Updated (February, 2011): Compare the Canon EOS 40D vs Canon EOS 600D

Canon EOS 550D

55

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
Sensor cleaning
Self cleaning sensor
Avoids dust in your photos
Badge
Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
Thickness
Thin
2.4"
Canon EOS 40D

41

Runner-up

Canon EOS 40D

"Good nine point auto focus system, works well even in low light"
dpreview.com | talking about the 40D's auto-focus
"With each step up the evolutionary ladder to the EOS 40D Canon has demonstrated improvements in image quality."
dpreview.com | talking about the 40D's image-quality

Reasons to buy the Canon EOS 40D

Continuous shooting
Rapid fire
6.5 fps
Badge
Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
Fastest shutter speed
Fast shutter speed
1/8000 of a second

differences

Advantages of the Canon 40D

Continuous shooting Shoots faster 6.5 fps vs 3.7 fps
Help
Around 80% faster continuous shooting
Viewfinder size Larger viewfinder 0.59x vs 0.54x
Help
Around 20% larger viewfinder
Viewfinder Has a pentaprism viewfinder Pentaprism vs Pentamirror
Help
Pentaprism viewfinders are typically brighter
Fastest shutter speed Much faster max shutter speed 1/8000s vs 1/4000s
Help
2x faster max shutter speed
Canon EOS 40D Learn more about
the Canon 40D

Advantages of the Canon 550D

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
Movie format Shoots movies 1080p @ 30fps vs None
Help
Shoots Full HD (1080p) video as well as still pictures
True resolution Significantly 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 11.3 EV
Help
0.2 f-stops more dynamic range
Overall image quality Slightly better image quality 66.0 vs 64.0
Help
Almost the same
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
Low light performance Slightly lower noise at high ISO 784 ISO vs 703 ISO
Help
The 550D has a slight edge (0.2 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Size Smaller 129x98x62 mm vs 146x108x74 mm
Help
More than 30% smaller
Thickness Much thinner 2.4" vs 2.9"
Help
Around 20% thinner
Weight Lighter 530 g vs 822 g
Help
Around 40% lighter
Light sensitivity (boost) Better boost ISO 12,800 ISO vs 3,200 ISO
Help
The 550D's boost ISO is 2 f-stops better
Canon EOS 550D Learn more about
the Canon 550D
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent DSLRs, and ignoring price

Canon EOS 40D Canon EOS 40D
41 vs 55
Explain scores
Canon EOS 550D Canon EOS 550D
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Canon EOS 550D. 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

Need help deciding?

Ask the community!

I am considering either the 40D or the 550D,
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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
Lens availability Many lenses available Help
162 lenses
Thickness Thin Help
40D:2.9"
550D:2.4"
Storage slots Fewer storage slots Help
1
Viewfinder coverage Below average viewfinder coverage Help
95%
Light sensitivity (boost) Poor boost ISO Help
40D:3,200 ISO
550D:12,800 ISO
Autofocus No video autofocus Help
Manual focus only
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
Screen flips out No flip-out screens Help
Less flexible
Weather sealed Neither is weather sealed Help
Need to shelter it from weather
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
Sensor size Very small sensors Help
40D:APS-C 22.2x14.8mm
550D:APS-C 22.3x14.9mm
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
40D:1,600 ISO
550D:6,400 ISO
Dynamic range Poor dynamic range Help
40D:11.3 EV
550D:11.5 EV
Color depth Poor color depth Help
22.1 bits
Overall image quality Low image quality Help
40D:64.0
550D:66.0

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

Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has significantly better image quality
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

Color depth Has slightly more color depth
Movie continuous focus Can focus continuously while recording movies
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Canon EOS 1100D

Canon EOS 1100D

Entry-level DSLR

$489 - $559 body only

$587 - $643 with 18-55mm lens

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
Battery life Has a slightly longer battery life
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Canon EOS 500D

Canon EOS 500D

Entry-level DSLR

$539 with 18-55mm lens

Shutter lag Has slightly less shutter lag
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
External mic jack Lacks and external mic jack
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$830 - $897 body only

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

Canon EOS 40D Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Canon EOS 40D.

Canon EOS 550D Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

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

appearance

Canon EOS 40D Canon EOS 550D
Canon EOS 40D Canon EOS 550D
Canon EOS 40D Canon EOS 550D

discussion

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