Updated (April, 2011): Compare the Canon EOS 60D vs Nikon D5100

Canon EOS 60D

59

Winner

Canon EOS 60D

"Excellent image quality up to ISO settings unthinkable just one camera generation ago"
dpreview.com | talking about the 60D's image-quality
"It may have turned its back on the semi-pro, but the 60D is still a camera that should enthuse the enthusiasts."
dpreview.com | talking about the 60D's overall-performance

Reasons to buy the Canon EOS 60D

Screen resolution
High resolution screen
1,040k dots
Screen flips out
Flip-out screen
Great for movies
External mic jack
External mic jack
Record higher quality audio with a microphone
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

"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

differences

Advantages of the Canon 60D

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
External mic jack Has an external mic jack Yes vs No
Help
Record high quality audio with an external microphone
Movie format Higher resolution movies 1080p @ 30fps vs 720p @ 24fps
Help
Shoots higher resolution Full HD (1080p) video at a higher frame rate
True resolution Significantly higher true resolution 17.9 MP vs 12.2 MP
Help
Capture around 50% more detail in your 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
Battery life Longer battery life 1100 shots vs 510 shots
Help
More than 2x more shots per battery charge
Viewfinder Has a pentaprism viewfinder Pentaprism vs Pentamirror
Help
Pentaprism viewfinders are typically brighter
Cross type focus points More cross-type focus points 9 vs 1
Help
Grab focus in difficult situations
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 5.3 fps vs 4 fps
Help
More than 30% faster continuous shooting
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 6,400 ISO vs 3,200 ISO
Help
The 60D's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
Shutter lag Slightly less shutter lag 253 ms vs 276 ms
Help
Around 10% less delay when taking photos
Viewfinder coverage Better viewfinder coverage 96% vs 95%
Help
Almost the same
Fastest shutter speed Much faster max shutter speed 1/8000s vs 1/4000s
Help
2x faster max shutter speed
Light sensitivity (boost) Better boost ISO 12,800 ISO vs 6,400 ISO
Help
The 60D's boost ISO is 1 f-stop better
Thickness Slightly thinner 3.1" vs 3.1"
Help
Almost the same
Canon EOS 60D Learn more about
the Canon 60D

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
Color depth Better color depth 22.7 bits vs 22.2 bits
Help
Distinguishes 0.5 more bits of color
Sensor size Slightly larger sensor APS-C 23.6x15.8mm vs APS-C 22.3x14.9mm
Help
More than 10% larger sensor
Size Smaller 127x104x80 mm vs 145x106x79 mm
Help
More than 10% smaller
Lens availability Slightly more lenses available 169 lenses vs 162 lenses
Help
Almost the same
Weight Lighter 590 g vs 755 g
Help
More than 20% lighter
Focus points Slightly more focus points 11 vs 9
Help
Set focus accurately within the frame
Nikon D5000 Learn more about
the Nikon D5000
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent DSLRs, and ignoring price

Canon EOS 60D Canon EOS 60D
59 vs 43
Explain scores
Nikon D5000 Nikon D5000
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Canon EOS 60D. 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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similarities

Compared to recent DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Lens availability Many lenses available Help
60D:162 lenses
D5000:169 lenses
Screen flips out Flip-out screens Help
Great for movies
Supports 24p 24p support Help
For that film look
Storage slots Fewer storage slots Help
1
Viewfinder coverage Below average viewfinder coverage Help
60D:96%
D5000:95%
Light sensitivity (boost) Poor boost ISO Help
60D:12,800 ISO
D5000:6,400 ISO
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
Weather sealed Neither is weather sealed Help
Need to shelter it from weather
Shutter lag Significant shutter lag Help
60D:253 ms
D5000:276 ms
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
Focus points Few focus points Help
60D: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
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
60D:6,400 ISO
D5000:3,200 ISO

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$619 - $700 body only

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

Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Startup delay Has significantly more startup delay
Canon EOS 7D

Canon EOS 7D

Pro DSLR

$1,549 - $1,821 body only

$1,500 - $1,849 with 18-135mm lens

Weather sealed Has a weather sealed body
Continuous shooting Shoots faster continuously
Weight Is slightly heavier
Screen flips out Doesn't have a screen which flips out
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
Color depth Has slightly more color depth
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$1,000 - $1,197 body only

$1,100 with 55-200mm lens

Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Color depth Has slightly more color depth
Weight Is slightly heavier
Screen flips out Doesn't have a screen which flips out
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$830 - $897 body only

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

Shutter lag Has slightly less shutter lag
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Screen flips out Doesn't have a screen which flips out
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$544 - $949 body only

$649 - $867 with 18-55mm lens

Size Is slightly smaller
Thickness Is thinner
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Screen flips out Doesn't have a screen which flips out
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $547 with 18-55mm lens

Movie continuous focus Can focus continuously while recording movies
Autofocus Focuses automatically while shootting video
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Screen flips out Doesn't have a screen which flips out

Canon EOS 60D Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon EOS 50D

Canon EOS 50D

Pro DSLR

$1,282 - $1,330 body only

Shutter lag Significantly less shutter lag
Continuous shooting Shoots faster
Movie format Does not take movies
Color depth Worse color depth

Nikon D5000 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

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

appearance

Canon EOS 60D Nikon D5000
Canon EOS 60D Nikon D5000
Canon EOS 60D Nikon D5000

discussion

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