Canon EOS
40D
 vs
Canon EOS
500D

Updated (February, 2011): Compare the Canon EOS 40D vs Canon EOS 1100D

Canon EOS 500D

68

Reasons to buy the Canon EOS 500D

Movie format
 Full HD
1080p @ 20fps
Screen resolution
 High resolution screen
920k dots
Startup delay
 Almost no delay when powering up
300 ms startup delay
Shutter lag
 Barely any delay taking photos
159 ms shutter lag
Size
 Really small
Prosumer size 129x98x62 mm
Badge
 Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
Canon EOS 40D

49
Runner-up

Canon EOS 40D
"With each step up the evolutionary ladder to the EOS 40D Canon has demonstrated improvements in image quality."
dpreview.com | talking about the 40D's image-quality
"Low noise and a complete lack of unnatural artifacts."
dpreview.com | talking about the 40D's iso-noise

Reasons to buy the Canon EOS 40D

Continuous shooting
 Rapid fire
6.5 fps
Badge
 Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
Fastest shutter speed
 Fast shutter speed
1/8000 of a second

differences

Advantages of the Canon 40D
Color depth Better color depth 22.1 bits vs 21.7 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 0.4 more bits of color
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 6.5 fps vs 3.4 fps
Help
 More than 90% faster continuous shooting
Viewfinder size Larger viewfinder 0.59x vs 0.54x
Help
 Around 20% larger viewfinder
Viewfinder Has a pentaprism viewfinder Pentaprism vs Pentamirror
Help
 Pentaprism viewfinders are typically brighter
Overall image quality Slightly better image quality 64.0 vs 63.0
Help
 Almost the same
Fastest shutter speed Much faster max shutter speed 1/8000s vs 1/4000s
Help
 2x faster max shutter speed
Canon EOS 40D Learn more about
the Canon 40D

Advantages of the Canon 500D
Movie format Shoots movies 1080p @ 20fps vs None
Help
 Shoots Full HD (1080p) video as well as still pictures
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen 920k dots vs 230k dots
Help
 4x higher resolution screen
True resolution Higher true resolution 15.1 MP vs 10.1 MP
Help
 Capture around 50% more detail in your photos
Dynamic range More dynamic range 11.5 EV vs 11.3 EV
Help
 0.2 f-stops more dynamic range
Size Smaller 129x98x62 mm vs 146x108x74 mm
Help
 More than 30% smaller
Thickness Significantly thinner 2.4" vs 2.9"
Help
 Around 20% thinner
Weight Significantly lighter 520 g vs 822 g
Help
 Around 40% lighter
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 3,200 ISO vs 1,600 ISO
Help
 The 500D's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
Light sensitivity (boost) Better boost ISO 12,800 ISO vs 3,200 ISO
Help
 The 500D's boost ISO is 2 f-stops better
Lowest price Slightly cheaper $599.00 vs $999.99
Help
 The best price we've seen is $401 cheaper (more than 40% less)
Canon EOS 500D Learn more about
the Canon 500D
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent DSLRs, and ignoring price

Canon EOS 40D Canon EOS 40D
49 vs 68
Explain scores
Canon EOS 500D Canon EOS 500D
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Canon EOS 500D. This recommendation, however, should be taken with a grain of salt since it doesn't always make sense to compare a pro DSLR with a entry-level DSLR.

performance Which camera has better performance? Cast your vote!

CanonEOS 40D
 Canon EOS 40D vs Canon EOS 500D
CanonEOS 500D
Uses Travel score Travel
On holiday or vacation
5
11
Vote Vote
Sports score Sports
Fast action, sometimes indoors
11
5
Vote Vote
Features Color accuracy Color accuracy
White balance in varied lighting
10
6
Vote Vote
Autofocus peformance Still image focusing
Speed and accuracy
9
6
Vote Vote
Manual controls Manual settings
How quickly and easily you can change settings
10
5
Vote Vote
Build quality Build quality
Is it sturdy, well made, plastic or metal
12
5
Vote Vote
Green arrow Join in the discussion below!

similarities

Compared to recent DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Lens availability Many lenses available Help
162 lenses
Thickness Thin Help
40D:2.9"
500D:2.4"
Storage slots Fewer storage slots Help
1
Viewfinder coverage Below average viewfinder coverage Help
95%
Screen flips out No flip-out screens Help
Less flexible
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
40D:1,600 ISO
500D:3,200 ISO
Autofocus No video autofocus Help
Manual focus only
Weather sealed Neither is weather sealed Help
Need to shelter it from weather
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
Sensor size Very small sensors Help
40D:APS-C 22.2x14.8mm
500D:APS-C 22.3x14.9mm
Dynamic range Poor dynamic range Help
40D:11.3 EV
500D:11.5 EV
Overall image quality Low image quality Help
40D:64.0
500D:63.0

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon EOS 550D

Canon EOS 550D

Entry-level DSLR

$652 - $888 body only

$778 - $932 with 18-55mm lens
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Supports 24p Records movies in 24p
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Shutter lag Has slightly more shutter lag
Compare the EOS 550D vs the EOS 40D
Compare the EOS 550D vs the EOS 500D
Canon EOS 1100D

Canon EOS 1100D

Entry-level DSLR

$484 - $648 body only

$570 - $659 with 18-55mm lens
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the EOS 1100D vs the EOS 40D
Compare the EOS 1100D vs the EOS 500D
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $984 with 18-55mm lens
Supports 24p Records movies in 24p
Movie continuous focus Can focus continuously while recording movies
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D3100 vs the EOS 40D
Compare the D3100 vs the EOS 500D
Canon EOS 600D

Canon EOS 600D

Entry-level DSLR

$860 - $1,035 body only

$922 - $1,099 with 18-55mm lens
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Supports 24p Records movies in 24p
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the EOS 600D vs the EOS 40D
Compare the EOS 600D vs the EOS 500D
Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$899 - $1,304 body only

$1,138 - $1,342 with 18-135mm lens
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Supports 24p Records movies in 24p
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the EOS 60D vs the EOS 40D
Compare the EOS 60D vs the EOS 500D
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$650 - $749 body only

$600 - $750 with 18-55mm lens
Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has much better image quality
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D5100 vs the EOS 40D
Compare the D5100 vs the EOS 500D
Canon EOS 450D

Canon EOS 450D

Entry-level DSLR

$803 body only
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Dynamic range Has slightly narrower dynamic range
Compare the EOS 450D vs the EOS 40D
Compare the EOS 450D vs the EOS 500D

Canon EOS 40D Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Canon EOS 40D.

Canon EOS 500D Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Canon EOS 500D.

appearance

Canon EOS 40D Canon EOS 500D
Canon EOS 40D Canon EOS 500D
Canon EOS 40D Canon EOS 500D

Find similar cameras

Here are some links to help you find other cameras with similar features to both of these:

discussion Which do you think is better?

Speech is free, but discussion at Snapsort is moderated! Please discuss your opinion of these cameras here, and discuss feedback for Snapsort at our support community.

Showing 0 comments