Canon 550D vs Nikon D5000
70 Imaging
57 Features
63 Overall
59


65 Imaging
51 Features
50 Overall
50
Canon 550D vs Nikon D5000 Key Specs
(Full Review)
- 18MP - APS-C Sensor
- 3" Fixed Screen
- ISO 100 - 6400 (Expand to 12800)
- 1920 x 1080 video
- Canon EF/EF-S Mount
- 530g - 129 x 98 x 62mm
- Introduced April 2010
- Also Known as EOS Rebel T2i / EOS Kiss X4
- Older Model is Canon 500D
- Updated by Canon 600D
(Full Review)
- 12MP - APS-C Sensor
- 2.7" Fully Articulated Screen
- ISO 200 - 3200 (Push to 6400)
- 1280 x 720 video
- Nikon F Mount
- 590g - 127 x 104 x 80mm
- Launched June 2009
- Old Model is Nikon D60
- Updated by Nikon D5100

Canon 550D vs Nikon D5000 Overview
Following is a comprehensive assessment of the Canon 550D versus Nikon D5000, both Entry-Level DSLR cameras by companies Canon and Nikon. There is a big difference among the resolutions of the 550D (18MP) and D5000 (12MP) but both cameras have the identical sensor sizes (APS-C).

The 550D was launched 10 months after the D5000 which means that they are of a similar generation. Each of the cameras feature the same body design (Compact SLR).
Before getting into a in depth comparison, here is a simple overview of how the 550D scores versus the D5000 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Canon 550D vs Nikon D5000 Gallery
Following is a preview of the gallery images for Canon EOS 550D and Nikon D5000. The complete galleries are provided at Canon 550D Gallery and Nikon D5000 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Canon 550D over the Nikon D5000
550D | D5000 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Launched | April 2010 | ![]() | June 2009 | More modern by 10 months |
Screen size | 3" | ![]() | 2.7" | Bigger screen (+0.3") |
Screen resolution | 1040k | ![]() | 230k | Sharper screen (+810k dot) |
Reasons to pick Nikon D5000 over the Canon 550D
D5000 | 550D | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Screen type | Fully Articulated | ![]() | Fixed | Fully Articulating screen |
Selfie screen | ![]() | Take selfies |
Common features in the Canon 550D and Nikon D5000
550D | D5000 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Manual focus | ![]() | More exact focusing | ||
Touch screen | ![]() | Neither contains Touch screen |
Canon 550D vs Nikon D5000 Physical Comparison
For anybody who is looking to carry around your camera regularly, you need to take into account its weight and size. The Canon 550D has got external dimensions of 129mm x 98mm x 62mm (5.1" x 3.9" x 2.4") and a weight of 530 grams (1.17 lbs) whilst the Nikon D5000 has specifications of 127mm x 104mm x 80mm (5.0" x 4.1" x 3.1") along with a weight of 590 grams (1.30 lbs).
Examine the Canon 550D versus Nikon D5000 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you use at the time. Underneath is a front view overall size comparison of the 550D vs the D5000.

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the 550D and D5000 is 70 and 65 respectively.

Canon 550D vs Nikon D5000 Sensor Comparison
Often, it can be tough to visualize the contrast in sensor sizes simply by going through specifications. The picture underneath will help provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the 550D and D5000.
To sum up, the two cameras come with the identical sensor size albeit different MP. You should expect the Canon 550D to produce more detail utilizing its extra 6MP. Higher resolution can also help you crop shots a good deal more aggressively. The more modern 550D provides an advantage in sensor tech.

Canon 550D vs Nikon D5000 Screen and ViewFinder


Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison

Street Comparison

Sports Comparison

Travel Comparison

Landscape Comparison

Vlogging Comparison

Canon 550D vs Nikon D5000 Specifications
Canon EOS 550D | Nikon D5000 | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Company | Canon | Nikon |
Model type | Canon EOS 550D | Nikon D5000 |
Otherwise known as | EOS Rebel T2i / EOS Kiss X4 | - |
Category | Entry-Level DSLR | Entry-Level DSLR |
Introduced | 2010-04-01 | 2009-06-12 |
Body design | Compact SLR | Compact SLR |
Sensor Information | ||
Powered by | Digic 4 | Expeed |
Sensor type | CMOS | CMOS |
Sensor size | APS-C | APS-C |
Sensor measurements | 22.3 x 14.9mm | 23.6 x 15.8mm |
Sensor area | 332.3mm² | 372.9mm² |
Sensor resolution | 18 megapixel | 12 megapixel |
Anti alias filter | ||
Aspect ratio | 3:2 | 3:2 |
Peak resolution | 5184 x 3456 | 4288 x 2848 |
Highest native ISO | 6400 | 3200 |
Highest enhanced ISO | 12800 | 6400 |
Lowest native ISO | 100 | 200 |
RAW format | ||
Autofocusing | ||
Focus manually | ||
Autofocus touch | ||
Continuous autofocus | ||
Autofocus single | ||
Tracking autofocus | ||
Autofocus selectice | ||
Autofocus center weighted | ||
Autofocus multi area | ||
Live view autofocus | ||
Face detection focus | ||
Contract detection focus | ||
Phase detection focus | ||
Total focus points | 9 | 11 |
Lens | ||
Lens support | Canon EF/EF-S | Nikon F |
Number of lenses | 326 | 309 |
Focal length multiplier | 1.6 | 1.5 |
Screen | ||
Screen type | Fixed Type | Fully Articulated |
Screen sizing | 3 inch | 2.7 inch |
Screen resolution | 1,040k dot | 230k dot |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch operation | ||
Screen tech | TFT color liquid-crystal LCD | - |
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder | Optical (pentamirror) | Optical (pentamirror) |
Viewfinder coverage | 95 percent | 95 percent |
Viewfinder magnification | 0.55x | 0.52x |
Features | ||
Minimum shutter speed | 30s | 30s |
Fastest shutter speed | 1/4000s | 1/4000s |
Continuous shutter speed | 4.0fps | 4.0fps |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Manually set exposure | ||
Exposure compensation | Yes | Yes |
Custom white balance | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Inbuilt flash | ||
Flash distance | 13.00 m | 17.00 m (at ISO 100) |
Flash options | Auto, On, Off, Red-eye | Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, Rear curtain |
Hot shoe | ||
Auto exposure bracketing | ||
White balance bracketing | ||
Fastest flash sync | 1/200s | 1/200s |
Exposure | ||
Multisegment | ||
Average | ||
Spot | ||
Partial | ||
AF area | ||
Center weighted | ||
Video features | ||
Video resolutions | 1920 x 1080 (30, 25, 24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 50 fps), 640 x 480 (60, 50 fps) | 1280 x 720 (24 fps), 640 x 424 (24 fps), 320 x 216 (24 fps) |
Highest video resolution | 1920x1080 | 1280x720 |
Video data format | H.264 | Motion JPEG |
Microphone jack | ||
Headphone jack | ||
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 seal | ||
Water proofing | ||
Dust proofing | ||
Shock proofing | ||
Crush proofing | ||
Freeze proofing | ||
Weight | 530 gr (1.17 lbs) | 590 gr (1.30 lbs) |
Physical dimensions | 129 x 98 x 62mm (5.1" x 3.9" x 2.4") | 127 x 104 x 80mm (5.0" x 4.1" x 3.1") |
DXO scores | ||
DXO Overall rating | 66 | 72 |
DXO Color Depth rating | 22.0 | 22.7 |
DXO Dynamic range rating | 11.6 | 12.5 |
DXO Low light rating | 807 | 868 |
Other | ||
Battery life | 470 shots | 510 shots |
Battery form | Battery Pack | Battery Pack |
Battery ID | LP-E8 | EN-EL9a |
Self timer | Yes (2 sec or 10 sec) | Yes (2, 5, 10 or 20 sec) |
Time lapse feature | ||
Type of storage | SD/SDHC/SDXC | SD/SDHC card |
Storage slots | Single | Single |
Launch price | $599 | $630 |