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Canon 500D vs Nikon D5100

Portability
70
Imaging
54
Features
59
Overall
56
Canon EOS 500D front
 
Nikon D5100 front
Portability
66
Imaging
57
Features
81
Overall
66

Canon 500D vs Nikon D5100 Key Specs

Canon 500D
(Full Review)
  • 15MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200 (Expand to 12800)
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Canon EF/EF-S Mount
  • 520g - 129 x 98 x 62mm
  • Announced June 2009
  • Additionally Known as EOS Rebel T1i / EOS Kiss X3
  • Older Model is Canon 450D
  • Replacement is Canon 550D
Nikon D5100
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400 (Boost to 25600)
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 560g - 128 x 97 x 79mm
  • Revealed April 2011
  • Succeeded the Nikon D5000
  • Successor is Nikon D5200
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Canon 500D vs Nikon D5100 Overview

Lets look more in depth at the Canon 500D versus Nikon D5100, both Entry-Level DSLR cameras by competitors Canon and Nikon. The resolution of the 500D (15MP) and the D5100 (16MP) is very close and both cameras offer the same sensor size (APS-C).

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The 500D was announced 22 months before the D5100 making them a generation apart from each other. Each of the cameras have the same body design (Compact SLR).

Before getting into a step-by-step comparison, here is a brief introduction of how the 500D scores against the D5100 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Canon 500D over the Nikon D5100

 500D D5100 

Reasons to pick Nikon D5100 over the Canon 500D

 D5100 500D 
RevealedApril 2011June 2009More recent by 22 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display resolution921k920kClearer display (+1k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Canon 500D and Nikon D5100

 500D D5100 
Manually focus Dial precise focus
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display size
Touch friendly display Neither has Touch friendly display

Canon 500D vs Nikon D5100 Physical Comparison

When you are looking to lug around your camera frequently, you're going to have to factor its weight and dimensions. The Canon 500D has outer measurements of 129mm x 98mm x 62mm (5.1" x 3.9" x 2.4") along with a weight of 520 grams (1.15 lbs) while the Nikon D5100 has dimensions of 128mm x 97mm x 79mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.1") and a weight of 560 grams (1.23 lbs).

Check out the Canon 500D versus Nikon D5100 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you are utilising at the time. Underneath is a front view measurement comparison of the 500D compared to the D5100.

Canon 500D vs Nikon D5100 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the 500D and D5100 is 70 and 66 respectively.

Canon 500D vs Nikon D5100 top view buttons comparison

Canon 500D vs Nikon D5100 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is hard to visualize the contrast in sensor measurements simply by researching a spec sheet. The photograph underneath will help give you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the 500D and D5100.

Clearly, each of these cameras provide the same sensor dimensions but different resolution. You can expect to see the Nikon D5100 to render extra detail with its extra 1MP. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop photos more aggressively. The older 500D will be behind when it comes to sensor tech.

Canon 500D vs Nikon D5100 sensor size comparison

Canon 500D vs Nikon D5100 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon 500D vs Nikon D5100 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon 500D Portrait photography highlights
Nikon D5100 Portrait photography highlights
72
focusing manually
MP count decent (15 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports face detection focus
exports RAW formats
74
has manual focus
MP count decent (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
features face detection focus
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Canon 500D as a Street photography camera
Nikon D5100 as a Street photography camera
59
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
no moving screen
lack of image stabilization
67
screen articulates
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Canon 500D Sports photography factors
Nikon D5100 Sports photography factors
52
MP count decent (15MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
comes with phase detect auto focus
slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
lack of image stabilization
not so great battery power (440 shots)
64
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
features tracking autofocus
great battery (660 CIPA)
supports phase detect auto focus
max frames per second low (4.0 frames per second)
lack of image stabilization
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Travel Comparison

Canon 500D as a Travel photography camera
Nikon D5100 as a Travel photography camera
54
MP count decent (15MP)
has built in flash
missing Timelapse mode
not so great battery power (440 shots)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
77
great battery (660 shots)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Canon 500D Landscape photography factors
Nikon D5100 Landscape photography factors
61
focusing manually
swap lenses (Canon EF/EF-S mount)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
MP count decent (15 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
not so great battery power (440 per charge)
missing Timelapse mode
73
has manual focus
change lenses (Nikon F mount)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
MP count decent (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
great battery (660 per charge)
lack of image stabilization
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon 500D Vlogging information
Nikon D5100 Vlogging information
27
supports face detection focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
missing external microphone jack
69
selfie friendly screen
features face detection focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
comes with external microphone support
lack of image stabilization
Photography Glossary

Canon 500D vs Nikon D5100 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon 500D and Nikon D5100
 Canon EOS 500DNikon D5100
General Information
Make Canon Nikon
Model type Canon EOS 500D Nikon D5100
Also called as EOS Rebel T1i / EOS Kiss X3 -
Category Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Announced 2009-06-08 2011-04-26
Physical type Compact SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Chip Digic 4 Expeed 2
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor measurements 22.3 x 14.9mm 23.6 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 332.3mm² 370.5mm²
Sensor resolution 15MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2
Maximum resolution 4752 x 3168 4928 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 3200 6400
Maximum boosted ISO 12800 25600
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 9 11
Cross type focus points - 1
Lens
Lens support Canon EF/EF-S Nikon F
Amount of lenses 326 309
Focal length multiplier 1.6 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Screen diagonal 3" 3"
Screen resolution 920 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen tech TFT color LCD TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage 95% 95%
Viewfinder magnification 0.55x 0.52x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 3.0 frames/s 4.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 13.00 m 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, Rear curtain
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/200 seconds 1/200 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (20 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30, 25, 24 fps), 1280 x 720 (30, 25, 24 fps), 640 x 424 (30, 25 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format H.264 MPEG-4
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 520 grams (1.15 lb) 560 grams (1.23 lb)
Physical dimensions 129 x 98 x 62mm (5.1" x 3.9" x 2.4") 128 x 97 x 79mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 63 80
DXO Color Depth rating 21.7 23.5
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.5 13.6
DXO Low light rating 663 1183
Other
Battery life 440 photos 660 photos
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LP-E5 EN-EL14
Self timer Yes (2 sec or 10 sec) Yes (2, 5, 10 or 20 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Launch pricing $650 $0