Canon 500D vs Sony NEX-5N
70 Imaging
53 Features
59 Overall
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89 Imaging
56 Features
69 Overall
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Canon 500D vs Sony NEX-5N Key Specs
(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- Superseded the Canon 450D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
(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

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).

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.

Canon 500D vs Sony NEX-5N Gallery
This is a sample of the gallery pictures for Canon EOS 500D and Sony Alpha NEX-5N. The entire galleries are viewable at Canon 500D Gallery and Sony NEX-5N Gallery.
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 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Launched | October 2011 | ![]() | June 2009 | Fresher by 28 months |
Display type | Tilting | ![]() | Fixed | 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 sizing | 3" | ![]() | 3" | Equivalent display measurement |
Display resolution | 920k | ![]() | 920k | The 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.
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.

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

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 Screen and ViewFinder


Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison

Street Comparison

Sports Comparison

Travel Comparison

Landscape Comparison

Vlogging Comparison

Canon 500D vs Sony NEX-5N Specifications
Canon EOS 500D | Sony 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 |