Updated (April, 2011): Compare the Canon EOS 450D vs Nikon D5100

Nikon D5000

48

Winner

Nikon D5000

"The D5000 acquires the 11-point AF system from the D90. It's a pretty sophisticated setup for a camera at this level"
dpreview.com | talking about the D5000's auto-focus
"Excellent degree of customization (reversible dial and meter ease transition from other systems)"
dpreview.com | talking about the D5000's button-layout

Reasons to buy the Nikon D5000

Overall image quality
Great image quality
72.0
Color depth
Great color depth
22.7 bits
Dynamic range
Wide dynamic range
12.5 EV
Screen flips out
Flip-out screen
Great for movies
Sensor size
Large sensor
APS-C 23.6x15.8mm
Canon EOS 450D

41

Runner-up

Canon EOS 450D

Reasons to buy the Canon EOS 450D

Shutter lag
Barely any delay taking photos
160 ms shutter lag
Size
Really small
Prosumer size 129x98x62 mm
Badge
Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
Thickness
Thin
2.4"
Weight
Light-weight
524 g

differences

Advantages of the Canon 450D

Screen size Much larger screen 3.0" vs 2.7"
Help
More than 10% larger screen
Shutter lag Significantly less shutter lag 160 ms vs 276 ms
Help
More than 40% less delay when taking photos
Size Much smaller 129x98x62 mm vs 127x104x80 mm
Help
Around 30% smaller
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor Yes vs No
Help
Autofocuses with all autofocus lenses
Thickness Much thinner 2.4" vs 3.1"
Help
More than 20% thinner
Viewfinder size Larger viewfinder 0.54x vs 0.51x
Help
More than 10% larger viewfinder
Weight Lighter 524 g vs 590 g
Help
More than 10% lighter
Lowest price Cheaper $581.66 vs $879.95
Help
The best price we've seen is $298 cheaper (more than 30% less)
Canon EOS 450D Learn more about
the Canon 450D

Advantages of the Nikon D5000

Dynamic range More dynamic range 12.5 EV vs 10.8 EV
Help
1.7 f-stops more dynamic range
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality 72.0 vs 61.0
Help
Around 20% better image quality
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 868 ISO vs 692 ISO
Help
The D5000 has a slight edge (0.3 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Color depth Better color depth 22.7 bits vs 21.9 bits
Help
Distinguishes 0.8 more bits of color
Movie format Shoots movies 720p @ 24fps vs None
Help
Shoots HD (720p) video as well as still pictures
Screen flips out Has a flip-out screen Yes vs No
Help
Flip-out screens can be helpful when composing tricky shots or taking movies
Sensor size Significantly larger sensor APS-C 23.6x15.8mm vs APS-C 22.2x14.8mm
Help
More than 10% larger sensor
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 3,200 ISO vs 800 ISO
Help
The D5000's maximum light sensitivity is 2 f-stops better
Focus points More focus points 11 vs 9
Help
Set focus accurately within the frame
Continuous shooting Shoots slightly faster 4 fps vs 3.5 fps
Help
More than 10% faster continuous shooting
Light sensitivity (boost) Better boost ISO 6,400 ISO vs 1,600 ISO
Help
The D5000's boost ISO is 2 f-stops better
Lens availability Slightly more lenses available 169 lenses vs 162 lenses
Help
Almost the same
Nikon D5000 Learn more about
the Nikon D5000
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent entry-level DSLRs, and ignoring price

Canon EOS 450D Canon EOS 450D
41 vs 48
Explain scores
Nikon D5000 Nikon D5000
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D5000.

advice

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0
votes
by Jithmi-Alwis last month
Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D5000

iam a beginner ...and need a good entry level dslr...which is cheap...and have great image stab...

One person recommends the Nikon D3100:

" The D3100 is a great starter camera"

0
votes
by Neeraj-Jain last week
Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D5000

I am beginner and I want to become an expert in portrait photography, especially baby shots. Ple...

0
votes
by telmanri this month
Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D5000

I'm photography enthusiast and I plan to move on for my first dSLR. I want to buy a refurbished ...

0
votes
by Ketan-Nivding last month
Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D5000

Hi, I' am an amateur photographer and have taken up photography as a hobby. Recently, while on a J...

0
votes
by ImranVirk last month
Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D5000

Im a beginner and will mainly be using the camera for vacation pictures and weekend hobby photogra...

similarities

Compared to recent entry-level DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Lens availability Many lenses available Help
450D:162 lenses
D5000:169 lenses
Startup delay Minimal startup delay Help
400 ms startup delay
Fastest shutter speed Slow max shutter speed Help
1/4000 of a second
Storage slots Fewer storage slots Help
1
Light sensitivity (boost) Poor boost ISO Help
450D:1,600 ISO
D5000:6,400 ISO
Viewfinder coverage Below average viewfinder coverage Help
95%
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
450D:800 ISO
D5000:3,200 ISO
True resolution Capture low resolution images Help
12.2 MP
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
Cross type focus points Few cross-type focus points Help
1
Screen resolution Low resolution screens Help
230k dots
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Continuous shooting Slow continuous shooting Help
450D:3.5 fps
D5000:4 fps
Weather sealed Neither is weather sealed Help
Need to shelter it from weather
Movie format One shoots movies Help
450D:None
D5000:720p @ 24fps

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $597 body only

$600 - $697 with 18-55mm lens

Low light performance Is significantly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Thickness Is thicker
Size Is significantly larger
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $547 with 18-55mm lens

Movie format Records higher quality movies
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Thickness Is thicker
Size Is slightly larger
Canon EOS 1100D

Canon EOS 1100D

Entry-level DSLR

$489 - $546 body only

$546 - $643 with 18-55mm lens

Light sensitivity Slightly higher maximum light sensitivity
Battery life Has a significantly longer battery life
Thickness Is thicker
Sensor cleaning Lacks a self cleaning sensor
Canon EOS 550D

Canon EOS 550D

Entry-level DSLR

$704 - $916 body only

$731 - $874 with 18-55mm lens

Movie format Records higher quality movies
Screen resolution Has a much higher resolution screen
Shutter lag Has significantly more shutter lag
Canon EOS 600D

Canon EOS 600D

Entry-level DSLR

$835 with 18-55mm lens

Movie format Records higher quality movies
Screen resolution Has a much higher resolution screen
Thickness Is thicker
Size Is significantly larger
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$897 body only

$1,047 with 55-200mm lens

Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Screen resolution Has a much higher resolution screen
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Canon EOS 500D

Canon EOS 500D

Entry-level DSLR

$539 with 18-55mm lens

Movie format Records higher quality movies
Screen resolution Has a much higher resolution screen
Supports 24p Doesn't record movies in 24p
Color depth Has slightly less color depth

Canon EOS 450D Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Canon EOS 450D.

Nikon D5000 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Nikon D5000.

appearance

Canon EOS 450D Nikon D5000
Canon EOS 450D Nikon D5000
Canon EOS 450D Nikon D5000

discussion

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