Canon EOS
500D
 vs
Nikon
D5100

General

 Canon EOS 500D Nikon D5100
Brand
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 Canon Nikon
Lowest price
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 $900.84 $496.95
Announced
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 March, 2009 April, 2011

Sensor
Type
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 CMOS CMOS
Size
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 APS-C 22.3x14.9mm APS-C 23.6x15.6mm
Crop factor
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 1.6x 1.5x
Megapixels
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 15.1 MP 16.1 MP
Light sensitivity
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 3,200 ISO 6,400 ISO
Light sensitivity (boost)
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 12,800 ISO 25,600 ISO
Sensor cleaning
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 Yes Yes

Sensor (Advanced)
True resolution
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 15.1 MP 16.1 MP
Native resolution
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 4752 x 3168 4928 x 3264
Pixel size
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 22.1 µm² 22.9 µm²

Screen
Type
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 LCD LCD
Size
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 3.0" 3.0"
Resolution
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 920k dots 920k dots
Touch screen
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 No No
Flips out
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 No Yes
Live view
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 Yes Yes

Lenses
Lens availability
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 162 lenses 169 lenses
Lens focus motor
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 Yes No
Lens mount
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 Canon EF Nikon F

Form factor
Size
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 129x98x62 mm 127x96x78 mm
Depth
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 2.4" 3.1"
Weight
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 520 g 560 g
Interchangeable lenses
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 Yes Yes
Waterproof
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 No No
Weather sealed
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 No No

Viewfinder
Type
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 Pentamirror Pentamirror
Viewfinder size
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 0.54x 0.51x
Coverage
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 95% 95%

Movies
Format
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 1080p @ 20fps 1080p @ 30fps
Supports 24p
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 No Yes
High-speed framerate
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 None None
External mic jack
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 No Yes
Autofocus
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 None Contrast detection
Continuous focus
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 n/a Yes
All formats
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 1080p @ 20fps
720p @ 30fps
480p @ 30fps		 640 x 424 @ 24fps
1080p @ 24fps
1080p @ 30fps
720p @ 30fps
720p @ 24fps

Features
Panorama
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 No No
HDR
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 No Yes
3D
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 No No
Image stabilization
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 None None
Supports RAW
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 Yes Yes
GPS
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 No No

Performance
Startup delay
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 300 ms 500 ms
Shutter lag
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 159 ms 273 ms
Battery life
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 400 shots 660 shots
Continuous shooting
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 3.4 fps 4 fps

Focus system
Autofocus
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 Phase detection Phase detection
Focus points
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 9 11
Cross type focus points
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 1 1

Shutter
Max
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 1/4000s 1/4000s
Min
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 30s 30s

Flash
Built-in flash
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 Yes Yes
Popup
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 Yes Yes
External connection
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 Yes Yes

Storage
Storage slots
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 1 1
Supported formats
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 SD
SDHC		 SD
SDXC
SDHC

DXO Mark Scores
Image quality
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 63.0 80.0
Color depth
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 21.7 bits 23.5 bits
Dynamic range
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 11.5 EV 13 EV
Low light performance
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 663 ISO 1,183 ISO