Canon EOS
50D
 vs
Nikon
D300

Nikon D300

91
Winner

Nikon D300
"The body is constructed from magnesium alloy, soft rubber is used on the grips both front and back as well as environmental seals on compartment doors."
dpreview.com | talking about the D300's build-quality
"High ISO 3200 perfectly usable (if slightly softer due to NR), ISO 6400 usable for small output"
dpreview.com | talking about the D300's iso-noise

Reasons to buy the Nikon D300

Dynamic range
 Wide dynamic range
12 EV
Weather sealed
 Weather sealed
Shoot in extreme weather
Startup delay
 Almost no delay when powering up
300 ms startup delay
Focus points
 Many focus points
51
Cross type focus points
 Many cross-type focus points
15
Viewfinder coverage
 Great viewfinder coverage
100%
Canon EOS 50D

79
Runner-up

Canon EOS 50D
"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

Startup delay
 Almost no delay when powering up
300 ms startup delay
Shutter lag
 Barely any delay taking photos
131 ms shutter lag
Badge
 Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
Fastest shutter speed
 Fast shutter speed
1/8000 of a second

differences

Advantages of the Canon 50D
Shutter lag Less shutter lag 131 ms vs 227 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
Continuous shooting Shoots slightly faster 6.3 fps vs 6 fps
Help
 Almost the same
Size Slightly smaller 146x108x74 mm vs 147x114x74 mm
Help
 Around 10% smaller
Weight Lighter 822 g vs 925 g
Help
 More than 10% lighter
Light sensitivity (boost) Better boost ISO 12,800 ISO vs 6,400 ISO
Help
 The 50D's boost ISO is 1 f-stop better
Lowest price Slightly cheaper $1,281.99 vs $1,672.81
Help
 The best price we've seen is $391 cheaper (more than 20% less)
Canon EOS 50D Learn more about
the Canon 50D

Advantages of the Nikon D300
Dynamic range More dynamic range 12 EV vs 11.4 EV
Help
 0.6 f-stops more dynamic range
Color depth Better color depth 22.1 bits vs 21.8 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 0.3 more bits of color
Focus points Many more focus points 51 vs 9
Help
 Set focus accurately within the frame
Weather sealed Weather sealed Yes vs No
Help
 Sealed to shoot in the rain
Overall image quality Better image quality 67.0 vs 63.0
Help
 Around 10% better image quality
Viewfinder coverage Much better viewfinder coverage 100% vs 95%
Help
 Around 10% better viewfinder coverage
Cross type focus points More cross-type focus points 15 vs 9
Help
 Grab focus in difficult situations
Viewfinder size Larger viewfinder 0.62x vs 0.59x
Help
 Around 10% larger viewfinder
Battery life Longer battery life 1000 shots vs 640 shots
Help
 Around 60% more shots per battery charge
Sensor size Slightly larger sensor APS-C 23.6x15.8mm vs APS-C 22.3x14.9mm
Help
 More than 10% larger sensor
Lens availability Slightly more lenses available 169 lenses vs 162 lenses
Help
 Almost the same
Nikon D300 Learn more about
the Nikon D300
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent pro DSLRs, and ignoring price

Canon EOS 50D Canon EOS 50D
79 vs 91
Explain scores
Nikon D300 Nikon D300
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D300.

performance Which camera has better performance? Cast your vote!

CanonEOS 50D
 Canon EOS 50D vs Nikon D300
NikonD300
Uses Travel score Travel
On holiday or vacation
9
9
Vote Vote
Sports score Sports
Fast action, sometimes indoors
7
11
Vote Vote
Features Color accuracy Color accuracy
White balance in varied lighting
5
11
Vote Vote
Autofocus peformance Still image focusing
Speed and accuracy
6
11
Vote Vote
Manual controls Manual settings
How quickly and easily you can change settings
5
11
Vote Vote
Build quality Build quality
Is it sturdy, well made, plastic or metal
6
12
Vote Vote
Green arrow Join in the discussion below!

similarities

Compared to recent DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Lens availability Many lenses available Help
50D:162 lenses
D300:169 lenses
Screen resolution High resolution screens Help
50D:920k dots
D300:922k dots
Startup delay Minimal startup delay Help
300 ms startup delay
Viewfinder Both have pentaprism viewfinders Help
Pentaprism
Thickness Thin Help
2.9"
Fastest shutter speed Fast max shutter speeds Help
1/8000 of a second
Storage slots Fewer storage slots Help
1
Weight Heavy Help
50D:822 g
D300:925 g
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
Autofocus No video autofocus Help
Manual focus only
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
Movie format Do not shoot movies Help
No movies
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support

Compared to recent pro DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Size Fairly small Help
50D:146x108x74 mm
D300:147x114x74 mm
Lowest price Inexpensive Help
50D:$1,281.99
D300:$1,672.81
Built-in flash Each has a built-in flash Help
External flash not needed
Light sensitivity (boost) Poor boost ISO Help
50D:12,800 ISO
D300:6,400 ISO
Sensor size Very small sensors Help
50D:APS-C 22.3x14.9mm
D300:APS-C 23.6x15.8mm
True resolution Capture low resolution images Help
50D:15.1 MP
D300:12.2 MP
Continuous shooting Slow continuous shooting Help
50D:6.3 fps
D300:6 fps
Battery life Few shots per battery charge Help
50D:640 shots
D300:1000 shots
Viewfinder size Below average viewfinder size Help
50D:0.59x
D300:0.62x
Color depth Poor color depth Help
50D:21.8 bits
D300:22.1 bits
Low light performance Above average noise at high ISO Help
50D:696 ISO
D300:679 ISO
Overall image quality Low image quality Help
50D:63.0
D300:67.0

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$1,097 body only

$1,227 with 55-200mm lens
Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has significantly better image quality
Shutter lag Has significantly more shutter lag
Compare the D7000 vs the EOS 50D
Compare the D7000 vs the D300
Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$899 - $1,304 body only

$1,138 - $1,342 with 18-135mm lens
Movie format Records higher quality movies
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Thickness Is thicker
Shutter lag Has significantly more shutter lag
Compare the EOS 60D vs the EOS 50D
Compare the EOS 60D vs the D300
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 slightly better image quality
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Shutter lag Has slightly more shutter lag
Compare the D90 vs the EOS 50D
Compare the D90 vs the D300
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$499 - $949 body only

$579 - $867 with 18-55mm lens
Movie format Records higher quality movies
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Viewfinder Has a lower quality type of viewfinder
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the EOS 50D
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the D300
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 significantly 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 D300
Canon EOS 7D

Canon EOS 7D

Pro DSLR

$1,329 - $1,821 body only

$1,498 - $1,800 with 28-135mm lens
Movie format Records higher quality movies
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Compare the EOS 7D vs the EOS 50D
Compare the EOS 7D vs the D300
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$609 - $800 body only

$709 - $1,180 with 18-55mm lens
Movie format Records higher quality movies
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 D300

Canon EOS 50D Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

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

Nikon D300 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Nikon D300.

appearance

Canon EOS 50D Nikon D300
Canon EOS 50D Nikon D300
Canon EOS 50D Nikon D300

Find similar cameras

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discussion Which do you think is better?

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