Compared to...
Here we compare the EOS 550D to the other cameras that potential buyers might also be considering. The most obvious competitor to the 550D comes in the form of Nikon's D5000, which is aimed roughly at the same market, and also features a video recording mode. The EOS 500D is included here as a convenient point of comparison, as the 550D's nearest contemporary in Canon's current DSLR lineup (even if the 550D isn't strictly speaking a replacement model).
| Camera | Kit price |
Live view |
LCD | Anti Shake |
Sensor (effective pixels) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canon EOS 550D | $979 | Yes | 3" / 1040k pixels | Lens option | 18.0 MP CMOS (1.6x crop) |
| Canon EOS 500D | $895 | Yes | 3.0" / 920k pixels | Lens option | 15.1 MP CMOS (1.6x crop) |
| Nikon D5000 | $800 | Yes | 2.7" / 230k pixels | Lens option | 12.3 MP CMOS (1.5x crop) |
It was easy to see the Canon EOS 500D as the 'baby brother' to the EOS 50D when it was released, and the EOS 550D adopts the same role alongside the EOS 7D, in Canon's current lineup. Things would be a little easier to understand if Canon weren't still insisting that both the 500D and 50D remain 'current' models, but the super-powered 550D has more in common (in terms of specification) with the 7D than it does the 500D.
Canon EOS 550D advantages
- Very high spec video recording option
- Highly intuitive interface, user-friendly ergonomics, 'true' 3:2 format LCD screen.
- Relatively trivial price premium over EOS 500D
Canon EOS 550D disadvantages
- Fixed LCD screen (as opposed to the flip-out model on the D5000)
- No in-camera raw conversion
- Fairly high price (at introduction)
 Canon 550D |
 Nikon D5000 |
 Canon 500D |
|
| Price (body only) |
US: $799 [check price] | US: $550 [check price] | US: $699 [check price] |
| Sensor | • 22.3 x 14.9 mm CMOS • 18.7 million effective pixels • 18.0 million effective pixels |
• 23.6 x 15.8 mm CMOS • 12.3 million effective pixels • 12.9 million effective pixels |
• 22.3 x 14.9 mm CMOS • 15.1 million effective pixels • 15.5 million effective pixels |
| Dust reduction | • Anti-dust materials • Low pass filter vibration • Dust reference image |
• Low pass filter vibration • Airflow Control System • Dust reference image |
• Anti-dust materials • Low pass filter vibration • Dust reference image |
| Native image size | 5184 x 3456 (3:2 ratio) |
4288 x 2848 (3:2 ratio) |
4752 x 3168 (3:2 ratio) |
| Movie resolution | 1920 x 1080 @ 30, 25, 24 fps |
720p @ 24 fps |
1080p @ 20fps |
| Lens support | • Canon EF mount • Including EF-S lenses |
• Nikon F-mount • Includes DX lenses • AF only available with AF-S or AF-I lenses |
• Canon EF mount • Including EF-S lenses |
| FOV crop | 1.6x | 1.5x | 1.6x |
| Body Shake reduction | No | No | No |
| Live View AF | Yes, Contrast detect (inc Face detection) or Phase detect AF | Yes, Contrast detect (inc Face priority) or Phase detect AF | Yes, Contrast detect (inc Face detection) or Phase detect AF |
| File formats | • RAW (comp. lossless 14-bit) • JPEG (2 levels) |
• RAW (compressed) • JPEG (3 levels) |
• RAW (comp.
lossless 14-bit) • JPEG (2 levels) |
| RAW+JPEG | RAW + JPEG (Fine) | RAW + JPEG (Any quality) | RAW + JPEG (Fine) |
| Auto focus | • 9-point TTL • F5.6 cross-type at center, extra sensitivity at F2.8 • Range: -0.5 to 18 EV • Contrast detect AF in live view |
• 11 area TTL • Cross-type at center • Range: -1 to +19 EV • Contrast detect AF in live view |
• 9 area TTL • Cross-type F2.8 at center • Range: -0.5 to +18 EV • Contrast detect AF in live view |
| AF illuminator | Flash strobe, must be raised | Built-in lamp | Flash strobe, must be raised |
| Color space | • sRGB • Adobe RGB |
• sRGB • Adobe RGB |
• sRGB • Adobe RGB |
| Metering sensor | • 63 zone sensor • 1 - 20 EV working range |
• 420 pixel RGB sensor • 0 - 20 EV working range |
• 35 zone sensor • 1 - 20 EV working range |
| Metering | • Evaluative • Partial • Center-weighted average • 4% spot |
• 3D Color Matrix Metering II |
• Evaluative • Partial • Center-weighted average • 4% spot |
| Exp. comp. | +/- 5.0 EV | +/- 5.0 EV | +/- 2.0 EV |
| EV steps | 1/3 or 1/2 EV | 1/3 or 1/2 EV | 1/3 or 1/2 EV |
| Sensitivity | • ISO 100 - 6400 (with 12800 equiv) |
• ISO 200 - 3200 |
• ISO 100 - 3200 (with 6400 and 12800 equiv) |
| Auto ISO | Auto (100-6400) | User definable maximum ISO and minimum shutter speed | Auto (100-1600) |
| High- ISO NR | Yes (4 levels) | Yes (4 levels) | Yes (4 levels) |
| Shutter speed | • 30 - 1/4000 sec / Bulb • 1/200 sec Flash sync |
• 30 - 1/4000 sec / Bulb • 1/200 sec Flash sync |
• 30 - 1/4000 sec / Bulb • 1/200 sec Flash sync |
| Continuous shooting |
• 3.7 fps • 34 JPEG/Fine frames • 6 RAW frames |
• 4 fps |
• 3.4 fps • 170 JPEG/Fine frames • 9 RAW frames |
| White balance | • Auto • Six presets • Manual preset • Kelvin temperature • Fine tunable |
• Auto • Twelve presets • Manual preset • Fine tunable |
• Auto • Eight presets • Manual preset • Kelvin temperature • Fine tunable |
| Comment | Owner name set in-camera | Comment set in-camera | Owner name set via software |
| Flash | Electronic release pop-up | Electronic release pop-up | Electronic release pop-up |
| Viewfinder | • Pentamirror • Eyepoint 18 mm • Frame coverage 95% • Magnification approx 0.87x • Precision matte screen |
• Pentamirror • Eyepoint 18 mm • Frame coverage 95% • Magnification approx 0.78x • B-type Bright View Clear Matte Mark V |
• Pentamirror • Eyepoint 18 mm • Frame coverage 95% • Magnification approx 0.87x • Precision matte screen |
| LCD screen | • 3.0 " TFT LCD • 1040,000 dots |
• 2.7 " TFT LCD |
• 3.0 " TFT LCD • 920,000 dots |
| Mirror lock-up | Custom function | No (exposure delay mode) | Custom function |
| Other features | • Multi-shot self-timer |
• In-camera retouching • Active D-Lighting • RAW Development • Interval shooting • Stop motion movies |
• Multi-shot self-timer • Auto Lighting Optimizer • Highlight Tone Priority • Remote Live view shooting (via USB) • Eye sensor • DOF preview |
| Storage | SD/SDHC card | SD/SDHC card | SD/SDHC card |
| Battery | LP-E8 (7.2 V, 1120 mAh) | EN-EL9a (7.2 V, 1080 mAh) | LP-E5 (7.4 V, 1050 mAh) |
| Battery status | Battery life (3 stage) | Battery life (3 stage) | Battery life (3 stage) |
| Connectors | USB 2.0 Hi-Speed | USB 2.0 Hi-Speed |
USB 2.0 Hi-Speed |
| Grip | BG-E8 (option) | No | BG-E5 (option) |
| Software | • Canon DPP • Canon PhotoStitch • Canon ZoomBrowser EX • EOS Utility (Remote Capt.) |
• Nikon Transfer • ViewNX |
• Canon DPP • Canon PhotoStitch • Canon ZoomBrowser EX • EOS Utility (Remote Capt.) |
| Dimensions | 129 x 98 x 62 mm |
127 x 104 x 80 mm (5.0 x 4.1 x 3.1 in) |
129 x 98 x 62 mm (5.1 x 3.9 x 2.4 in) |
| Weight (no batt) | 530 g (1.7 lb) | 560 g (1.2 lb) | 480 g (1.1 lb) |
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