Sony Alpha A500, Nikon D5000, and Canon EOS Rebel T1i- Compared
Sony Alpha A500 vs. Nikon D5000 and Canon EOS Rebel T1i
December 2009, Carl Garrard
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| Sony ALPHA DSLR A500 | Canon EOS Rebel T1i | Nikon DSLR D5000 |
Here I am doing a quick comparison based on current market prices of these three popular DSLRS. Looking at these three cameras, makes an interesting market choice at the counter for a new to DSLR buyer. Canon and Nikon seem to be going head to head in specifications with each other, where as Sony is definitely catering to a different crowd.
I will compare the three cameras as still imaging devices here including most major features that "matter" to the average buyer (of course in my opinion). Video will be one of the scoring parameters of these DSLRS.
At the end, I will rate each camera as I see a total value to the buyer. All three cameras here offer excellent features and performance for the price, but which one gets the highest score?
This type of comparison is mainly subjective, therefore it should be obvious that this is mainly a statistics piece and these may or may not be important to you as a buyer. These are just organized for sake of ease of comparison, however it has been done to help a new DSLR enthusiast perhaps come to a conclusion a bit quicker as a compilation of features that matter from a new to DSLR buyer perspective, or someone looking to add a secondary body to their kit.
Below are photographs of all three DSLRs with major specifications included that are considered by myself to be most important and that you'll likely mostly use. All three DSLRS are similarly priced on the market currently but all have strengths and weaknesses (as all cameras do). They are by no means clones in comparison to each other which is why I chose these three as it makes an interesting comparison and snapshot view of the current DSLR market in this category.
An *asterisk (and bold) denotes the winner of each category over both cameras (ties with another camera do not count as a winner). Similarly, a - score is applied for the opposite. See below for the results.
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Sony ALPHA DSLR A500
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Canon EOS Rebel DSLR T1i
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Nikon DSLR D5000
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Extra features aside, all three cameras compete well with one another and winning categories are spread out about different feature points. Overall the Canon Rebel T1i seems to be catered more towards enthusiasts, while the Sony and Nikon seem to cater to the entry level to enthusiast crowd. There is no clear dominating winner here, each camera seems to dominate in particular categories. Worth noting is that the Sony A500 has a total of seven stand out points, the most in the group, but it also has the most negative points as well.
- Winning points Sony A500- 8 total
- Negative Points- 4 Total
- Winning points Canon T1i- 5 total
- Negative Points- 3 Total
- Winning points Nikon D5000- 3 total
- Negative Points- 3 Total
Sony A500 Summation
- (Strengths)- Best battery life, fastest frame rate, in body focus motor included (for screw driven lenses), built in image stabilization, most advanced face detection feature (speed of focus), best live view mode, dual media slots, wireless flash
- (Weaknesses)- No video, no mirror lock up, no depth of field preview, price (although competition has been out for five months longer on the market), slowest flash sync
Canon Rebel T1i Summation
- (Strengths)- Best video, most resolution, mirror lock up, depth of field preview, widest ISO range
- (Weaknesses)- Battery life, no in body image stabilization (most lens options stabilized however), no wireless flash
Nikon D5000 Summation
- (Strengths)- Autofocus system, autofocus illuminator, best current price
- (Weaknesses)- No mirror lock up, no depth of field preview, no in body focus motor (for screw driven lenses), optical viewfinder, no built in stabilization, no wireless flash
As a result of the comparison above, it becomes clear what the strengths and weaknesses of each DSLR are based only on the categories provided. Software features have mainly been eliminated in the comparison for mere ease of reading but do note that both the Canon and Nikon have more available software features.
Chances are when shopping at a counter you won't have time to go through each camera item by item to see what software features there are, so I've provided a list of "sticker" features that salesman and buyers alike are normally quoting or looking for.
There seems to be no clear winner here overall because all three cameras do different things well. The Sony does live view and battery life, and frame rate better than both, the Canon edges out the Nikon and Sony in video and resolution, and the Nikon has a superior autofocus system with the best price.
Video, if you need it is a bonus feature. Granted it doesn't work as good as a camcorder but, the image quality is much better... sound quality on the other hand cannot rival a camcorder either. So while limited, video in DSLRs appears to be more and more common nowadays. Canon and Nikon have it, while Sony chose to give a much better live view experience instead.
So, is your priority stills or video? If your priority is still imaging, the Sony should be easier and more user friendly to use in this comparison based on its fast live view that no other manufacturer implements currently. Both the Canon and Nikon however remain excellent still cameras, and will do basic live view. With the Sony, you have no choice, video is simply left out.
In retrospect here, all a buyer need decide is where there priorities lie and go with the camera they see fits best. Price is so close on all three cameras, that this shouldn't even be an issue for a buyer.
Buy from your priority first, then which camera you like to hold and use the most. All three manufactures have a great lens lineup for a buyer in this category, with all of the accessories one in this market would usually need.
Hope this small article is helpful to you.
Be safe and happy shooting (and happy holidays).
- C. Garrard
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Added negative points
with the numbered scoring system, and clarified this a bit more in the article.
Note that the Canon seems to have the advantage of a larger viewfinder by magnification but because of the crop factor of the Canon (1.6x vs 1.5x of the Sony), the view size is equal to the Sony overall. The Sony and Nikon have the same crop factor.
Carl
Is it fair to the Canon to ding it for no in-body AF motor?
Doesn't the EOS mount mandate AF motors in the lens? If so is it fair to ding the Canon for this since it would be incompatible with its own mount specification?
It makes sense to ding Nikon since their mount supports both (as does Sony).
It wasn't really dinged
At least on the score of it. Any other 3rd party lenses that may be screw driven could be affected was my thought.. and I'm not sure which could be or would be if any.
Carl
Edit: Even though it wasn't really a "ding" I removed that part from the weaknessess column.
Wireless Flash
I didn't see it mentioned but neither the Nikon or the Canon have wireless flash capability built into the camera.
True
Should I add it as a con? I think its valid... good call.
maybe a plus
I would at least add it as a plus to the A500. The big plus is it is so easy to use compared to any other systems. The Nikon system is aweome at least on the cameras that have it but it isn't the easiest thing in the world to use. It takes 5 seconds to show someone how to use it on an Alpha at least the new ones and 10 seconds on teh a100 and KM products.
I added it to a plus and a minus for the others
and added another minus for lack of DOF preview on the A500, since each is a category, it's only fair to count MLU and DOF preview as individual categories.
C
populare cameras
sony is not popular
That's fine :)
In a way, I like not following the majority. As long as Sony continues to put out great products, why complain about being the underdog. We know the cameras can produce amazing shots.
When I first started
There were more issues with SOny being tied to MInolta especially with all the issues with the 7d that it being Sony. Which supriesed me a but but I was in a decidedly non Minolta area as well.
Not into Canon much myself
Not into Canon much myself *though you can never write them off obviously) To me the Canon is the strongest in this line up, main points of beef being the not really very nice grip (personal thing, but has to be said), and lack of wireless flash via onboard. SSS obviously is a pro, but over time I think it's become less of a crowd puller, esp as many kit lenses have IS/VR, and more 3rd party makers add it too.
Both the A500 and D5000 are consumer based models (that in itself is not a problem), but they both lack many basic features some folks might want. I wouldn't buy either myself. Comparisons are always subjective, a few other models that float around this, Pentax and their K-X etc..Olympus too. Both the Sony and Nikon are cut down too much IMO, the obvious lack of in body AF motor kills any interest in the D5000 for me..
More and more the D90 catches my eye, as it offers many of the things I look for in a higher up models (not everything, but much more than these A5xx models). IMO it's a serious mistake for Sony to ignore this segment, they have nothing to offer buyers who are looking for a more solid feature set. Even more puzzling is the fact they have 2 near identical models, again this is not suitable for the DSLR market IMO, too many models, not enough real differences.