Canon EOS
550D
 vs
Canon EOS
60D

Updated (February, 2011): Compare the Canon EOS 600D vs Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

59
Winner

Canon EOS 60D
"Excellent image quality up to ISO settings unthinkable just one camera generation ago"
dpreview.com | talking about the 60D's image-quality
"It may have turned its back on the semi-pro, but the 60D is still a camera that should enthuse the enthusiasts."
dpreview.com | talking about the 60D's overall-performance

Reasons to buy the Canon EOS 60D

Screen resolution
 High resolution screen
1,040k dots
Screen flips out
 Flip-out screen
Great for movies
External mic jack
 External mic jack
Record higher quality audio with a microphone
Badge
 Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
Fastest shutter speed
 Fast shutter speed
1/8000 of a second
Canon EOS 550D

55
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 550D
Thickness Much thinner 2.4" vs 3.1"
Help
 More than 20% thinner
Size Smaller 129x98x62 mm vs 145x106x79 mm
Help
 Around 40% smaller
Weight Lighter 530 g vs 755 g
Help
 Around 30% lighter
Canon EOS 550D Learn more about
the Canon 550D

Advantages of the Canon 60D
Screen flips out Has a flip-out screen Yes vs No
Help
 Flip-out screens can be helpful when composing tricky shots or taking movies
Battery life Longer battery life 1100 shots vs 440 shots
Help
 2.5x more shots per battery charge
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
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 5.3 fps vs 3.7 fps
Help
 More than 40% faster continuous shooting
Color depth Better color depth 22.2 bits vs 22.1 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 0.1 more bits of color
Viewfinder coverage Better viewfinder coverage 96% vs 95%
Help
 Almost the same
Fastest shutter speed Much faster max shutter speed 1/8000s vs 1/4000s
Help
 2x faster max shutter speed
Canon EOS 60D Learn more about
the Canon 60D
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent DSLRs, and ignoring price

Canon EOS 550D Canon EOS 550D
55 vs 59
Explain scores
Canon EOS 60D Canon EOS 60D
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Canon EOS 60D. 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

Need help deciding?

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I am considering either the 550D or the 60D,
For example: Taking photos in low light or great family photos or ability to take great photos underwater

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One person recommends the Canon 550D:

" The 550D has slightly better image quality and better video features."

similarities

Compared to recent DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Screen resolution High resolution screens Help
1,040k dots
Lens availability Many lenses available Help
162 lenses
Supports 24p 24p support Help
For that film look
Storage slots Fewer storage slots Help
1
Viewfinder coverage Below average viewfinder coverage Help
550D:95%
60D:96%
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
Weather sealed Neither is weather sealed Help
Need to shelter it from weather
Focus points Few focus points Help
9
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
Shutter lag Significant shutter lag Help
550D:252 ms
60D:253 ms
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Sensor size Very small sensors Help
APS-C 22.3x14.9mm
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
6,400 ISO
Dynamic range Poor dynamic range Help
11.5 EV
Color depth Poor color depth Help
550D:22.1 bits
60D:22.2 bits
Overall image quality Low image quality Help
66.0

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon EOS 600D

Canon EOS 600D

Entry-level DSLR

$863 with 18-55mm lens
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 60D
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $597 body only

$600 - $697 with 18-55mm lens
Overall image quality Has significantly better image quality
Color depth Has slightly more color depth
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 60D
Canon EOS 7D

Canon EOS 7D

Pro DSLR

$1,549 - $1,821 body only

$1,500 - $1,849 with 18-135mm lens
Weather sealed Has a weather sealed body
Continuous shooting Shoots faster continuously
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the EOS 7D vs the EOS 550D
Compare the EOS 7D vs the EOS 60D
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$1,000 - $1,197 body only

$1,100 with 55-200mm lens
Overall image quality Has significantly better image quality
Color depth Has slightly more color depth
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the D7000 vs the EOS 550D
Compare the D7000 vs the EOS 60D
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $547 with 18-55mm lens
Movie continuous focus Can focus continuously while recording movies
Autofocus Focuses automatically while shootting video
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D3100 vs the EOS 550D
Compare the D3100 vs the EOS 60D
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$830 - $897 body only

$1,199 - $1,200 with 18-105mm 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 550D
Compare the D90 vs the EOS 60D
Canon EOS 1100D

Canon EOS 1100D

Entry-level DSLR

$489 - $559 body only

$587 - $643 with 18-55mm lens
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the EOS 1100D vs the EOS 550D
Compare the EOS 1100D vs the EOS 60D

Canon EOS 550D Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

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

Canon EOS 60D Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Canon EOS 60D.

appearance

Canon EOS 550D Canon EOS 60D
Canon EOS 550D Canon EOS 60D
Canon EOS 550D Canon EOS 60D

discussion

Showing 7 comments

WolfHeart (9:21 PM, January 23, 2012)
To name a few that I havent seen on the net before is the ability to master strobes, in camera RAW processing, Battery Grip individual battery life indicator, Adjustable volume for external mic (seen that a couple of times) horizontal indicator, top screen, 1/250th x sync vs 200 which is an awesome feature and many more not to forget that on the other hand there are two EXTREMELY @n@l features in the 60 newly introduced that are the wheel dial lock and the top mode selector lock.
 
WolfHeart (9:14 PM, January 23, 2012)
There are TOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO many advantages in the 60D over the 550 except the ISO handling in dark situations where I dont know how and why the 60D is worse than the 550 and that was the reason I sold the 60 to get a 550, Im a pixel peeper, I do product photography and for me handling low key photography is my bread and butter.
 
Majomkukac (9:48 AM, August 10, 2011)
this 2 cameras are both damn good. i also tried both of em. There is no debate on wich one is better cos 60d is better, BUT 550d is 40% cheeper, and you get the same sensor and everithing is the same that in the 60d. So 550 is better!
 
Avatar for technobaboy technobaboy (3:15 PM, April 26, 2011)
i vote 60D
www.technobaboy.com
 
Tom (4:58 AM, April 22, 2011)
Well the much-improved weather sealing on the 60D makes it a no brainer for me as I do a lot of bush photography in wet weather. And the grip is much better. And the mode dial has a LOCK! Hurrah!
 
Arijt Gupta (7:21 PM, April 13, 2011)
Same here bro... there is no competition what so ever!!!
 
Vcfh1945 (0:37 AM, March 18, 2011)
If you take away the "popularity" score which in my opinion is a misnomer which gives the 550 a +of 35 over the 60 (obviously because it's a consumer model) the 60D wins. I have handled both and there is no contest. The 60D is a much, much better camera than the 550d