Canon EOS
50D
 vs
Nikon
D5000

Updated (April, 2011): Compare the Canon EOS 50D vs Nikon D5100

Canon EOS 50D

67
Winner

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

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
Nikon D5000

54
Runner-up

Nikon D5000
"Excellent degree of customization (reversible dial and meter ease transition from other systems)"
dpreview.com | talking about the D5000's button-layout
"The image quality is undeniably impressive."
dpreview.com | talking about the D5000's image-quality

Reasons to buy the Nikon D5000

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

differences

Advantages of the Canon 50D
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
Shutter lag Significantly less shutter lag 131 ms vs 276 ms
Help
 2.1x less delay when taking photos
Viewfinder size Larger viewfinder 0.59x vs 0.51x
Help
 More than 30% larger viewfinder
Cross type focus points More cross-type focus points 9 vs 1
Help
 Grab focus in difficult situations
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor Yes vs No
Help
 Autofocuses with all autofocus lenses
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 6.3 fps vs 4 fps
Help
 Around 60% faster continuous shooting
Viewfinder Has a pentaprism viewfinder Pentaprism vs Pentamirror
Help
 Pentaprism viewfinders are typically brighter
True resolution Higher true resolution 15.1 MP vs 12.2 MP
Help
 Capture more than 20% more detail in your photos
Startup delay Less startup delay 300 ms vs 400 ms
Help
 Around 30% less delay when turning on
Fastest shutter speed Much faster max shutter speed 1/8000s vs 1/4000s
Help
 2x faster max shutter speed
Thickness Thinner 2.9" vs 3.1"
Help
 Around 10% thinner
Battery life Slightly longer battery life 640 shots vs 510 shots
Help
 Around 30% more shots per battery charge
Light sensitivity (boost) Better boost ISO 12,800 ISO vs 6,400 ISO
Help
 The 50D's boost ISO is 1 f-stop better
Canon EOS 50D Learn more about
the Canon 50D

Advantages of the Nikon D5000
Color depth Better color depth 22.7 bits vs 21.8 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 0.9 more bits of color
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 11.4 EV
Help
 1.1 f-stops more dynamic range
Movie format Shoots movies 720p @ 24fps vs None
Help
 Shoots HD (720p) video as well as still pictures
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
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 868 ISO vs 696 ISO
Help
 The D5000 has a slight edge (0.3 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Sensor size Slightly larger sensor APS-C 23.6x15.8mm vs APS-C 22.3x14.9mm
Help
 More than 10% larger sensor
Weight Lighter 590 g vs 822 g
Help
 Around 30% lighter
Lens availability Slightly more lenses available 169 lenses vs 162 lenses
Help
 Almost the same
Size Slightly smaller 127x104x80 mm vs 146x108x74 mm
Help
 Around 10% smaller
Focus points Slightly more focus points 11 vs 9
Help
 Set focus accurately within the frame
Lowest price Slightly cheaper $996.98 vs $1,281.99
Help
 The best price we've seen is $285 cheaper (more than 20% less)
Nikon D5000 Learn more about
the Nikon D5000
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent DSLRs, and ignoring price

Canon EOS 50D Canon EOS 50D
67 vs 54
Explain scores
Nikon D5000 Nikon D5000
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Canon EOS 50D. 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 Nikon D5000
NikonD5000
Uses Travel score Travel
On holiday or vacation
4
14
Vote Vote
Sports score Sports
Fast action, sometimes indoors
3
16
Vote Vote
Features Color accuracy Color accuracy
White balance in varied lighting
3
15
Vote Vote
Autofocus peformance Still image focusing
Speed and accuracy
3
15
Vote Vote
Manual controls Manual settings
How quickly and easily you can change settings
3
15
Vote Vote
Build quality Build quality
Is it sturdy, well made, plastic or metal
4
15
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
D5000:169 lenses
Startup delay Minimal startup delay Help
50D:300 ms
D5000:400 ms
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
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
3,200 ISO
Weather sealed Neither is weather sealed Help
Need to shelter it from weather
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
Focus points Few focus points Help
50D:9
D5000:11
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
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 slightly 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 D5000
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
Shutter lag Has significantly more shutter lag
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the EOS 50D
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the D5000
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $984 with 18-55mm lens
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Movie continuous focus Can focus continuously while recording movies
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Shutter lag Has significantly more shutter lag
Compare the D3100 vs the EOS 50D
Compare the D3100 vs the D5000
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
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the EOS 60D vs the EOS 50D
Compare the EOS 60D vs the D5000
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$869 - $897 body only

$1,099 - $1,200 with 18-105mm lens
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 D5000
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 D5000
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 slightly better image quality
Weight Is slightly heavier
Shutter lag Has significantly more shutter lag
Compare the D7000 vs the EOS 50D
Compare the D7000 vs the D5000

Canon EOS 50D Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon EOS 7D

Canon EOS 7D

Pro DSLR

$1,329 - $1,821 body only

$1,498 - $1,800 with 28-135mm lens
Movie format Shoots movies
Color depth Better color depth
Size Slightly larger
Weight Slightly heavier
Compare the EOS 7D vs the EOS 50D
Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Pro DSLR

$2,400 body only

$2,799 - $2,839 with 24-105mm lens
Low light performance Much lower noise at high ISO
Overall image quality Much better image quality
Cross type focus points Fewer cross-type focus points
Shutter lag More shutter lag
Compare the EOS 5D Mark II vs the EOS 50D

Nikon D5000 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

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

appearance

Canon EOS 50D Nikon D5000
Canon EOS 50D Nikon D5000
Canon EOS 50D Nikon D5000

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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