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

Canon EOS 500D

52

Reasons to buy the Canon EOS 500D

Movie format
Full HD
1080p @ 20fps
Screen resolution
High resolution screen
920k dots
Shutter lag
Barely any delay taking photos
159 ms shutter lag
Size
Really small
Prosumer size 129x98x62 mm
Sensor cleaning
Self cleaning sensor
Avoids dust in your photos
Badge
Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
Canon EOS 40D

41

Runner-up

Canon EOS 40D

"Good nine point auto focus system, works well even in low light"
dpreview.com | talking about the 40D's auto-focus
"This is a 'well sorted camera'. It feels well rounded - the result of years of evolutionary improvement, it delivers in almost every area, and it inspires confidence."
dpreview.com | talking about the 40D's overall-performance

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

Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen 920k dots vs 230k dots
Help
4x higher resolution screen
Autofocus Faster autofocus Phase detection vs Contrast detection
Help
Catch candid moments easily
Movie format Shoots movies 1080p @ 20fps vs None
Help
Shoots Full HD (1080p) video as well as still pictures
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 Much thinner 2.4" vs 2.9"
Help
Around 20% thinner
Weight 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
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
41 vs 52
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.

advice

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I am considering either the 40D or the 500D,
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0
votes
by Amauri-Di-Maia this month
Canon 500D vs Canon 40D

In 40D I love the body construction Metal and I like heavy cameras! Other thing I appreciate is ...

0
votes
by Sooraj-Nair this month
Canon 500D vs Nikon D3100

Which one should I buy canon 550d or nikon 3100?

One person recommends the Nikon D3100:

" The Nikon D3100 has better low light image quality, it takes excellent quality photos up to 919 ..."

0
votes
by George-West last month
Canon 500D vs Canon 550D

begginer. looking to use it for making action sport edits and taking sporty photos.

One person recommends the Canon 550D:

" The 550D has slightly better image quality and better video features."

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%
Light sensitivity (boost) Poor boost ISO Help
40D:3,200 ISO
500D:12,800 ISO
Autofocus No video autofocus Help
Manual focus only
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
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
Weather sealed Neither is weather sealed Help
Need to shelter it from weather
Sensor size Very small sensors Help
40D:APS-C 22.2x14.8mm
500D:APS-C 22.3x14.9mm
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Dynamic range Poor dynamic range Help
40D:11.3 EV
500D:11.5 EV
Color depth Poor color depth Help
40D:22.1 bits
500D:21.7 bits
Overall image quality Low image quality Help
40D:64.0
500D:63.0
Low light performance Above average noise at high ISO Help
40D:703 ISO
500D:663 ISO

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon EOS 550D

Canon EOS 550D

Entry-level DSLR

$704 - $916 body only

$731 - $874 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
Canon EOS 1100D

Canon EOS 1100D

Entry-level DSLR

$489 - $546 body only

$546 - $643 with 18-55mm lens

Battery life Has a slightly longer battery life
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $547 with 18-55mm lens

Color depth Has slightly more color depth
Supports 24p Records movies in 24p
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Canon EOS 600D

Canon EOS 600D

Entry-level DSLR

$835 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
Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$848 - $1,304 body only

$1,177 - $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
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $597 body only

$600 - $697 with 18-55mm lens

Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has significantly better image quality
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Canon EOS 50D

Canon EOS 50D

Pro DSLR

$1,282 - $1,300 body only

Cross type focus points Has slightly more cross-type focus points
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier

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

discussion

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