Canon EOS
450D
 vs
Canon EOS
550D

Updated (February, 2011): Compare the Canon EOS 450D vs Canon EOS 600D

Canon EOS 550D

59

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 450D

40
Runner-up

Canon EOS 450D

Reasons to buy the Canon EOS 450D

Shutter lag
 Barely any delay taking photos
160 ms shutter lag
Size
 Really small
Prosumer size 129x98x62 mm
Badge
 Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
Thickness
 Thin
2.4"
Weight
 Light-weight
524 g

differences

Advantages of the Canon 450D
Shutter lag Significantly less shutter lag 160 ms vs 252 ms
Help
 Around 40% less delay when taking photos
Battery life Slightly longer battery life 500 shots vs 440 shots
Help
 More than 10% more shots per battery charge
Canon EOS 450D Learn more about
the Canon 450D

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 resolution Much higher resolution screen 1,040k dots vs 230k dots
Help
 More than 4.5x higher resolution screen
Overall image quality Better image quality 66.0 vs 61.0
Help
 Around 10% better image quality
Dynamic range More dynamic range 11.5 EV vs 10.8 EV
Help
 0.7 f-stops more dynamic range
True resolution Much higher true resolution 17.9 MP vs 12.2 MP
Help
 Capture around 50% more detail in your photos
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 784 ISO vs 692 ISO
Help
 The 550D has a slight edge (0.2 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Color depth Better color depth 22.1 bits vs 21.9 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 0.2 more bits of color
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
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
Sensor size Slightly larger sensor APS-C 22.3x14.9mm vs APS-C 22.2x14.8mm
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 450D Canon EOS 450D
40 vs 59
Explain scores
Canon EOS 550D Canon EOS 550D
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Canon EOS 550D.

performance Which camera has better performance? Cast your vote!

CanonEOS 450D
 Canon EOS 450D vs Canon EOS 550D
CanonEOS 550D
Uses Travel score Travel
On holiday or vacation
29
32
Vote Vote
Sports score Sports
Fast action, sometimes indoors
25
30
Vote Vote
Features Color accuracy Color accuracy
White balance in varied lighting
25
27
Vote Vote
Autofocus peformance Still image focusing
Speed and accuracy
22
28
Vote Vote
Manual controls Manual settings
How quickly and easily you can change settings
24
27
Vote Vote
Build quality Build quality
Is it sturdy, well made, plastic or metal
21
28
Vote Vote
Green arrow Join in the discussion below!

similarities

Compared to recent entry-level DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Lens availability Many lenses available Help
162 lenses
Screen size Larger than average screens Help
3.0"
Startup delay Minimal startup delay Help
400 ms startup delay
Size Fairly small Help
Prosumer size 129x98x62 mm
Thickness Very thin Help
2.4"
Weight Light weight Help
450D:524 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
Screen flips out No flip-out screens Help
Less flexible
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
Cross type focus points Few cross-type focus points Help
1
Continuous shooting Slow continuous shooting Help
450D:3.5 fps
550D:3.7 fps
Autofocus No video autofocus Help
Manual focus only
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Focus points Few focus points Help
9
Sensor size Very small sensors Help
450D:APS-C 22.2x14.8mm
550D:APS-C 22.3x14.9mm
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
450D:1,600 ISO
550D:6,400 ISO
Dynamic range Poor dynamic range Help
450D:10.8 EV
550D:11.5 EV

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon EOS 600D

Canon EOS 600D

Entry-level DSLR

$858 - $1,035 body only

$922 - $1,099 with 18-55mm lens
Screen flips out Has a screen which flips out
Thickness Is thicker
Size Is significantly larger
Compare the EOS 600D vs the EOS 450D
Compare the EOS 600D vs the EOS 550D
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$749 body only

$600 - $747 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 450D
Compare the D5100 vs the EOS 550D
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$834 body only

$500 - $984 with 18-55mm lens
Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Sensor size Has a marginally larger sensor
Thickness Is thicker
Lens focus motor Doesn't have a built-in focus motor
Compare the D3100 vs the EOS 450D
Compare the D3100 vs the EOS 550D
Canon EOS 1100D

Canon EOS 1100D

Entry-level DSLR

$489 - $648 body only

$570 - $659 with 18-55mm lens
Battery life Has a slightly longer battery life
Weight Is slightly lighter
Thickness Is thicker
Sensor cleaning Lacks a self cleaning sensor
Compare the EOS 1100D vs the EOS 450D
Compare the EOS 1100D vs the EOS 550D
Canon EOS 500D

Canon EOS 500D

Entry-level DSLR

$599 with 18-55mm lens
External mic jack Lacks and external mic jack
Supports 24p Doesn't record movies in 24p
Compare the EOS 500D vs the EOS 450D
Compare the EOS 500D vs the EOS 550D
Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$897 - $1,304 body only

$1,130 - $1,342 with 18-135mm lens
Viewfinder size Slightly larger viewfinder
Continuous shooting Shoots faster continuously
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is much heavier
Compare the EOS 60D vs the EOS 450D
Compare the EOS 60D vs the EOS 550D
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$869 - $897 body only

$1,099 - $1,200 with 18-105mm lens
Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is significantly heavier
Compare the D90 vs the EOS 450D
Compare the D90 vs the EOS 550D

Canon EOS 450D Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Canon EOS 450D.

Canon EOS 550D Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

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

appearance

Canon EOS 450D Canon EOS 550D
Canon EOS 450D Canon EOS 550D
Canon EOS 450D Canon EOS 550D

Find similar cameras

Here are some links to help you find other cameras with similar features to both of these:

discussion Which do you think is better?

Speech is free, but discussion at Snapsort is moderated! Please discuss your opinion of these cameras here, and discuss feedback for Snapsort at our support community.

Showing 2 comments

Avatar for Snapsort Snapsort (0:51 PM, November 14, 2011)
You can see how we scored this review here, votes do not have an effect on our score.
 
Avatar for Satyam Joshi Satyam Joshi (2:43 PM, November 13, 2011)
this fake...bad info....how come 450d is expensive much than 550D ...even it got nearly equal votes against 550d ....HOW ?450d doesn't shoot movie  so it cost more than 2000 kr...amazing !!!