Canon EOS
50D
 vs
Nikon
D5000

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

Canon EOS 50D

57
Winner

Canon EOS 50D
"Nine point auto focus system accurate, even in low light"
dpreview.com | talking about the 50D's auto-focus
"It feels solid, reliable and 'well sorted' from an ergonomics point of view"
dpreview.com | talking about the 50D's feel

Reasons to buy the Canon EOS 50D

Screen resolution
 High resolution screen
920k dots
Shutter lag
 Barely any delay taking photos
131 ms shutter lag
Sensor cleaning
 Self cleaning sensor
Avoids dust in your photos
Badge
 Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
Fastest shutter speed
 Fast shutter speed
1/8000 of a second
Nikon D5000

43
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

Dynamic range
 Wide dynamic range
12.5 EV
Screen flips out
 Flip-out screen
Great for movies
Sensor cleaning
 Self cleaning sensor
Avoids dust in your photos

differences

Advantages of the Canon 50D
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen 920k dots vs 230k dots
Help
 4x higher resolution screen
Screen size Much larger screen 3.0" vs 2.7"
Help
 More than 10% larger 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
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
Cross type focus points More cross-type focus points 9 vs 1
Help
 Grab focus in difficult situations
Thickness Thinner 2.9" vs 3.1"
Help
 Around 10% thinner
Fastest shutter speed Much faster max shutter speed 1/8000s vs 1/4000s
Help
 2x faster max shutter speed
Battery life Slightly longer battery life 640 shots vs 510 shots
Help
 Around 30% more shots per battery charge
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 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
Dynamic range More dynamic range 12.5 EV vs 11.4 EV
Help
 1.1 f-stops more dynamic range
Overall image quality Better image quality 72.0 vs 63.0
Help
 More than 10% better image quality
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
Movie format Shoots movies 720p @ 24fps vs None
Help
 Shoots HD (720p) video as well as still pictures
Low light performance Slightly 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
Lens availability Slightly more lenses available 169 lenses vs 162 lenses
Help
 Almost the same
Weight Lighter 590 g vs 822 g
Help
 Around 30% lighter
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 $879.95 vs $1,281.99
Help
 The best price we've seen is $402 cheaper (more than 30% 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
57 vs 43
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.

advice

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0
votes
by Scott-Harmon last week
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0
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by Swathi-Satoor this month
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2
votes
by Char-Sevig last month
Canon 50D vs Canon 5D Mark II

I currently have a canon xsi, with several lenses. A canon 70-200mm f/4 L ,55-250mm, 50mm 1.8 ,18-...

One person recommends the Canon 5D Mark II:

"I recently upgraded from the XSi to the 5D Mark II and couldn't be happier. As I'm sure you know, ..."
0
votes
by Jithmi-Alwis last month
Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D5000

iam a beginner ...and need a good entry level dslr...which is cheap...and have great image stab...

One person recommends the Nikon D3100:

" The D3100 is a great starter camera"
0
votes
by Neeraj-Jain last week
Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D5000

I am beginner and I want to become an expert in portrait photography, especially baby shots. Ple...

similarities

Compared to recent DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Lens availability Many lenses available Help
50D:162 lenses
D5000:169 lenses
Storage slots Fewer storage slots Help
1
Viewfinder coverage Below average viewfinder coverage Help
95%
Light sensitivity (boost) Poor boost ISO Help
50D:12,800 ISO
D5000:6,400 ISO
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
Focus points Few focus points Help
50D:9
D5000:11
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Movie format One shoots movies Help
50D:None
D5000:720p @ 24fps

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $597 body only

$600 - $697 with 18-55mm lens
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Movie format Records higher quality movies
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 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$848 - $1,304 body only

$1,177 - $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
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$544 - $949 body only

$649 - $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 - $547 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
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$897 body only

$1,047 with 55-200mm lens
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D90 vs the EOS 50D
Compare the D90 vs the D5000
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$619 - $700 body only

$745 - $1,000 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

$1,000 body only

$1,100 with 55-200mm lens
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the D7000 vs the EOS 50D
Compare the D7000 vs the D5000

Canon EOS 50D Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Pro DSLR

$2,130 body only

$2,875 - $2,999 with 24-105mm lens
Color depth Better color depth
Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO
Lens availability Fewer lenses available
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

discussion

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