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Canon 500D vs Sony NEX-5N

Portability
70
Imaging
53
Features
59
Overall
55
Canon EOS 500D front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-5N front
Portability
89
Imaging
56
Features
69
Overall
61

Canon 500D vs Sony NEX-5N Key Specs

Canon 500D
(Full Review)
  • 15MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200 (Bump to 12800)
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Canon EF/EF-S Mount
  • 520g - 129 x 98 x 62mm
  • Released June 2009
  • Alternate Name is EOS Rebel T1i / EOS Kiss X3
  • Superseded the Canon 450D
  • Refreshed by Canon 550D
Sony NEX-5N
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 269g - 111 x 59 x 38mm
  • Launched October 2011
  • Older Model is Sony NEX-5
  • Renewed by Sony NEX-5R
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Canon 500D vs Sony NEX-5N Overview

Lets look a little more closely at the Canon 500D and Sony NEX-5N, one being a Entry-Level DSLR and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by companies Canon and Sony. The resolution of the 500D (15MP) and the NEX-5N (16MP) is fairly similar and they feature the same exact sensor sizing (APS-C).

Photography Glossary

The 500D was brought out 3 years before the NEX-5N and that is quite a significant gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Canon 500D being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony NEX-5N being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving in to a complete comparison, below is a simple highlight of how the 500D grades versus the NEX-5N with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Canon 500D over the Sony NEX-5N

 500D NEX-5N 

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-5N over the Canon 500D

 NEX-5N 500D 
LaunchedOctober 2011June 2009Fresher by 28 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Touch display Easily navigate

Common features in the Canon 500D and Sony NEX-5N

 500D NEX-5N 
Manual focus More accurate focusing
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display measurement
Display resolution920k920kThe same display resolution
Selfie screen No selfie screen

Canon 500D vs Sony NEX-5N Physical Comparison

If you're planning to carry your camera regularly, you'll need to take into account its weight and measurements. The Canon 500D provides outer dimensions of 129mm x 98mm x 62mm (5.1" x 3.9" x 2.4") with a weight of 520 grams (1.15 lbs) while the Sony NEX-5N has proportions of 111mm x 59mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") having a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs).

Look at the Canon 500D and Sony NEX-5N in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are using at the time. Underneath is the front view scale comparison of the 500D versus the NEX-5N.

Canon 500D vs Sony NEX-5N size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the 500D and NEX-5N is 70 and 89 respectively.

Canon 500D vs Sony NEX-5N top view buttons comparison

Canon 500D vs Sony NEX-5N Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is tough to picture the gap between sensor sizing merely by reviewing specifications. The graphic underneath will offer you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the 500D and NEX-5N.

To sum up, each of these cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing but different resolution. You should anticipate the Sony NEX-5N to deliver more detail having its extra 1MP. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop photos a little more aggressively. The older 500D is going to be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

Canon 500D vs Sony NEX-5N sensor size comparison

Canon 500D vs Sony NEX-5N Screen and ViewFinder

Canon 500D vs Sony NEX-5N Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon 500D Portrait photography details
Sony NEX-5N Portrait photography details
71
has manual focus
decent megapixels (15MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
has face detection focus
saves RAW files
73
you can focus manually
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
has face detect autofocus
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Canon 500D Street photography info
Sony NEX-5N Street photography info
59
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW files
screen does not articulate
no image stabilization
80
tilting screen
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
provides focus by touch
good ISO range (25,600)
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Canon 500D Sports photography highlights
Sony NEX-5N Sports photography highlights
51
decent megapixels (15MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect auto focus
low frames per second (3.0 frames per second)
no image stabilization
bad battery (440 per charge)
58
good megapixels (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
great battery (460 CIPA)
lack of image stabilization
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Canon 500D Travel photography highlights
Sony NEX-5N Travel photography highlights
54
decent megapixels (15MP)
built-in flash
lack of Time Lapse recording
bad battery (440 CIPA)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
70
great battery (460 CIPA)
provides focus by touch
good megapixels (16MP)
missing Time Lapse function
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Canon 500D as a Landscape photography camera
Sony NEX-5N as a Landscape photography camera
61
has manual focus
swap lenses (Canon EF/EF-S mount)
screen size is good (3")
decent megapixels (15MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW files
no image stabilization
bad battery (440 shots)
lack of Time Lapse recording
71
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
good ISO range (25,600)
saves RAW files
great battery (460 shots)
lack of image stabilization
missing Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon 500D Vlogging details
Sony NEX-5N Vlogging details
27
has face detection focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
lack of external mic socket
33
has touchscreen
has face detect autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
missing mic jack
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Canon 500D vs Sony NEX-5N Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon 500D and Sony NEX-5N
 Canon EOS 500DSony Alpha NEX-5N
General Information
Make Canon Sony
Model Canon EOS 500D Sony Alpha NEX-5N
Also Known as EOS Rebel T1i / EOS Kiss X3 -
Category Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level Mirrorless
Released 2009-06-08 2011-10-03
Body design Compact SLR Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Digic 4 Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor dimensions 22.3 x 14.9mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 332.3mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 15 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4752 x 3168 4912 x 3264
Max native ISO 3200 25600
Max boosted ISO 12800 -
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 9 25
Lens
Lens mounting type Canon EF/EF-S Sony E
Total lenses 326 121
Crop factor 1.6 1.5
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 3" 3"
Display resolution 920 thousand dot 920 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display technology TFT color LCD Tilt Up 80°, Down 45° TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) Electronic (optional)
Viewfinder coverage 95% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.55x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 3.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 13.00 m 12.00 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/200 secs 1/160 secs
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 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format H.264 AVCHD
Mic input
Headphone input
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 None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 520 grams (1.15 pounds) 269 grams (0.59 pounds)
Dimensions 129 x 98 x 62mm (5.1" x 3.9" x 2.4") 111 x 59 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 63 77
DXO Color Depth score 21.7 23.6
DXO Dynamic range score 11.5 12.7
DXO Low light score 663 1079
Other
Battery life 440 images 460 images
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LP-E5 NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 sec or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images))
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots One One
Retail price $650 $550