Canon EOS
500D
 vs
Canon EOS
50D

Updated (February, 2011): Compare the Canon EOS 1100D vs Canon EOS 50D

Canon EOS 50D

57
Winner

Canon EOS 50D
"Nine point auto focus system accurate, even in low light"
dpreview.com | talking about the 50D's auto-focus
"It feels solid, reliable and 'well sorted' from an ergonomics point of view"
dpreview.com | talking about the 50D's feel

Reasons to buy the Canon EOS 50D

Continuous shooting
 Rapid fire
6.3 fps
Shutter lag
 Barely any delay taking photos
131 ms shutter lag
Sensor cleaning
 Self cleaning sensor
Avoids dust in your photos
Badge
 Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
Fastest shutter speed
 Fast shutter speed
1/8000 of a second
Canon EOS 500D

52
Runner-up

Canon EOS 500D

Reasons to buy the Canon EOS 500D

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
Thickness
 Thin
2.4"
Weight
 Light-weight
520 g

differences

Advantages of the Canon 500D
Movie format Shoots movies 1080p @ 20fps vs None
Help
 Shoots Full HD (1080p) video as well as still pictures
Dynamic range More dynamic range 11.5 EV vs 11.4 EV
Help
 0.1 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
Lowest price Slightly cheaper $539.00 vs $1,281.99
Help
 The best price we've seen is $743 cheaper (2.4x less)
Canon EOS 500D Learn more about
the Canon 500D

Advantages of the Canon 50D
Color depth Better color depth 21.8 bits vs 21.7 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 0.1 more bits of color
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 6.3 fps vs 3.4 fps
Help
 Around 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
Cross type focus points More cross-type focus points 9 vs 1
Help
 Grab focus in difficult situations
Shutter lag Less shutter lag 131 ms vs 159 ms
Help
 Around 20% less delay when taking photos
Battery life Longer battery life 640 shots vs 400 shots
Help
 60% more shots per battery charge
Fastest shutter speed Much faster max shutter speed 1/8000s vs 1/4000s
Help
 2x faster max shutter speed
Canon EOS 50D Learn more about
the Canon 50D
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent DSLRs, and ignoring price

Canon EOS 500D Canon EOS 500D
52 vs 57
Explain scores
Canon EOS 50D Canon EOS 50D
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Canon EOS 50D. This recommendation, however, should be taken with a grain of salt since it doesn't always make sense to compare a entry-level DSLR with a pro DSLR.

advice

Need help deciding?

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0
votes
by Scott-Harmon last week
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i am taking my wife on an Alaskan cruise.  I keep thinking just take my 50D and not my video, bu...

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2
votes
by Char-Sevig last month
Canon 50D vs Canon 5D Mark II

I currently have a canon xsi, with several lenses. A canon 70-200mm f/4 L ,55-250mm, 50mm 1.8 ,18-...

One person recommends the Canon 5D Mark II:

"I recently upgraded from the XSi to the 5D Mark II and couldn't be happier. As I'm sure you know, ..."
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."
0
votes
by Amauri-Di-Maia this month
Canon 40D vs Canon 500D

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

similarities

Compared to recent DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Lens availability Many lenses available Help
162 lenses
Startup delay Minimal startup delay Help
300 ms startup delay
Shutter lag Minimal shutter lag Help
500D:159 ms
50D:131 ms
Thickness Thin Help
500D:2.4"
50D:2.9"
Storage slots Fewer storage slots Help
1
Viewfinder coverage Below average viewfinder coverage Help
95%
Light sensitivity (boost) Poor boost ISO Help
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
3,200 ISO
Color depth Poor color depth Help
500D:21.7 bits
50D:21.8 bits
Weather sealed Neither is weather sealed Help
Need to shelter it from weather
Focus points Few focus points Help
9
Sensor size Very small sensors Help
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
500D:11.5 EV
50D:11.4 EV
Overall image quality Low image quality Help
63.0
Low light performance Above average noise at high ISO Help
500D:663 ISO
50D:696 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
Color depth Has slightly more color depth
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Shutter lag Has significantly more shutter lag
Compare the EOS 550D vs the EOS 500D
Compare the EOS 550D vs the EOS 50D
Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$848 - $1,304 body only

$1,177 - $1,342 with 18-135mm lens
Color depth Has significantly more color depth
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the EOS 60D vs the EOS 500D
Compare the EOS 60D vs the EOS 50D
Canon EOS 600D

Canon EOS 600D

Entry-level DSLR

$835 with 18-55mm lens
Color depth Has slightly more color depth
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the EOS 600D vs the EOS 500D
Compare the EOS 600D vs the EOS 50D
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $547 with 18-55mm lens
Color depth Has significantly more color depth
Supports 24p Records movies in 24p
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D3100 vs the EOS 500D
Compare the D3100 vs the EOS 50D
Canon EOS 1100D

Canon EOS 1100D

Entry-level DSLR

$489 - $546 body only

$546 - $643 with 18-55mm lens
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the EOS 1100D vs the EOS 500D
Compare the EOS 1100D vs the EOS 50D
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
Compare the D5100 vs the EOS 500D
Compare the D5100 vs the EOS 50D
Canon EOS 7D

Canon EOS 7D

Pro DSLR

$1,549 - $1,821 body only

$1,620 - $1,849 with 18-135mm lens
Color depth Has slightly more color depth
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is significantly heavier
Compare the EOS 7D vs the EOS 500D
Compare the EOS 7D vs the EOS 50D

Canon EOS 500D Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

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

Canon EOS 50D Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Canon EOS 50D.

appearance

Canon EOS 500D Canon EOS 50D
Canon EOS 500D Canon EOS 50D
Canon EOS 500D Canon EOS 50D

discussion

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