Updated (August, 2011): Compare the Canon EOS 600D vs Sony NEX-5N

Canon EOS 550D

74

Reasons to buy the Canon EOS 550D

Screen resolution
High resolution screen
1,040k dots
True resolution
High true resolution
17.9 MP
Supports 24p
24p movies
For that film look
External mic jack
External mic jack
Record higher quality audio with a microphone
Badge
Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
Badge
Phase detection autofocus
fast and accurate
Sony Alpha NEX-5

54

Runner-up

Sony Alpha NEX-5

"With noise (and noise reduction in the JPEGs), kept well controlled up to ISO 3200, and giving very usable results even at 6400."
dpreview.com | talking about the NEX-5's iso-noise
"With its magnesium alloy body has a level of build that's pretty much untouchable for the money."
dpreview.com | talking about the NEX-5's build-quality

Reasons to buy the Sony Alpha NEX-5

Size
Really small
Compact 111x59x38 mm
Light sensitivity
High ISO
12,800 ISO
Dynamic range
Wide dynamic range
12.2 EV
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

differences

Advantages of the Canon 550D

Autofocus Faster autofocus Phase detection vs Contrast detection
Help
Catch candid moments easily
External mic jack Has an external mic jack Yes vs No
Help
Record high quality audio with an external microphone
Supports 24p Supports 24p Yes vs No
Help
Get that real film feel
Lens availability Much more lenses available 162 lenses vs 8 lenses
Help
Around 20.5x more lenses available
True resolution Significantly higher true resolution 17.9 MP vs 14 MP
Help
Capture around 30% more detail in your photos
Screen resolution Higher resolution screen 1,040k dots vs 920k dots
Help
More than 10% higher resolution screen
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 Pentamirror vs None
Help
A viewfinder can help save battery life by keeping the screen turned off
Startup delay Less startup delay 400 ms vs 1000 ms
Help
2.5x less delay when turning on
Battery life Longer battery life 440 shots vs 330 shots
Help
More than 30% more shots per battery charge
Shutter lag Slightly less shutter lag 252 ms vs 441 ms
Help
More than 40% less delay when taking 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
Canon EOS 550D Learn more about
the Canon 550D

Advantages of the Sony NEX-5

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
Size Significantly smaller 111x59x38 mm vs 129x98x62 mm
Help
3.1x smaller
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 6,400 ISO
Help
The NEX-5's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
Dynamic range More dynamic range 12.2 EV vs 11.5 EV
Help
0.7 f-stops more dynamic range
Focus points More focus points 25 vs 9
Help
Set focus accurately within the frame
Weight Significantly lighter 287 g vs 530 g
Help
Around 50% lighter
Overall image quality Slightly better image quality 69.0 vs 66.0
Help
Almost the same
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 7 fps vs 3.7 fps
Help
Around 90% faster continuous shooting
Thickness Thinner 1.5" vs 2.4"
Help
Around 40% thinner
Sensor size Slightly larger sensor APS-C 23.4x15.6mm vs APS-C 22.3x14.9mm
Help
Around 10% larger sensor
Lowest price Slightly cheaper $569.00 vs $691.01
Help
The best price we've seen is $122 cheaper (around 20% less)
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 550D Canon EOS 550D
74 vs 54
Explain scores
Sony Alpha NEX-5 Sony Alpha NEX-5
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Canon EOS 550D. This recommendation, however, should be taken with a grain of salt since it doesn't always make sense to compare a entry-level DSLR with a mirrorless interchangeable-lens.

advice

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1
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by Matthew-Kim last month
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similarities

Compared to recent digital cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Screen resolution Very high resolution screens Help
550D:1,040k dots
NEX-5:920k dots
Movie format Both shoot high resolution HD movies Help
1080p @ 30fps
Sensor size Very large sensors Help
550D:APS-C 22.3x14.9mm
NEX-5:APS-C 23.4x15.6mm
True resolution Capture very high resolution images Help
550D:17.9 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
Color depth Good color depth Help
550D:22.1 bits
NEX-5:22.2 bits
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
1/4000 of a second
Longest exposure Long exposures Help
30 seconds
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
Cross type focus points Few cross-type focus points Help
550D:1
NEX-5:0

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon EOS 600D

Canon EOS 600D

Entry-level DSLR

$863 with 18-55mm lens

Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is significantly heavier
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
Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is significantly heavier
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $547 with 18-55mm lens

Autofocus Focuses automatically while shootting video
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Canon EOS 1100D

Canon EOS 1100D

Entry-level DSLR

$489 - $559 body only

$587 - $643 with 18-55mm lens

Battery life Has a significantly longer battery life
Sensor cleaning Lacks a self cleaning sensor
Thickness Is thicker
Sony NEX-5N

Sony NEX-5N

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$598 - $600 body only

$698 - $700 with 18-55mm lens

Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Light sensitivity Much higher maximum light sensitivity
Startup delay Has slightly more startup delay
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$830 - $897 body only

$1,199 - $1,200 with 18-105mm lens

Viewfinder size Slightly larger viewfinder
Battery life Has a significantly longer battery life
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is much heavier

Canon EOS 550D Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$848 - $1,304 body only

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

Screen flips out Has a flip-out screen
Battery life Much longer battery life
Size Larger
Weight Heavier
Canon EOS 500D

Canon EOS 500D

Entry-level DSLR

$539 with 18-55mm lens

Shutter lag Slightly less shutter lag
Lowest price Slightly cheaper
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Supports 24p No 24p support

Sony Alpha NEX-5 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

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 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
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 Alpha NEX-3

Sony Alpha NEX-3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$689 with 18-55mm lens

External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Storage slots Has more storage slots
Movie format Lower resolution movies
Dynamic range Less dynamic range

appearance

Canon EOS 550D Sony Alpha NEX-5
Canon EOS 550D Sony Alpha NEX-5
Canon EOS 550D Sony Alpha NEX-5

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