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

Nikon D5000

48

Winner

Nikon D5000

"The D5000 acquires the 11-point AF system from the D90. It's a pretty sophisticated setup for a camera at this level"
dpreview.com | talking about the D5000's auto-focus
"Excellent degree of customization (reversible dial and meter ease transition from other systems)"
dpreview.com | talking about the D5000's button-layout

Reasons to buy the Nikon D5000

Overall image quality
Great image quality
72.0
Color depth
Great color depth
22.7 bits
Dynamic range
Wide dynamic range
12.5 EV
Live view
Has live view
Preview your photos
Screen flips out
Flip-out screen
Great for movies
Sensor size
Large sensor
APS-C 23.6x15.8mm
Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi

31

Reasons to buy the Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi

Size
Really small
Prosumer size 127x94x65 mm
Badge
Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
Thickness
Thin
2.6"

differences

Advantages of the Canon Rebel XTi

Size Much smaller 127x94x65 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
Thickness Much thinner 2.6" vs 3.1"
Help
Around 20% thinner
Weight Lighter 556 g vs 590 g
Help
Around 10% lighter
Lowest price Slightly cheaper $749.00 vs $879.95
Help
The best price we've seen is $131 cheaper (more than 10% less)
Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi Learn more about
the Canon Rebel XTi

Advantages of the Nikon D5000

Dynamic range More dynamic range 12.5 EV vs 11 EV
Help
1.5 f-stops more dynamic range
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality 72.0 vs 62.0
Help
Around 20% better image quality
Autofocus Faster autofocus Phase detection vs Contrast detection
Help
Catch candid moments easily
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 868 ISO vs 664 ISO
Help
The D5000 has a slight edge (0.4 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Live view Has live view Yes vs No
Help
Preview your photos on the camera's screen before taking them
Screen size Significantly larger screen 2.7" vs 2.5"
Help
Around 10% larger screen
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
Color depth Better color depth 22.7 bits vs 22.1 bits
Help
Distinguishes 0.6 more bits of color
Sensor size Significantly larger sensor APS-C 23.6x15.8mm vs APS-C 22.2x14.8mm
Help
More than 10% larger sensor
True resolution Higher true resolution 12.2 MP vs 10.1 MP
Help
Capture more than 20% more detail in your photos
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 4 fps vs 3 fps
Help
More than 30% faster continuous shooting
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
Viewfinder size Slightly larger viewfinder 0.51x vs 0.49x
Help
Around 10% larger viewfinder
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 XTi Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi
31 vs 48
Explain scores
Nikon D5000 Nikon D5000
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D5000.

advice

Need help deciding?

Ask the community!

I am considering either the Canon Rebel XTi or the Nikon D5000,
For example: Taking photos in low light or great family photos or ability to take great photos underwater

Select aspects that are most important to you: (max 3)

Popular tags:

Are you a camera expert? Share your knowledge!

1
votes
by Jyl-Smith-Murray last month
Canon Rebel XS vs Canon Rebel XTi

I found both cameras used. The xti is the body and 18-55 lens only for $280. The xs has been used ...

One person recommends the Canon Rebel XS:

"The XS and XTi are nearly identical. If you have found both for the same price but the XS comes wi..."

0
votes
by Jithmi-Alwis last month
Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D5000

iam a beginner ...and need a good entry level dslr...which is cheap...and have great image stab...

One person recommends the Nikon D3100:

" The D3100 is a great starter camera"

0
votes
by Neeraj-Jain last week
Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D5000

I am beginner and I want to become an expert in portrait photography, especially baby shots. Ple...

0
votes
by telmanri this month
Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D5000

I'm photography enthusiast and I plan to move on for my first dSLR. I want to buy a refurbished ...

0
votes
by Ketan-Nivding last month
Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D5000

Hi, I' am an amateur photographer and have taken up photography as a hobby. Recently, while on a J...

similarities

Compared to recent entry-level DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Lens availability Many lenses available Help
Rebel XTi:162 lenses
D5000:169 lenses
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 XTi:None
D5000:6,400 ISO
Viewfinder coverage Below average viewfinder coverage Help
95%
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
Rebel XTi:1,600 ISO
D5000:3,200 ISO
True resolution Capture low resolution images Help
Rebel XTi:10.1 MP
D5000:12.2 MP
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
Screen size Very small screens Help
Rebel XTi:2.5"
D5000:2.7"
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
Screen resolution Low resolution screens Help
230k dots
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
Rebel XTi:3 fps
D5000:4 fps
Viewfinder size Below average viewfinder size Help
Rebel XTi:0.49x
D5000:0.51x
Weather sealed Neither is weather sealed Help
Need to shelter it from weather
Movie format One shoots movies Help
Rebel XTi:None
D5000:720p @ 24fps

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $597 body only

$600 - $697 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 significantly larger
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $547 with 18-55mm lens

Movie format Records higher quality movies
Screen size Has a much larger screen
Thickness Is thicker
Size Is slightly larger
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$544 - $949 body only

$649 - $867 with 18-55mm lens

Movie format Records higher quality movies
Screen size Has a much larger screen
Canon Rebel T3

Canon Rebel T3

Entry-level DSLR

$333 body only

$489 - $500 with 18-55mm lens

Light sensitivity Slightly higher maximum light sensitivity
Battery life Has a significantly longer battery life
Thickness Is thicker
Sensor cleaning Lacks a self cleaning sensor
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$619 - $700 body only

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

Movie format Records higher quality movies
Screen size Has a much larger screen
Thickness Is thicker
Size Is much larger
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$897 body only

$1,047 with 55-200mm lens

Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Screen size Has a much larger screen
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is significantly heavier
Canon EOS Rebel T1i

Canon Rebel T1i

Entry-level DSLR

$475 - $629 body only

$549 - $580 with 18-55mm lens

Movie format Records higher quality movies
Screen size Has a much larger screen
Supports 24p Doesn't record movies in 24p
Color depth Has significantly less color depth

Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi.

Nikon D5000 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$1,000 body only

$1,100 with 55-200mm lens

Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO
Focus points Many more focus points
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Weight Significantly heavier

appearance

Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi Nikon D5000
Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi Nikon D5000
Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi Nikon D5000

discussion

Showing 0 comments