Canon EOS 550D

Canon EOS 550D
Entry-level DSLR Entry-level DSLR
February, 2010

Summary Canon 550D

Prices Price
Body only $704 - $916 With 18-55mm lens $731 - $874
all 550D prices
Score Snapsort rank
Within its price range #n/a of 12 Among similar cameras #n/a of 22
details details
Specifications Key specs
Sensor size Help APS-C 22.3x14.9mm Screen resolution Help 1,040k dots
Megapixels Help 17.9 MP Movie format Help 1080p @ 30fps
Screen size Help 3.0" Light sensitivity Help 6,400 ISO
see all specifications
Lenses Lenses
Browse all Canon EOS 550D lenses at LensHero

Also known as: Canon EOS Rebel T2i, Canon Kiss X4

Canon EOS 550DCanon EOS 550D

Replacement

Canon has replaced the EOS 550D with the 600D.

Canon EOS 600D
Canon EOS 600D announced February, 2011
Screen flips out Has a flip-out screen

Compare the new Canon 600D vs the 550D

Videos

Canon EOS 550D vs. 7D - Head t...

Canon EOS 550D / Rebel T2i rev...

DSLR TEST Canon 550d / Rebel T...
Canon EOS 550D vs. 7D - Head to Head Comparison
  • Review
  • Ergonomics
  • Image quality
 Canon EOS 550D / Rebel T2i review
  • Review
  • Pro
  • Ergonomics
  • Image quality
 DSLR TEST Canon 550d / Rebel T2i (Kit lens + sigma 30mm F1.4)
  • Sample video
  • Manual focus
  • Shallow DOF
  • 1080p Full HD

Browse all Canon 550D videos

Pros

The Canon 550D vs other recent entry-level DSLRs

Screen resolution High resolution screen Help
1,040k dots
True resolution High true resolution Help
17.9 MP
Supports 24p 24p movies Help
For that film look
Startup delay Short startup delay Help
400 ms startup delay
Thickness Thin Help
2.4"
Movie format Full HD Help
1080p @ 30fps
Lens availability More lenses available Help
162 lenses
Size Really small Help
Prosumer size 129x98x62 mm
Weight Light Help
530 g
Popularity Very popular Help
Among snapsort users

Cons

The Canon 550D vs other recent entry-level DSLRs

Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
Screen flips out Fixed screen Help
Less flexible
Autofocus Manual focus only Help
None
Sensor size Slightly smaller than average sensor Help
APS-C 22.3x14.9mm
Cross type focus points Fewer cross-type focus points Help
1
HDR Lacks in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
3D Doesn't take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Announced Old Help
February, 2010
Storage slots Fewer storage slots Help
1
Fastest shutter speed Slow shutter speed Help
1/4000 of a second
Overall image quality Low overall image quality Help
66.0
Color depth Less color depth Help
22.1 bits
Dynamic range Narrower dynamic range Help
11.5 EV
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
6,400 ISO
Weather sealed No weather sealing Help
Need to shelter it from weather
Continuous shooting Slow continuous shooting Help
3.7 fps
Panorama Lacks in-camera panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
Focus points Fewer focus points Help
9
Battery life Shorter battery life Help
440 shots
Viewfinder coverage Below average viewfinder coverage Help
95%

dxomark

DXOMark

Appearance

front photo of the Canon EOS 550Dback photo of the Canon EOS 550Dangle photo of the Canon EOS 550D

Discussion What do you think about the Canon EOS 550D?

Speech is free, but discussion at Snapsort is moderated! Please discuss your opinion of this camera here, and discuss feedback for Snapsort at our support community.

Showing 25 comments

Avatar for PC1512 PC1512 (2:31 PM, May 02, 2012)
Yes - EF lenses will work on any EOS body.  EF-S lenses will work on any "crop" (not full frame) body, including the 550D.
 
Avatar for PC1512 PC1512 (2:30 PM, May 02, 2012)
IS helps with camera shake, but NOT object shake or motion - the only cure for that is a faster shutter speed.

Note that IS on Canon DSLR's is lens dependant - ie, the IS is done in the lens and only certain lenses have this function.
 
Avatar for PC1512 PC1512 (2:27 PM, May 02, 2012)
Yep this isn't really fair - IS is available, and even comes fitted in the standard kit lens, Canon (like Nikon) just place it in the lens rather than the body.
 
Khriz (3:05 AM, April 21, 2012)
what do you mean by "there is no image stabilization"? is it in the camera? if in general, some of the lenses have IS.
 
Avatar for Snapsort Snapsort (10:25 PM, March 07, 2012)
Yes, we were saying that the 550D doesn't do HDR automatically in camera, but we point out above, that you can do it manually. 
 
Lucipasc2 (10:21 PM, March 07, 2012)
it's not true you colud hdr manually!!!!!
 
Wicky_mj (0:36 PM, February 25, 2012)
what is the current price of 550D n 600D ?
 
NAgiSouchiroz (0:07 PM, January 02, 2012)
seriously i want to buy this gadget .but i didnt have the money though :(
 
deepsid (10:15 PM, November 26, 2011)
hampir 6jt om body doang. klo full set 6jt lebih
 
Avatar for Satyam Joshi Satyam Joshi (11:48 AM, November 22, 2011)
there's no single site or person that can put the best out of these 3s..Canon 550D and Nikon D5100 or D3100 ! Features donot impress me much..but performance and image quality!
 
Avatar for Satyam Joshi Satyam Joshi (11:45 AM, November 22, 2011)
NO
 
Avatar for Satyam Joshi Satyam Joshi (11:44 AM, November 22, 2011)
does VR or canon IS remove the blur from image.....can it save from camera shakes or object shakes(object in motion) ??
 
Matthew (11:29 PM, November 10, 2011)
i have 550d for more than a year and i love the feeling of becoming better photographer knowing my camera.!!! :)
 
Christinamather (2:13 PM, November 09, 2011)
hey does the canon 550d have color selector?
 
Csaba (7:40 AM, October 27, 2011)
The video formats should be corrected above. The 550D can shoot 60 fps at 720p.
 
Jayant (1:48 PM, October 14, 2011)
Not started using it but it has awesome results, regards - Jayant
 
Giegaszt (5:20 PM, August 21, 2011)
ini harganya berapa ya?
 
Matt L Walker (6:00 PM, July 27, 2011)
I have a Canon EOS 300 with a 35-80mm lens. Can I fit this lens on the body of the Canon EOS 550D
 
Gefcool (5:53 AM, July 16, 2011)
Great Camera also pretty much comparable to the EOS 7D.. Less money, much specs!
 
Avatar for Snapsort Snapsort (2:55 PM, June 22, 2011)
Yes, its called AI-Servo.  The 550D has three AF modes: one shot, ai focus, ai servo.   One shot is for still subjects, ai servo is for moving subjects, and ai focus lets the camera decide between the two.
 
S87343jim (7:25 AM, June 22, 2011)
Does it has the continuous focus, like Nikon's AF-C? 
 
Radheyamandke (4:08 AM, June 11, 2011)
fantastic camera dude..............
 
null (9:49 PM, May 09, 2011)
Movie formats are not correct here. It does also 60fps
 
Avatar for Hadeel Omer Hadeel Omer (1:31 PM, April 05, 2011)
AWESOME DSLR. I highly recommend it for beginners and even professionals!
 
Goran Marceta (5:02 PM, February 26, 2011)
this camera is perfect! i love it! :DD <3