Updated (August, 2011): Compare the Canon EOS 50D vs Sony NEX-5N

Sony Alpha NEX-5

54

"The system for manually positioning AF points is quick and easy to use."
dpreview.com | talking about the NEX-5's auto-focus
"High quality video mode"
dpreview.com | talking about the NEX-5's video-quality

Reasons to buy the Sony Alpha NEX-5

Movie format
Full HD
1080p @ 30fps
Size
Really small
Compact 111x59x38 mm
Screen flips out
Flip-out screen
Great for movies
HDR
In-camera HDR
Combines multiple exposures
Panorama
In-camera panoramas
Stitches together multiple photos into a panorama
3D
Takes 3D photos
View photos in 3D on 3D televisions
Canon EOS 50D

43

Runner-up

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

Startup delay
Almost no delay when powering up
300 ms startup delay
Lens availability
Many lenses available
162 lenses
Battery life
Great battery life
640 shots
Badge
Phase detection autofocus
fast and accurate
Cross type focus points
Many cross-type focus points
9
Viewfinder
Great viewfinder
Pentaprism

differences

Advantages of the Canon 50D

Autofocus Faster autofocus Phase detection vs Contrast detection
Help
Catch candid moments easily
Lens availability Much more lenses available 162 lenses vs 8 lenses
Help
Around 20.5x more lenses available
Battery life Longer battery life 640 shots vs 330 shots
Help
More than 90% more shots per battery charge
Cross type focus points More cross-type focus points 9 vs 0
Help
Grab focus in difficult situations
Built-in flash Built-in flash Yes vs No
Help
A built-in flash is useful for taking indoor shots where there is little light
Viewfinder Has a viewfinder Pentaprism vs None
Help
A viewfinder can help save battery life by keeping the screen turned off
Startup delay Less startup delay 300 ms vs 1000 ms
Help
3.3x less delay when turning on
Shutter lag Less shutter lag 131 ms vs 441 ms
Help
3.4x less delay when taking photos
True resolution Higher true resolution 15.1 MP vs 14 MP
Help
Capture around 10% more detail in your photos
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
Fastest shutter speed 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 Sony NEX-5

Movie format Shoots movies 1080p @ 30fps vs None
Help
Shoots Full HD (1080p) video as well as still pictures
Size Much smaller 111x59x38 mm vs 146x108x74 mm
Help
4.7x smaller
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
3D Takes 3D photos Yes vs No
Help
Combines multiple photos into a 3D image
HDR Has in-camera HDR Yes vs No
Help
Combines multiple exposures to capture high dynamic range
Panorama Can create panoramas in-camera Yes vs No
Help
Stitches together multiple photos for a wide perspective
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 12,800 ISO vs 3,200 ISO
Help
The NEX-5's maximum light sensitivity is 2 f-stops better
Weight Much lighter 287 g vs 822 g
Help
2.9x lighter
Dynamic range More dynamic range 12.2 EV vs 11.4 EV
Help
0.8 f-stops more dynamic range
Overall image quality Better image quality 69.0 vs 63.0
Help
Around 10% better image quality
Thickness Significantly thinner 1.5" vs 2.9"
Help
Around 50% thinner
Focus points More focus points 25 vs 9
Help
Set focus accurately within the frame
Color depth Better color depth 22.2 bits vs 21.8 bits
Help
Distinguishes 0.4 more bits of color
Sensor size Slightly larger sensor APS-C 23.4x15.6mm vs APS-C 22.3x14.9mm
Help
Around 10% larger sensor
Low light performance Slightly lower noise at high ISO 796 ISO vs 696 ISO
Help
The NEX-5 has a slight edge (0.2 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Lowest price Cheaper $569.00 vs $1,281.99
Help
The best price we've seen is $713 cheaper (2.3x less)
Continuous shooting Shoots slightly faster 7 fps vs 6.3 fps
Help
More than 10% faster continuous shooting
Sony Alpha NEX-5 Learn more about
the Sony NEX-5
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent digital cameras, and ignoring price

Canon EOS 50D Canon EOS 50D
43 vs 54
Explain scores
Sony Alpha NEX-5 Sony Alpha NEX-5
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Sony Alpha NEX-5. 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 mirrorless interchangeable-lens.

advice

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similarities

Compared to recent digital cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Screen resolution Very high resolution screens Help
920k dots
Sensor size Very large sensors Help
50D:APS-C 22.3x14.9mm
NEX-5:APS-C 23.4x15.6mm
True resolution Capture very high resolution images Help
50D:15.1 MP
NEX-5:14 MP
Interchangeable lenses Both support interchangeable lenses, which is uncommon in cameras similar to these Help
Many lenses to choose from
Supports RAW RAW support Help
Better editing
External flash Support external flash Help
Better lighting
Sensor cleaning Self cleaning sensors Help
Avoids dust in your photos
Sensor type Better sensor types Help
Better in low light
Fastest shutter speed Fast max shutter speeds Help
50D:1/8000s
NEX-5:1/4000s
Longest exposure Long exposures Help
30 seconds
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$544 - $949 body only

$649 - $867 with 18-55mm lens

True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Supports 24p Records movies in 24p
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$619 - $700 body only

$745 - $1,000 with 18-55mm lens

True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Supports 24p Records movies in 24p
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$897 body only

$1,047 with 55-200mm lens

Supports 24p Records movies in 24p
Battery life Has a slightly longer battery life
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $547 with 18-55mm lens

Supports 24p Records movies in 24p
Autofocus Focuses automatically while shootting video
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
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
Supports 24p Records movies in 24p
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Canon Rebel T3

Canon Rebel T3

Entry-level DSLR

$333 body only

$489 - $500 with 18-55mm lens

Battery life Has a slightly longer battery life
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Sensor cleaning Lacks a self cleaning sensor

Canon EOS 50D Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$848 - $1,304 body only

$1,177 - $1,342 with 18-135mm lens

Movie format Shoots movies
Screen flips out Has a flip-out screen
Size Slightly larger
Shutter lag Slightly more shutter lag
Canon EOS 7D

Canon EOS 7D

Pro DSLR

$1,549 - $1,821 body only

$1,620 - $1,849 with 18-135mm lens

Movie format Shoots movies
Weather sealed Weather sealed
Size Slightly larger
Weight Slightly heavier
Canon EOS 40D

Canon EOS 40D

Pro DSLR

$650 body only

Color depth Better color depth
Lowest price Cheaper
Screen resolution Much lower resolution screen
Autofocus Slower autofocus
Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Pro DSLR

$2,130 body only

$2,875 - $2,999 with 24-105mm lens

Movie format Shoots movies
Weather sealed Weather sealed
Built-in flash No built-in flash
Cross type focus points Fewer cross-type focus points

Sony Alpha NEX-5 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Sony NEX-5N

Sony NEX-5N

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$598 - $600 body only

$698 - $700 with 18-55mm lens

Supports 24p Supports 24p
Touch screen Has a touch screen
Startup delay More startup delay
Nikon 1 J1

Nikon 1 J1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$547 with 10-30mm lens

High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies
Continuous shooting Shoots much faster
Screen resolution Significantly lower resolution screen
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Sony NEX-7

Sony NEX-7

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$1,200 body only

$1,350 - $1,499 with 18-55mm lens

True resolution Much higher true resolution
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Startup delay Slightly more startup delay
Weight Heavier
Sony NEX-F3

Sony NEX-F3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$600 with 18-55mm lens

External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Supports 24p Supports 24p
Continuous shooting Shoots slower
Size Slightly larger
Sony NEX C3

Sony NEX C3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$548 with 16mm lens

Overall image quality Slightly better image quality
True resolution Higher true resolution
Movie format Lower resolution movies
Continuous shooting Shoots slightly slower

appearance

Canon EOS 50D Sony Alpha NEX-5
Canon EOS 50D Sony Alpha NEX-5
Canon EOS 50D Sony Alpha NEX-5

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