Canon EOS
1000D
 vs
Canon EOS
550D

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

Canon EOS 550D

58

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
Canon EOS 1000D

32
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
Lowest price Slightly cheaper $562.37 vs $703.87
Help
 The best price we've seen is $141 cheaper (more than 20% less)
Canon EOS 1000D Learn more about
the Canon 1000D

Advantages of the Canon 550D
Screen size Much larger screen 3.0" vs 2.5"
Help
 More than 20% larger screen
Movie format Shoots movies 1080p @ 30fps vs None
Help
 Shoots Full HD (1080p) video as well as still pictures
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 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 slightly 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
32 vs 58
Explain scores
Canon EOS 550D Canon EOS 550D
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Canon EOS 550D.

advice

Need help deciding?

Ask the community!
I am considering either the 1000D or the 550D,
For example: Taking photos in low light or great family photos or ability to take great photos underwater

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0
votes
by Grace-Trumata last month
Canon SX40 vs Canon 550D

Zoom,long last battery power,fine shots

One person recommends the Canon 550D:

"You will have to invest in a zoom lens if you decide on a DSLR, but I would spend the extra money ..."
0
votes
by Katrina-Hipolito last month
Canon 550D vs Nikon D90

i'm a beginner and loves to take a picture of everything especially if the camera has sharp imag...

One person recommends the Canon 550D:

" it has 18 megapixel ,some "experts" say that megapixel doesn't have much role in pictures..but i..."
One person recommends the Nikon D90:

" clearly it's the Nikon D90, it is much better since you can only change ISO level per exposure (..."
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"

similarities

Compared to recent entry-level DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Lens availability Many lenses available Help
162 lenses
Size Very small Help
1000D:126x98x65 mm
550D:129x98x62 mm
Thickness Very thin Help
1000D:2.6"
550D:2.4"
Weight Light weight Help
1000D:502 g
550D:530 g
Fastest shutter speed Slow max shutter speed Help
1/4000 of a second
Storage slots Fewer storage slots Help
1
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
Screen flips out No flip-out screens Help
Less flexible
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
Sensor size Very small sensors Help
1000D:APS-C 22.2x14.8mm
550D:APS-C 22.3x14.9mm
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
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
1000D:1,600 ISO
550D:6,400 ISO
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
Color depth Poor color depth Help
1000D:22 bits
550D:22.1 bits
Overall image quality Low image quality Help
1000D:62.0
550D:66.0

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon EOS 600D

Canon EOS 600D

Entry-level DSLR

$835 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 1000D
Compare the EOS 600D vs the EOS 550D
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $597 body only

$600 - $697 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 EOS 1100D

Canon EOS 1100D

Entry-level DSLR

$489 - $546 body only

$546 - $643 with 18-55mm lens
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 D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $547 with 18-55mm lens
Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Color depth Has slightly more color depth
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

$848 - $1,304 body only

$1,177 - $1,342 with 18-135mm lens
Viewfinder size Slightly larger viewfinder
Continuous shooting Shoots faster continuously
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the EOS 60D vs the EOS 1000D
Compare the EOS 60D vs the EOS 550D
Canon EOS 500D

Canon EOS 500D

Entry-level DSLR

$539 with 18-55mm lens
Shutter lag Has significantly less shutter lag
External mic jack Lacks and external mic jack
Supports 24p Doesn't record movies in 24p
Compare the EOS 500D vs the EOS 1000D
Compare the EOS 500D vs the EOS 550D
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$897 body only

$1,047 with 55-200mm lens
Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D90 vs the EOS 1000D
Compare the D90 vs the EOS 550D

Canon EOS 1000D Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Canon 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