Canon EOS
550D
 vs
Nikon
D5000

Updated (April, 2011): Compare the Canon EOS 600D vs Nikon D5100

Canon EOS 550D

59

Reasons to buy the Canon EOS 550D

Screen resolution
 High resolution screen
1,040k dots
True resolution
 High true resolution
17.9 MP
External mic jack
 External mic jack
Record higher quality audio with a microphone
Size
 Really small
Prosumer size 129x98x62 mm
Badge
 Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
Thickness
 Thin
2.4"
Nikon D5000

48
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

Dynamic range
 Wide dynamic range
12.5 EV
Screen flips out
 Flip-out screen
Great for movies
Sensor size
 Large sensor
APS-C 23.6x15.8mm

differences

Advantages of the Canon 550D
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen 1,040k dots vs 230k dots
Help
 More than 4.5x higher resolution screen
Screen size Much larger screen 3.0" vs 2.7"
Help
 More than 10% larger screen
Movie format Higher resolution movies 1080p @ 30fps vs 720p @ 24fps
Help
 Shoots higher resolution Full HD (1080p) video at a higher frame rate
External mic jack Has an external mic jack Yes vs No
Help
 Record high quality audio with an external microphone
True resolution Much higher true resolution 17.9 MP vs 12.2 MP
Help
 Capture around 50% more detail in your photos
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 6,400 ISO vs 3,200 ISO
Help
 The 550D's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
Size Significantly smaller 129x98x62 mm vs 127x104x80 mm
Help
 Around 30% smaller
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor Yes vs No
Help
 Autofocuses with all autofocus lenses
Viewfinder size Larger viewfinder 0.54x vs 0.51x
Help
 More than 10% larger viewfinder
Thickness Much thinner 2.4" vs 3.1"
Help
 More than 20% thinner
Shutter lag Less shutter lag 252 ms vs 276 ms
Help
 Around 10% less delay when taking photos
Light sensitivity (boost) Better boost ISO 12,800 ISO vs 6,400 ISO
Help
 The 550D's boost ISO is 1 f-stop better
Weight Lighter 530 g vs 590 g
Help
 More than 10% lighter
Lowest price Slightly cheaper $652.43 vs $996.98
Help
 The best price we've seen is $345 cheaper (more than 30% less)
Canon EOS 550D Learn more about
the Canon 550D

Advantages of the Nikon D5000
Dynamic range More dynamic range 12.5 EV vs 11.5 EV
Help
 1 f-stop more dynamic range
Overall image quality Better image quality 72.0 vs 66.0
Help
 Around 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
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 868 ISO vs 784 ISO
Help
 The D5000 has a slight edge (0.1 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Color depth Better color depth 22.7 bits vs 22.1 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 0.6 more bits of color
Sensor size Larger sensor APS-C 23.6x15.8mm vs APS-C 22.3x14.9mm
Help
 More than 10% larger sensor
Focus points More focus points 11 vs 9
Help
 Set focus accurately within the frame
Battery life Slightly longer battery life 510 shots vs 440 shots
Help
 Around 20% more shots per battery charge
Lens availability Slightly more lenses available 169 lenses vs 162 lenses
Help
 Almost the same
Continuous shooting Shoots slightly faster 4 fps vs 3.7 fps
Help
 Around 10% faster continuous shooting
Nikon D5000 Learn more about
the Nikon D5000
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent entry-level DSLRs, and ignoring price

Canon EOS 550D Canon EOS 550D
59 vs 48
Explain scores
Nikon D5000 Nikon D5000
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Canon EOS 550D.

performance Which camera has better performance? Cast your vote!

CanonEOS 550D
 Canon EOS 550D vs Nikon D5000
NikonD5000
Uses Travel score Travel
On holiday or vacation
101
104
Vote Vote
Sports score Sports
Fast action, sometimes indoors
91
92
Vote Vote
Features Color accuracy Color accuracy
White balance in varied lighting
88
93
Vote Vote
Autofocus peformance Still image focusing
Speed and accuracy
88
86
Vote Vote
Autofocus performance Video focusing
Speed and accuracy
92
79
Vote Vote
Manual controls Manual settings
How quickly and easily you can change settings
88
88
Vote Vote
Build quality Build quality
Is it sturdy, well made, plastic or metal
87
93
Vote Vote
Green arrow Join in the discussion below!

similarities

Compared to recent entry-level DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Lens availability Many lenses available Help
550D:162 lenses
D5000:169 lenses
Supports 24p 24p support Help
For that film look
Startup delay Minimal startup delay Help
400 ms startup delay
Fastest shutter speed Slow max shutter speed Help
1/4000 of a second
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
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
Cross type focus points Few cross-type focus points Help
1
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Continuous shooting Slow continuous shooting Help
550D:3.7 fps
D5000:4 fps
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
550D:6,400 ISO
D5000:3,200 ISO

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon EOS 600D

Canon EOS 600D

Entry-level DSLR

$860 - $1,035 body only

$922 - $1,099 with 18-55mm lens
Thickness Is thicker
Size Is significantly larger
Compare the EOS 600D vs the EOS 550D
Compare the EOS 600D vs the D5000
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$650 - $749 body only

$600 - $750 with 18-55mm lens
Low light performance Is significantly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Thickness Is thicker
Size Is slightly larger
Compare the D5100 vs the EOS 550D
Compare the D5100 vs the D5000
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $984 with 18-55mm lens
Movie continuous focus Can focus continuously while recording movies
Autofocus Focuses automatically while shootting video
Thickness Is thicker
Size Is slightly larger
Compare the D3100 vs the EOS 550D
Compare the D3100 vs the D5000
Canon EOS 1100D

Canon EOS 1100D

Entry-level DSLR

$484 - $648 body only

$570 - $659 with 18-55mm lens
Battery life Has a slightly longer battery life
Weight Is slightly lighter
Thickness Is thicker
Sensor cleaning Lacks a self cleaning sensor
Compare the EOS 1100D vs the EOS 550D
Compare the EOS 1100D vs the D5000
Canon EOS 500D

Canon EOS 500D

Entry-level DSLR

$599 with 18-55mm lens
Shutter lag Has significantly less shutter lag
Supports 24p Doesn't record movies in 24p
Color depth Has significantly less color depth
Compare the EOS 500D vs the EOS 550D
Compare the EOS 500D vs the D5000
Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$899 - $1,304 body only

$1,138 - $1,342 with 18-135mm lens
Viewfinder size Slightly larger viewfinder
Continuous shooting Shoots faster continuously
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is much heavier
Compare the EOS 60D vs the EOS 550D
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
Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Viewfinder size Significantly larger viewfinder
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is significantly heavier
Compare the D90 vs the EOS 550D
Compare the D90 vs the D5000

Canon EOS 550D Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Canon EOS 550D.

Nikon D5000 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

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

appearance

Canon EOS 550D Nikon D5000
Canon EOS 550D Nikon D5000
Canon EOS 550D 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?

Speech is free, but discussion at Snapsort is moderated! Please discuss your opinion of these cameras here, and discuss feedback for Snapsort at our support community.

Showing 8 comments

Photographer. YEAH! (5:56 AM, October 01, 2011)
what is referred to the image quality ? in JPEG type  or in RAW files ? Which is better when it comes in JPEG shooting quality ? 
 
7300 (6:30 AM, September 04, 2011)
i am a user of nikon d5000 n its an amazin camera.  and it really doesnt matter that what camera u r using its ur vision that creates a beautiful pictue
 
Denfred (9:36 AM, June 11, 2011)
by all means? in many reviews Nikon D5000 has way better image quality than Canon 550D...
 
Denfred (9:35 AM, June 11, 2011)
Nikon has better image quality than Canon, it's obvious!
 
ETCH (2:03 PM, May 23, 2011)
i own the d5000 Nikon and its pretty good but the 550d canon is way much better by all means but if u want the best of the best go for the powerful Nikon D7000 :)
 
Sep (5:50 AM, October 04, 2010)
Haha! I've been searching sites comparing Canon EOS 550D and Nikon D5000. But, I'm still undecided. On some posts, I read some people who claims that they got help with such posts, but as for me... I'm more confused. Haha. Perhaps, it's because it will be my first DSLR. Some say I could get Nikon D5000 since it is easy to use but very slow for professionals. I would like a camera that will grow with me and not outgrow it. :( Please give me an advice. Thanks a lot.
 
Avatar for Snapsort Snapsort (2:52 AM, August 12, 2010)
Hi Nat, in what way do you think Nikon is way ahead?
 
Natphotos (3:43 PM, August 10, 2010)
I have been shooting with Canon for sometime but clearly Nikon is way ahead. That is my opinion.