Canon EOS
1100D
 vs
Canon EOS
550D

Updated (February, 2011): Compare the Canon EOS 1100D vs Canon EOS 600D

Canon EOS 550D

58

  
Canon EOS 1100D

51

  

Reasons to buy the Canon EOS 550D

Movie format
 Full HD
1080p @ 30fps
Screen resolution
 High resolution screen
1,040k dots
Supports 24p
 24p movies
For that film look
External mic jack
 External mic jack
Record higher quality audio with a microphone
Size
 Really small
Prosumer size 129x98x62 mm
Sensor cleaning
 Self cleaning sensor
Avoids dust in your photos
 
Runner-up

Canon EOS 1100D

Reasons to buy the Canon EOS 1100D

Shutter lag
 Barely any delay taking photos
110 ms shutter lag
Battery life
 Great battery life
800 shots
Badge
 Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
Weight
 Light-weight
459 g
 

differences

Advantages of the Canon 1100D
Shutter lag Significantly less shutter lag 110 ms vs 252 ms
Help
 2.3x less delay when taking photos
Battery life Significantly longer battery life 800 shots vs 440 shots
Help
 More than 80% more shots per battery charge
Startup delay Less startup delay 100 ms vs 400 ms
Help
 4x less delay when turning on
Lowest price Cheaper $435.54 vs $612.58
Help
 The best price we've seen is $177 cheaper (around 30% less)
Weight Lighter 459 g vs 530 g
Help
 More than 10% lighter
Canon EOS 1100D Learn more about
the Canon 1100D

Advantages of the Canon 550D
Movie format Higher resolution movies 1080p @ 30fps vs 720p @ 30fps
Help
 Shoots higher resolution Full HD (1080p) video
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen 1,040k dots vs 230k dots
Help
 More than 4.5x higher resolution screen
Screen size Significantly larger screen 3.0" vs 2.7"
Help
 More than 10% larger screen
External mic jack Has an external mic jack Yes vs No
Help
 Record high quality audio with an external microphone
Supports 24p Supports 24p Yes vs No
Help
 Get that real film feel
Dynamic range More dynamic range 11.5 EV vs 11 EV
Help
 0.5 f-stops more dynamic range
True resolution Significantly higher true resolution 17.9 MP vs 12.2 MP
Help
 Capture around 50% more detail in your photos
Overall image quality Better image quality 66.0 vs 62.0
Help
 Around 10% better image quality
Size Much smaller 129x98x62 mm vs 130x100x78 mm
Help
 More than 20% smaller
Sensor cleaning Has a self cleaning sensor Yes vs No
Help
 Removes dust from the sensor automatically, avoiding spots in photos
Thickness Much thinner 2.4" vs 3.1"
Help
 More than 20% thinner
Color depth Better color depth 22.1 bits vs 21.9 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 0.2 more bits of color
Low light performance Slightly lower noise at high ISO 784 ISO vs 755 ISO
Help
 The 550D has a slight edge (0.1 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Sensor size Larger sensor APS-C 22.3x14.9mm vs APS-C 22.2x14.7mm
Help
 Almost the same
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 3.7 fps vs 3 fps
Help
 More than 20% faster continuous shooting
Canon EOS 550D Learn more about
the Canon 550D
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent entry-level DSLRs, and ignoring price

Canon EOS 1100D Canon EOS 1100D
51 vs 58
Explain scores
Canon EOS 550D Canon EOS 550D
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Canon EOS 550D.

similarities

Compared to recent entry-level DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Lens availability Many lenses available Help
162 lenses
Startup delay Minimal startup delay Help
1100D:100 ms
550D:400 ms
Fastest shutter speed Slow max shutter speed Help
1/4000 of a second
Autofocus No video autofocus Help
Manual focus only
Viewfinder coverage Below average viewfinder coverage Help
95%
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
Sensor size Very small sensors Help
1100D:APS-C 22.2x14.7mm
550D:APS-C 22.3x14.9mm
Screen flips out No flip-out screens Help
Less flexible
Cross type focus points Few cross-type focus points Help
1
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
6,400 ISO
Continuous shooting Slow continuous shooting Help
1100D:3 fps
550D:3.7 fps
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Focus points Few focus points Help
9
Weather sealed Neither is weather sealed Help
Need to shelter it from weather
Dynamic range Poor dynamic range Help
1100D:11 EV
550D:11.5 EV
Viewfinder size Below average viewfinder size Help
0.54x
Overall image quality Low image quality Help
1100D:62.0
550D:66.0
Color depth Poor color depth Help
1100D:21.9 bits
550D:22.1 bits
Low light performance Above average noise at high ISO Help
1100D:755 ISO
550D:784 ISO

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon EOS 600D

Canon EOS 600D

Entry-level DSLR

$470 - $689 body only

$542 - $927 with 18-55mm lens
Screen flips out Has a screen which flips out
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the EOS 600D vs the EOS 1100D
Compare the EOS 600D vs the EOS 550D
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$447 - $740 with 18-55mm lens
Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Sensor size Has a slightly larger sensor
Thickness Is thicker
Lens focus motor Doesn't have a built-in focus motor
Compare the D3100 vs the EOS 1100D
Compare the D3100 vs the EOS 550D
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$497 body only

$597 - $805 with 18-55mm lens
Low light performance Is significantly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has significantly better image quality
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the D5100 vs the EOS 1100D
Compare the D5100 vs the EOS 550D
Nikon D3200

Nikon D3200

Entry-level DSLR

$547 with 18-55mm lens
Low light performance Is significantly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has significantly better image quality
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D3200 vs the EOS 1100D
Compare the D3200 vs the EOS 550D
Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$699 - $899 body only

$999 - $1,279 with 18-135mm lens
Viewfinder size Slightly larger viewfinder
Weather sealed Has a weather sealed body
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the EOS 60D vs the EOS 1100D
Compare the EOS 60D vs the EOS 550D
Canon EOS 650D

Canon EOS 650D

Entry-level DSLR

$580 - $797 body only

$639 - $1,144 with 18-55mm lens
Light sensitivity Slightly higher maximum light sensitivity
Touch screen Has a touch screen
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the EOS 650D vs the EOS 1100D
Compare the EOS 650D vs the EOS 550D
Canon EOS 500D

Canon EOS 500D

Entry-level DSLR

$901 with 18-135mm lens
Lowest price Is much more expensive
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the EOS 500D vs the EOS 1100D
Compare the EOS 500D 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.

appearance

Canon EOS 1100D Canon EOS 550D
Canon EOS 1100D Canon EOS 550D
Canon EOS 1100D Canon EOS 550D

discussion

Showing 9 comments

Avatar for Photography! 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 :)
 
Avatar for bubbleezgi_gs_007 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)_
 
Avatar for Sean Varley 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. 
 
Avatar for Sean Varley 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. 
 
Avatar for Satyam Joshi 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 !!