Canon EOS
500D
 vs
Canon EOS
550D

Updated (February, 2011): Compare the Canon EOS 1100D vs Canon EOS 600D

Canon EOS 550D

59

Reasons to buy the Canon EOS 550D

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
Thickness
 Thin
2.4"
Canon EOS 500D

54
Runner-up

Canon EOS 500D

Reasons to buy the Canon EOS 500D

Startup delay
 Almost no delay when powering up
300 ms startup delay
Shutter lag
 Barely any delay taking photos
159 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
520 g

differences

Advantages of the Canon 500D
Shutter lag Significantly less shutter lag 159 ms vs 252 ms
Help
 Around 40% less delay when taking photos
Startup delay Less startup delay 300 ms vs 400 ms
Help
 Around 30% less delay when turning on
Canon EOS 500D Learn more about
the Canon 500D

Advantages of the Canon 550D
Color depth Better color depth 22.1 bits vs 21.7 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 0.4 more bits of color
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 784 ISO vs 663 ISO
Help
 The 550D has a slight edge (0.2 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
External mic jack Has an external mic jack Yes vs No
Help
 Record high quality audio with an external microphone
Supports 24p Supports 24p Yes vs No
Help
 Get that real film feel
Overall image quality Better image quality 66.0 vs 63.0
Help
 Almost the same
True resolution Higher true resolution 17.9 MP vs 15.1 MP
Help
 Capture around 20% more detail in your photos
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 6,400 ISO vs 3,200 ISO
Help
 The 550D's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
Screen resolution Higher resolution screen 1,040k dots vs 920k dots
Help
 More than 10% higher resolution screen
Battery life Slightly longer battery life 440 shots vs 400 shots
Help
 10% more shots per battery charge
Continuous shooting Shoots slightly faster 3.7 fps vs 3.4 fps
Help
 Around 10% faster continuous shooting
Canon EOS 550D Learn more about
the Canon 550D
vs

recommendations

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

Canon EOS 500D Canon EOS 500D
54 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 500D
 Canon EOS 500D vs Canon EOS 550D
CanonEOS 550D
Uses Travel score Travel
On holiday or vacation
76
93
Vote Vote
Sports score Sports
Fast action, sometimes indoors
65
86
Vote Vote
Features Color accuracy Color accuracy
White balance in varied lighting
61
82
Vote Vote
Autofocus peformance Still image focusing
Speed and accuracy
60
80
Vote Vote
Autofocus performance Video focusing
Speed and accuracy
53
87
Vote Vote
Manual controls Manual settings
How quickly and easily you can change settings
62
80
Vote Vote
Build quality Build quality
Is it sturdy, well made, plastic or metal
66
82
Vote Vote
Green arrow Join in the discussion below!

similarities

Compared to recent entry-level DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Movie format Full HD (1080p) video Help
500D:1080p @ 20fps
550D:1080p @ 30fps
Screen resolution High resolution screens Help
500D:920k dots
550D:1,040k dots
Lens availability Many lenses available Help
162 lenses
Screen size Larger than average screens Help
3.0"
Startup delay Minimal startup delay Help
500D:300 ms
550D:400 ms
Size Fairly small Help
Prosumer size 129x98x62 mm
Thickness Very thin Help
2.4"
Weight Light weight Help
500D:520 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
Battery life Few shots per battery charge Help
500D:400 shots
550D:440 shots
Continuous shooting Slow continuous shooting Help
500D:3.4 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
APS-C 22.3x14.9mm
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
500D:3,200 ISO
550D:6,400 ISO
Dynamic range Poor dynamic range Help
11.5 EV

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon EOS 600D

Canon EOS 600D

Entry-level DSLR

$860 - $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 500D
Compare the EOS 600D vs the EOS 550D
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$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 500D
Compare the D3100 vs the EOS 550D
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$650 - $749 body only

$600 - $750 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 500D
Compare the D5100 vs the EOS 550D
Canon EOS 1100D

Canon EOS 1100D

Entry-level DSLR

$484 - $648 body only

$570 - $659 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 500D
Compare the EOS 1100D vs the EOS 550D
Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$899 - $1,304 body only

$1,138 - $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 500D
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 500D
Compare the D90 vs the EOS 550D
Canon EOS 7D

Canon EOS 7D

Pro DSLR

$1,329 - $1,821 body only

$1,498 - $1,800 with 28-135mm lens
Viewfinder size Significantly larger viewfinder
Weather sealed Has a weather sealed body
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is much heavier
Compare the EOS 7D vs the EOS 500D
Compare the EOS 7D vs the EOS 550D

Canon EOS 500D Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Canon EOS 500D.

Canon EOS 550D Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

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

appearance

Canon EOS 500D Canon EOS 550D
Canon EOS 500D Canon EOS 550D
Canon EOS 500D 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 10 comments

Youssef Funky (11:35 AM, January 08, 2012)
500d Doesnt Have A Built In Focus Motor :s
 
Flona (10:33 PM, December 06, 2011)
Canon t2i is just another name of the canon 550d.
 
Flona (10:32 PM, December 06, 2011)
The 550d is better than the 500d but the lenses 75-300 is for zooming a lot, and the 18-55mm is the lenses of the kit, but he doesnt zoom a lot. Take the 550d, and after when you know how using it buy the 75-300mm.
Hope i help you :)
 
Frans (8:07 AM, November 26, 2011)
I have to make a choice between the canon EOS500D with lenses18-55mm and 75-300mm and the canon 550d with only a 18-55 IS lens. The Canon550D is a little more expensive. Please help! I dont have photography experience. And which has the best zoom?
 
Vishnucia@yahoo.co.in (9:07 AM, July 18, 2011)
:P
 
Avatar for Snapsort Snapsort (6:25 PM, June 16, 2011)
Hi Sam, you're correct, they're the same camera.  Its a bit subtle, but if you check Snapsort's page on the Canon T2i you'll see part way down it says "also known as Canon 550D".  Canon markets the camera in North America as the Rebel T2i, and as the 550D everywhere else.
 
Sam (6:22 PM, June 16, 2011)
Is there any difference between Canon T2i and Canon 550D? Most of the websites refer them as the same.
 
Avatar for Snapsort Snapsort (0:40 PM, April 19, 2011)
Like you said most lenses on the market today have internal motors in them. Some older ones do not.
 
Ajay Sarda (10:19 AM, April 19, 2011)
How does the internal moter play a role. If i buy 550d it has and d3100 doesnt has. Are there any lens that dont have internal motor these days?
 
Avatar for claicers claicers (3:24 PM, April 09, 2010)
Eos 550D is better