• APS-C 332.3mm2
  • 15.1 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • APS-C 366.6mm2
  • 16.1 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 25,600
  • Detailed specifications
  • Canon EOS Rebel T1i (EOS 500D)
  • Sony Alpha NEX-5T
Links
Prices:   Compare Prices
Manufacturer URL: Manufacturer website Manufacturer website
Predecessor: Canon XSi
XSi vs T1i
Sony NEX-5R
NEX-5R vs NEX-5T
Successor: Canon T2i
T1i vs T2i
Sony A5100
NEX-5T vs A5100
General
Model Number: T1i NEX-5T
Alternate Model Number(s): EOS 500D, EOS Kiss X3  
Camera Format: SLR Compact System Camera
Currently Manufactured: No No
Retail Price: $899.99 $699.99
Street Price:   $299.00
Date Available: 2009-05-01 2013-09-15
Tripod Mount: Yes Yes
Weight: 18.6 oz (526 g)
includes batteries
13.8 oz (392 g)
includes batteries, kit lens
Size: 5.1 x 3.8 x 2.4 in.
(129 x 98 x 62 mm)
4.4 x 2.3 x 1.5 in.
(111 x 59 x 39 mm)
Waterproof: No No
Waterproof Depth: n/a n/a
Image Sensor
Sensor Type: CMOS CMOS
Sensor Manufacturer: Canon Sony Exmor APS HD
Effective Megapixels: 15.1 16.1
Sensor Format: APS-C APS-C
Sensor size: 332.27mm2 (22.30mm x 14.90mm) 366.6mm2 (23.50mm x 15.60mm)
Approximate Pixel Pitch: 4.69 microns 4.78 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 Yes
DxO Sensor Score: 63 78
DxO Color Depth Score (bits): 21.7 23.6
DxO Dynamic Range Score (evs): 11.5 13.0
DxO Maximum Effective ISO Score (iso): 663 1,015
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)
4912 x 3264 (16.0 MP, 3:2),
4912 x 2760 (13.6 MP, 16:9),
3568 x 2368 (8.4 MP, Other),
3568 x 2000 (7.1 MP, 16:9),
2448 x 1624 (4.0 MP, Other),
2448 x 1376 (3.4 MP, 16:9),
12416 x 1856 (23.0 MP, Other),
8192 x 1856 (15.2 MP, Other),
2160 x 5536 (12.0 MP, Other),
2160 x 3872 (8.4 MP, Other),
7152 x 1080 (7.7 MP, Other),
4912 x 1080 (5.3 MP, Other),
1920 x 1080 (2.1 MP, 16:9)
Image File Format: JPEG (EXIF 2.21), CR2 RAW (14-bit) JPEG, .ARW RAW (v2.3), RAW+JPEG
Continuous-mode frames/second: 3.4 10.0
Video Capture
Can take movies: Yes Yes
Movie Resolution: 1920x1080 (20)
1280x720 (30)
640x480 (30)
1920x1080 (60p/​28Mbps/​PS or 60i/​24Mbps/​FX or 60i/​17Mbps/​FH or 24p/​24Mbps/​FX or 24p/​17Mbps/​FH)
1440x1080 (30p/​12Mbps)
640x480 (30p/​3Mbps)
Movie File Format: .MOV (H.264, Linear PCM) AVCHD 2.0 / MP4; Audio :Dolby Digital (AC-3) / MPEG-4 AAC-LC
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 E
Lens: Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Sony SELP1650 PZ 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS; 9 elements in 8 groups, 1 ED element, 4 aspheric surfaces
Focal Length (35mm equivalent): 29 - 88mm 24 - 75mm
Focal Length (actual): 18 - 55mm 16 - 50mm
Zoom Ratio: 3.00x 3.13x
Aperture Range: f/3.5 - 22 / f/5.6 - 38 f/3.5 - f/22 (W) / f/5.6 - f/36 (T); 7-blade circular aperture
Integrated ND Filter: No No
Normal Focus Range: 25 cm to Infinity
9.8 in to Infinity
25 cm to Infinity
9.8 in to Infinity
Macro Focus Range:    
Filter Thread: 58.0mm 40.5mm
Thread Type: n/a n/a
Optical Image Stabilization: Yes Yes
Digital Zoom: No Yes
Digital Zoom Values: n/a 2x Clear Image zoom; up to 4x Precision zoom; up to 2x Smart zoom at reduced resolution
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 Hybrid AF (99-point phase detect; 25-point contrast detect): Multi-point, Center, Flexible Spot; with Face Detection and Predictive Tracking
Auto Focus Assist Light? Yes Yes
Manual Focus: Yes Yes
Viewfinder
Viewfinder: Optical / LCD No / LCD
Viewfinder Type: SLR type; eye-level pentamirror, 95% coverage, 0.87x mag., 19mm eyepoint, -3 to +1 diopter (Optional FDA-EV1S XGA OLED Tru-Finder EVF or FDA-SV1 Optical Viewfinder)
Focus Peaking: No Yes
EVF Resolution: n/a n/a
Viewfinder Magnification (35mm equivalent): 0.54x  
Viewfinder Magnification (nominal/claimed): 0.87x  
Display
Eye-level Viewfinder: Yes No
Rear Display: Yes Yes
Rear Display Size (inches): 3.0 3.0
Rear Display Resolution: 920,000 dots 921,600 dots (307,200 px)
Touchscreen: No Yes
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 25600
Minimum ISO (native): 100 100
ISO Settings: Auto (100-1600), 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200, 6400; H=12800 Auto (100-3200), 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200, 6400, 12800, 25600
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, Color Temp./Filter, Custom
Shutter Speed Range: 1/4000 - 30 sec 1/4000 - 30 sec
Bulb Mode: Yes Yes
Exposure Compensation: +/- 2.0EV in 0.3EV steps +/- 3.0EV in 0.3EV steps
Metering Modes: 35-zone evaluative, 8% partial, 3.5% spot, center-weighted 1200-zone Multi Segment, 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, Portrait, Landscape, Close-up, Sports, Night portrait, Flash off, Auto Depth-of-field Scene: Portrait, Landscape, Macro, Sports Action, Sunset, Night Portrait, Night View, Hand-held Twilight, Anti Motion Blur; Picture Effects: Posterization (Color, B/W), Pop Color, Retro Photo, Partial Color (R,G,B,Y), High Contrast, Mono, Toy Camera, Soft High-key, Soft Focus, HDR Painting, Rich-tone Mono, Miniature; DRO; Sweep Panorama
Self Timer: 10 or 2 seconds 2 or 10; 3/5 shots in 10 seconds
Time Lapse (intervalometer):    
High Resolution Composite: No No
Flash
Built-in Flash: Yes No
Flash Modes: E-TLL II auto-popup with red-eye reduction Off, Autoflash, Fill-flash, Rear sync., Slow sync.; Red-eye reduction: On/Off
Flash Guide Number (ISO 100): 13.0 m / 42.7 ft. 7.0 m / 23.0 ft.
Flash Range Description: Lens dependent Bundled flash has GN of 7m/ISO 100
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 Smart Accessory Terminal 2 (flash is detachable)
Built-In Wireless Flash Control:    
Image Storage
Usable Memory Types: SD / SDHC MS PRO Duo / SD / SDHC / SDXC
UHS Support:    
Other Memory:    
Dual Card Slots: No No
RAW Capture Support: Yes Yes
Uncompressed Format: CR2 RAW (14-bit) .ARW RAW (v2.3), RAW+JPEG
Movie File Format: .MOV (H.264, Linear PCM) AVCHD 2.0 / MP4; Audio :Dolby Digital (AC-3) / MPEG-4 AAC-LC
Included Memory: No memory included No memory included
Included Memory Type:    
Connectivity
Built-In Wi-Fi: No Yes
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,WiFi
PictBridge Compliant: Yes Yes
DPOF Compliant: Yes Yes
Remote Control: Yes Yes
Remote Control Type: Wired: RS-60E3, IR: RC-1/RC-5 Optional RMT-DSLR1/2 IR Wireless
Connections (extended): Wired remote, HDMI-mini Mini HDMI (Type C), Smart Accessory Terminal 2
Performance Timing
Cycle time for JPEG shooting in single shot mode (seconds per frame, max resolution): 0.40  
Cycle time for RAW shooting in single shot mode (seconds per frame): 0.38  
Buffer size for RAW shooting in single shot mode (frames): 8  
Cycle time for RAW+JPEG shooting in single shot mode (seconds per shot):    
Camera penalizes early shutter press? No
JPEG shooting speed in burst mode (fps, max resolution): 3.4 10.0
Buffer size for JPEG shooting in burst mode (frames, max resolution): Unlimited 11
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  
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  
Shutter lag (full AF, with flash): 0.27 seconds  
Shutter Lag (prefocused): 0.089 seconds  
Shutter Lag (notes): Full Autofocus Live View "Quick Mode"(Phase Detect)= 1.342s Full Autofocus Live View "Live Mode"(Contrast Detect)= 2.591s  
Startup Time: 0.3 seconds  
Play -> Record Time: 0.3 seconds  
Flash cycle time, full power: 3.2 seconds  
Power
Battery Life, Stills (CIPA Rating Monitor/Live View):   330 shots
Battery Life, Still (CIPA Rating OVF/EVF): 400 shots  
Battery Life, Video:    
Battery Form Factor: Proprietary LP-E5 Proprietary InfoLithium NP-FW50
Usable Battery Types: Lithium-ion rechargeable Lithium-ion rechargeable
Batteries Included: 1 xProprietary LP-E5 Lithium-ion rechargeable 1 x Proprietary NP-FW50 Lithium-ion rechargeable
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 Image Data Converter Ver. 4, PlayMemories Home
OS Compatibility: Windows, Mac OS Windows XP/Vista/7/8; Mac OS X 10.5 or later. (PlayMemories Home is Windows only.)
Miscellaneous
Notes & Features: Creative Auto, Live View with Face Detection, Periphery Illumination Correction, Auto Light Optimizer, Highlight Tone Priority, HD Movies, HDMI-mini output. Minor update to NEX-5R. Wi-Fi now includes NFC, bundled with different kit lens (16-50mm). External flash included in bundle.