Canon EOS
450D
 vs
Canon EOS
550D

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

Canon EOS 550D

58

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
Canon EOS 450D

41
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
Built-in flash
 Built-in flash
External flash not needed

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
Lowest price Slightly cheaper $581.66 vs $703.87
Help
 The best price we've seen is $122 cheaper (around 20% less)
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
Dynamic range More dynamic range 11.5 EV vs 10.8 EV
Help
 0.7 f-stops more dynamic range
Overall image quality Better image quality 66.0 vs 61.0
Help
 Around 10% better image quality
True resolution Significantly 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 800 ISO
Help
 The 550D's maximum light sensitivity is 3 f-stops better
Light sensitivity (boost) Better boost ISO 12,800 ISO vs 1,600 ISO
Help
 The 550D's boost ISO is 3 f-stops better
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
41 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 450D 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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Are you a camera expert? Share your knowledge!
0
votes
by Phagun-Sheth last month
Canon 450D vs Canon 550D

a beginner.likes taking phtos of nature & people

One person recommends the Canon 550D:

" Hands down the Canon 550D, the 450D is a much older camera."
0
votes
by Rajnish-R-Patel last month
Canon 550D vs Nikon P510

mid level photography enthusiast, interested in photo shootings as amateur photographer, with a ...
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..."

similarities

Compared to recent entry-level DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Lens availability Many lenses available Help
162 lenses
Size Very small Help
Prosumer size 129x98x62 mm
Startup delay Minimal startup delay Help
400 ms startup delay
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
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
450D:APS-C 22.2x14.8mm
550D:APS-C 22.3x14.9mm
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
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
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
450D:800 ISO
550D:6,400 ISO
Weather sealed Neither is weather sealed Help
Need to shelter it from weather
Dynamic range Poor dynamic range Help
450D:10.8 EV
550D:11.5 EV
Color depth Poor color depth Help
450D:21.9 bits
550D:22.1 bits
Overall image quality Low image quality Help
450D:61.0
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
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

$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
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

$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 450D
Compare the D3100 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
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 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
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is much heavier
Compare the EOS 60D vs the EOS 450D
Compare the EOS 60D vs the EOS 550D
Canon EOS 500D

Canon EOS 500D

Entry-level DSLR

$539 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
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 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

discussion

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 !!!