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Canon 50D vs Sony A100

Portability
57
Imaging
54
Features
65
Overall
58
Canon EOS 50D front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A100 front
Portability
64
Imaging
49
Features
38
Overall
44

Canon 50D vs Sony A100 Key Specs

Canon 50D
(Full Review)
  • 15MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200 (Bump to 12800)
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • No Video
  • Canon EF/EF-S Mount
  • 822g - 146 x 108 x 74mm
  • Introduced October 2008
  • Previous Model is Canon 40D
  • Refreshed by Canon 60D
Sony A100
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 638g - 133 x 95 x 71mm
  • Revealed July 2006
  • Older Model is Konica Minolta 5D
  • Replacement is Sony A550
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Canon 50D vs Sony A100 Overview

Below, we are evaluating the Canon 50D vs Sony A100, one being a Advanced DSLR and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by rivals Canon and Sony. There exists a significant gap between the sensor resolutions of the 50D (15MP) and A100 (10MP) but they come with the exact same sensor sizes (APS-C).

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The 50D was introduced 2 years later than the A100 and that is quite a sizable gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of these cameras come with different body type with the Canon 50D being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Sony A100 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going through a step-by-step comparison, below is a concise highlight of how the 50D scores against the A100 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Canon 50D over the Sony A100

 50D A100 
RevealedOctober 2008July 2006Fresher by 28 months
Display dimension3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution920k230kClearer display (+690k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony A100 over the Canon 50D

 A100 50D 

Common features in the Canon 50D and Sony A100

 50D A100 
Focus manually More exact focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly display Missing Touch friendly display

Canon 50D vs Sony A100 Physical Comparison

For those who are intending to carry your camera regularly, you will have to think about its weight and proportions. The Canon 50D offers outer measurements of 146mm x 108mm x 74mm (5.7" x 4.3" x 2.9") having a weight of 822 grams (1.81 lbs) whilst the Sony A100 has measurements of 133mm x 95mm x 71mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 2.8") having a weight of 638 grams (1.41 lbs).

See the Canon 50D vs Sony A100 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you are utilizing at that time. The following is the front view measurement comparison of the 50D compared to the A100.

Canon 50D vs Sony A100 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the 50D and A100 is 57 and 64 respectively.

Canon 50D vs Sony A100 top view buttons comparison

Canon 50D vs Sony A100 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it's tough to envision the gap between sensor sizing only by checking specs. The visual underneath will offer you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the 50D and A100.

All in all, each of the cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements but not the same megapixels. You should expect to see the Canon 50D to give you more detail using its extra 5 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also let you crop images somewhat more aggressively. The newer 50D will have an edge with regard to sensor innovation.

Canon 50D vs Sony A100 sensor size comparison

Canon 50D vs Sony A100 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon 50D vs Sony A100 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon 50D as a Portrait photography camera
Sony A100 as a Portrait photography camera
72
focusing manually
decent MP (15 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
offers face detect autofocus
exports RAW files
53
manual focus
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW files
doesn't have liveview
sensor resolution low (10MP)
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Street Comparison

Canon 50D Street photography information
Sony A100 Street photography information
57
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
environment sealing
fixed screen
lack of image stabilization
65
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW files
no articulating screen
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Sports Comparison

Canon 50D Sports photography highlights
Sony A100 Sports photography highlights
62
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
decent MP (15MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
environment sealing
has phase detect autofocus
lack of image stabilization
low battery power (800 per charge)
49
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect autofocus
doesn't have liveview
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
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Travel Comparison

Canon 50D Travel photography information
Sony A100 Travel photography information
57
environment sealing
decent MP (15 megapixels)
has built in flash
low battery power (800 shots)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
45
has built in flash
missing Time Lapse function
sensor resolution low (10MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Canon 50D Landscape photography information
Sony A100 Landscape photography information
66
focusing manually
change lenses (Canon EF/EF-S mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
decent MP (15 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
environment sealing
lack of image stabilization
low battery power (800 shots)
53
manual focus
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW files
tiny screen (2.5 inch)
doesn't have liveview
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
missing Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon 50D as a Vlogging camera
Sony A100 as a Vlogging camera
9
no video shooting
9
can't record video
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Canon 50D vs Sony A100 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon 50D and Sony A100
 Canon EOS 50DSony Alpha DSLR-A100
General Information
Company Canon Sony
Model Canon EOS 50D Sony Alpha DSLR-A100
Class Advanced DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Introduced 2008-10-30 2006-07-31
Physical type Mid-size SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Chip Digic 4 -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor dimensions 22.3 x 14.9mm 23.6 x 15.8mm
Sensor surface area 332.3mm² 372.9mm²
Sensor resolution 15 megapixel 10 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2
Highest Possible resolution 4752 x 3168 3872 x 2592
Maximum native ISO 3200 1600
Maximum enhanced ISO 12800 -
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mount Canon EF/EF-S Sony/Minolta Alpha
Amount of lenses 326 143
Focal length multiplier 1.6 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inches 2.5 inches
Resolution of screen 920 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen technology TFT liquid-crystal color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage 95% 95%
Viewfinder magnification 0.6x 0.55x
Features
Min shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 6.3fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 13.00 m (ISO 100) -
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync, Off
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/250 seconds 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Maximum video resolution None None
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 822 grams (1.81 pounds) 638 grams (1.41 pounds)
Dimensions 146 x 108 x 74mm (5.7" x 4.3" x 2.9") 133 x 95 x 71mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 63 61
DXO Color Depth score 21.8 22.0
DXO Dynamic range score 11.4 11.2
DXO Low light score 696 476
Other
Battery life 800 shots -
Battery type Battery Pack -
Battery model BP-511A NP-FM55H
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II), UDMA Compact Flash (Type I or II)
Card slots One One
Cost at release $996 $1,000