Canon EOS
50D
 vs
Canon Rebel
T1i

Updated (February, 2011): Compare the Canon EOS 50D vs Canon Rebel T3

Canon EOS Rebel T1i

68
"Construction is good with no creaks or rattles."
dpreview.com | talking about the T1i's build-quality
"Good quality HD video"
dpreview.com | talking about the T1i's video-quality

Reasons to buy the Canon Rebel T1i

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
Canon EOS 50D

67
"The ergonomics feel well sorted, all the controls are in the right place and even the formerly rather pointless Direct Print button now serves a purpose"
dpreview.com | talking about the 50D's button-layout
"The EOS 50D has to stand its ground in a highly competitive bracket of the DSLR market."
dpreview.com | talking about the 50D's overall-performance

Reasons to buy the Canon EOS 50D

Screen resolution
 High resolution screen
920k dots
Continuous shooting
 Rapid fire
6.3 fps
Startup delay
 Almost no delay when powering up
300 ms startup delay
Shutter lag
 Barely any delay taking photos
131 ms shutter lag
Cross type focus points
 Many cross-type focus points
9
Badge
 Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses

differences

Advantages of the Canon 50D
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 6.3 fps vs 3.4 fps
Help
 Around 90% faster continuous shooting
Color depth Better color depth 21.8 bits vs 21.7 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 0.1 more bits of color
Cross type focus points More cross-type focus points 9 vs 1
Help
 Grab focus in difficult situations
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
Shutter lag Less shutter lag 131 ms vs 159 ms
Help
 Around 20% less delay when taking photos
Battery life Slightly 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

Advantages of the Canon T1i
Movie format Shoots movies 1080p @ 20fps vs None
Help
 Shoots Full HD (1080p) video as well as still pictures
Size Smaller 129x98x62 mm vs 146x108x74 mm
Help
 More than 30% smaller
Dynamic range More dynamic range 11.5 EV vs 11.4 EV
Help
 0.1 f-stops more dynamic range
Thickness Significantly thinner 2.4" vs 2.9"
Help
 Around 20% thinner
Weight Significantly lighter 520 g vs 822 g
Help
 Around 40% lighter
Lowest price Cheaper $444.95 vs $1,281.99
Help
 The best price we've seen is $837 cheaper (2.9x less)
Canon EOS Rebel T1i Learn more about
the Canon T1i
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent DSLRs, and ignoring price

Canon EOS 50D Canon EOS 50D
67 vs 68
Explain scores
Canon Rebel T1i Canon EOS Rebel T1i
Green arrow Too close to call! Snapsort considers these cameras too competitive to make a clear recommendation. This recommendation, however, should be taken with a grain of salt since it doesn't always make sense to compare a pro DSLR with a entry-level DSLR.

performance Which camera has better performance? Cast your vote!

CanonEOS 50D
 Canon EOS 50D vs Canon EOS Rebel T1i
CanonRebel T1i
Uses Travel score Travel
On holiday or vacation
2
10
Vote Vote
Sports score Sports
Fast action, sometimes indoors
8
3
Vote Vote
Features Color accuracy Color accuracy
White balance in varied lighting
5
4
Vote Vote
Autofocus peformance Still image focusing
Speed and accuracy
5
3
Vote Vote
Manual controls Manual settings
How quickly and easily you can change settings
5
3
Vote Vote
Build quality Build quality
Is it sturdy, well made, plastic or metal
6
2
Vote Vote
Green arrow Join in the discussion below!

similarities

Compared to recent DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Lens availability Many lenses available Help
162 lenses
Screen resolution High resolution screens Help
920k dots
Startup delay Minimal startup delay Help
300 ms startup delay
Thickness Thin Help
50D:2.9"
T1i:2.4"
Storage slots Fewer storage slots Help
1
Viewfinder coverage Below average viewfinder coverage Help
95%
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
Screen flips out No flip-out screens Help
Less flexible
Focus points Few focus points Help
9
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
3,200 ISO
Autofocus No video autofocus Help
Manual focus only
Weather sealed Neither is weather sealed Help
Need to shelter it from weather
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
Color depth Poor color depth Help
50D:21.8 bits
T1i:21.7 bits
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Sensor size Very small sensors Help
APS-C 22.3x14.9mm
Dynamic range Poor dynamic range Help
50D:11.4 EV
T1i:11.5 EV
Overall image quality Low image quality Help
63.0

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$499 - $949 body only

$579 - $867 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 Rebel T2i vs the EOS 50D
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the Rebel T1i
Canon Rebel T3

Canon Rebel T3

Entry-level DSLR

$379 body only

$460 - $550 with 18-55mm lens
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the Rebel T3 vs the EOS 50D
Compare the Rebel T3 vs the Rebel T1i
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $984 with 18-55mm lens
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Color depth Has significantly more color depth
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D3100 vs the EOS 50D
Compare the D3100 vs the Rebel T1i
Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$899 - $1,304 body only

$1,138 - $1,342 with 18-135mm lens
Color depth Has slightly more color depth
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the EOS 60D vs the EOS 50D
Compare the EOS 60D vs the Rebel T1i
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$609 - $800 body only

$709 - $1,180 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 Rebel T3i vs the EOS 50D
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the Rebel T1i
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$869 - $897 body only

$1,099 - $1,200 with 18-105mm 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 D90 vs the EOS 50D
Compare the D90 vs the Rebel T1i
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$650 - $749 body only

$600 - $750 with 18-55mm lens
Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has much better image quality
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D5100 vs the EOS 50D
Compare the D5100 vs the Rebel T1i

Canon EOS 50D Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

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

Canon EOS Rebel T1i Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Canon EOS Rebel T1i.

appearance

Canon EOS 50D Canon EOS Rebel T1i
Canon EOS 50D Canon EOS Rebel T1i
Canon EOS 50D Canon EOS Rebel T1i

Find similar cameras

Here are some links to help you find other cameras with similar features to both of these:

discussion Which do you think is better?

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