Canon EOS Rebel T1i vs. Nikon D5000... fight!

We can't quite recall if the last week in April of 2008 was jam packed with camera introductions, but you can go ahead and pencil this little stretch down as quite an important time in the lives of DSLR junkies. Nary 24 hours after we gave you our pair of pennies on Nikon's D5000, Canon's EOS Rebel T1i (its arch enemy, just so you know) has arrived. Based on specifications alone, the T1i looks like a much more serious shooter than the D5000, though its kit package -- which also includes an 18-55mm IS EF-S lens -- runs you $50 more and omits that all-too-intriguing articulating display.

Canon EOS Rebel T1i hands-on

Instead, you get a fixed 3-inch Live View display (like the more expensive D90 over on the Nikon front), a 1080p movie mode (which trumps all Nikon DSLRs at the moment and matches the mighty EOS 5D Mark II), a ISO sensitivity up to 12,800 (the D5000 tops out at 6,400) and a 15.1 megapixel sensor (compared to the 12.3MP sensor in the D90 and D5000). We're going to run out and pit these two against each other in order to bring you a more thorough showdown soon, but for now, hop on past the break to see how the T1i -- which is shipping to the public today as well -- stacks up against the D5000 on paper. Oh, and check out the gallery if you're intrigued by world class knock-down-drag-outs.

Canon EOS Rebel T1i vs. Nikon D5000... fight!

For more detailed specifications on each camera, look here for the D5000 and here for the T1i.

[Wolfticket Posted Apr 29th 2009 2:51PM]

I can see articulating screens becoming a common feature in consumer DSLRs.
After all, the ergonomic advantages are considerable and there are very few disadvantages (price and durability maybe?). The D5000 seems to sacrifice screen resolution but I don't think this will always be the case, esp. once they jack up production for new models.

By the by, all you megapixel whores out there. Have a look at the difference in image area between 12 and 15mp.

[jonnythan Posted Apr 29th 2009 3:21PM]

I hope not. They're bulkier, less durable, and ultimately pointless unless you shoot a ton of video.... in which case you should be using a video camera anyway.

[britboyj27 Posted Apr 29th 2009 3:54PM]

Wait... it's SD/SDHC and not CF?

Why?

CF is a MUCH better medium if I'm going to be shoving it in and out of my pockets while shooting hordes of RAW files for projects.

[ehisforadam Posted Apr 29th 2009 3:37PM]

Because they're trying to sell these to people who own compact cameras, hence the video and live view (not that live view isn't useful for other tasks) and compact camera owners all have SD...of course, it does alienate people who own older dSLRs and have to switch to SD or buy a higher end body.

[Michael Scrip Posted Apr 29th 2009 6:37PM]

>> "CF is a MUCH better medium if I'm going to be shoving it in and out of my pockets while shooting hordes of RAW files for projects."

This is any entry-level camera. The type of people using this camera will be perfectly happy with SD cards.

We've been through this before... CF cards for semi-pro to pro... SD cards for consumers cameras. This is a consumer camera... remember?

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 29th 2009 3:14PM]

Macs, PCs, Canons, Nikons, iPhones, Androids... They're all tools to improve our life, inspire our creativity, & increase our productivity. Make a choice, learn it well, & get U the credit.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 29th 2009 3:29PM]

Woah, that first picture needs to be labeled "NSFW". ;)

[waterwagen Posted Apr 29th 2009 3:46PM]

I fail to see how the articulating display on the Nikon is so interesting. Seems like a gimmick to me.

[Willen Posted Apr 30th 2009 5:03AM]

For over the head shots in a crowd, low to the ground shots, and for some types of tripod shots an articulating screen can be quite useful (although the position of the swivel mechanism on the Nikon make it less useful than if the hinge was positioned on the left side like on many Canon point and shooters). And if for some reason you needed it, hand-held self portraits. Although holding a DSLR like that would be awkward due to the weight and bulk.

I've been in many situations where if I had an articulating screen on my camera I could compose over the crowd shots better than just shooting 'blind'. A lot of those shots are very transient and I've had to make do with a few with someone's head in the corner or the subject not being in the center of the image and having to crop it or living with it.

And being able to do 'dutch angle' shots without lying on the ground is useful in keeping my clothes clean. Again, better composition.

[YourGod Posted Apr 29th 2009 3:50PM]

Hey Nikon,

Where's your depth of field preview button? Oh right, that's a
feature you don't have.

Where's your 1080p mode? Oh right, you only go to 720p.

Where's your 30fps? Oh right, you only shoot at the lame (and
technically inferior, despite what you artsy film homos might say)
24fps.

[Wolfticket Posted Apr 29th 2009 4:22PM]

Hey fanboy,

Hows being a fanboy working out for you?

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 29th 2009 3:54PM]

D5000 has same image quality as semi-pro D300, plus video mode of D90. I think this alone is worth the price for D5000... Except most engadget nerds aren't photographers and don't actually look at image quality, but spec sheets and bullshit statistics.

[pretol Posted Apr 30th 2009 3:59AM]

The fact that its image quality is similar to d300 (an abstract reference point) or that it has video capabilities have NOTHING TO DO WITH BEING A PHOTOGRAPHER.

[reubenintexas Posted Apr 29th 2009 4:08PM]

Never had any respectable shooter come into our camera store and ask for a screen that can swivel. Never. Either you look through the damn viewfinder or you know your focal lengths well enough that you can frame (even over your head or around a corner) without needing to fold out and swivel a little screen.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 29th 2009 4:37PM]

how is having one a bad thing, though? In any case, I can virtually guarantee than within 2 years the bulk (if not all) DSLRs you sell will have 'em.

[calvinki Posted Apr 29th 2009 5:31PM]

may be it is because it wasn't available until now!? I have 3 swivel Nikon point-n-shoots besides my DSLRs. I love them for the low and/or close to the ground shots.

[pretol Posted Apr 30th 2009 3:46AM]

Yeah... and when I was little I had to walk to school 23.6 MILES, THROUGH SNOW, UPHILL BOTH WAYS...

[Willen Posted Apr 30th 2009 5:13AM]

I suppose being able to review your shots on the spot and not having to develop film is somethings respectable shooters don't need too.

I bet that before DSLRs had Live View or video capabilities people never asked for those features either. Oh, wait.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 29th 2009 4:31PM]

We've been covering the battle over on our blog and wiki at http://planett1i.com - we've had several good breakdowns and reviews as well as samples... please stop by and see!

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 29th 2009 4:33PM]

No Olympus E-620 love on Engadget. (higher ISO noise than the competition, but best kit lenses, best dustbuster, pixel mapping, articulating LCD, in-body stabilisation, smaller size..)

[lepetitprince Posted Apr 29th 2009 4:40PM]

so the comparison was written in all nikon language rather.
starting with the lens.. for Canon it should be called IS instead of VR.

and DX is name used for nikon format. yes, it's same format in Canon too.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 29th 2009 4:41PM]

I trust Canon because they have the most array of lenses available, and pros use Canon for their photo and broadcasting needs. Nikon only does cameras, and D5000's video capabilities is surely lacking. The Rebel T1i on the other hand, has a 920k dot display and is 1080p capable. Most importantly, it gives you access to affordable pro grade white "L" lenses. In addition, a camera called "Rebel" seems cool to me, I don't mind being a Rebel =)

[ehisforadam Posted Apr 29th 2009 5:04PM]

That is such a weak, fanboy argument. Pros use Canon, Nikon, Sony, Oly, and probably just about every other brand of camera. Not to mention Nikon is an optics company, they don't just make cameras, they make these things called lenses and other optical instruments.
And really, lack of video capabilities is no reason to pass up an SLR, that is not what they are made for.

[BagOfArms Posted Apr 29th 2009 5:24PM]

Based on my personal preferences, I think I'd go with the Canon. Of course, i'm still going to wait a few generations for them to work out the kinks (or until Pentax adds these kinds of features to their DSLRs :-).

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 29th 2009 6:32PM]

Who's the winner?

[PhotogChris Posted Apr 29th 2009 6:38PM]

I honestly can't see using the video features all that much with a dSLR, its just too unwieldy for my taste.

If history is any count the image quality is going to be very close between the two and the real differences will be in how they process the noise, unless you shoot in raw and process images externally. I like Canon's noise processing better then Nikon's, but that doesn't matter since I only shoot in raw anymore. I really like the Canon 14bit raw over the Nikon 12bit raw.

If you have a dSLR already you are not going to change camps. If upgrading from a P&S you go OMG MEGAPIXELS and get the Canon.

Me, I like the layout of the Canon's controls and higher rez screen, we'll see about the image quality when there are some real comparisons.

[raven82 Posted Apr 29th 2009 9:27PM]

I am getting ready to revisit the photo days of my youth and aim to purchase a camera that can do two things.

1. Take photos of fast moving aircraft, such as fighter jets and vintage WWII era aircraft. If possible even having the ability to take a photo of a prop plane and catch the blades while they are spinning.

2. This one is asking a lot, but the camera must have the sensor or image capturing ability to capture photos of the Aurora Borealis.

Can either of these camera do this? If not is there a camera under the $1,500 dollar mark that can?

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 29th 2009 11:00PM]

yes they both can, it all depends on the settings that you use. For the aurora, maybe a canon 5d would be best but then again, it would cost 2 times more.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 29th 2009 11:21PM]

Jon likes to use cameras.... and Jackleboul is a photographer... that is also the difference between canon and nikon (techspecs vs final photo quality) these days based on how they are focusing thier product development (and this is a comment froma canon and nikon owner). BTW Jon....where did you find a single good review of the 18-55 canon kit lens...it has bee tagged as junk everywhere...
This is the best review so far:
http://www.digitalreview.ca/content/Nikon-D5000-D90-Compared-to-Canon-Rebel-T1i-500D.shtml

Seems nikon has a winner for photographers...and will keep their leading 48% plus market share in dslr this year...

[Bonachi Posted Apr 30th 2009 2:47AM]

Image their offspring!

Anyway, I have to stick with my D70s for now.

[pretol Posted Apr 30th 2009 3:55AM]

That's the gayest collection of photos that have ever accompanied a "comparison" review.

[Herr Synnberg Posted Apr 30th 2009 5:02AM]

"Based on specifications alone, the T1i looks like a much more serious shooter than the D5000"

Er... how exactly? Because it has more megapixels and a "Boosted" Higher ISO?

From what I see in the spec list, the D5000 has a better burst speed, wider exposure compensation range, more AF points, wider viewfinder coverage, better AF coverage, better flash coverage, better battery life... But sure, the T1i has a 1080p mode so it must be the more "Serious shooter", AMIRITE???

*Facepalm*

I'll give it the the Canon folk though, the lack of bracketing and a DoF preview button are disappointing omissions from entry level Nikons (No, the screw drive doesn't make a difference because unless you're into some serious photography, you'd be content with the newer crop of AF-S DX lenses ).

[dexgen Posted Apr 30th 2009 10:50AM]

I think you mixed up your coverage and your magnification. And the magnification numbers are wrong too.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 30th 2009 3:39PM]

Thanks for the steamy camera porn, Engadget.

Fap fap fap fap fap fap.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 30th 2009 3:56PM]

If you are considering getting either nikon d5000, d90 or canon t1i
for the movie mode feature (as I am) I would say do NOT get the
canon. the Canon does not have manual exposure control during movie
mode, so you can not reliably get bokeh. It is basically like a
point and shoot when shooting video. You lose the whole point of
using an SLR for video.

I am posting this so you are not disappointed like I am when you are
thinking about making all those shallow depth of field videos that
look great. If you are not tied to canon due to owning lenses
already, GET THE NIKON if video is a big deal for you (yes this is
coming from a canon owner)

[(Unverified) Posted May 25th 2009 11:38AM]

I get your point about the Nikon's exposure control, but the D5000's 5 minute clip limit is a very serious limitation. Someone made a comment earlier about a possible software update increasing the clip length, but until it's there the five minute limit is a problem.

[LSE Posted May 12th 2009 7:55AM]

9 points only on the canon? that's so 90's