Canon EOS 550D Review

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Canon EOS 550D Digital SLR Camera (Body Only) (18.0 MP CMOS (APS-C) Sensor, Full HD 1080p Video, Advanced Live View, 3" 1.04 Million Dot Clear View LCD, 3.7 fps)








The EOS 550D is an advanced mid-range camera, just one step down from the EOS 50D (although ironically slightly more expensive). It is aimed at experienced amateur photographers, and has a features set to match. It has a wide range of shutter speeds, from 30 seconds to 1/4000th, a nine-point AF system with a cross-type f/5.6 central point, and the sophisticated 63-point metering system from the EOS 7D, more advanced than the 35-zone meter of the 500D.

Pros
Tweaked Auto ISO function
High resolution LCD screen
Quick control function
Larger buttons
Increased exposure compensation range
Battery life
Movie mode

Cons
Small buffer for RAW images
Although improved, AF during LiveView could still be better

Canon EOS 550D: Specification

Resolution
18Mp

Sensor size
22.3 x 14.9mm

Sensor type
CMOS

Max. Image size
5184 x 3456

Aspect ratio
3:2

Focusing system
TTL-CT-SIR-AF dedicated

Focus points
9

Focus types
AI focus, One shot, AI servo

Crop factor
1.6x

Lens mount
EF/EF-S

File types
JPEG, Raw, Mov (video)

ISO sensitivity
ISO100-6,400 (expandable to ISO 12,800)

Metering system
Full aperture metering with 63 zone SPC (new iFCL system)

Metering types
Evaluative, partial, spot, centre-weighted

Exposure compensation
+/- 5EV in 1/3 & 1/2 step incrmenents

Shutter speed range
30sec-1/4000sec

Frames-per-second
3.7fps

Flash sync speed
1/200sec

Image stabilisation
No, lens based

Live-view
Yes

Viewfinder
Optical, pentamirror, approx 95% coverage

Monitor
3in Clear View TFT, 1040,000dot (345,600px)

Media type
SD, SDHC & SDXC

Interface
USB 2.0, HDMI, video, external microphone

Power
Li-Ion battery LP-E8

Size
128.8 x 97.3 x 62mm

Weight
530g

Conclusion:
Canon EOS 550D is a very good camera by any standard. Build quality is excellent, the control layout and handling are near perfect, high ISO noise control is superb and the new monitor is the best on the market. However it doesn't offer many more features or significantly better image quality than the EOS 500D, and is beaten in some crucial areas by cheaper rival cameras.

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