Updated (October, 2011): Compare the Canon EOS 1D X vs Canon EOS 600D

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV

79

"Excellent AF performance during our testing"
dpreview.com | talking about the EOS-1D Mark IV's auto-focus
"Good, Full-HD video with a wide range of shooting options"
dpreview.com | talking about the EOS-1D Mark IV's video-quality

Reasons to buy the Canon EOS-1D Mark IV

Overall image quality
Great image quality
74.0
Color depth
Great color depth
22.8 bits
Dynamic range
Wide dynamic range
12 EV
Light sensitivity
High ISO
12,800 ISO
Weather sealed
Weather sealed
Shoot in extreme weather
Continuous shooting
Rapid fire
10 fps
Canon EOS 550D

55

Runner-up

Canon EOS 550D

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"
Weight
Light-weight
530 g

differences

Advantages of the Canon EOS-1D Mark IV

Overall image quality Better image quality 74.0 vs 66.0
Help
More than 10% better image quality
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 1,320 ISO vs 784 ISO
Help
The EOS-1D Mark IV has a slight edge (0.8 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Cross type focus points Many more cross-type focus points 39 vs 1
Help
Grab focus in difficult situations
Dynamic range More dynamic range 12 EV vs 11.5 EV
Help
0.5 f-stops more dynamic range
Weather sealed Weather sealed Yes vs No
Help
Sealed to shoot in the rain
Continuous shooting Shoots significantly faster 10 fps vs 3.7 fps
Help
More than 2.5x faster continuous shooting
Color depth Better color depth 22.8 bits vs 22.1 bits
Help
Distinguishes 0.7 more bits of color
Focus points Significantly more focus points 45 vs 9
Help
Set focus accurately within the frame
Shutter lag Significantly less shutter lag 104 ms vs 252 ms
Help
2.4x less delay when taking photos
Battery life Significantly longer battery life 1500 shots vs 440 shots
Help
Around 3.5x more shots per battery charge
Viewfinder coverage Much better viewfinder coverage 100% vs 95%
Help
Around 10% better viewfinder coverage
Sensor size Larger sensor APS-H 27.9x18.6mm vs APS-C 22.3x14.9mm
Help
Around 60% larger sensor
Viewfinder size Larger viewfinder 0.59x vs 0.54x
Help
Around 20% larger viewfinder
Light sensitivity (boost) Better boost ISO 102,400 ISO vs 12,800 ISO
Help
The EOS-1D Mark IV's boost ISO is 3 f-stops better
Viewfinder Has a pentaprism viewfinder Pentaprism vs Pentamirror
Help
Pentaprism viewfinders are typically brighter
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 12,800 ISO vs 6,400 ISO
Help
The EOS-1D Mark IV's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
Storage slots Has more storage slots 2 vs 1
Help
More slots allows storing more images without switching memory cards
Fastest shutter speed Much faster max shutter speed 1/8000s vs 1/4000s
Help
2x faster max shutter speed
Canon EOS-1D Mark IV Learn more about
the Canon EOS-1D Mark IV

Advantages of the Canon 550D

External mic jack Has an external mic jack Yes vs No
Help
Record high quality audio with an external microphone
Size Much smaller 129x98x62 mm vs 156x157x80 mm
Help
2.5x smaller
Lens availability More lenses available 162 lenses vs 125 lenses
Help
Around 30% more lenses available
Screen resolution Higher resolution screen 1,040k dots vs 920k dots
Help
More than 10% higher resolution screen
Thickness Much thinner 2.4" vs 3.1"
Help
More than 20% thinner
Weight Much lighter 530 g vs 1,230 g
Help
2.3x lighter
True resolution Higher true resolution 17.9 MP vs 16 MP
Help
Capture more than 10% more detail in your photos
Lowest price Significantly cheaper $691.01 vs $4,999.99
Help
The best price we've seen is $4,309 cheaper (7.2x less)
Built-in flash Built-in flash Yes vs No
Help
A built-in flash is useful for taking indoor shots where there is little light
Canon EOS 550D Learn more about
the Canon 550D
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent DSLRs, and ignoring price

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV Canon EOS-1D Mark IV
79 vs 55
Explain scores
Canon EOS 550D Canon EOS 550D
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Canon EOS-1D Mark IV. This recommendation, however, should be taken with a grain of salt since it doesn't always make sense to compare a pro DSLR with a entry-level DSLR.

advice

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0
votes
by Krishna-Chaitanya last month
Canon 550D vs Sony SLT-A55

Beginner for a DSLR or an entry-level DSLR. Budget is less than 800 US dollars. looking for best...

0
votes
by Rainbow-Albums last month
Canon 600D vs Canon 550D

Beginner. New in photography business. I am going to take professional pictures.

One person recommends the Canon 550D:

" just flip out screen made a bit expensive 600D..otherwise the both camera are same.burst mode is..."

1
votes
by Chris-Harper last month
Canon 600D vs Canon 550D

I'll call myself a beginner but I have video editing training before. I'm really looking for a c...

One person recommends the Canon 600D:

" These two cameras are essentially the same. So you'll do well with either one. However, the 60..."

0
votes
by Wyn-Henderson last month
Canon 600D vs Canon 550D

I am a beginner looking for a camera with a good zoom to capture fast moving subjects

One person recommends the Canon 550D:

"I would save the extra money and invest in a good lens"

0
votes
by CHAPPERS1 last week
Canon 600D vs Canon 550D

HAVE BEEN PHOTOGRAPHING WITH 40D WILL THE EXTRA PIXELS MAKE A GREAT DIFFERENCE ASSUMING MAX A4 S...

similarities

Compared to recent DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Supports 24p 24p support Help
For that film look
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
Screen flips out No flip-out screens Help
Less flexible
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon EOS 600D

Canon EOS 600D

Entry-level DSLR

$863 with 18-55mm lens

Screen flips out Has a screen which flips out
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $597 body only

$600 - $697 with 18-55mm lens

Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Color depth Has slightly more color depth
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $547 with 18-55mm lens

Movie continuous focus Can focus continuously while recording movies
Autofocus Focuses automatically while shootting video
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$848 - $1,304 body only

$1,177 - $1,342 with 18-135mm lens

Screen flips out Has a screen which flips out
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Canon EOS 500D

Canon EOS 500D

Entry-level DSLR

$539 with 18-55mm lens

Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Shutter lag Has slightly more shutter lag
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$830 - $897 body only

$1,199 - $1,200 with 18-105mm lens

Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Pro DSLR

$2,198 body only

$2,898 - $2,999 with 24-105mm lens

Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon EOS 5D Mark III

Canon EOS 5D Mark III

Pro DSLR

$3,499 - $3,500 body only

$4,299 - $4,300 with 24-105mm lens

Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO
Overall image quality Better image quality
Dynamic range Less dynamic range
Continuous shooting Shoots significantly slower
Nikon D4

Nikon D4

Pro DSLR

$5,999 - $6,000 body only

Low light performance Much lower noise at high ISO
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality
Cross type focus points Significantly fewer cross-type focus points
Shutter lag Significantly more shutter lag
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III

Canon EOS-1Ds

Pro DSLR

$9,137 - $9,321 body only

Viewfinder size Much larger viewfinder
Overall image quality Better image quality
Screen resolution Much lower resolution screen
Autofocus Slower autofocus
Nikon D800

Nikon D800

Pro DSLR

$2,999 - $3,000 body only

Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO
Overall image quality Much better image quality
Continuous shooting Shoots significantly slower
Cross type focus points Significantly fewer cross-type focus points
Nikon D3S

Nikon D3S

Pro DSLR

$5,197 body only

Low light performance Much lower noise at high ISO
Battery life Much longer battery life
Movie format Lower resolution movies
Cross type focus points Significantly fewer cross-type focus points

Canon EOS 550D Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon EOS 1100D

Canon EOS 1100D

Entry-level DSLR

$489 - $559 body only

$587 - $643 with 18-55mm lens

Battery life Longer battery life
Weight Slightly lighter
Screen resolution Much lower resolution screen
Screen size Much smaller screen

appearance

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV Canon EOS 550D
Canon EOS-1D Mark IV Canon EOS 550D
Canon EOS-1D Mark IV Canon EOS 550D

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