Canon 50D vs Olympus E-5

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Canon 50D vs Olympus E-5

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APS-C 369.7mm²
15.1 megapixels
ISO 100 - 3200

Go in depth with our full Canon 50D Review.
See real-world photos taken with the 50D.

4/3 224.9mm²
12.3 megapixels
ISO 100 - 6400

Go in depth with our full Olympus E-5 Review.

Succeeded by the Canon 60D
Compare 50D vs 60D
Compare Canon 60D vs Olympus E-5

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Differences

Canon 50D advantages over Olympus E-5

Lens selection
Excellent vs Good
Better lens selection gives you more options
Larger sensor
APS-C vs 4/3
More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
Less expensive
$1399 vs $1700 (MSRP)
Save money for lenses or accessories
Bigger pixels
~ 4.99 vs 4.29 microns
Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
Higher effective ISO

Higher effective ISO

Maximum effective ISO is an estimate of the highest sensitivity at which a camera can capture excellent quality photos.

Cameras with higher effective ISO will be better choices for indoor photography, night shooting, and indoor sports photography, especially if you intend to make large prints.

You can learn more at our glossary entry.

Maximum effective ISO test data courtesy of DxO Mark.
50D test data on DxO Mark E-5 test data on DxO Mark

696 vs 519 iso
Take photos in low light with less noise
More pixels
15.1 vs 12.3 megapixels
Higher resolution photos
Faster JPEG shooting
6.3 fps vs 5.0 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Higher extended ISO
12800 vs 6400 ISO
Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Olympus E-5 advantages over Canon 50D

In-Camera Image Stabilization
Yes vs No
Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
Tiltable Screen
Tiltable vs Fixed
Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
Longer stills battery life
More info

Longer stills battery life

Cameras with longer battery life can take more photos before exhausting their batteries.

Special note: The measurement standard for battery life stipulates that if a camera has an internal flash, it must be used for 50% of photos taken. For this reason, comparisons of one camera with an internal flash to another without will not be comparable

870 vs 640 shots
Capture more photos
Dual card slots
Yes vs No
Gives you more storage flexibility
Longer exposure
60 vs 30 sec
Long exposures for night shots

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
Top deck display
Both provide
Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
Pentaprism viewfinder
Both provide
Much better viewfinder picture fidelity
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
In-camera panoramas
Neither provide
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
Built-in Wi-Fi
Neither provide
Share your photos wirelessly
NFC
Neither provide
Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
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
External Mic Jack
Neither provide
Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
Headphone jack
Neither provide
Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
Slow-motion videos
Neither provide
Shoot slow-motion videos

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Buy the Canon 50D

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Review Excerpt

Read our Canon 50D Full Review

We haven’t finished our review of the Olympus E-5, but we have extensive sample photos and a hands-on report.
See our Olympus E-5 First Shots

The Competition

Compared to Pentax K20D

Canon 50D

Pentax K20D

$1000
APS-C

Fast startup
Longer stills battery life

$800
APS-C

Less expensive
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Canon 50D vs Pentax K20D

Olympus E-5

Pentax K20D

$1700
4/3

Tiltable Screen
Longer stills battery life

$800
APS-C

Lens selection
Larger sensor

Compare Olympus E-5 vs Pentax K20D

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

Compare Canon 50D vs Samsung GX-20

Olympus E-5

Samsung GX-20

$1700
4/3

Tiltable Screen
HDMI out

$1400
APS-C

Lens selection
Larger sensor

Compare Olympus E-5 vs Samsung GX-20

Compared to Olympus E30

Canon 50D

Olympus E30

$1000
APS-C

Lens selection
Larger sensor

$1299
4/3

In-Camera Image Stabilization
Tiltable Screen

Compare Canon 50D vs Olympus E30

Olympus E-5

Olympus E30

$1700
4/3

Longer stills battery life
HDMI out

$1299
4/3

Less expensive
Lighter weight

Compare Olympus E-5 vs Olympus E30

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

Compare Canon 50D vs Pentax K-7

Olympus E-5

Pentax K-7

$1700
4/3

Tiltable Screen
Dual card slots

$1300
APS-C

Lens selection
Larger sensor

Compare Olympus E-5 vs Pentax K-7

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

Compare Canon 50D vs Sony DSLR-A550

Olympus E-5

Sony DSLR-A550

$1700
4/3

Top deck display
More cross-type AF points

$859
APS-C

Less expensive
Larger sensor

Compare Olympus E-5 vs Sony DSLR-A550

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