What's new / changed (key points)
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18.7 megapixel CMOS sensor
The 550D uses a new, 18.7 (total) megapixel sensor that's similar, but not exactly the same as (according to our sources at Canon) the one featured in the 7D. As before the sensor uses high frequency vibrations to remove dust. |
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Gapless micro lenses
First touted by Canon on the 50D, the EOS 550D's sensor has what are effectively gapless micro lenses, which significantly increases the efficiency of each pixel. Click on the thumbnail above to see the EOS 550D compared to the EOS 500D. |
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Clear View 3:2 screen (3.0")
With the increasing prevalence of live view and movie functionality it's perhaps surprising that this is the first EOS to sport an LCD that's the same shape (3:2 aspect ratio) as the sensor. The resolution is similar to the EOS 500D (720x480 / 1040k pixels) but the wider shape makes a lot more sense. Canon has removed the air-gap between the LCD’s protective cover and the liquid crystal to reduce glare. The screen has a viewing angle of 160 degrees. |
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63-point iFCL metering
The consumer EOS range gets a welcome metering boost with a new 63-zone dual layer iFCL metering sensor (first seen on the EOS 7D). The iFCL system uses focus, color and luminance information to determine consistently exposed shots. All focus points provide distance information to the metering system to determine proximity to the subject and allow the algorithm to weight the exposure accordingly. |
Typically, metering sensors are more sensitive to red subjects which can lead to overexposure. The EOS 550D combats this with the dual layer sensor, which has one layer sensitive to red and green light and one that is sensitive to blue and green light. The metering algorithm then compares the level of the two layers and adjusts the meter reading accordingly. |
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The wider aspect ratio means that the user interface has been tweaked slightly to allow preview (in Live View/Movie mode) and playback images to make use of the full area of the screen. Gone are the black lines at the top and bottom of the screen; the information is now overlaid.
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Full HD movie mode
In keeping with the overall specification hike the EOS 550D gets full HD (1920 x 1080) movie capture at a range of frame rates (30, 25 and 20), bringing it in line with the EOS 7D. You also get full creative control (over apertures and shutter speeds), and you can set Highlight Tone Priority for movies independently of the setting used for stills. Another welcome addition is the inclusion of a stereo microphone jack.
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Custom Auto ISO
You can now select the maximum setting for Auto ISO (from 400 to 6400). Canon is obviously confident its new sensor and noise reduction have improved; ISO 6400 is no longer an 'expanded' setting (which is now reserved for ISO 12,800 only).
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+/- 5.0 EV compensation
Previous consumer EOS models were criticized for only offering a meager 2 stops exposure compensation either side. The EOS 550D finally catches up with most of its competitors by increasing that to +/- 5.0 EV, which can be combined with +/- 2.0 EV Bracketing.
Note that you can only see +/- 2.0EV indicated in the viewfinder (the scale hasn't changed).
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| There are several minor changes to the user interface. You can now preview the color schemes available for the Quick Control Screen. |
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Button changes
The EOS 550D gains new button dedicated to Live View / movie mode; where it used to sit on the EOS 500D is now a new 'Q' button (for fast access to the Quick Control Screen). Most of the buttons have been redesigned, and they're generally larger and flatter.
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New Battery
The EOS 550D sees the introduction of yet another new battery, the BP-E8. The new battery apparently allows for more accurate 'power remaining' display, but as yet we've no other information on its specification. |
New Grip BG-E8
The slightly different battery means a new grip, the BG-E8, which looks to be very similar indeed to the BG-E5 that preceded it. |
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Remote
Alongside the EOS 550D Canon launched a new slimline remote control, the RC-6, which can fire the shutter from up to five meters away (and allows you to choose immediate release or a 2 second delay, unlike the RC-5). The RC-6 is also compatible with the EOS 450D, 500D, 7D and 5D Mark II. |
Copyright information
The new in-camera copyright information feature - another that's trickled down from the latest professional models - allows copyright data to be entered directly into the camera, appending that information to each image file in the Exif metadata. |
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