Canon 500D vs Sony A550
70 Imaging
54 Features
59 Overall
56
![Canon EOS 500D front Canon EOS 500D front](https://pxlmag.com/db/images/cameras/gallery/medium/Canon-EOS-500D/Canon-500D-front.jpg)
![Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 front Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 front](https://pxlmag.com/db/images/cameras/gallery/medium/Sony-Alpha-DSLR-A550/Sony-A550-front.jpg)
63 Imaging
54 Features
65 Overall
58
Canon 500D vs Sony A550 Key Specs
(Full Review)
- 15MP - APS-C Sensor
- 3" Fixed Screen
- ISO 100 - 3200 (Boost to 12800)
- 1920 x 1080 video
- Canon EF/EF-S Mount
- 520g - 129 x 98 x 62mm
- Revealed June 2009
- Also Known as EOS Rebel T1i / EOS Kiss X3
- Older Model is Canon 450D
- Renewed by Canon 550D
(Full Review)
- 14MP - APS-C Sensor
- 3" Tilting Display
- ISO 200 - 12800
- Sensor based Image Stabilization
- No Video
- Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
- 632g - 137 x 104 x 84mm
- Announced December 2009
- Replaced the Sony A100
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/snapchat-218x150.jpg)
Canon 500D vs Sony A550 Overview
Below is a in-depth review of the Canon 500D and Sony A550, both Entry-Level DSLR digital cameras by rivals Canon and Sony. The image resolution of the 500D (15MP) and the A550 (14MP) is very similar and both cameras have the same sensor measurements (APS-C).
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/tiktok-218x150.jpg)
The 500D was released 6 months prior to the A550 so they are both of a similar generation. Both of the cameras have the same body design (Compact SLR).
Before delving into a complete comparison, here is a brief view of how the 500D scores against the A550 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/photography-glossary-218x150.jpg)
Canon 500D vs Sony A550 Gallery
This is a sample of the gallery pics for Canon EOS 500D and Sony Alpha DSLR-A550. The complete galleries are viewable at Canon 500D Gallery and Sony A550 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Canon 500D over the Sony A550
500D | A550 |
---|
Reasons to pick Sony A550 over the Canon 500D
A550 | 500D | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Display type | Tilting | ![]() | Fixed | Tilting display |
Display resolution | 922k | ![]() | 920k | Sharper display (+2k dot) |
Common features in the Canon 500D and Sony A550
500D | A550 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Announced | June 2009 | ![]() | December 2009 | Similar generation |
Manual focus | ![]() | Very accurate focusing | ||
Display dimensions | 3" | ![]() | 3" | Equal display measurements |
Selfie screen | ![]() | Missing selfie screen | ||
Touch friendly display | ![]() | Missing Touch friendly display |
Canon 500D vs Sony A550 Physical Comparison
In case you're going to lug around your camera frequently, you're going to have to consider its weight and size. The Canon 500D comes with outside measurements of 129mm x 98mm x 62mm (5.1" x 3.9" x 2.4") and a weight of 520 grams (1.15 lbs) whilst the Sony A550 has specifications of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") and a weight of 632 grams (1.39 lbs).
Compare the Canon 500D and Sony A550 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.![Camera Size Comparison with Lenses Camera Size Comparison with Lenses](https://pxlmag.com/db/assets/camera-size-comparison-animation.gif)
Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are using at that moment. The following is a front view physical size comparison of the 500D compared to the A550.
![Canon 500D vs Sony A550 size comparison Canon 500D vs Sony A550 size comparison](https://pxlmag.com/db/images/camera-compare/Canon-EOS-500D-vs-Sony-Alpha-DSLR-A550-size-comparison.jpg)
Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the 500D and A550 is 70 and 63 respectively.
![Canon 500D vs Sony A550 top view buttons comparison Canon 500D vs Sony A550 top view buttons comparison](https://pxlmag.com/db/images/camera-compare/Canon-EOS-500D-vs-Sony-Alpha-DSLR-A550-top-view-buttons-comparison.jpg)
Canon 500D vs Sony A550 Sensor Comparison
Usually, its tough to visualise the gap between sensor measurements merely by reading a spec sheet. The photograph here may offer you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the 500D and A550.
As you can see, both the cameras have the same sensor dimensions but not the same MP. You should expect to see the Canon 500D to offer extra detail as a result of its extra 1 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop photos a bit more aggressively.
![Canon 500D vs Sony A550 sensor size comparison Canon 500D vs Sony A550 sensor size comparison](https://pxlmag.com/db/images/sensor-compare/Canon-EOS-500D-vs-Sony-Alpha-DSLR-A550-sensor-size-comparison.png)
Canon 500D vs Sony A550 Screen and ViewFinder
![Canon 500D vs Sony A550 Screen and Viewfinder comparison Canon 500D vs Sony A550 Screen and Viewfinder comparison](https://pxlmag.com/db/images/camera-compare/Canon-EOS-500D-vs-Sony-Alpha-DSLR-A550-screen-back-comparison.jpg)
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/ai-licence-218x150.jpg)
Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/LP3_cut_13f_0212-218x150.jpg)
Street Comparison
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/No-Surprise-Pentax-17-Pre-Orders-218x150.jpg)
Sports Comparison
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/samsung-evo-microsd-cards-featur-218x150.jpg)
Travel Comparison
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Approach-to-AI-Generated-Content-218x150.jpg)
Landscape Comparison
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/iphone-optical-stabilization-218x150.jpg)
Vlogging Comparison
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/maxresdefault-218x150.jpg)
Canon 500D vs Sony A550 Specifications
Canon EOS 500D | Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Make | Canon | Sony |
Model type | Canon EOS 500D | Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 |
Also called as | EOS Rebel T1i / EOS Kiss X3 | - |
Category | Entry-Level DSLR | Entry-Level DSLR |
Revealed | 2009-06-08 | 2009-12-09 |
Body design | Compact SLR | Compact SLR |
Sensor Information | ||
Powered by | Digic 4 | Bionz |
Sensor type | CMOS | CMOS |
Sensor size | APS-C | APS-C |
Sensor measurements | 22.3 x 14.9mm | 23.4 x 15.6mm |
Sensor area | 332.3mm² | 365.0mm² |
Sensor resolution | 15MP | 14MP |
Anti alias filter | ||
Aspect ratio | 3:2 | 3:2 and 16:9 |
Peak resolution | 4752 x 3168 | 4592 x 3056 |
Highest native ISO | 3200 | 12800 |
Highest enhanced ISO | 12800 | - |
Lowest native ISO | 100 | 200 |
RAW pictures | ||
Autofocusing | ||
Focus manually | ||
AF touch | ||
AF continuous | ||
AF single | ||
AF tracking | ||
Selective AF | ||
Center weighted AF | ||
Multi area AF | ||
AF live view | ||
Face detection focusing | ||
Contract detection focusing | ||
Phase detection focusing | ||
Total focus points | 9 | 9 |
Lens | ||
Lens support | Canon EF/EF-S | Sony/Minolta Alpha |
Number of lenses | 326 | 143 |
Focal length multiplier | 1.6 | 1.5 |
Screen | ||
Screen type | Fixed Type | Tilting |
Screen size | 3 inch | 3 inch |
Resolution of screen | 920 thousand dot | 922 thousand dot |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch capability | ||
Screen tech | TFT color LCD | - |
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder type | Optical (pentamirror) | Optical (pentamirror) |
Viewfinder coverage | 95% | 95% |
Viewfinder magnification | 0.55x | 0.53x |
Features | ||
Min shutter speed | 30 seconds | 30 seconds |
Max shutter speed | 1/4000 seconds | 1/4000 seconds |
Continuous shutter speed | 3.0fps | 7.0fps |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Manually set exposure | ||
Exposure compensation | Yes | Yes |
Set WB | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Inbuilt flash | ||
Flash distance | 13.00 m | 12.00 m |
Flash settings | Auto, On, Off, Red-eye | Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless |
Hot shoe | ||
AE bracketing | ||
WB bracketing | ||
Max flash sync | 1/200 seconds | 1/160 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) | - |
Highest video resolution | 1920x1080 | None |
Video format | H.264 | - |
Microphone input | ||
Headphone input | ||
Connectivity | ||
Wireless | Eye-Fi Connected | None |
Bluetooth | ||
NFC | ||
HDMI | ||
USB | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) |
GPS | None | None |
Physical | ||
Environmental seal | ||
Water proofing | ||
Dust proofing | ||
Shock proofing | ||
Crush proofing | ||
Freeze proofing | ||
Weight | 520 gr (1.15 pounds) | 632 gr (1.39 pounds) |
Physical dimensions | 129 x 98 x 62mm (5.1" x 3.9" x 2.4") | 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") |
DXO scores | ||
DXO Overall rating | 63 | 66 |
DXO Color Depth rating | 21.7 | 21.9 |
DXO Dynamic range rating | 11.5 | 11.8 |
DXO Low light rating | 663 | 807 |
Other | ||
Battery life | 440 pictures | 480 pictures |
Battery format | Battery Pack | Battery Pack |
Battery ID | LP-E5 | NP-FM500H |
Self timer | Yes (2 sec or 10 sec) | Yes (2 or 10 sec) |
Time lapse shooting | ||
Type of storage | SD/SDHC | SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo |
Storage slots | 1 | 1 |
Launch price | $650 | $749 |