Compare the Canon EOS 600D vs the Canon EOS 550D

Advantages of the Canon 600D

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Has a flip-out screen

Yes

vs

No

Flip-out screens can be helpful when composing tricky shots or taking movies

Significantly cheaper

$519.99

vs

$860.01

The best price we've seen is $340 cheaper (around 40% less)

Learn more about
the Canon 600D

Advantages of the Canon 550D

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Significantly less startup delay

400 ms

vs

1500 ms

3.7x less delay when turning on

Much smaller

129x98x62 mm

vs

133x99x79 mm

Around 30% smaller

Much thinner

2.4"

vs

3.1"

More than 20% thinner

Slightly better image quality

66.0

vs

65.0

Almost the same

Less shutter lag

252 ms

vs

283 ms

More than 10% less delay when taking photos

Slightly larger viewfinder

0.54x

vs

0.53x

Almost the same

Lighter

530 g

vs

570 g

Around 10% lighter

Learn more about
the Canon 550D

Compared to recent entry-level DSLRs

Common Strengths

Common Weaknesses

	High resolution screens
	1,040k dots

	Many lenses available
	197 lenses

	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

	Poor boost ISO
	12,800 ISO

	Below average viewfinder coverage
	95%

	Very small sensors
	APS-C 22.3x14.9mm

	Slow continuous shooting
	3.7 fps

	Few cross-type focus points
	1

	Few shots per battery charge
	440 shots

	No image stabilization
	Risk of blur

	Poor maximum light sensitivity
	6,400 ISO

	Few focus points
	9

	Neither camera stitches together panoramas
	You could stitch photos in post

	Poor dynamic range
	11.5 EV

	Neither is weather sealed
	Need to shelter it from weather

Significant shutter lag

600D:	283 ms
550D:	252 ms

Below average viewfinder size

600D:	0.53x
550D:	0.54x

Low image quality

600D:	65.0
550D:	66.0

	Poor color depth
	22.1 bits

	Both shoot high resolution HD movies
	1080p @ 30fps

Above average noise at high ISO

600D:	793 ISO
550D:	784 ISO

Image quality data for the Canon 600D provided by DxOMark
Image quality data for the Canon 550D provided by DxOMark

Nikon D3200

Entry-level DSLR

$393 body only

$497 with 18-55mm lens

Is significantly less noisy at high ISO

Has significantly better image quality

Is thicker

Doesn't have a built-in focus motor

Compare the D3200 vs the EOS 600D

Compare the D3200 vs the EOS 550D

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$437 - $599 body only

$528 - $570 with 18-55mm lens

Is significantly less noisy at high ISO

Has significantly better image quality

Is thicker

Doesn't have a built-in focus motor

Compare the D5100 vs the EOS 600D

Compare the D5100 vs the EOS 550D

Canon EOS 700D

Entry-level DSLR

$1,229 with 18-55mm, 75-300mm lenses

Has a touch screen

Shoots faster continuously

Is significantly more expensive

Is thicker

Compare the EOS 700D vs the EOS 600D

Compare the EOS 700D vs the EOS 550D

Canon EOS 1100D

Entry-level DSLR

$400 with 18-55mm lens

Has much less shutter lag

Has a significantly longer battery life

Is thicker

Lacks a self cleaning sensor

Compare the EOS 1100D vs the EOS 600D

Compare the EOS 1100D vs the EOS 550D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$699 - $871 body only

$999 - $1,150 with 18-135mm lens

Slightly larger viewfinder

Has a weather sealed body

Is slightly more expensive

Is thicker

Compare the EOS 60D vs the EOS 600D

Compare the EOS 60D vs the EOS 550D

Canon EOS 650D

Entry-level DSLR

$720 with 18-55mm lens

Has a touch screen

Shoots faster continuously

Is slightly more expensive

Is thicker

Compare the EOS 650D vs the EOS 600D

Compare the EOS 650D vs the EOS 550D

Canon EOS 100D

Entry-level DSLR

$1,099 with 18-135mm lens

Has a touch screen

Has in-camera HDR

Is much more expensive

Is thicker

Compare the EOS 100D vs the EOS 600D

Compare the EOS 100D vs the EOS 550D

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Canon EOS 600D.

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

EOS 600D

Canon

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EOS 550D

Canon

Report a correction

Showing 25 comments

ShivanshuBaweja

(6:56 PM, December 04, 2013)

Hi ..IS 600D best choice ??

vicks

(8:15 PM, June 12, 2013)

coz its BEST in the WORLD canon LOLZ

Anoop Velayudhan

(6:13 AM, April 26, 2013)

because you're a nikon fan

Solisbury

(5:46 AM, March 28, 2012)

600D have not a build motor!

luis

(2:25 AM, February 14, 2012)

so witch is better?

Jatinderkumar6063

(0:38 PM, February 12, 2012)

Ilike 550D

Ec.guezz@gmail.com

(9:59 AM, February 12, 2012)

I want canon 550d slr

Cynep

(11:40 PM, January 23, 2012)

this camera will help to beginner with a different tipps, and it has some creative filters, that can make nice pictures without photoshop

Sdfg

(11:34 PM, January 23, 2012)

I think it looks brilliant

Bashkug_17

(9:19 PM, January 21, 2012)

wireless flash as well

Mousetrap

(9:09 AM, January 19, 2012)

Trust me - they will soon all have a flip screen. Once you have used one you will see how very good they are. Great for movies - very good for macro. Good for viewing if the the sun is on the screen you can tilt it. Great for candid shots when you want to point one way but look the other. Good for holding high over peoples heads. I have the 7D and 5D11 but now use the 60D more often than these because of the flip screen. I use my cameras every day and the 60D I dropped onto the road - it was OK. I think these cameras are pretty tough.

Ghot200

(0:30 AM, January 19, 2012)

u r wrong. 550D has filters but different than that of 600D

Jess

(5:26 AM, January 07, 2012)

Pretty much. As well as some creative filters

Jess

(5:24 AM, January 07, 2012)

Thanks to this comparison I have decided to purchase the canon eos 550d. I was leaning towards the 600d but to me the flip out screen is just another thing that can go wrong, plus I don't need it!

Snapsort

(2:01 PM, December 19, 2011)

The only big difference is the 600D has a flip out screen, and cost $80-$100 more.

gen

(3:16 AM, December 18, 2011)

im planning to buy a camara, but im thinking over canon 550D or canon 600D. i dont know which is better. can someone help me?

Mieczyslaw

(6:13 PM, December 10, 2011)

There are other important differences besides the flip-out screen and the slightly larger size of the 600D. The newer model also has some creative filters, as well as several different aspect ratios, while 550D only has the standard 3:2. Most importantly, 600D has wireless IR triggering of external slave flashes. With the 550D, you need a separate transmitter or a Speedlite 580EX for that.

luis

(10:45 AM, November 30, 2011)

i am planing to buy my 1st dslr what do you think is the best for an entry level?tanx

Moy

(9:39 PM, November 27, 2011)

Both of them shoot 720p 60fps!

Admin

(5:07 AM, November 11, 2011)

going to buy 600D. thanks for this comparison list.

Robbert

(5:00 AM, November 11, 2011)

Thanks for this kind of list. going to purchase new camera for X-mas Gift.

Photographer

(3:05 AM, October 02, 2011)

550D has a better image quality than 600D ? why ? they used the same sensor.

Snapsort

(0:33 PM, September 06, 2011)

Hi Amir, the 600D has 9 AF points, and only the center point is a crosstype focus point.

Phase detection focus points (found on DSLRs) work by detecting contrast. Often they can only detect one of horizontal contrast OR vertical contrast, but crosstype focus points can detect both.

Crosstype focus points are better at focusing in difficult situations.

Amir Al Amin

(3:44 AM, September 06, 2011)

I made a mistake. what's the difference of 9 AF point and crosstype focus point??

Amir Al Amin

(3:40 AM, September 06, 2011)

600D has 9 auto focus point!!! your data is inaccurate.

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Canon EOS 600D

vs

Canon EOS 550D

Reasons to buy the Canon EOS 600D

Reasons to buy the Canon EOS 550D

recommendations

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

differences

Advantages of the Canon 600D

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

Nikon D3200

Nikon D5100

Canon EOS 700D

Canon EOS 1100D

Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 650D

Canon EOS 100D

Canon EOS 600D Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon EOS 550D Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

appearance

discussion

Showing 25 comments