Decision tools · Compare
EOS 500D vs 1 J5
Quick take: The 1 J5 has the highest resolution at 21MP; the EOS 500D is the most affordable.
16 specs side by side·14 genres scored·UK prices from Wex Photo Video and Clifton Cameras
How to read this page. Highlighted cells win that row on the spec alone. Genre scores are the engine's base scores (enthusiast, photo and video); Camera Match re-weights them for your level and priorities. Price buttons are affiliate links; the price you pay is the same.
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Full specificationsthe better value in each row is highlighted
| Specification | EOS 500DCanon · 2009 | 1 J5Nikon · 2015 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £30 used | — |
| Sensor | 15.1MP APS-C CMOS | 20.8MP 1-inch (CX) BSI CMOS |
| Resolution | 15.1MP | 20.8MPBest |
| Video | Full HD 1080p/20, 720p/30 | 4K UHD/15p, 1080p/60 |
| Autofocus | 9-point phase-detect (centre cross-type) via viewfinder; contrast AF with face detection in live view | Hybrid AF: 171 areas, 105 with phase detection; face detection, subject tracking |
| Stabilisation | No IBIS (lens-based stabilisation only) | No IBIS (lens-based stabilisation only) |
| Burst Rate | 3.4fps | 20fpsBest |
| Battery Life | ~400 shots (CIPA)Best | ~250 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 530g (with battery) | 265g (with battery)Best |
| Dimensions | 128.8 × 97.5 × 61.9mm | 98.3 × 59.7 × 31.5mm |
| Weather Sealed | Not weather sealed | Not weather sealed |
| Viewfinder | Optical pentamirror, 95% coverage, 0.87x | None (rear screen only) |
| Screen | 3.0" fixed LCD, 920k dots | 3.0" tilting touchscreen, 1.04M dots |
| Mount | Canon EF / EF-S | Nikon 1 |
| Memory Cards | Single SD slot | Single microSD slot |
| Connectivity | USB 2.0, mini HDMI, AV out, E3 remote | USB, micro HDMI, Wi-Fi, NFC |
Wins the row — price, resolution, burst, battery, weight and sealing are compared; text specs aren't ranked.
How they score by genreengine base scores out of 10
Genre
EOS 500D
1 J5
Portrait
5.3/10
4.3/10
Street
5.3/10
6.7/10
Travel
4.7/10
6.1/10
Wedding & Events
3.9/10
2.9/10
Documentary
3.5/10
4.1/10
Sports & Action
4.4/10
4.9/10
Landscape
3.8/10
3.9/10
Wildlife
4.9/10
5.1/10
Casual
3.3/10
5.0/10
Food
3.9/10
4.8/10
Macro
3.7/10
3.4/10
Architecture
4.1/10
3.9/10
Astrophotography
4.4/10
3.0/10
Filmmaking
—
3.2/10
Scores come from the same engine as Camera Match: verified specifications weighted by what each genre needs, with documented adjustments. The product page and this table show the enthusiast base score. See how scores are calculated →
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