Canon EOS 50D Competitors

As well as being compared against other pro DSLRs, the Canon EOS 50D is also often compared to entry-level DSLRs and mirrorless. The Canon EOS 50D's top rivals come from Canon (such as the EOS 60D and the Rebel T2i) and Nikon (such as the D90 and the D5100)

Generally, some of the advantages of the Canon 50D compared to other pro DSLR competitors include: it has a slightly larger screen (3.0" vs 2.5"), has a slightly higher resolution screen (920k dots vs 230k dots), lets you preview your photos on the screen, has slightly less shutter lag (131 ms vs 206 ms) and has a built-in flash.

However, on average it is slightly more noisy at high ISO (696 ISO vs 1,368 ISO), has slightly lower image quality (63.0 vs 71.0), doesn't record movies (none vs 1080p @ 30fps), has significantly less color depth (21.8 bits vs 22.9 bits) and slightly smaller viewfinder (0.59x vs 0.71x).

Canon EOS 60D 2 years newer $899 - $1,304 (body only) $1,138 - $1,342 18-135mm lens	Significant advantages of the 60D (vs the 50D) Shoots movies: 1080p @ 30fps vs None Better color depth: 22.2 bits vs 21.8 bits Has a flip-out screen Significant disadvantages of the 60D (vs the 50D) Significantly more shutter lag: 253 ms vs 131 ms common strengths of the 60D and 50D Many lenses available: 162 lenses vs 162 lenses Fairly small: Professional size 145x106x79 mm vs Professional size 146x108x74 mm Inexpensive: $898.75 vs $1,281.99
	Compare the 60D vs the 50D
Canon EOS 7D 1 year newer $1,329 - $1,821 (body only) $1,498 - $1,800 28-135mm lens	Significant advantages of the 7D (vs the 50D) Shoots movies: 1080p @ 30fps vs None Weather sealed More cross-type focus points: 19 vs 9 Significant disadvantages of the 7D (vs the 50D) None found common strengths of the 7D and 50D Many lenses available: 162 lenses vs 162 lenses Fairly small: Professional size 148x111x74 mm vs Professional size 146x108x74 mm Inexpensive: $1,329.00 vs $1,281.99
	Compare the 7D vs the 50D
Canon EOS 40D 1 year older $1,000 (body only)	Significant advantages of the 40D (vs the 50D) Better color depth: 22.1 bits vs 21.8 bits Significant disadvantages of the 40D (vs the 50D) Much lower resolution screen: 230k dots vs 920k dots Lower true resolution: 10.1 MP vs 15.1 MP common strengths of the 40D and 50D Many lenses available: 162 lenses vs 162 lenses Fairly small: Professional size 146x108x74 mm vs Professional size 146x108x74 mm Inexpensive: $999.99 vs $1,281.99
	Compare the 40D vs the 50D
Canon EOS 5D Mark II similar age $2,400 (body only) $2,799 - $2,839 24-105mm lens	Significant advantages of the 5D Mark II (vs the 50D) Much lower noise at high ISO: 1,815 ISO vs 696 ISO Much better image quality: 79.0 vs 63.0 Better color depth: 23.7 bits vs 21.8 bits Significant disadvantages of the 5D Mark II (vs the 50D) No built-in flash common strengths of the 5D Mark II and 50D Fairly small: Professional size 152x114x75 mm vs Professional size 146x108x74 mm Thin: 3" vs 2.9" Inexpensive: $2,330.54 vs $1,281.99
	Compare the 5D Mark II vs the 50D
Canon EOS 5D 3 years older $3,279 24-105mm lens	Significant advantages of the 5D (vs the 50D) Significantly lower noise at high ISO: 1,368 ISO vs 696 ISO Better color depth: 22.9 bits vs 21.8 bits Better image quality: 71.0 vs 63.0 Significant disadvantages of the 5D (vs the 50D) Much smaller screen: 2.5" vs 3.0" Much lower resolution screen: 230k dots vs 920k dots No live view common strengths of the 5D and 50D Fairly small: Professional size 152x113x75 mm vs Professional size 146x108x74 mm Thin: 3" vs 2.9"
	Compare the 5D vs the 50D
Nikon D300 1 year older $1,673 - $1,816 (body only) $2,639 16-85mm lens	Significant advantages of the D300 (vs the 50D) More dynamic range: 12 EV vs 11.4 EV Better color depth: 22.1 bits vs 21.8 bits Many more focus points: 51 vs 9 Significant disadvantages of the D300 (vs the 50D) More shutter lag: 227 ms vs 131 ms common strengths of the D300 and 50D Many lenses available: 169 lenses vs 162 lenses Fairly small: Professional size 147x114x74 mm vs Professional size 146x108x74 mm Thin: 2.9" vs 2.9"
	Compare the Nikon D300 vs the Canon EOS 50D

Generally, some of the advantages of the Canon 50D compared to entry-level DSLR competitors include: it shoots faster continuously (6.3 fps vs 4 fps), has slightly less startup delay (300 ms vs 1500 ms), has higher quality type of viewfinder (pentaprism vs pentamirror), has significantly less shutter lag (131 ms vs 238 ms) and has significantly more cross-type focus points (9 vs 1).

However, on average it is slightly more noisy at high ISO (696 ISO vs 977 ISO), has slightly lower image quality (63.0 vs 73.0), doesn't record movies (none vs 1080p @ 20fps), has significantly less color depth (21.8 bits vs 22.7 bits) and has slightly narrower dynamic range (11.4 EV vs 12.5 EV).

Canon Rebel T2i 1 year newer $499 - $949 (body only) $579 - $867 18-55mm lens	Significant advantages of the T2i (vs the 50D) Shoots movies: 1080p @ 30fps vs None Better color depth: 22.1 bits vs 21.8 bits Much smaller: Prosumer size 129x98x62 mm vs Professional size 146x108x74 mm Significant disadvantages of the T2i (vs the 50D) Many fewer cross-type focus points: 1 vs 9 Significantly more shutter lag: 252 ms vs 131 ms Shoots significantly slower: 3.7 fps vs 6.3 fps common strengths of the T2i and 50D High resolution screens: 1,040k dots vs 920k dots Larger than average screens: 3.0" vs 3.0" Minimal startup delay: 400 ms vs 300 ms
	Compare the Rebel T2i vs the EOS 50D
Nikon D90 similar age $869 - $897 (body only) $1,099 - $1,200 18-105mm lens	Significant advantages of the D90 (vs the 50D) Significantly lower noise at high ISO: 977 ISO vs 696 ISO Significantly better image quality: 73.0 vs 63.0 Better color depth: 22.7 bits vs 21.8 bits Significant disadvantages of the D90 (vs the 50D) Many fewer cross-type focus points: 1 vs 9 Significantly more shutter lag: 208 ms vs 131 ms Lower true resolution: 12.2 MP vs 15.1 MP common strengths of the D90 and 50D High resolution screens: 920k dots vs 920k dots Larger than average screens: 3.0" vs 3.0" Above average viewfinder size: 0.63x vs 0.59x
	Compare the Nikon D90 vs the Canon EOS 50D
Canon Rebel T3i 2 years newer $609 - $800 (body only) $709 - $1,180 18-55mm lens	Significant advantages of the T3i (vs the 50D) Shoots movies: 1080p @ 30fps vs None Better color depth: 22.1 bits vs 21.8 bits Has a flip-out screen Significant disadvantages of the T3i (vs the 50D) Much more startup delay: 1500 ms vs 300 ms Much more shutter lag: 283 ms vs 131 ms Many fewer cross-type focus points: 1 vs 9 common strengths of the T3i and 50D High resolution screens: 1,040k dots vs 920k dots Larger than average screens: 3.0" vs 3.0" Many lenses available: 162 lenses vs 162 lenses
	Compare the Rebel T3i vs the EOS 50D
Nikon D5100 2 years newer $650 - $749 (body only) $600 - $750 18-55mm lens	Significant advantages of the D5100 (vs the 50D) Much lower noise at high ISO: 1,183 ISO vs 696 ISO Much better image quality: 80.0 vs 63.0 Better color depth: 23.5 bits vs 21.8 bits Significant disadvantages of the D5100 (vs the 50D) Many fewer cross-type focus points: 1 vs 9 Much more shutter lag: 273 ms vs 131 ms Significantly smaller viewfinder: 0.51x vs 0.59x common strengths of the D5100 and 50D High resolution screens: 920k dots vs 920k dots Larger than average screens: 3.0" vs 3.0" Minimal startup delay: 500 ms vs 300 ms
	Compare the Nikon D5100 vs the Canon EOS 50D
Nikon D7000 2 years newer $1,097 (body only) $1,227 55-200mm lens	Significant advantages of the D7000 (vs the 50D) Much lower noise at high ISO: 1,167 ISO vs 696 ISO Much better image quality: 80.0 vs 63.0 Better color depth: 23.5 bits vs 21.8 bits Significant disadvantages of the D7000 (vs the 50D) Significantly more shutter lag: 238 ms vs 131 ms common strengths of the D7000 and 50D High resolution screens: 920k dots vs 920k dots Larger than average screens: 3.0" vs 3.0" Above average viewfinder size: 0.62x vs 0.59x
	Compare the Nikon D7000 vs the Canon EOS 50D
Canon Rebel T1i 7 months newer $445 - $629 (body only) $504 - $609 18-55mm lens	Significant advantages of the T1i (vs the 50D) Shoots movies: 1080p @ 20fps vs None Much smaller: Prosumer size 129x98x62 mm vs Professional size 146x108x74 mm Much lighter: 520 g vs 822 g Significant disadvantages of the T1i (vs the 50D) Many fewer cross-type focus points: 1 vs 9 Shoots significantly slower: 3.4 fps vs 6.3 fps Much slower max shutter speed: 1/4000 of a second vs 1/8000 of a second common strengths of the T1i and 50D High resolution screens: 920k dots vs 920k dots Larger than average screens: 3.0" vs 3.0" Minimal startup delay: 300 ms vs 300 ms
	Compare the Rebel T1i vs the EOS 50D

Generally, some of the advantages of the Canon 50D compared to mirrorless interchangeable-lens competitors include: it has a viewfinder (pentaprism vs none), has much less startup delay (300 ms vs 1900 ms), has much less shutter lag (131 ms vs 441 ms), much more lenses available (162 lenses vs 8 lenses) and has a much longer battery life (640 shots vs 330 shots).

However, on average it is slightly more noisy at high ISO (696 ISO vs 1,079 ISO), doesn't record movies (none vs 1080p @ 60fps), has slightly lower image quality (63.0 vs 77.0), has slightly less color depth (21.8 bits vs 23.6 bits) and has significantly narrower dynamic range (11.4 EV vs 12.7 EV).

Sony NEX-5N 3 years newer $599 - $600 (body only) $698 - $699 18-55mm lens	Significant advantages of the NEX-5N (vs the 50D) Shoots movies: 1080p @ 60fps vs None Significantly lower noise at high ISO: 1,079 ISO vs 696 ISO Better maximum light sensitivity: 25,600 ISO vs 3,200 ISO Significant disadvantages of the NEX-5N (vs the 50D) Much fewer lenses available: 8 lenses vs 162 lenses Much more startup delay: 1900 ms vs 300 ms No viewfinder: None vs Pentaprism common strengths of the NEX-5N and 50D High resolution screens: 920k dots vs 920k dots Very long battery life: 460 shots vs 640 shots Incredible shutter lag: 235 ms vs 131 ms
	Compare the Sony NEX-5N vs the Canon EOS 50D
Sony Alpha NEX-5 1 year newer $569 18-55mm lens	Significant advantages of the NEX-5 (vs the 50D) Shoots movies: 1080p @ 30fps vs None Much smaller: Compact 111x59x38 mm vs Professional size 146x108x74 mm Has a flip-out screen Significant disadvantages of the NEX-5 (vs the 50D) Much fewer lenses available: 8 lenses vs 162 lenses No viewfinder: None vs Pentaprism Many fewer cross-type focus points: 0 vs 9 common strengths of the NEX-5 and 50D High resolution screens: 920k dots vs 920k dots Minimal startup delay: 1000 ms vs 300 ms Large sensors: APS-C 23.4x15.6mm vs APS-C 22.3x14.9mm
	Compare the Sony Alpha NEX-5 vs the Canon EOS 50D