Canon EOS
500D
 vs
Nikon
D5000

Updated (April, 2011): Compare the Canon EOS 1100D vs Nikon D5100

Canon EOS 500D

54

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
Nikon D5000

48
Runner-up

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

differences

Advantages of the Canon 500D
Screen size Much larger screen 3.0" vs 2.7"
Help
 More than 10% larger screen
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen 920k dots vs 230k dots
Help
 4x higher resolution screen
Movie format Higher resolution movies 1080p @ 20fps vs 720p @ 24fps
Help
 Shoots higher resolution Full HD (1080p) video but at a lower frame rate
Shutter lag Significantly less shutter lag 159 ms vs 276 ms
Help
 More than 40% less delay when taking photos
True resolution Higher true resolution 15.1 MP vs 12.2 MP
Help
 Capture more than 20% more detail in your 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
Startup delay Slightly less startup delay 300 ms vs 400 ms
Help
 Around 30% less delay when turning on
Light sensitivity (boost) Better boost ISO 12,800 ISO vs 6,400 ISO
Help
 The 500D's boost ISO is 1 f-stop better
Weight Lighter 520 g vs 590 g
Help
 More than 10% lighter
Lowest price Cheaper $539.00 vs $879.95
Help
 The best price we've seen is $341 cheaper (around 40% less)
Canon EOS 500D Learn more about
the Canon 500D

Advantages of the Nikon D5000
Color depth Better color depth 22.7 bits vs 21.7 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 1 more bits of color
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 868 ISO vs 663 ISO
Help
 The D5000 has a slight edge (0.4 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality 72.0 vs 63.0
Help
 More than 10% better image quality
Dynamic range More dynamic range 12.5 EV vs 11.5 EV
Help
 1 f-stop more dynamic range
Supports 24p Supports 24p Yes vs No
Help
 Get that real film feel
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 22.3x14.9mm
Help
 More than 10% larger sensor
Battery life Longer battery life 510 shots vs 400 shots
Help
 Around 30% more shots per battery charge
Focus points More focus points 11 vs 9
Help
 Set focus accurately within the frame
Continuous shooting Shoots slightly faster 4 fps vs 3.4 fps
Help
 Around 20% faster continuous shooting
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 500D Canon EOS 500D
54 vs 48
Explain scores
Nikon D5000 Nikon D5000
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Canon EOS 500D.

advice

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similarities

Compared to recent entry-level DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Lens availability Many lenses available Help
500D:162 lenses
D5000:169 lenses
Startup delay Minimal startup delay Help
500D:300 ms
D5000:400 ms
Fastest shutter speed Slow max shutter speed Help
1/4000 of a second
Storage slots Fewer storage slots Help
1
External mic jack Neither has an external mic jack Help
Limited to the in-camera mic
Viewfinder coverage Below average viewfinder coverage Help
95%
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
3,200 ISO
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
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
500D:3.4 fps
D5000:4 fps
Weather sealed Neither is weather sealed Help
Need to shelter it from weather

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
Light sensitivity Slightly higher maximum light sensitivity
Shutter lag Has significantly more shutter lag
Compare the EOS 550D vs the EOS 500D
Compare the EOS 550D vs the D5000
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $547 with 18-55mm lens
Movie continuous focus Can focus continuously while recording movies
Autofocus Focuses automatically while shootting video
Thickness Is thicker
Size Is slightly larger
Compare the D3100 vs the EOS 500D
Compare the D3100 vs the D5000
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
Compare the D5100 vs the EOS 500D
Compare the D5100 vs the D5000
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
Compare the EOS 1100D vs the EOS 500D
Compare the EOS 1100D vs the D5000
Canon EOS 600D

Canon EOS 600D

Entry-level DSLR

$835 with 18-55mm lens
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Light sensitivity Slightly higher maximum light sensitivity
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the EOS 600D vs the EOS 500D
Compare the EOS 600D vs the D5000
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
Viewfinder size Slightly larger viewfinder
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D90 vs the EOS 500D
Compare the D90 vs the D5000
Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$848 - $1,304 body only

$1,177 - $1,342 with 18-135mm lens
Viewfinder size Slightly larger viewfinder
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the EOS 60D vs the EOS 500D
Compare the EOS 60D vs the D5000

Canon EOS 500D Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

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

Nikon D5000 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

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

appearance

Canon EOS 500D Nikon D5000
Canon EOS 500D Nikon D5000
Canon EOS 500D Nikon D5000

discussion

Showing 6 comments

Jazzlynkmnl2000 (1:17 AM, September 23, 2011)
i wanna try the canon 500d.. i have my canon 1100 already.. and i gave my x-bf a nikon d5000...which i don't want to remember him anymore not a good experience with him.. thats why even the nikon d5000 i don't want to remember as well...thx im fr mkt city phl
 
Avatar for Snapsort Snapsort (5:00 PM, February 13, 2011)
Hi Sathiyah, they're very close, you should try each out in a store and see how you like them. The Canon 500D seems to have the advantage though.
 
Sathiyah_999 (1:06 PM, February 13, 2011)
which isactually the better camera
 
Avatar for Snapsort Snapsort (3:36 PM, January 20, 2011)
Thanks for pointing that out Williamz. We've made a mistake there. What we really mean is that the 550D will autofocus with basically all Canon autofocus lenses (since they all have built in focus motors), where as the D5000 won't autofocus with all Nikon autofocus lenses, since some of them lack a focus motor.
 
WILLIAMZ (6:08 AM, January 20, 2011)
The Canon 500D does not have a Built-in Motor, in fact All Canon DSLR Camera does not have a Built-in Motor.

Williamz from The Philippines.
 
Avatar for Alex Black Alex Black (5:46 PM, May 01, 2010)
You really can't go wrong with either of those, Nikon and Canon both make great cameras, and both have tons of lenses and other accessories available. The 500D has a higher resolution lcd, better for previewing photos, but the D5000 has a flip out LCD, better for movies probably.

The 500D has now been replaced by the 550D, but that might likely means the 500D is now selling for great prices. Check out whats changed between the 500D and 550D.