• APS-C 369.7mm2
  • 15.1 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • APS-C 372.9mm2
  • 12.3 megapixels
  • ISO 200 - 3200
  • Detailed specifications
  • Canon EOS 50D
  • Nikon D300S
Links
Prices:   Compare Prices
Manufacturer URL: Manufacturer website Manufacturer website
Predecessor: Canon 40D
40D vs 50D
Nikon D300
D300 vs D300S
Successor: Canon 60D
50D vs 60D
Nikon D500
D300S vs D500
General
Model Number: 50D D300S
Alternate Model Number(s):    
Camera Format: Pro SLR Pro SLR
Currently Manufactured: No No
Retail Price: $1399.00 $1799.95
Street Price: $999.95 $1,663.45
Date Available: 2008-10-15 2009-08-31
Tripod Mount: Yes Yes
Weight: 29.0 oz (822 g)
includes batteries
33.5 oz (951 g)
includes batteries
Size: 5.7 x 4.2 x 2.9 in.
(146 x 108 x 74 mm)
5.8 x 4.5 x 2.9 in.
(147 x 114 x 74 mm)
Waterproof: No No
Waterproof Depth: n/a n/a
Image Sensor
Sensor Type: CMOS CMOS
Sensor Manufacturer: Canon Sony
Effective Megapixels: 15.1 12.3
Sensor Format: APS-C APS-C
Sensor size: 369.72mm2 (23.7mm x 15.6mm) 372.88mm2 (23.60mm x 15.80mm)
Approximate Pixel Pitch: 4.99 microns 5.50 microns
Focal Length Multiplier: 1.6x 1.5x
Aspect Ratio: 3:2 3:2
Color Filter Type: RGBG RGBG
Anti Aliasing Filter: Fixed Fixed
Self-Cleaning: Yes Yes
Sensor shift image stabilization: No No
On-Sensor Phase Detect: No No
DxO Sensor Score: 63 70
DxO Color Depth Score (bits): 21.8 22.5
DxO Dynamic Range Score (evs): 11.4 12.2
DxO Maximum Effective ISO Score (iso): 696 787
Image Capture
Image Resolution: 4752 x 3168 (15.1 MP, 3:2),
3456 x 2304 (8.0 MP, 3:2),
2352 x 1568 (3.7 MP, 3:2)
4288 x 2848 (12.2 MP, Other),
3216 x 2136 (6.9 MP, Other),
2144 x 1424 (3.1 MP, Other)
Image File Format: JPEG, 14-bit RAW, sRAW1, sRAW2 JPEG (EXIF 2.21), NEF (RAW), 12 or 14 bit, lossless compressed, compressed, or uncompressed; RAW+JPEG, TIFF
Continuous-mode frames/second: 6.3 7.1
Video Capture
Can take movies: No Yes
Movie Resolution: 1280x720 (24)
640x424 (24)
320x216 (24)
Movie File Format:   AVI Motion JPEG
Composite Video Out: Yes Yes
NTSC/PAL Switchable Video: Yes Yes
Video Usable as Viewfinder: Yes Yes
HD Video Out: Yes Yes
HD Video Connection: HDMI HDMI
Lens & Optics
Lens Mount: Canon EF/EF-S Nikon F
Lens: Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM n/a
Focal Length (35mm equivalent): 45 - 216mm  
Focal Length (actual): 28 - 135mm  
Zoom Ratio: 4.82x  
Aperture Range: f/3.5-22 (W), f/5.6-36 (T)  
Integrated ND Filter: No No
Normal Focus Range: 50 cm to Infinity
19.7 in to Infinity
 
Macro Focus Range:    
Filter Thread: 72.0mm n/a
Thread Type: n/a n/a
Optical Image Stabilization: Yes No
Digital Zoom: No
Digital Zoom Values:   n/a
Auto Focus
Auto Focus: Yes Yes
Auto Focus Type: AF-dedicated CMOS Sensor, 9 cross-type AF points, f/2.8 rotated cross center point 51 point (15 cross-type sensors) TTL phase detection with 3D focus tracking by Nikon Multi-CAM 3500DX
Auto Focus Assist Light? Yes Yes
Manual Focus: Yes Yes
Viewfinder
Viewfinder: Optical / LCD Optical / LCD
Viewfinder Type: SLR type; eye-level pentaprism, 95% coverage, 0.95x mag., 22mm eyepoint. -3 to +1 diopter SLR type: eye-level pentaprism, 100% coverage, 0.94x mag., 19.5mm eyepoint, -2 to +1 diopter
Focus Peaking: No No
EVF Resolution: n/a n/a
Viewfinder Magnification (35mm equivalent): 0.59x 0.63x
Viewfinder Magnification (nominal/claimed): 0.95x 0.94x
Display
Eye-level Viewfinder: Yes Yes
Rear Display: Yes Yes
Rear Display Size (inches): 3.0 3.0
Rear Display Resolution: 920,000 dots 921,600 dots
Touchscreen: No No
Articulating Screen: No No
Tilt Swivel Screen: No No
Selfie Screen: No No
Max Playback Zoom: 10.0x 27.0x
Top Deck Display: Yes Yes
Exposure
Maximum ISO (native): 3200 3200
Minimum ISO (native): 100 200
ISO Settings: Auto, 100 - 3200 in 1/3 or 1EV steps, H1=6400, H2=12800 Auto, ISO 200-3200, Lo-1=100, Hi-1=6400
Auto ISO Mode: Yes Yes
White Balance Settings: Auto, Daylight, Shade, Cloudy, Tungsten, Fluorescent, Flash, Custom, Kelvin 2800K - 10,000K Auto, 7 manual modes with fine tuning, color temperature
Shutter Speed Range: 1/8000 - 30 sec 1/8000 - 30 sec
Bulb Mode: Yes Yes
Exposure Compensation: +/- 2.0EV in 0.3EV steps +/- 5.0EV in 0.3EV steps
Metering Modes: 35-zone Evaluative, Center-weighted, Partial (9%), Spot (3.8%) 3D Color Matrix Metering II, Center-weighted, Spot
Program Auto Exposure: Yes Yes
Aperture Priority: Yes Yes
Shutter Priority: Yes Yes
Full Manual Exposure: Yes Yes
Creative Exposure Modes: Creative Auto, Green Zone, Portrait, Landscape, Close-up, Action, Night Portrait, Flash Off, User1, User2 N/A
Self Timer: 10 or 2 seconds 2 to 20 seconds
Time Lapse (intervalometer):   Yes
High Resolution Composite: No No
Flash
Built-in Flash: Yes Yes
Flash Modes: E-TTL II Front-Curtain Sync, Red-Eye Reduction, Red-Eye Reduction with Slow Sync, Slow Sync, and Rear-Curtain Sync; supports Advanced Wireless Lighting system
Flash Guide Number (ISO 100): 13.0 m / 42.7 ft. 12.0 m / 39.4 ft.
Flash Range Description: Lens aperture dependent Lens dependent
Max Flash Sync: 1/250 1/250
Flash Exposure Compensation: +/- 2.0 EV in 0.3EV steps -3 to +1 EV in 0.3EV steps
External Flash Connection: Hot Shoe, PC Sync Hot Shoe, Sync Terminal
Built-In Wireless Flash Control:   Full TTL exposure
Image Storage
Usable Memory Types: CF1 / CF2 CF1 / SD / SDHC
UHS Support:    
Other Memory:   Dual slots, CF+SD
Dual Card Slots: No Yes
RAW Capture Support: Yes Yes
Uncompressed Format: 14-bit RAW, sRAW1, sRAW2 NEF (RAW), 12 or 14 bit, lossless compressed, compressed, or uncompressed; RAW+JPEG, TIFF
Movie File Format:   AVI Motion JPEG
Included Memory: No memory included No memory included
Included Memory Type:    
Connectivity
Built-In Wi-Fi: No No
NFC: No No
Bluetooth: No No
Built-In GPS: No No
Microphone Jack: No Yes
Headphone Jack: No No
External Connections: USB 2.0 High Speed USB 2.0 High Speed
PictBridge Compliant: Yes Yes
DPOF Compliant: Yes Yes
Remote Control: Yes Yes
Remote Control Type: Optional Optional wired
Connections (extended): N3-type push-in terminal, HDMI mini out Type-C HDMI Out, DC In, PC Sync, 10-pin Remote Terminal
Performance Timing
Cycle time for JPEG shooting in single shot mode (seconds per frame, max resolution): <0.3 0.48
Cycle time for RAW shooting in single shot mode (seconds per frame): <0.3 0.48
Buffer size for RAW shooting in single shot mode (frames): Unlimited Unlimited
Cycle time for RAW+JPEG shooting in single shot mode (seconds per shot):   0.47
Camera penalizes early shutter press? No No
JPEG shooting speed in burst mode (fps, max resolution): 6.3 7.1
Buffer size for JPEG shooting in burst mode (frames, max resolution): 43 26
RAW shooting speed in burst mode (fps):   7.1
Buffer size for RAW shooting in burst mode (frames):   17
RAW+JPEG shooting speed in burst mode (fps):   7.1
Buffer Size for RAW+JPEG shooting in burst mode (frames):   15
Shutter lag (full AF, wide/mid): 0.13 seconds 0.23 seconds
Shutter lag (full AF, tele):    
Shutter lag (full AF, live view - DSLR):   0.47 seconds
Shutter lag (prefocused, live view - DSLR):   0.053 seconds
Shutter Lag (manual focus): 0.120 seconds 0.150 seconds
Shutter lag (full AF, with flash): 0.24 seconds 0.27 seconds
Shutter Lag (prefocused): 0.063 seconds 0.053 seconds
Shutter Lag (notes): Live View: Full AF, Quick Mode: 0.85s Prefocus, Quick Mode: 0.108s Full AF, Face Detect: 1.97s Full AF, Live Mode: 2.06s Live View lags Hand-held mode Phase-detect AF: 0.473s Hand-held mode Prefocused: 0.053s Tripod mode Contrast-detect AF: 2.5s Tripod mode Prefocused: 0.419s
Startup Time: 0.3 seconds 0.3 seconds
Play -> Record Time: 0.5 seconds 0.3 seconds
Flash cycle time, full power: 1.9 seconds 1.7 seconds
Power
Battery Life, Stills (CIPA Rating Monitor/Live View):    
Battery Life, Still (CIPA Rating OVF/EVF): 640 shots 950 shots
Battery Life, Video:    
Battery Form Factor: Proprietary BP-511/A, BP-512; BG-E2N Battery Grip Proprietary EN-EL3e, optional MB-D10 battery pack
Usable Battery Types: Lithium-ion rechargeble Lithium Ion rechargeable
Batteries Included: 1 x Proprietary BP-511A Lithium-ion rechargeble 1 x Proprietary EN-EL3e Lithium-ion rechargeable
Battery Charger Included (dedicated charger or AC/USB adapter): Yes Yes
Dedicated Battery Charger Included: Yes
Internal Charging Supported: No
Software
Included Software: Digital Photo Professional, EOS Utility, ZoomBrowser EX and ImageBrowser PictureProject CD-ROM
OS Compatibility: Windows XP/Vista, Mac OS X. Windows, Mac OS X
Miscellaneous
Notes & Features: 15.1-megapixel upgrade to 40D: APS-C, DIGIC IV, 920K LCD, HDMI Out, Vignetting Correction, AF Microadjustment for up to 20 lenses, new Creative Auto exposure mode, 4-step adjustable high-ISO NR, 4-step adjustable ALO, 6.3 fps, Face Detection in LV mode. Native ISO range, 1/3 stop adjustable up to 3,200. H1 is 6,400, H2 is 12,800. Variable RAW (15.1MP (L), 7.1MP(M), 3.8MP(S) in RAW). Upgrade to D300 adding 720p HD movies, faster burst rate, and other minor improvements.