Canon EOS Digital
Rebel XSi
 vs
Nikon
D5000

Updated (April, 2011): Compare the Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi vs Nikon D5100

Nikon D5000

48
Winner

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

Overall image quality
 Great image quality
72.0
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
Sensor cleaning
 Self cleaning sensor
Avoids dust in your photos
Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi

40
"Superb resolution, good per-pixel sharpness"
dpreview.com | talking about the Rebel XSi's image-quality
"Just like the EOS 400D the 450D is primarily made from three materials; a stainless steel chassis, the mirror box which is made of high-strength 'engineering plastic' and the body made of a special lightweight 'engineering plastic' which also provides some electromagnetic shielding. Construction is very good with no creaks or rattles."
dpreview.com | talking about the Rebel XSi's build-quality

Reasons to buy the Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi

Shutter lag
 Barely any delay taking photos
160 ms shutter lag
Size
 Really small
Prosumer size 129x98x62 mm
Sensor cleaning
 Self cleaning sensor
Avoids dust in your photos
Badge
 Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
Thickness
 Thin
2.4"
Weight
 Light-weight
524 g

differences

Advantages of the Canon Rebel XSi
Screen size Much larger screen 3.0" vs 2.7"
Help
 More than 10% larger screen
Shutter lag Significantly less shutter lag 160 ms vs 276 ms
Help
 More than 40% less delay when taking photos
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
Weight Lighter 524 g vs 590 g
Help
 More than 10% lighter
Lowest price Slightly cheaper $485.00 vs $996.98
Help
 The best price we've seen is $512 cheaper (2.1x less)
Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi Learn more about
the Canon Rebel XSi

Advantages of the Nikon D5000
Dynamic range More dynamic range 12.5 EV vs 10.8 EV
Help
 1.7 f-stops more dynamic range
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality 72.0 vs 61.0
Help
 Around 20% better image quality
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 868 ISO vs 692 ISO
Help
 The D5000 has a slight edge (0.3 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Color depth Better color depth 22.7 bits vs 21.9 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 0.8 more bits of color
Movie format Shoots movies 720p @ 24fps vs None
Help
 Shoots HD (720p) video as well as still pictures
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
Sensor size Significantly larger sensor APS-C 23.6x15.8mm vs APS-C 22.2x14.8mm
Help
 More than 10% larger sensor
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 3,200 ISO vs 1,600 ISO
Help
 The D5000's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
Focus points More focus points 11 vs 9
Help
 Set focus accurately within the frame
Continuous shooting Shoots slightly faster 4 fps vs 3.5 fps
Help
 More than 10% faster continuous shooting
Light sensitivity (boost) Has boost ISO 6,400 ISO vs None
Help
 Allows taking photos in darker situations, often at the cost of additional noise in the image
Lens availability Slightly more lenses available 169 lenses vs 162 lenses
Help
 Almost the same
Nikon D5000 Learn more about
the Nikon D5000
vs

recommendations

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

Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi
40 vs 48
Explain scores
Nikon D5000 Nikon D5000
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D5000.

performance Which camera has better performance? Cast your vote!

CanonEOS Digital Rebel XSi
 Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi vs Nikon D5000
NikonD5000
Uses Travel score Travel
On holiday or vacation
2
5
Vote Vote
Sports score Sports
Fast action, sometimes indoors
1
5
Vote Vote
Features Color accuracy Color accuracy
White balance in varied lighting
0
5
Vote Vote
Autofocus peformance Still image focusing
Speed and accuracy
1
5
Vote Vote
Manual controls Manual settings
How quickly and easily you can change settings
1
5
Vote Vote
Build quality Build quality
Is it sturdy, well made, plastic or metal
1
5
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
Rebel XSi:162 lenses
D5000:169 lenses
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
Light sensitivity (boost) One has boost ISO Help
Rebel XSi:None
D5000:6,400 ISO
Viewfinder coverage Below average viewfinder coverage Help
95%
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
Rebel XSi:1,600 ISO
D5000:3,200 ISO
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
True resolution Capture low resolution images Help
12.2 MP
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
Screen resolution Low resolution screens Help
230k dots
Continuous shooting Slow continuous shooting Help
Rebel XSi:3.5 fps
D5000:4 fps

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
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 Digital Rebel XSi
Compare the D5100 vs the D5000
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $984 with 18-55mm lens
Movie format Records higher quality movies
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Thickness Is thicker
Size Is slightly larger
Compare the D3100 vs the EOS Digital Rebel XSi
Compare the D3100 vs the D5000
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$499 - $949 body only

$579 - $867 with 18-55mm lens
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Screen resolution Has a much higher resolution screen
Shutter lag Has significantly more shutter lag
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the EOS Digital Rebel XSi
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the D5000
Canon Rebel T3

Canon Rebel T3

Entry-level DSLR

$379 body only

$460 - $550 with 18-55mm lens
Light sensitivity Slightly higher maximum light sensitivity
Battery life Has a slightly longer battery life
Thickness Is thicker
Sensor cleaning Lacks a self cleaning sensor
Compare the Rebel T3 vs the EOS Digital Rebel XSi
Compare the Rebel T3 vs the D5000
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$609 - $800 body only

$709 - $1,180 with 18-55mm lens
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Screen resolution Has a much higher resolution screen
Thickness Is thicker
Size Is significantly larger
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the EOS Digital Rebel XSi
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the D5000
Canon EOS Rebel T1i

Canon Rebel T1i

Entry-level DSLR

$445 - $629 body only

$504 - $609 with 18-55mm lens
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Screen resolution Has a significantly higher resolution screen
Supports 24p Doesn't record movies in 24p
Color depth Has slightly less color depth
Compare the Rebel T1i vs the EOS Digital Rebel XSi
Compare the Rebel T1i 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
Screen resolution Has a significantly higher resolution screen
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is significantly heavier
Compare the D90 vs the EOS Digital Rebel XSi
Compare the D90 vs the D5000

Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi

Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi

Entry-level DSLR

$625 with 18-55mm lens
Color depth Better color depth
Dynamic range More dynamic range
Screen size Much smaller screen
Live view No live view
Compare the EOS Digital Rebel XTi vs the EOS Digital Rebel XSi

Nikon D5000 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

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

appearance

Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi Nikon D5000
Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi Nikon D5000
Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi 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 0 comments