Updated (February, 2011): Compare the Canon EOS 1100D vs Sony Alpha DSLR-A330

Canon EOS 500D

54

Reasons to buy the Canon EOS 500D

Movie format
Full HD
1080p @ 20fps
Screen size
Large screen
3.0"
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
Badge
Phase detection autofocus
fast and accurate
Sony Alpha DSLR-A330

32

Reasons to buy the Sony Alpha DSLR-A330

Image stabilization
Image stabilization
Sensor shift
Screen flips out
Flip-out screen
Great for movies
Sensor size
Large sensor
APS-C 23.5x15.7mm
Size
Really small
Prosumer size 128x97x71 mm
Storage slots
More storage slots
2
Badge
Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses

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
Autofocus Faster autofocus Phase detection vs Contrast detection
Help
Catch candid moments easily
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
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 663 ISO vs 535 ISO
Help
The 500D has a slight edge (0.3 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
True resolution Significantly higher true resolution 15.1 MP vs 10 MP
Help
Capture 50% more detail in your photos
Lens availability Significantly more lenses available 162 lenses vs 92 lenses
Help
Around 80% more lenses available
Viewfinder size Larger viewfinder 0.54x vs 0.48x
Help
More than 20% larger viewfinder
Sensor type Has a CMOS-family sensor CMOS vs CCD
Help
CMOS-family sensors often produce better quality images
Light sensitivity (boost) Has boost ISO 12,800 ISO vs None
Help
Allows taking photos in darker situations, often at the cost of additional noise in the image
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 3.4 fps vs 2.5 fps
Help
Around 40% faster continuous shooting
Size Smaller 129x98x62 mm vs 128x97x71 mm
Help
More than 10% smaller
Thickness Significantly thinner 2.4" vs 2.8"
Help
More than 10% thinner
Canon EOS 500D Learn more about
the Canon 500D

Advantages of the Sony DSLR-A330

Color depth Better color depth 22.4 bits vs 21.7 bits
Help
Distinguishes 0.7 more bits of color
Image stabilization Image stabilization Sensor shift vs None
Help
Helps eliminate blur caused by small camera movements
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 23.5x15.7mm vs APS-C 22.3x14.9mm
Help
More than 10% larger sensor
Storage slots Has more storage slots 2 vs 1
Help
More slots allows storing more images without switching memory cards
Overall image quality Slightly better image quality 64.0 vs 63.0
Help
Almost the same
Sony Alpha DSLR-A330 Learn more about
the Sony DSLR-A330
vs

recommendations

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

Canon EOS 500D Canon EOS 500D
54 vs 32
Explain scores
Sony Alpha DSLR-A330 Sony Alpha DSLR-A330
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Canon EOS 500D.

advice

Need help deciding?

Ask the community!

I am considering either the Canon 500D or the Sony DSLR-A330,
For example: Taking photos in low light or great family photos or ability to take great photos underwater

Select aspects that are most important to you: (max 3)

Popular tags:

Are you a camera expert? Share your knowledge!

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 ...

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 entry-level DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Size Fairly small Help
500D:129x98x62 mm
DSLR-A330:128x97x71 mm
Thickness Thin Help
500D:2.4"
DSLR-A330:2.8"
Weight Light weight Help
500D:520 g
DSLR-A330:529 g
Fastest shutter speed Slow max shutter speed Help
1/4000 of a second
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
Autofocus No video autofocus Help
Manual focus only
Continuous shooting Slow continuous shooting Help
500D:3.4 fps
DSLR-A330:2.5 fps
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Weather sealed Neither is weather sealed Help
Need to shelter it from weather
Dynamic range Poor dynamic range Help
11.5 EV
Overall image quality Low image quality Help
500D:63.0
DSLR-A330:64.0
Low light performance Above average noise at high ISO Help
500D:663 ISO
DSLR-A330:535 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

Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Shutter lag Has significantly more shutter lag
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $547 with 18-55mm lens

Low light performance Is significantly less noisy at high ISO
Supports 24p Records movies in 24p
Thickness Is thicker
Lens focus motor Doesn't have a built-in focus motor
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 600D

Canon EOS 600D

Entry-level DSLR

$835 with 18-55mm lens

Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $597 body only

$600 - $697 with 18-55mm lens

Low light performance Is much less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has much better image quality
Thickness Is thicker
Lens focus motor Doesn't have a built-in focus motor
Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$848 - $1,304 body only

$1,177 - $1,342 with 18-135mm 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
Canon EOS 450D

Canon EOS 450D

Entry-level DSLR

$582 body only

Dynamic range Has slightly narrower dynamic range

Canon EOS 500D Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

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

Sony Alpha DSLR-A330 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Sony Alpha DSLR-A390

Sony Alpha DSLR-A390

Entry-level DSLR

$471 with 18-55mm lens

Autofocus Faster autofocus
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO
Size Significantly larger
Thickness Much thicker
Sony Alpha DSLR-A300

Sony Alpha DSLR-A300

Entry-level DSLR

Color depth Better color depth
Continuous shooting Shoots slightly faster
Storage slots Has fewer storage slots
Dynamic range Less dynamic range
Sony Alpha DSLR-A350

Sony Alpha DSLR-A350

Entry-level DSLR

$972 body only

True resolution Significantly higher true resolution
Low light performance Slightly lower noise at high ISO
Size Larger
Weight Significantly heavier

appearance

Canon EOS 500D Sony Alpha DSLR-A330
Canon EOS 500D Sony Alpha DSLR-A330
Canon EOS 500D Sony Alpha DSLR-A330

discussion

Showing 0 comments