Canon EOS
50D
 vs
Canon EOS
550D

Updated (February, 2011): Compare the Canon EOS 50D vs Canon EOS 600D

Canon EOS 50D

57
Winner

Canon EOS 50D
"Nine point auto focus system accurate, even in low light"
dpreview.com | talking about the 50D's auto-focus
"It feels solid, reliable and 'well sorted' from an ergonomics point of view"
dpreview.com | talking about the 50D's feel

Reasons to buy the Canon EOS 50D

Continuous shooting
 Rapid fire
6.3 fps
Shutter lag
 Barely any delay taking photos
131 ms shutter lag
Badge
 Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
Fastest shutter speed
 Fast shutter speed
1/8000 of a second
Canon EOS 550D

54
Runner-up

Canon EOS 550D

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"

differences

Advantages of the Canon 50D
Shutter lag Significantly less shutter lag 131 ms vs 252 ms
Help
 Around 50% less delay when taking photos
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 6.3 fps vs 3.7 fps
Help
 More than 70% 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
Cross type focus points More cross-type focus points 9 vs 1
Help
 Grab focus in difficult situations
Battery life Slightly longer battery life 640 shots vs 440 shots
Help
 Around 50% more shots per battery charge
Fastest shutter speed Much faster max shutter speed 1/8000s vs 1/4000s
Help
 2x faster max shutter speed
Startup delay Slightly less startup delay 300 ms vs 400 ms
Help
 Around 30% less delay when turning on
Canon EOS 50D Learn more about
the Canon 50D

Advantages of the Canon 550D
Movie format Shoots movies 1080p @ 30fps vs None
Help
 Shoots Full HD (1080p) video as well as still pictures
Color depth Better color depth 22.1 bits vs 21.8 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 0.3 more bits of color
Overall image quality Better image quality 66.0 vs 63.0
Help
 Almost the same
Screen resolution Higher resolution screen 1,040k dots vs 920k dots
Help
 More than 10% higher resolution screen
True resolution Higher true resolution 17.9 MP vs 15.1 MP
Help
 Capture around 20% more detail in your photos
Low light performance Slightly lower noise at high ISO 784 ISO vs 696 ISO
Help
 The 550D has a slight edge (0.2 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Dynamic range More dynamic range 11.5 EV vs 11.4 EV
Help
 0.1 f-stops more dynamic range
Size Smaller 129x98x62 mm vs 146x108x74 mm
Help
 More than 30% smaller
Thickness Much thinner 2.4" vs 2.9"
Help
 Around 20% thinner
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
Weight Lighter 530 g vs 822 g
Help
 Around 40% lighter
Lowest price Slightly cheaper $703.87 vs $1,281.99
Help
 The best price we've seen is $578 cheaper (around 50% less)
Canon EOS 550D Learn more about
the Canon 550D
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent DSLRs, and ignoring price

Canon EOS 50D Canon EOS 50D
57 vs 54
Explain scores
Canon EOS 550D Canon EOS 550D
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Canon EOS 50D. 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?

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I am considering either the 50D or the 550D,
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2
votes
by Char-Sevig last month
Canon 50D vs Canon 5D Mark II

I currently have a canon xsi, with several lenses. A canon 70-200mm f/4 L ,55-250mm, 50mm 1.8 ,18-...

One person recommends the Canon 5D Mark II:

"I recently upgraded from the XSi to the 5D Mark II and couldn't be happier. As I'm sure you know, ..."
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 Scott-Harmon last week
Canon T3i vs Canon 50D

i am taking my wife on an Alaskan cruise.  I keep thinking just take my 50D and not my video, bu...

2 people recommend the Canon T3i:

" I get a chuckle when Adorama in NYC lists Canon 50D as "vintage" but in a way that seems fitting..."

" Canon is the leader in the DSLR video market, and the Canon T3i is one of the best entry level D..."
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 DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Lens availability Many lenses available Help
162 lenses
Thickness Thin Help
50D: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
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
Focus points Few focus points Help
9
Sensor size Very small sensors Help
APS-C 22.3x14.9mm
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
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
50D:3,200 ISO
550D:6,400 ISO
Dynamic range Poor dynamic range Help
50D:11.4 EV
550D:11.5 EV
Color depth Poor color depth Help
50D:21.8 bits
550D:22.1 bits
Overall image quality Low image quality Help
50D:63.0
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
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the EOS 600D vs the EOS 50D
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 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
Compare the D5100 vs the EOS 50D
Compare the D5100 vs the EOS 550D
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
Compare the D3100 vs the EOS 50D
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
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the EOS 1100D vs the EOS 50D
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
Screen flips out Has a screen which flips out
Battery life Has a slightly longer battery life
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the EOS 60D vs the EOS 50D
Compare the EOS 60D vs the EOS 550D
Canon EOS 500D

Canon EOS 500D

Entry-level DSLR

$539 with 18-55mm lens
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
External mic jack Lacks and external mic jack
Compare the EOS 500D vs the EOS 50D
Compare the EOS 500D vs the EOS 550D
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$897 body only

$1,047 with 55-200mm 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
Compare the D90 vs the EOS 50D
Compare the D90 vs the EOS 550D

Canon EOS 50D Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Canon EOS 50D.

Canon EOS 550D Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

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

appearance

Canon EOS 50D Canon EOS 550D
Canon EOS 50D Canon EOS 550D
Canon EOS 50D Canon EOS 550D

discussion

Showing 1 comments

Sunnycapricorn (2:16 PM, September 28, 2011)
i have use eos 550 d  its good camera but now ia m using eos 50 D its best  camera in image quality and manual functions