• APS-C 328.6mm2
  • 12.2 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • APS-C 357.3mm2
  • 20.1 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 16,000

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Differences

Canon XSi advantages over Sony A5000

  • Lens selection
    Excellent vs Good
    Better lens selection gives you more options
  • Eye-level viewfinder
    Eye-level vs Rear display only
    You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
  • Bigger pixels
    ~ 5.20 vs 4.25 microns
    Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
  • Fast startup
    ~0.40 vs 2.0 sec
    Faster startup lets you catch the moment
  • More telephoto lens reach
    88 mm vs 75 mm
    Capture objects farther away with the kit lens
  • Hot shoe
    Hot shoe vs None
    Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
  • Less shutter lag
    0.16 vs 0.30 sec
    Focus and take a photo quickly (wide angle)
  • Bigger JPEG buffer
    53 vs 15 shots
    Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)

Sony A5000 advantages over Canon XSi

  • Focus peaking
    Peaker vs Non-peaker
    Your camera will highlight what's in focus
  • In-camera panoramas
    Yes vs No
    Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
  • Tiltable Screen
    Tiltable vs Fixed
    Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
    Wi-Fi vs None
    Share your photos wirelessly
  • NFC
    Yes vs No
    Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
  • Higher effective ISO
    1,089 vs 692 iso
    Take photos in low light with less noise
  • More dynamic range
    13.0 vs 10.8 evs
    Retain detail in highlight and shadows
  • Thinner
    35 mm vs 61 mm
    Thinner
  • Newer
    10 years vs 16 years old
    Newer cameras often support more advanced features
  • HDMI out
    HDMI out vs None
    Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
  • Shoots 24p video
    Yes vs No
    Gives your movies a big-screen feel
  • More dots on screen
    461k vs 230k dots
    Can mean greater resolution or a brighter screen
  • Shoots 1080p video
    Yes vs No
    You'll want this if you shoot video
  • More pixels
    20.1 vs 12.2 megapixels
    Higher resolution photos
  • Wider angle kit lens
    24 mm vs 29 mm
    Capture more of the scene with the included lens
  • Higher extended ISO
    16000 vs 1600 ISO
    Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Similarities

Common Strengths

  • Internal flash
    Both provide
    Useful in a pinch for fill flash
  • Bulb shutter
    Both provide
    Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures

Common Weaknesses

  • Tilt-swivel screen
    Neither provide
    Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
    Neither provide
    Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
  • Touchscreen
    Neither provide
    Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
  • Built-in Bluetooth
    Neither provide
    Always-on wireless connectivity
  • Built-in GPS
    Neither provide
    Geotag your photos
  • On-sensor phase detect
    Neither provide
    Usually improves live view and video AF performance
  • Top deck display
    Neither provide
    Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
  • External Mic Jack
    Neither provide
    Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
  • 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

User reviews

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Buy the Sony A5000

Review Excerpt

The Competition

Compared to Nikon D60

Canon XSi
Nikon D60
  • $649
  • APS-C
  • Higher effective ISO
  • Less shutter lag
  • $700
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Larger sensor
Sony A5000
Nikon D60
  • $298
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • In-camera panoramas
  • $700
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Eye-level viewfinder

Compared to Pentax K2000

Canon XSi
Pentax K2000
  • $649
  • APS-C
  • More pixels
  • More AF points
  • $556
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Larger sensor
Sony A5000
Pentax K2000
  • $298
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • In-camera panoramas
  • $556
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Eye-level viewfinder

Compared to Canon T1i

Canon XSi
Canon T1i
  • $649
  • APS-C
  • Longer stills battery life
  • $900
  • APS-C
  • Fast startup
  • HDMI out
Sony A5000
Canon T1i
  • $298
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • In-camera panoramas
  • $900
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Eye-level viewfinder

Compared to Sony NEX-5T

Canon XSi
Sony NEX-5T
  • $649
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Eye-level viewfinder
  • $299
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
Sony A5000
Sony NEX-5T
  • $298
  • APS-C
  • Longer stills battery life
  • Internal flash
  • $299
  • APS-C
  • Touchscreen
  • On-sensor phase detect

Compared to Sony A5100

Canon XSi
Sony A5100
  • $649
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Eye-level viewfinder
  • $348
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
Sony A5000
Sony A5100
  • $298
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • $348
  • APS-C
  • Touchscreen
  • Higher effective ISO
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