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EOS 500D vs D300
Quick take: The EOS 500D has the highest resolution at 15MP; the EOS 500D is the most affordable; only the D300 is weather sealed.
16 specs side by side·13 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 | D300Nikon · 2007 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £57Best | £73 |
| Sensor | 15.1MP APS-C CMOS | 12.3MP APS-C CMOS |
| Resolution | 15.1MPBest | 12.3MP |
| Video | Full HD 1080p/20, 720p/30 | No video |
| Autofocus | 9-point phase-detect (centre cross-type) via viewfinder; contrast AF with face detection in live view | 51-point phase-detect (15 cross-type) via viewfinder; contrast AF in live view (tripod mode) |
| Stabilisation | No IBIS (lens-based stabilisation only) | No IBIS (lens-based stabilisation only) |
| Burst Rate | 3.4fps | 6fpsBest |
| Battery Life | ~400 shots (CIPA) | ~1000 shots (CIPA)Best |
| Weight | 530g (with battery)Best | 905g (with battery) |
| Dimensions | 128.8 × 97.5 × 61.9mm | 147 × 114 × 74mm |
| Weather Sealed | Not weather sealed | YesBest |
| Viewfinder | Optical pentamirror, 95% coverage, 0.87x | Optical pentaprism, 100% coverage, 0.94x |
| Screen | 3.0" fixed LCD, 920k dots | 3.0" fixed LCD, 920k dots |
| Mount | Canon EF / EF-S | Nikon F-mount (DX) |
| Memory Cards | Single SD slot | Single CompactFlash slot |
| Connectivity | USB 2.0, mini HDMI, AV out, E3 remote | USB 2.0, mini HDMI, 10-pin remote |
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
D300
Portrait
5.3/10
5.0/10
Street
5.3/10
4.4/10
Travel
4.7/10
4.5/10
Wedding & Events
3.9/10
4.9/10
Documentary
3.5/10
3.9/10
Sports & Action
4.4/10
5.4/10
Landscape
3.8/10
4.3/10
Wildlife
4.9/10
5.7/10
Casual
3.3/10
2.5/10
Food
3.9/10
3.4/10
Macro
3.7/10
3.1/10
Architecture
4.1/10
3.7/10
Astrophotography
4.4/10
5.5/10
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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