• APS-C 332.3mm2
  • 15.1 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • APS-C 369.7mm2
  • 14.2 megapixels
  • ISO 200 - 12,800
  • Detailed specifications
  • Canon EOS Rebel T1i (EOS 500D)
  • Sony Alpha DSLR-A550
Links
Prices:    
Manufacturer URL: Manufacturer website Manufacturer website
Predecessor: Canon XSi
XSi vs T1i
 
Successor: Canon T2i
T1i vs T2i
 
General
Model Number: T1i DSLR-A550
Alternate Model Number(s): EOS 500D, EOS Kiss X3  
Camera Format: SLR SLR
Currently Manufactured: No No
Retail Price: $899.99 $1049.99
Street Price:   $859.40
Date Available: 2009-05-01 2009-10-08
Tripod Mount: Yes Yes
Weight: 18.6 oz (526 g)
includes batteries
32.2 oz (912 g)
includes batteries, kit lens
Size: 5.1 x 3.8 x 2.4 in.
(129 x 98 x 62 mm)
5.4 x 4.1 x 3.3 in.
(137 x 104 x 84 mm)
Waterproof: No No
Waterproof Depth: n/a n/a
Image Sensor
Sensor Type: CMOS CMOS
Sensor Manufacturer: Canon Sony
Effective Megapixels: 15.1 14.2
Sensor Format: APS-C APS-C
Sensor size: 332.27mm2 (22.30mm x 14.90mm) 369.72mm2 (23.7mm x 15.6mm)
Approximate Pixel Pitch: 4.69 microns 5.16 microns
Focal Length Multiplier: 1.6x 1.5x
Aspect Ratio: 3:2 3:2, 16:9
Color Filter Type: RGBG RGBG
Anti Aliasing Filter: Fixed Fixed
Self-Cleaning: Yes Yes
Sensor shift image stabilization: No Yes
On-Sensor Phase Detect: No No
DxO Sensor Score: 63 66
DxO Color Depth Score (bits): 21.7 21.9
DxO Dynamic Range Score (evs): 11.5 11.8
DxO Maximum Effective ISO Score (iso): 663 807
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)
4592 x 3056 (14.0 MP, 3:2),
4592 x 2576 (11.8 MP, 16:9),
3344 x 2224 (7.4 MP, 3:2),
3344 x 1872 (6.3 MP, Other),
2288 x 1520 (3.5 MP, Other),
2288 x 1280 (2.9 MP, Other)
Image File Format: JPEG (EXIF 2.21), CR2 RAW (14-bit) JPEG, RAW
Continuous-mode frames/second: 3.4 6.7
Video Capture
Can take movies: Yes No
Movie Resolution: 1920x1080 (20)
1280x720 (30)
640x480 (30)
Movie File Format: .MOV (H.264, Linear PCM)  
Composite Video Out: Yes No
NTSC/PAL Switchable Video: Yes n/a
Video Usable as Viewfinder: No n/a
HD Video Out: Yes Yes
HD Video Connection: HDMI HDMI
Lens & Optics
Lens Mount: Canon EF/EF-S Sony Alpha (Minolta A)
Lens: Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Sony 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 DT SAM
Focal Length (35mm equivalent): 29 - 88mm 27 - 83mm
Focal Length (actual): 18 - 55mm 18 - 55mm
Zoom Ratio: 3.00x 3.00x
Aperture Range: f/3.5 - 22 / f/5.6 - 38 f/3.5 - 22 (W), f/5.6 - ?? (T)
Integrated ND Filter: No No
Normal Focus Range: 25 cm to Infinity
9.8 in to Infinity
 
Macro Focus Range:    
Filter Thread: 58.0mm 55.0mm
Thread Type: n/a n/a
Optical Image Stabilization: Yes No
Digital Zoom: No No
Digital Zoom Values: n/a n/a
Auto Focus
Auto Focus: Yes Yes
Auto Focus Type: 9-point, wide-area, phase-detection AF system with f/2.8 cross-type center point 9-point TTL phase detection (one cross-type sensor) with eye-start AF; Wide, Spot, Local modes
Auto Focus Assist Light? Yes Yes
Manual Focus: Yes Yes
Viewfinder
Viewfinder: Optical / LCD Optical / LCD
Viewfinder Type: SLR type; eye-level pentamirror, 95% coverage, 0.87x mag., 19mm eyepoint, -3 to +1 diopter SLR type; eye-level pentamirror, 95% coverage, 0.80x mag., 19mm eyepoint, -2.5 to +1.0 diopter
Focus Peaking: No No
EVF Resolution: n/a n/a
Viewfinder Magnification (35mm equivalent): 0.54x 0.53x
Viewfinder Magnification (nominal/claimed): 0.87x 0.80x
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 Yes
Tilt Swivel Screen: No
Selfie Screen: No
Max Playback Zoom: 10.0x 14.0x
Top Deck Display: No No
Exposure
Maximum ISO (native): 6400 12800
Minimum ISO (native): 100 200
ISO Settings: Auto (100-1600), 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200, 6400; H=12800 Auto (200-1600), 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200, 6400, 12800
Auto ISO Mode: Yes Yes
White Balance Settings: Auto, Daylight, Shade, Cloudy, Tungsten, White Fluorescent Light, Flash, Custom Auto, Daylight, Shade, Cloudy, Incandescent, Fluorescent, Flash, Custom
Shutter Speed Range: 1/4000 - 30 sec 1/4000 - 30 sec
Bulb Mode: Yes Yes
Exposure Compensation: +/- 2.0EV in 0.3EV steps +/- 2.0EV in 0.3EV steps
Metering Modes: 35-zone evaluative, 8% partial, 3.5% spot, center-weighted 40-segment Multi Segment, Center-weighted, Spot; (1200 zone evaluative metering in Live View)
Program Auto Exposure: Yes Yes
Aperture Priority: Yes Yes
Shutter Priority: Yes Yes
Full Manual Exposure: Yes Yes
Creative Exposure Modes: Creative Auto, Portrait, Landscape, Close-up, Sports, Night portrait, Flash off, Auto Depth-of-field Portrait, Landscape, Macro, Sports, Sunset, Night Portrait/Night View
Self Timer: 10 or 2 seconds 2 or 10 seconds
Time Lapse (intervalometer):    
High Resolution Composite: No No
Flash
Built-in Flash: Yes Yes
Flash Modes: E-TLL II auto-popup with red-eye reduction Auto, Fill-flash, Rear sync, Wireless, High-Speed sync, Slow sync, Red-eye reduction: On/Off
Flash Guide Number (ISO 100): 13.0 m / 42.7 ft. 12.0 m / 39.4 ft.
Flash Range Description: Lens dependent Lens dependent
Max Flash Sync: 1/200 1/160
Flash Exposure Compensation: +/- 2.0 EV in 0.3EV steps +/- 2.0 EV in 0.3EV steps
External Flash Connection: Hot Shoe Hot shoe
Built-In Wireless Flash Control:   Full TTL exposure
Image Storage
Usable Memory Types: SD / SDHC MS Duo / MS PRO Duo / SD / SDHC
UHS Support:    
Other Memory:    
Dual Card Slots: No No
RAW Capture Support: Yes Yes
Uncompressed Format: CR2 RAW (14-bit) RAW
Movie File Format: .MOV (H.264, Linear PCM)  
Included Memory: No memory included  
Included Memory Type:    
Connectivity
Built-In Wi-Fi: No No
NFC: No
Bluetooth: No No
Built-In GPS: No No
Microphone Jack: No No
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: Wired: RS-60E3, IR: RC-1/RC-5 Optional Wireless or Wired
Connections (extended): Wired remote, HDMI-mini DC input, mini-HDMI, Wired Remote
Performance Timing
Cycle time for JPEG shooting in single shot mode (seconds per frame, max resolution): 0.40 0.41
Cycle time for RAW shooting in single shot mode (seconds per frame): 0.38 0.41
Buffer size for RAW shooting in single shot mode (frames): 8 19
Cycle time for RAW+JPEG shooting in single shot mode (seconds per shot):    
Camera penalizes early shutter press? No No
JPEG shooting speed in burst mode (fps, max resolution): 3.4 6.7
Buffer size for JPEG shooting in burst mode (frames, max resolution): Unlimited 15
RAW shooting speed in burst mode (fps):    
Buffer size for RAW shooting in burst mode (frames):    
RAW+JPEG shooting speed in burst mode (fps):    
Buffer Size for RAW+JPEG shooting in burst mode (frames):    
Shutter lag (full AF, wide/mid): 0.16 seconds 0.18 seconds
Shutter lag (full AF, tele):    
Shutter lag (full AF, live view - DSLR):    
Shutter lag (prefocused, live view - DSLR):    
Shutter Lag (manual focus): 0.111 seconds 0.178 seconds
Shutter lag (full AF, with flash): 0.27 seconds 0.22 seconds
Shutter Lag (prefocused): 0.089 seconds 0.074 seconds
Shutter Lag (notes): Full Autofocus Live View "Quick Mode"(Phase Detect)= 1.342s Full Autofocus Live View "Live Mode"(Contrast Detect)= 2.591s Quick AF Live View shutter lag: 0.188s
Startup Time: 0.3 seconds 0.5 seconds
Play -> Record Time: 0.3 seconds 0.4 seconds
Flash cycle time, full power: 3.2 seconds 3.5 seconds
Power
Battery Life, Stills (CIPA Rating Monitor/Live View):    
Battery Life, Still (CIPA Rating OVF/EVF): 400 shots 950 shots
Battery Life, Video:    
Battery Form Factor: Proprietary LP-E5 Proprietary NP-FM500H
Usable Battery Types: Lithium-ion rechargeable Lithium-ion rechargeable
Batteries Included: 1 xProprietary LP-E5 Lithium-ion rechargeable 1 x Proprietary NP-FM500H
Battery Charger Included (dedicated charger or AC/USB adapter): Yes Yes
Dedicated Battery Charger Included:
Internal Charging Supported:
Software
Included Software: Zoom Browser EX / ImageBrowser, PhotoStitch, EOS Utility, Digital Photo Professional Software/USB Driver CD-ROM
OS Compatibility: Windows, Mac OS Windows 2000/XP/Vista, Mac OS X (v. 10.13+)
Miscellaneous
Notes & Features: Creative Auto, Live View with Face Detection, Periphery Illumination Correction, Auto Light Optimizer, Highlight Tone Priority, HD Movies, HDMI-mini output. Exmore CMOS Sensor, Variable-angle LCD, SteadyShot In-body Sensor-shift Image Stabilization, Live View, Auto HDR, D-Range Optimizer (Auto, Level 1-5), HDMI Output, 7 fps (AF/AE Locked).