Explore 13 sample photos taken by the Canon EOS 1100D and 4 sample photos taken by the Canon EOS 550D

Much less shutter lag

110 ms vs 252 ms

2.3x less delay when taking photos

Significantly longer battery life

700 shots vs 440 shots

Around 60% more shots per battery charge

Less startup delay

100 ms vs 400 ms

4x less delay when turning on

Lighter

459 g vs 530 g

More than 10% lighter

Slightly cheaper

$449.95 vs $493.42

The best price we've seen is $43 cheaper (around 10% less)

Learn more about
the Canon 1100D

Higher resolution movies

1080p @ 30fps vs 720p @ 30fps

Shoots higher resolution Full HD (1080p) video

Much higher resolution screen

1,040k dots vs 230k dots

More than 4.5x higher resolution screen

Much larger screen

3.0" vs 2.7"

More than 10% larger screen

Supports 24p

Yes vs No

Get that real film feel

Has an external mic jack

Yes vs No

Record high quality audio with an external microphone

More dynamic range

11.5 EV vs 11 EV

0.5 f-stops more dynamic range

Significantly higher true resolution

17.9 MP vs 12.2 MP

Capture around 50% more detail in your photos

Better image quality

66.0 vs 62.0

Around 10% better image quality

Better color depth

22.1 bits vs 21.9 bits

Distinguishes 0.2 more bits of color

Much smaller

129x98x62 mm vs 130x100x78 mm

More than 20% smaller

Has a self cleaning sensor

Yes vs No

Removes dust from the sensor automatically, avoiding spots in photos

Much thinner

2.4" vs 3.1"

More than 20% thinner

Shoots faster

3.7 fps vs 3 fps

More than 20% faster continuous shooting

Slightly lower noise at high ISO

784 ISO vs 755 ISO

The 550D has a slight edge (0.1 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance

Learn more about
the Canon 550D

Which camera do we recommend? Relative to the best recent entry-level DSLRs, and ignoring price

Snapsort Recommends

Canon EOS 1100D 47

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56 Canon EOS 550D

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Compared to recent entry-level DSLRs

Common Strengths

Minimal startup delay

1100D:	100 ms
550D:	400 ms

	Many lenses available
	197 lenses

Common Weaknesses

	Slow max shutter speed
	1/4000 of a second

	No video autofocus
	Manual focus only

	Neither has in-camera HDR
	You could do HDR manually

	Below average viewfinder coverage
	95%

Slow continuous shooting

1100D:	3 fps
550D:	3.7 fps

	Few cross-type focus points
	1

	Poor maximum light sensitivity
	6,400 ISO

	Few focus points
	9

	No flip-out screens
	Less flexible

	No image stabilization
	Risk of blur

Capture low resolution images

1100D:	12.2 MP
550D:	17.9 MP

	Neither is weather sealed
	Need to shelter it from weather

	No touchscreens
	More buttons

	Below average viewfinder size
	0.54x

Poor dynamic range

1100D:	11 EV
550D:	11.5 EV

Low image quality

1100D:	62.0
550D:	66.0

Poor color depth

1100D:	21.9 bits
550D:	22.1 bits

Above average noise at high ISO

1100D:	755 ISO
550D:	784 ISO

Poor movies

1100D:	720p @ 30fps
550D:	1080p @ 30fps

Image quality data for the Canon 1100D provided by DxOMark
Image quality data for the Canon 550D provided by DxOMark

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Entry-level DSLR

$1,009 with 18-55mm lens

Is much more expensive

Has slightly more shutter lag

Compare the EOS 500D vs the EOS 1100D

Compare the EOS 500D vs the EOS 550D

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$349 - $415 body only

$409 - $479 with 18-55mm lens

Is significantly less noisy at high ISO

Has significantly better image quality

Is thicker

Is slightly heavier

Compare the D5100 vs the EOS 1100D

Compare the D5100 vs the EOS 550D

Canon EOS 1100D Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Canon EOS 1100D.

Canon EOS 550D Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Canon EOS 550D.

EOS 1100D

Canon

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EOS 550D

Canon

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Showing 10 comments

Dylan Sheldon

(0:56 AM, October 04, 2013)

I've recently upgraded to a 7D from my 550D which served be extremely well for 2 years. My friend shoots on an 1100D, so I've had hands-on experience with both models. Firstly, both cameras perform superbly for their price range. Although the 1100d is a newer model, the 550D has quite a few advantages over it, which is to be expected as the 1100 is canons most basic DSLR. The 1100Ds auto settings are better than the 550Ds, however if you plan to get more serious with DSLR photography and move out of the auto settings, the 550D shines over the 1100. Higher ISO and faster shutter speeds to name a few. Also, for film enthusiasts the 550D is the obvious option. Another thing that personally bothered me about the 1100D was the somewhat cheap feel. Both cameras don't have an amazing build quality, but the 1100 is made almost completely of cheap feeling plastic. The 550D is plastic as well, but feels a lot sturdier in the hand. Ultimately, the 1100D is canons most basic camera, and although it's older, the 550D is part of a slightly more advanced range of cameras, so is obviously gaining to trump many features of the 1100D. If you have the money, go for the 550D (it's honestly not that expensive anyway), but if you are on a budget, or you are brand new to DSLR photography and plan to use auto settings predominantly, than the 1100D will suit you just as well.

Photography!

(4:01 PM, December 26, 2012)

1100D is kicking 550D.because 550D shooting images is risk of blur.1100D is Significantly higher true İmage quality :)

bubbleezgi_gs_007

(10:11 AM, August 27, 2012)

EOS1100D picture quality is better than 550D but 550D video quality is much better than 1100D.

Alps

(2:45 PM, August 20, 2012)

read at the first row..
Reasons to buy the Canon EOS 1100D : Built-in focus motor

is that really, a Canon 1100D has a built in focus motor??

guest

(0:15 PM, April 12, 2012)

to my mind 1100d is so much better. i've seen pictures from 550d and i did not like them. they look really bad, and from 1100d pictures are so much better. They are more realistic maybe. 1100d has easier menu then 550d and it's a perfect for beginners.

Not a Professional

(11:52 PM, December 11, 2011)

I have seen images from the 550 and 1100 and have to say, the 550 takes a much much better picture (although this is just my humble opinion)_

Sean Varley

(1:44 AM, November 29, 2011)

video is important so i agree 1 len with the 550d should be fine. thanks

anonymous

(9:04 PM, November 28, 2011)

is video important to you? and continuos shooting rate? personally i would get the 550d with the 1 kit lens then over time save up abit more and get a better lens. although many 'pros' tell you to go get good glass then with what ever is left a body as they go obsolete. The average person probably wont be upgrading their body often, so i think a higher quality body would be more appreciated.

Sean Varley

(5:09 AM, November 27, 2011)

Easy to see the 550d is better, but is it worth getting the 550d with 1 lens or the 1100d with 2 lens( EF-S 18-55mm and EF-S 55-250m) for the same price???. Any help appreciated.

Satyam Joshi

(3:06 AM, November 24, 2011)

on basis of image quality and low light performance, please rate these cameras.? response needed very urgently !!

Canon EOS 550D

vs

Canon EOS 1100D

Reasons to buy the Canon EOS 550D

Reasons to buy the Canon EOS 1100D

galleries

differences

Advantages of the Canon 1100D

Advantages of the Canon 550D

recommendations

Which camera do we recommend? Relative to the best recent entry-level DSLRs, and ignoring price

vs

similarities

Compared to recent entry-level DSLRs

dxomark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon EOS 600D

Canon EOS 1200D

Nikon D3100

Nikon D3200

Canon EOS 700D

Canon EOS 500D

Nikon D5100

Canon EOS 1100D Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon EOS 550D Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

appearance

discussion

Showing 10 comments