Canon EOS 500D vs Canon EOS 50D: A Hands-On Comparison for Enthusiasts and Pros

Choosing between two cameras that share a similar sensor resolution and brand heritage can be tricky, especially when their market segments and feature sets overlap yet diverge in crucial ways. The Canon EOS 500D, known also as the Rebel T1i or EOS Kiss X3, and the Canon EOS 50D, its contemporary mid-level counterpart, represent two distinct approaches by Canon during the late 2000s to cater to entry-level enthusiasts and advanced amateurs respectively.

Having extensively tested both cameras in multiple conditions and photographic disciplines over the years, I’ll take you through a methodical comparison weighing their real-world usability, image quality, handling, and technical nuances. Whether you’re an aspiring photographer eyeing your first serious DSLR or a seasoned shooter looking to understand aging gear for budget buys or secondary use, read on to uncover which of these 15MP APS-C DSLRs might better align with your needs.

Size, Ergonomics, and Build: Feeling the Cameras in Your Hands

First impressions often start with how a camera feels, and here the Canon EOS 50D asserts its mid-range aspirations with a more substantial build. Weighing in at around 822 grams and measuring 146x108x74 mm, the 50D feels robust, almost assuredly crafted for frequent, prolonged shooting. In contrast, the Canon 500D is a lighter 520 grams and more compact at 129x98x62 mm, tailored for travel-friendly discretion and casual use.

Holding both side-by-side, you notice the 50D outfitted with a deeper grip and a sturdier overall chassis, partly due to its partial magnesium alloy frame and a weather-sealed body - a feature the 500D lacks. This means the 50D is better suited for outdoor shooting in less forgiving environments, while the 500D is a bit more at home in studios, urban settings, or travel photography where size and weight matter.

Ergonomically, the top control layout and button placements reveal the 50D’s more professional sensibility: a dedicated top LCD panel for at-a-glance exposure data and greater direct access to settings. The 500D, catering to beginners, keeps things simpler, relying primarily on the rear LCD and more streamlined controls.

For me, the difference in grip comfort and button accessibility makes the 50D a joy during faster-paced shooting or extended sessions, especially in wildlife or sports photography where quick changes are essential. But if you prize portability and lighter carry, the 500D’s form factor is easier on the shoulders.

Sensor and Image Quality: The 15MP APS-C Duel

Both cameras feature an APS-C CMOS sensor with the same physical dimensions (22.3x14.9 mm) and boast a resolution of 15 megapixels. This sensor size and resolution combination have remained popular for their balance between image detail, file size, and noise handling.

Despite shared resolution and sensor size, subtle differences emerge in image quality metrics obtained through my testing and corroborated by DxOMark scores. The 50D edges ahead slightly in color depth (21.8 bits vs. 21.7), though with a marginally narrower dynamic range (11.4 EV vs. 11.5 EV) when measured under standardized conditions. The low-light ISO performance is close, with the 50D showing a slight advantage (ISO 696 vs. ISO 663). Practically, both cameras perform admirably up to ISO 3200 with relatively usable noise profiles for their era, and boosted ISO capability up to 12800 (though noise gets intrusive beyond native range).

In real-world landscape sessions, I found that neither camera pushes boundaries compared to modern sensors but produces rich, detailed files with decent latitude for highlight and shadow recovery, provided you shoot in RAW. They both include an optical low-pass (anti-aliasing) filter that slightly reduces fine detail to prevent moiré, which was common among cameras of this period.

If you prioritize pure image quality, neither camera will disappoint for entry-level or mid-range use, but the 50D's refined processing pipeline via the same DIGIC 4 processor provides a slight edge in color rendition and highlight roll-off.

LCD Screens and Viewfinders: What You See is What You Get

Both cameras are equipped with 3-inch fixed, non-touch TFT LCDs, each with 920,000 dots resolution, making playback and menu navigation clear and comfortable. However, the 50D’s screen has slightly better visibility in direct sunlight, likely due to differing coatings.

Where these two diverge more notably is in their optical viewfinders. The 50D employs a pentaprism design, increasing magnification to 0.6x with 95% coverage, making compositions feel more immersive and accurate. Meanwhile, the 500D uses a pentamirror, which tends to dim the viewfinder image slightly and offers only 0.55x magnification.

From my experience, during fast-moving shoots like sports or wildlife, a brighter and larger viewfinder is a tangible advantage. The 50D’s superior viewfinder aids in focusing quickly, tracking subjects, and avoiding eyestrain during prolonged use.

Autofocus and Performance: Tracking the Action

Both DSLRs feature the same number of autofocus points - 9 around the center area - with phase-detection AF system usable via the optical viewfinder and contrast detection AF in Live View. Neither camera offers advanced subject tracking, animal eye detection, or face tracking features we take for granted today.

However, the 50D stands out in burst shooting speed and shutter capabilities: it can shoot at 6.3 frames per second with a max shutter speed of 1/8000s. The 500D, by contrast, caps at 3 fps with a maximum shutter speed of 1/4000s.

This speed difference is substantial during action or wildlife photography where capture opportunities are fleeting. Using the 50D's buffer and faster frame rates, I was able to lock onto moving subjects with greater confidence and get a sequence of shots without hesitation.

Both models provide basic AF modes, including single shot, continuous, and face detection in Live View, but neither supports sophisticated tracking modes. The 50D’s use of a pentaprism viewfinder and quicker response make it better suited for this type of demanding shooting.

Image Stabilization, Flash, and Exposure Control

Neither the Canon 500D nor 50D have in-body image stabilization, a standard for Canon's DSLRs requiring IS lenses for stabilization effect. Both cameras support Canon’s extensive EF and EF-S mount lens catalog with over 320 compatible lenses - a plus if you already own glass or plan for varied genres.

As for flash, both include built-in pop-up flashes with similar ranges (around 13 meters) and basic modes including red-eye reduction and manual settings. The 50D is notable for a higher maximum flash sync speed (1/250s vs. 1/200s on the 500D), which allows better control in outdoor fill-flash scenarios.

Exposure modes are comprehensive on both: full manual, aperture and shutter priority, program, plus exposure compensation and bracketing. Both cameras support custom white balance and multiple metering modes (multisegment, center-weighted, spot).

Video Capabilities: An Unavoidable Differentiator

One major divergence here: the Canon 500D was Canon’s first entry-level DSLR to offer Full HD video recording (1920x1080 at 20fps, plus 720p at 30fps), encoded in H.264 format. While not silky smooth or feature-rich compared to modern cameras, it remains a solid introduction to DSLR video capturing.

In contrast, the 50D lacks any video recording capabilities - quite common for Canon’s professional and semi-pro DSLRs of that era, which focused exclusively on stills performance.

If video shooting is an essential part of your workflow or creative expression, the 500D is the better choice, although you’ll quickly recognize its limitations: no microphone input, no headphone jack, and frame rate options are somewhat limited.

Battery, Storage, and Connectivity: Practical Matters

The 50D has a much longer battery life - approximately 800 shots per charge with its BP-511A battery compared to about 440 shots for the 500D’s LP-E5. The older 50D’s battery system has proven robust over time, but its larger size and weight add to overall camera heft.

On storage, the 50D uses Compact Flash cards (Type I or II, UDMA compatible), while the 500D relies on the more familiar SD/SDHC format - a practical consideration if you want to reuse existing cards or expand.

Connectivity options on both are basic by today’s standards: USB 2.0, HDMI out, and no Bluetooth or Wi-Fi by default. The 500D supports Eye-Fi wireless cards, which at the time provided a neat workaround for image transfer, but with modern expectations, this is quite limited.

Genre-Specific Performance Insights and Recommendations

How do these cameras stack up across the various photography disciplines? Let’s deep dive into the genres to help you make a more targeted choice.

Portrait Photography

Both cameras handle skin tones gracefully thanks to Canon's color science of that generation, but the 50D’s more substantial body and faster AF provide a better shooting experience for capturing subtle facial expressions.

The 500D’s Live View face detection autofocus can help beginners nail sharp portraits with pleasing bokeh when paired with fast lenses, but neither model includes eye AF or subject tracking.

Landscape Photography

Dynamic range is effectively neck-and-neck, so both deliver ample detail across highlights and shadows in RAW files. The 50D’s weather sealing and sturdier construction give it an edge for tough outdoor conditions. Its higher max shutter speed also allows more precise exposure control for bright scenes.

I prefer the 50D here - image sharpness and fine detail from quality lenses soar, and its robust build can withstand wind and rain better than the 500D.

Wildlife and Sports Photography

Burst rate and autofocus responsiveness are critical in these scenarios - both strengths of the 50D with 6.3 fps shooting, pentaprism viewfinder, and faster shutter speeds. The 500D’s 3 fps and pentamirror only get you so far.

If you shoot action frequently, the 50D is the preferable tool, despite the lack of advanced subject tracking or cross-type AF points considered minimal by today’s standards.

Street Photography

The 500D wins here for discreetness. Its smaller size and lighter weight make it less conspicuous, essential for candid street shots. The quieter shutter operation (and slower fps) also helps keep you under the radar.

However, the 50D’s superior viewfinder brightness and handling can aid in rapidly changing urban conditions and low light, although at a cost of more bulk.

Macro Photography

Neither camera changes the game in macro performance directly, but the 500D’s lightweight design can make setup easier in the field. Both rely on lens capabilities and manual focus precision, which are excellent given Canon’s lens ecosystem.

Night and Astrophotography

The modest improvements in low-light ISO performance slightly favor the 50D; however, both perform similarly when paired with sturdy tripods and remote firing.

Neither model offers built-in long-exposure noise reduction or intervalometers, though the 50D includes timelapse recording features more suited for astrophotography enthusiasts.

Video Use

As mentioned, the 500D features HD video recording, while the 50D has none. For hybrid shooters or vloggers, the 500D is the clear winner here.

Travel Photography

Portability, battery life, and versatility matter most on the road. While the 500D shines for size and weight, the 50D’s longer battery and solid build for environmental protection make it a viable companion if weight is less of a concern.

Reliability and Professional Use

From reliability, the 50D was designed as an advanced amateur body with tougher construction, extensive controls, and more durable shutter mechanism rated around 100,000 actuations (compared to the 500D’s 50,000). Both cameras shoot RAW files, facilitating professional workflows.

The 50D’s use of Compact Flash cards suited professional-grade storage needs at the time, while the 500D moved towards SD cards reflecting consumer preferences.

The 50D is a better fit for studio and commercial shooters who need sustained performance plus weather resistance, while the 500D suits hobbyists and learning photographers.

Summary of Strengths, Weaknesses, and Value

Canon 500D front Canon 500D screen back Canon 50D screen back

Final Verdict: Which Canon DSLR Should You Pick?

So, what’s the takeaway after putting these cameras through their paces?

• If you want a lightweight, affordable DSLR with solid image quality, basic full HD video, and easier handling for learning and casual photography, the Canon EOS 500D is your go-to. It’s a phenomenal entry point and still capable for portraits, travel, and low-impact shooting.

• If you prioritize build durability, faster shooting, better viewfinder experience, and robust battery life - overall more suited to semi-pro and demanding photography like sports, wildlife, or professional use - the Canon EOS 50D shines brighter despite its older video capabilities. Its features reward effort and experience.

Dear Canon, meanwhile, please consider combining the 50D’s build and control advantages with modern video capabilities in future releases!

Both cameras carry legacy and appeal to different audiences. Whichever path you choose, know that these DSLRs provide years of joyful image-making, especially when paired with Canon’s extensive EF and EF-S lenses.

If you’re curious for a detailed visual comparison, don’t miss my video review showing handling, sample images, and real-time autofocus tests (linked above).

Happy shooting, and remember: the best camera is the one that feels right in your hands and sparks your passion to create!

Disclosure: I have personally tested both cameras in diverse real-world scenarios - from wildlife blinds to urban streets - to provide this thorough comparison informed by hands-on experience and technical evaluations.