• APS-C 369.7mm2
  • 15.1 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • APS-C 369.7mm2
  • 16.2 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 12,800

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Differences

Canon 50D advantages over Sony A55

  • Lens selection
    Excellent vs Good
    Better lens selection gives you more options
  • Fast startup
    ~0.30 vs 0.9 sec
    Faster startup lets you catch the moment
  • Longer stills battery life
    More info 640 vs 330 shots
    Capture more photos
  • More telephoto lens reach
    216 mm vs 83 mm
    Capture objects farther away with the kit lens
  • Top deck display
    Yes vs No
    Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
  • More cross-type AF points
    9 vs 3
    Cross-type AF points improve autofocus performance
  • Higher max flash sync
    1/250 vs 1/160 sec
    Reduce the effect of ambient light in flash shots
  • Less shutter lag
    0.13 vs 0.22 sec
    Focus and take a photo quickly (wide angle)
  • Faster shutter
    1/8000 vs 1/4000 sec
    Shoot wide open in bright light

Sony A55 advantages over Canon 50D

  • Less expensive
    $850 vs $1399 (MSRP)
    Save money for lenses or accessories
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
    Yes vs No
    Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
  • In-camera panoramas
    Yes vs No
    Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
  • Tiltable Screen
    Tiltable vs Fixed
    Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
  • Higher effective ISO
    818 vs 696 iso
    Take photos in low light with less noise
  • Built-in GPS
    GPS vs None
    Geotag your photos
  • External Mic Jack
    Jack vs No jack
    Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
  • More viewfinder magnification
    0.73x vs 0.59x
    Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
  • More AF points
    15 vs 9
    More AF points improve autofocus
  • Wider angle kit lens
    27 mm vs 45 mm
    Capture more of the scene with the included lens
  • Faster JPEG shooting
    9.0 fps vs 6.3 fps
    Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
  • Higher extended ISO
    25600 vs 12800 ISO
    Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Similarities

Common Strengths

  • Eye-level viewfinder
    Both provide
    You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
  • Internal flash
    Both provide
    Useful in a pinch for fill flash
  • HDMI out
    Both provide
    Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
  • Hot shoe
    Both provide
    Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
  • Bulb shutter
    Both provide
    Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures

Common Weaknesses

  • Focus peaking
    Neither provide
    Your camera will highlight what's in focus
  • Touchscreen
    Neither provide
    Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
    Neither provide
    Share your photos wirelessly
  • Built-in Bluetooth
    Neither provide
    Always-on wireless connectivity
  • On-sensor phase detect
    Neither provide
    Usually improves live view and video AF performance
  • Dual card slots
    Neither provide
    Gives you more storage flexibility
  • Headphone jack
    Neither provide
    Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
  • Slow-motion videos
    Neither provide
    Shoot slow-motion videos

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Review Excerpt

The Competition

Compared to Samsung GX-20

Canon 50D
Samsung GX-20
  • $1000
  • APS-C
  • HDMI out
  • More dots on screen
  • $1400
  • APS-C
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
Sony A55
Samsung GX-20
  • $734
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • In-camera panoramas
  • $1400
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Top deck display

Compared to Pentax K-7

Canon 50D
Pentax K-7
  • $1000
  • APS-C
  • Fast startup
  • Higher effective ISO
  • $1300
  • APS-C
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
Sony A55
Pentax K-7
  • $734
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • In-camera panoramas
  • $1300
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Fast startup

Compared to Sony DSLR-A550

Canon 50D
Sony DSLR-A550
  • $1000
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Fast startup
  • $859
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
Sony A55
Sony DSLR-A550
  • $734
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • In-camera panoramas
  • $859
  • APS-C
  • Fast startup
  • Longer stills battery life

Compared to Sony A33

Canon 50D
Sony A33
  • $1000
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Fast startup
  • $540
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
Sony A55
Sony A33
  • $734
  • APS-C
  • Higher effective ISO
  • Built-in GPS
  • $540
  • APS-C

Compared to Sony A35

Canon 50D
Sony A35
  • $1000
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Fast startup
  • $567
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
Sony A55
Sony A35
  • $734
  • APS-C
  • Tiltable Screen
  • Built-in GPS
  • $567
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Longer stills battery life
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