Canon EOS
600D
 vs
Canon EOS
550D

Canon EOS 600D

59

  
Canon EOS 550D

58

  

Reasons to buy the Canon EOS 600D

Screen resolution
 High resolution screen
1,040k dots
Screen flips out
 Flip-out screen
Great for movies
External mic jack
 External mic jack
Record higher quality audio with a microphone
Badge
 Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
 

Reasons to buy the Canon EOS 550D

Screen resolution
 High resolution screen
1,040k dots
External mic jack
 External mic jack
Record higher quality audio with a microphone
Size
 Really small
Prosumer size 129x98x62 mm
Badge
 Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
Thickness
 Thin
2.4"
 

differences

Advantages of the Canon 600D
Screen flips out Has a flip-out screen Yes vs No
Help
 Flip-out screens can be helpful when composing tricky shots or taking movies
Lowest price Cheaper $469.99 vs $612.58
Help
 The best price we've seen is $143 cheaper (more than 20% less)
Canon EOS 600D Learn more about
the Canon 600D

Advantages of the Canon 550D
Size Much smaller 129x98x62 mm vs 133x99x79 mm
Help
 Around 30% smaller
Startup delay Significantly less startup delay 400 ms vs 1500 ms
Help
 3.7x less delay when turning on
Thickness Much thinner 2.4" vs 3.1"
Help
 More than 20% thinner
Overall image quality Slightly better image quality 66.0 vs 65.0
Help
 Almost the same
Shutter lag Less shutter lag 252 ms vs 283 ms
Help
 More than 10% less delay when taking photos
Viewfinder size Slightly larger viewfinder 0.54x vs 0.53x
Help
 Almost the same
Weight Lighter 530 g vs 570 g
Help
 Around 10% lighter
Canon EOS 550D Learn more about
the Canon 550D
vs

recommendations

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

Canon EOS 600D Canon EOS 600D
59 vs 58
Explain scores
Canon EOS 550D Canon EOS 550D
Green arrow Too close to call! Snapsort considers these cameras too competitive to make a clear recommendation.

similarities

Compared to recent entry-level DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Screen resolution High resolution screens Help
1,040k dots
Lens availability Many lenses available Help
162 lenses
Supports 24p 24p support Help
For that film look
Fastest shutter speed Slow max shutter speed Help
1/4000 of a second
Light sensitivity (boost) Poor boost ISO Help
12,800 ISO
Viewfinder coverage Below average viewfinder coverage Help
95%
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
Autofocus No video autofocus Help
Manual focus only
Sensor size Very small sensors Help
APS-C 22.3x14.9mm
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
3.7 fps
Battery life Few shots per battery charge Help
440 shots
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
Shutter lag Significant shutter lag Help
600D:283 ms
550D:252 ms
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
11.5 EV
Viewfinder size Below average viewfinder size Help
600D:0.53x
550D:0.54x
Overall image quality Low image quality Help
600D:65.0
550D:66.0
Color depth Poor color depth Help
22.1 bits
Low light performance Above average noise at high ISO Help
600D:793 ISO
550D:784 ISO

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
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
Lens focus motor Doesn't have a built-in focus motor
Compare the D5100 vs the EOS 600D
Compare the D5100 vs the EOS 550D
Canon EOS 650D

Canon EOS 650D

Entry-level DSLR

$580 - $799 body only

$639 - $1,144 with 18-55mm lens
Light sensitivity Significantly 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 600D
Compare the EOS 650D 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
Thickness Is thicker
Lens focus motor Doesn't have a built-in focus motor
Compare the D3200 vs the EOS 600D
Compare the D3200 vs the EOS 550D
Canon EOS 1100D

Canon EOS 1100D

Entry-level DSLR

$436 - $445 body only

$439 - $818 with 18-55mm lens
Shutter lag Has significantly less shutter lag
Battery life Has a significantly longer battery life
Thickness Is thicker
Sensor cleaning Lacks a self cleaning sensor
Compare the EOS 1100D vs the EOS 600D
Compare the EOS 1100D 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 600D
Compare the EOS 60D 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 600D
Compare the D3100 vs the EOS 550D
Canon EOS 700D

Canon EOS 700D

Entry-level DSLR

$848 - $860 body only

$1,017 with 18-55mm lens
Light sensitivity Significantly higher maximum light sensitivity
Touch screen Has a touch screen
Lowest price Is significantly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the EOS 700D vs the EOS 600D
Compare the EOS 700D vs the EOS 550D

Canon EOS 600D Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

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

Canon EOS 550D Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

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

appearance

Canon EOS 600D Canon EOS 550D
Canon EOS 600D Canon EOS 550D
Canon EOS 600D Canon EOS 550D

discussion

Showing 25 comments

Avatar for Anoop Velayudhan 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!
 
Avatar for Snapsort 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.
 
Avatar for Snapsort 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.
 
Avatar for Sonia Sonia (10:39 AM, August 25, 2011)
Hello,
I think 550D does not have the same creative filters as 600D, anyone knows?

Thank you.
 
Holy-devil53 (0:02 PM, August 10, 2011)
Why must canon dslr look so ugly...