Canon EOS
1000D
 vs
Canon EOS
550D

Updated (February, 2011): Compare the Canon EOS 1000D vs Canon EOS 600D

Canon EOS 550D

59

  
Canon EOS 1000D

33

  

Reasons to buy the Canon EOS 550D

Movie format
 Full HD
1080p @ 30fps
Screen resolution
 High resolution screen
1,040k dots
True resolution
 High true resolution
17.9 MP
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
 
Runner-up

Canon EOS 1000D

Reasons to buy the Canon EOS 1000D

Size
 Really small
Prosumer size 126x98x65 mm
Badge
 Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
Thickness
 Thin
2.6"
Weight
 Light-weight
502 g
 

differences

Advantages of the Canon 1000D
Weight Slightly lighter 502 g vs 530 g
Help
 Around 10% lighter
Canon EOS 1000D Learn more about
the Canon 1000D

Advantages of the Canon 550D
Movie format Shoots movies 1080p @ 30fps vs None
Help
 Shoots Full HD (1080p) video as well as still pictures
Screen size Much larger screen 3.0" vs 2.5"
Help
 More than 20% larger screen
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen 1,040k dots vs 230k dots
Help
 More than 4.5x higher resolution screen
Autofocus Faster autofocus Phase detection vs Contrast detection
Help
 Catch candid moments easily
True resolution Much higher true resolution 17.9 MP vs 10.1 MP
Help
 Capture around 80% more detail in your photos
Dynamic range More dynamic range 11.5 EV vs 10.9 EV
Help
 0.6 f-stops more dynamic range
Overall image quality Better image quality 66.0 vs 62.0
Help
 Around 10% better image quality
Low light performance Slightly lower noise at high ISO 784 ISO vs 719 ISO
Help
 The 550D has a slight edge (0.1 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 6,400 ISO vs 1,600 ISO
Help
 The 550D's maximum light sensitivity is 2 f-stops better
Viewfinder size Larger viewfinder 0.54x vs 0.50x
Help
 Around 20% larger viewfinder
Light sensitivity (boost) Has boost ISO 12,800 ISO vs None
Help
 Allows taking photos in darker situations, often at the cost of additional noise in the image
Color depth Better color depth 22.1 bits vs 22 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 0.1 more bits of color
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 3.7 fps vs 3 fps
Help
 More than 20% faster continuous shooting
Sensor size Slightly larger sensor APS-C 22.3x14.9mm vs APS-C 22.2x14.8mm
Help
 Almost the same
Thickness Thinner 2.4" vs 2.6"
Help
 Almost the same
Size Slightly smaller 129x98x62 mm vs 126x98x65 mm
Help
 Almost the same
Canon EOS 550D Learn more about
the Canon 550D
vs

recommendations

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

Canon EOS 1000D Canon EOS 1000D
33 vs 59
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
Size Very small Help
1000D:126x98x65 mm
550D:129x98x62 mm
Lens availability Many lenses available Help
162 lenses
Thickness Very thin Help
1000D:2.6"
550D:2.4"
Fastest shutter speed Slow max shutter speed Help
1/4000 of a second
Light sensitivity (boost) One has boost ISO Help
1000D:None
550D:12,800 ISO
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
1000D:APS-C 22.2x14.8mm
550D:APS-C 22.3x14.9mm
Screen flips out No flip-out screens Help
Less flexible
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
1000D:1,600 ISO
550D:6,400 ISO
Continuous shooting Slow continuous shooting Help
1000D: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
Weather sealed Neither is weather sealed Help
Need to shelter it from weather
Dynamic range Poor dynamic range Help
1000D:10.9 EV
550D:11.5 EV
Viewfinder size Below average viewfinder size Help
1000D:0.50x
550D:0.54x
Overall image quality Low image quality Help
1000D:62.0
550D:66.0
Color depth Poor color depth Help
1000D:22 bits
550D:22.1 bits
Low light performance Above average noise at high ISO Help
1000D:719 ISO
550D:784 ISO

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon EOS 600D

Canon EOS 600D

Entry-level DSLR

$470 - $689 body only

$537 - $927 with 18-55mm lens
Screen flips out Has a screen which flips out
Lowest price Is slightly less expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the EOS 600D vs the EOS 1000D
Compare the EOS 600D vs the EOS 550D
Canon EOS 1100D

Canon EOS 1100D

Entry-level DSLR

$436 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 1000D
Compare the EOS 1100D 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 1000D
Compare the D5100 vs the EOS 550D
Canon 650D / T4i

Canon EOS 650D

Entry-level DSLR

$580 - $797 body only

$645 - $1,144 with 18-55mm lens
Light sensitivity Slightly higher maximum light sensitivity
Touch screen Has a touch screen
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the EOS 650D vs the EOS 1000D
Compare the EOS 650D 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 1000D
Compare the D3100 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
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is much heavier
Compare the EOS 60D vs the EOS 1000D
Compare the EOS 60D 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 1000D
Compare the D3200 vs the EOS 550D

Canon EOS 1000D Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D3000

Nikon D3000

Entry-level DSLR

$436 with 18-55mm lens
Screen size Much larger screen
Autofocus Faster autofocus
Live view No live view
Low light performance More noise at high ISO
Compare the D3000 vs the EOS 1000D

Canon EOS 550D Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

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

appearance

Canon EOS 1000D Canon EOS 550D
Canon EOS 1000D Canon EOS 550D
Canon EOS 1000D Canon EOS 550D

discussion

Showing 3 comments

open XS (2:28 PM, February 10, 2011)
Exactly, great comparison.
 
Avatar for Snapsort Snapsort (2:30 PM, September 26, 2010)
Great to hear!
 
Adelle (0:02 PM, September 26, 2010)
this is the best camera comparison site I have come across! Makes it super easy to see which camera suits my needs