Canons, so much the better.