Canon
PowerShot SX50 HS
 vs
Nikon
D5100

Updated (October, 2012): Compare the Canon PowerShot SX50 HS vs Nikon D5200

Nikon D5100

100

  
Canon PowerShot SX50 HS

85

  
Winner

Nikon D5100

Reasons to buy the Nikon D5100

Overall image quality
 Great image quality
80.0
Supports 24p
 24p movies
For that film look
Dynamic range
 Wide dynamic range
13 EV
Screen flips out
 Flip-out screen
Great for movies
Sensor size
 Large sensor
APS-C 23.6x15.6mm
HDR
 In-camera HDR
Combines multiple exposures
 

Reasons to buy the Canon PowerShot SX50 HS

Zoom
 Great zoom
50x
High-speed framerate
 High speed movies
240 fps
Image stabilization
 Image stabilization
Lens
Supports 24p
 24p movies
For that film look
Continuous shooting
 Rapid fire
13 fps
Screen flips out
 Flip-out screen
Great for movies
 

differences

Advantages of the Canon PowerShot SX50 HS
Image stabilization Image stabilization Lens vs None
Help
 Helps eliminate blur caused by small camera movements
High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies 240 fps vs None
Help
 Capture events too fast for the naked eye and play them back in super-slow motion
Continuous shooting Shoots significantly faster 13 fps vs 4 fps
Help
 Around 3.5x faster continuous shooting
Canon PowerShot SX50 HS Learn more about
the Canon PowerShot SX50 HS

Advantages of the Nikon D5100
Overall image quality Much better image quality 80.0 vs 47.0
Help
 More than 70% better image quality
Autofocus Faster autofocus Phase detection vs Contrast detection
Help
 Catch candid moments easily
External mic jack Has an external mic jack Yes vs No
Help
 Record high quality audio with an external microphone
Color depth Better color depth 23.5 bits vs 20.3 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 3.2 more bits of color
Screen size Larger screen 3.0" vs 2.8"
Help
 Around 10% larger screen
Dynamic range More dynamic range 13 EV vs 11.2 EV
Help
 1.8 f-stops more dynamic range
Sensor size Significantly larger sensor APS-C 23.6x15.6mm vs 1/2.3" 6.2x4.6mm
Help
 More than 13x larger sensor
True resolution Significantly higher true resolution 16.1 MP vs 9.7 MP
Help
 Capture around 70% more detail in your photos
Battery life Significantly longer battery life 660 shots vs 315 shots
Help
 More than 2x more shots per battery charge
Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO 1,183 ISO vs 179 ISO
Help
 The D5100 has excellent image quality 2.7 f-stops higher ISO than the PowerShot SX50 HS
Interchangeable lenses Has interchangeable lenses Yes vs No
Help
 Can take advantage of a variety of lenses
Size Smaller 127x96x78 mm vs 123x87x106 mm
Help
 More than 10% smaller
Thickness Thinner 3.1" vs 4.2"
Help
 Around 30% thinner
Viewfinder Has an optical viewfinder Pentamirror vs Digital
Help
 Optical viewfinders save battery life and are more detailed
Fastest shutter speed Faster max shutter speed 1/4000s vs 1/2000s
Help
 2x faster max shutter speed
Weight Slightly lighter 560 g vs 595 g
Help
 Around 10% lighter
Longest exposure Longer exposures 30s vs 15s
Help
 2x longer exposures
Nikon D5100 Learn more about
the Nikon D5100
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent digital cameras, and ignoring price

Canon PowerShot SX50 HS Canon PowerShot SX50 HS
85 vs 100
Explain scores
Nikon D5100 Nikon D5100
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D5100. This recommendation, however, should be taken with a grain of salt since it doesn't always make sense to compare a super zoom with a entry-level DSLR.

similarities

Compared to recent digital cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Supports 24p Both support 24p, which is uncommon in cameras similar to these Help
For that film look
Screen flips out Flip-out screens Help
Great for movies
HDR In-camera HDR Help
Combines multiple exposures
Supports RAW Supports RAW Help
Better editing
External flash Support external flash Help
Better lighting
Viewfinder Viewfinders Help
PowerShot SX50 HS:Digital
D5100:Pentamirror
Sensor type Better sensor types Help
Better in low light
Weight Heavy Help
PowerShot SX50 HS:595 g
D5100:560 g
Thickness Quite thick Help
PowerShot SX50 HS:4.2"
D5100:3.1"
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Size Large Help
PowerShot SX50 HS:123x87x106 mm
D5100:127x96x78 mm
Focus points Few focus points Help
PowerShot SX50 HS:9
D5100:11

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D3200

Nikon D3200

Entry-level DSLR

$547 with 18-55mm lens
True resolution Takes significantly higher resolution photos
HDR Lacks a built in HDR feature
Screen flips out Doesn't have a screen which flips out
Compare the D3200 vs the PowerShot SX50 HS
Compare the D3200 vs the D5100
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$549 body only

$599 - $649 with 18-55mm lens
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor
HDR Lacks a built in HDR feature
Autofocus Lacks autofocus
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the PowerShot SX50 HS
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the D5100
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$447 - $740 with 18-55mm lens
HDR Lacks a built in HDR feature
Screen flips out Doesn't have a screen which flips out
Compare the D3100 vs the PowerShot SX50 HS
Compare the D3100 vs the D5100
Canon Rebel T4i

Canon Rebel T4i

Entry-level DSLR

$672 - $800 body only

$719 - $749 with 18-55mm lens
Light sensitivity Slightly higher maximum light sensitivity
Touch screen Has a touch screen
Compare the Rebel T4i vs the PowerShot SX50 HS
Compare the Rebel T4i vs the D5100
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$550 body only

$609 with 18-55mm lens
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor
Thickness Is thinner
HDR Lacks a built in HDR feature
Autofocus Lacks autofocus
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the PowerShot SX50 HS
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the D5100
Canon Rebel T3

Canon Rebel T3

Entry-level DSLR

$332 body only

$449 - $499 with 18-55mm lens
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor
HDR Lacks a built in HDR feature
Autofocus Lacks autofocus
Compare the Rebel T3 vs the PowerShot SX50 HS
Compare the Rebel T3 vs the D5100

Canon PowerShot SX50 HS Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-HX300

Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-HX300

Super zoom

$498
Aperture Wider aperture
3D Takes 3D photos
Supports 24p No 24p support
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Compare the Cyber-Shot DSC-HX300 vs the PowerShot SX50 HS
Nikon Coolpix P520

Nikon Coolpix P520

Super zoom

$427
Screen size Much larger screen
Aperture Wider aperture
Zoom Significantly less zoom
Supports 24p No 24p support
Compare the Coolpix P520 vs the PowerShot SX50 HS
Nikon Coolpix P510

Nikon Coolpix P510

Super zoom

$335 - $347
Aperture Wider aperture
3D Takes 3D photos
Zoom Significantly less zoom
Supports 24p No 24p support
Compare the Coolpix P510 vs the PowerShot SX50 HS
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ200

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ200

Super zoom

$498
Aperture Wider aperture
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Zoom Much less zoom
Supports 24p No 24p support
Compare the Lumix DMC-FZ200 vs the PowerShot SX50 HS
Fujifilm FinePix HS50EXR

Fujifilm FinePix HS50EXR

Super zoom

$475 - $550
Aperture Wider aperture
Autofocus Faster autofocus
Zoom Significantly less zoom
Size Much larger
Compare the FinePix HS50EXR vs the PowerShot SX50 HS

Nikon D5100 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D5200

Nikon D5200

Entry-level DSLR

$697 body only

$797 with 18-55mm lens
True resolution Much higher true resolution
Focus points More focus points
Battery life Shorter battery life
Lowest price Slightly more expensive
Compare the D5200 vs the D5100
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$675 - $899 body only

$799 - $1,099 with 18-105mm lens
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor
Viewfinder size Larger viewfinder
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Compare the D90 vs the D5100
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$897 body only

$997 with 18-105mm lens
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor
Weather sealed Weather sealed
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
HDR Lacks in-camera HDR
Compare the D7000 vs the D5100

appearance

Canon PowerShot SX50 HS Nikon D5100
Canon PowerShot SX50 HS Nikon D5100
Canon PowerShot SX50 HS Nikon D5100

discussion

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