Canon EOS
550D
 vs
Canon EOS
5D Mark II

Updated (March, 2012): Compare the Canon EOS 600D vs Canon EOS 5D Mark III

Canon EOS 5D Mark II

73
"the EOS 5D Mark II has an awful lot to recommend it to the serious photographer."
dpreview.com | talking about the 5D Mark II's overall-performance
"the 5D Mark II is certainly one of the best value for money propositions on the market for image quality - especially in RAW, where you really can see the benefit of all 21 million pixels."
dpreview.com | talking about the 5D Mark II's image-quality

Reasons to buy the Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Low light performance
 Low noise at high ISO
1,815 ISO
Overall image quality
 Great image quality
79.0
Color depth
 Great color depth
23.7 bits
Viewfinder size
 Large viewfinder
0.71x
True resolution
 High true resolution
21 MP
Weather sealed
 Weather sealed
Shoot in extreme weather
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"
Weight
 Light-weight
530 g

differences

Advantages of the Canon 550D
Lens availability More lenses available 162 lenses vs 125 lenses
Help
 Around 30% more lenses available
Screen resolution Higher resolution screen 1,040k dots vs 920k dots
Help
 More than 10% higher resolution screen
Size Significantly smaller 129x98x62 mm vs 152x114x75 mm
Help
 Around 40% smaller
Thickness Much thinner 2.4" vs 3"
Help
 Around 20% thinner
Built-in flash Built-in flash Yes vs No
Help
 A built-in flash is useful for taking indoor shots where there is little light
Weight Lighter 530 g vs 850 g
Help
 Around 40% lighter
Lowest price Cheaper $703.87 vs $2,130.11
Help
 The best price we've seen is $1,426 cheaper (3x less)
Canon EOS 550D Learn more about
the Canon 550D

Advantages of the Canon 5D Mark II
Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO 1,815 ISO vs 784 ISO
Help
 The 5D Mark II has excellent image quality 1.2 f-stops higher ISO than the 550D
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality 79.0 vs 66.0
Help
 Around 20% better image quality
Color depth Better color depth 23.7 bits vs 22.1 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 1.6 more bits of color
Viewfinder size Significantly larger viewfinder 0.71x vs 0.54x
Help
 More than 70% larger viewfinder
Sensor size Much larger sensor Full frame 36.0x24.0mm vs APS-C 22.3x14.9mm
Help
 More than 2.5x larger sensor
Dynamic range More dynamic range 11.9 EV vs 11.5 EV
Help
 0.4 f-stops more dynamic range
Weather sealed Weather sealed Yes vs No
Help
 Sealed to shoot in the rain
True resolution Higher true resolution 21 MP vs 17.9 MP
Help
 Capture around 20% more detail in your photos
Viewfinder Has a pentaprism viewfinder Pentaprism vs Pentamirror
Help
 Pentaprism viewfinders are typically brighter
Viewfinder coverage Significantly better viewfinder coverage 98% vs 95%
Help
 Almost the same
Shutter lag Less shutter lag 206 ms vs 252 ms
Help
 Around 20% less delay when taking photos
Battery life Longer battery life 850 shots vs 440 shots
Help
 More than 90% more shots per battery charge
Fastest shutter speed Much faster max shutter speed 1/8000s vs 1/4000s
Help
 2x faster max shutter speed
Light sensitivity (boost) Better boost ISO 25,600 ISO vs 12,800 ISO
Help
 The 5D Mark II's boost ISO is 1 f-stop better
Canon EOS 5D Mark II Learn more about
the Canon 5D Mark II
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent DSLRs, and ignoring price

Canon EOS 550D Canon EOS 550D
54 vs 73
Explain scores
Canon EOS 5D Mark II Canon EOS 5D Mark II
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Canon EOS 5D Mark II. This recommendation, however, should be taken with a grain of salt since it doesn't always make sense to compare a entry-level DSLR with a pro DSLR.

advice

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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 Poti-Jouseevis-Potgieter last month
Canon 600D vs Canon 5D Mark II

beginner at taking fotos and want to take the perfect pictures

3 people recommend the Canon 600D:

" If you are a "beginner at taking fotos and want to take the perfect pictures" I would recommend ..."

" If you are completely new to DSLR photography then having a 5D2 will give you a very steep learn..."

" The 5D Mark II is a far superior camera to the 600D.  But if you're going to be doing sport and ..."
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
Supports 24p 24p support Help
For that film look
Thickness Thin Help
550D:2.4"
5D Mark II:3"
Storage slots Fewer storage slots Help
1
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
Continuous shooting Slow continuous shooting Help
550D:3.7 fps
5D Mark II:3.9 fps
Focus points Few focus points Help
9
Cross type focus points Few cross-type focus points Help
1
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
6,400 ISO

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 550D
Compare the EOS 600D vs the EOS 5D Mark II
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $597 body only

$600 - $697 with 18-55mm lens
Dynamic range Has slightly wider dynamic range
Screen flips out Has a screen which flips out
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D5100 vs the EOS 550D
Compare the D5100 vs the EOS 5D Mark II
Canon EOS 7D

Canon EOS 7D

Pro DSLR

$1,549 - $1,821 body only

$1,620 - $1,849 with 18-135mm lens
Continuous shooting Shoots faster continuously
Shutter lag Has slightly less shutter lag
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the EOS 7D vs the EOS 550D
Compare the EOS 7D vs the EOS 5D Mark II
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
Cross type focus points Has slightly more cross-type focus points
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the EOS 60D vs the EOS 550D
Compare the EOS 60D vs the EOS 5D Mark II
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$1,000 body only

$1,100 with 55-200mm lens
Dynamic range Has slightly wider dynamic range
Continuous shooting Shoots faster continuously
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the D7000 vs the EOS 550D
Compare the D7000 vs the EOS 5D Mark II
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
Compare the EOS 500D vs the EOS 550D
Compare the EOS 500D vs the EOS 5D Mark II
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$897 body only

$1,047 with 55-200mm lens
Dynamic range Has slightly wider dynamic range
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D90 vs the EOS 550D
Compare the D90 vs the EOS 5D Mark II

Canon EOS 550D Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $547 with 18-55mm lens
Color depth Better color depth
Autofocus Video autofocus
Screen resolution Much lower resolution screen
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
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 Longer battery life
Weight Slightly lighter
Screen resolution Much lower resolution screen
Screen size Much smaller screen
Compare the EOS 1100D vs the EOS 550D

Canon EOS 5D Mark II Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon EOS 5D Mark III

Canon EOS 5D Mark III

Pro DSLR

$3,499 - $3,500 body only

$4,299 - $4,300 with 24-105mm lens
Cross type focus points Many more cross-type focus points
Focus points Many more focus points
Dynamic range Less dynamic range
Lowest price More expensive
Compare the EOS 5D Mark III vs the EOS 5D Mark II
Nikon D700

Nikon D700

Pro DSLR

$2,649 body only
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO
Focus points Many more focus points
Movie format Does not take movies
True resolution Significantly lower true resolution
Compare the D700 vs the EOS 5D Mark II
Nikon D800

Nikon D800

Pro DSLR

$2,999 - $3,000 body only
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality
Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO
Thickness Thicker
Size Larger
Compare the D800 vs the EOS 5D Mark II

appearance

Canon EOS 550D Canon EOS 5D Mark II
Canon EOS 550D Canon EOS 5D Mark II
Canon EOS 550D Canon EOS 5D Mark II

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