Updated (February, 2011): Compare the Canon EOS 600D vs Canon PowerShot G12

Canon EOS 550D

74

Reasons to buy the Canon EOS 550D

Screen resolution
High resolution screen
1,040k dots
True resolution
High true resolution
17.9 MP
Supports 24p
24p movies
For that film look
External mic jack
External mic jack
Record higher quality audio with a microphone
Badge
Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
Canon PowerShot G11

55

Reasons to buy the Canon PowerShot G11

Size
Really small
Mid size 112x76x48 mm
Image stabilization
Image stabilization
Lens
Screen flips out
Flip-out screen
Great for movies
Thickness
Thin
1.9"
Weight
Light-weight
375 g

differences

Advantages of the Canon 550D

Movie format Higher resolution movies 1080p @ 30fps vs 480p @ 30fps
Help
Shoots high resolution Full HD (1080p) video
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen 1,040k dots vs 461k dots
Help
Around 2.5x higher resolution screen
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality 66.0 vs 47.0
Help
More than 40% better image quality
Autofocus Faster autofocus Phase detection vs Contrast detection
Help
Catch candid moments easily
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
True resolution Much higher true resolution 17.9 MP vs 10 MP
Help
Capture around 80% more detail in your photos
Screen size Larger screen 3.0" vs 2.8"
Help
Around 10% larger screen
Sensor size Significantly larger sensor APS-C 22.3x14.9mm vs 1/1.7" 7.6x5.7mm
Help
More than 7.5x larger sensor
Color depth Better color depth 22.1 bits vs 20.4 bits
Help
Distinguishes 1.7 more bits of color
Interchangeable lenses Has interchangeable lenses Yes vs No
Help
Can take advantage of a variety of lenses
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 784 ISO vs 169 ISO
Help
The 550D has excellent image quality 2.2 f-stops higher ISO than the G11
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
Dynamic range More dynamic range 11.5 EV vs 11.1 EV
Help
0.4 f-stops more dynamic range
Sensor type Has a CMOS-family sensor CMOS vs CCD
Help
CMOS-family sensors often produce better quality images
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 3.7 fps vs 1.1 fps
Help
Around 3.5x faster continuous shooting
Light sensitivity (boost) Has boost ISO 12,800 ISO vs None
Help
Allows taking photos in darker situations, often at the cost of additional noise in the image
Viewfinder Has a through-the-lens viewfinder Pentamirror vs Tunnel
Help
Through-the-lens viewfinders let you see exactly what your photo will look like
Longest exposure Longer exposures 30s vs 15s
Help
2x longer exposures
Canon EOS 550D Learn more about
the Canon 550D

Advantages of the Canon G11

Image stabilization Image stabilization Lens vs None
Help
Helps eliminate blur caused by small camera movements
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
Size Smaller 112x76x48 mm vs 129x98x62 mm
Help
Around 50% smaller
Weight Lighter 375 g vs 530 g
Help
Around 30% lighter
Thickness Thinner 1.9" vs 2.4"
Help
More than 20% thinner
Canon PowerShot G11 Learn more about
the Canon G11
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent digital cameras, and ignoring price

Canon EOS 550D Canon EOS 550D
74 vs 55
Explain scores
Canon PowerShot G11 Canon PowerShot G11
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Canon EOS 550D. 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 digicam.

advice

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0
votes
by Krishna-Chaitanya last month
Canon 550D vs Sony SLT-A55

Beginner for a DSLR or an entry-level DSLR. Budget is less than 800 US dollars. looking for best...

0
votes
by Julie-Maddams-Huggins last month
Canon G11 vs Canon G12

I love taking pictures of my family , particularly when we're on holidays or just playing around i...

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..."

1
votes
by Chris-Harper last month
Canon 600D vs Canon 550D

I'll call myself a beginner but I have video editing training before. I'm really looking for a c...

One person recommends the Canon 600D:

" These two cameras are essentially the same. So you'll do well with either one. However, the 60..."

0
votes
by Wyn-Henderson last month
Canon 600D vs Canon 550D

I am a beginner looking for a camera with a good zoom to capture fast moving subjects

One person recommends the Canon 550D:

"I would save the extra money and invest in a good lens"

similarities

Compared to recent digital cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Supports RAW RAW support Help
Better editing
External flash Support external flash Help
Better lighting
Viewfinder Viewfinders Help
550D:Pentamirror
G11:Tunnel
Fastest shutter speed Fast max shutter speeds Help
1/4000 of a second
Weight Heavy Help
550D:530 g
G11:375 g
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon EOS 600D

Canon EOS 600D

Entry-level DSLR

$863 with 18-55mm lens

Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $597 body only

$600 - $697 with 18-55mm lens

Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Dynamic range Has significantly wider dynamic range
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Canon EOS 1100D

Canon EOS 1100D

Entry-level DSLR

$489 - $559 body only

$587 - $643 with 18-55mm lens

Battery life Has a significantly longer battery life
Sensor cleaning Lacks a self cleaning sensor
Thickness Is thicker
Sony NEX-5N

Sony NEX-5N

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$598 - $600 body only

$698 - $700 with 18-55mm lens

Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Light sensitivity Much higher maximum light sensitivity
Viewfinder Doesn't have a viewfinder
Built-in flash Doesn't have a built-in flash
Sony Alpha NEX-5

Sony Alpha NEX-5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$569 with 18-55mm lens

Light sensitivity Slightly higher maximum light sensitivity
Dynamic range Has slightly wider dynamic range
Viewfinder Doesn't have a viewfinder
Built-in flash Doesn't have a built-in flash
Canon Powershot SX40

Canon Powershot SX40

Super zoom

$347 - $380

Zoom Has way more more zoom
Wide angle Has a significantly wider wide angle lens
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier

Canon EOS 550D Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $547 with 18-55mm lens

Autofocus Video autofocus
Battery life Longer battery life
Screen resolution Much lower resolution screen
Lens focus motor Doesn't have a built-in focus motor
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 flip-out screen
Battery life Much longer battery life
Size Larger
Weight Heavier
Canon EOS 500D

Canon EOS 500D

Entry-level DSLR

$539 with 18-55mm lens

Shutter lag Slightly less shutter lag
Lowest price Slightly cheaper
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Supports 24p No 24p support
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$830 - $897 body only

$1,199 - $1,200 with 18-105mm lens

Battery life Significantly longer battery life
Overall image quality Better image quality
Movie format Lower resolution movies
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack

Canon PowerShot G11 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon PowerShot G12

Canon PowerShot G12

Pro digicam

$390 - $496

Supports 24p Supports 24p
HDR Has in-camera HDR
Weight Slightly heavier
Canon PowerShot G1X

Canon PowerShot G1X

Boutique

$799 - $800

Movie format Higher resolution movies
Screen resolution Significantly higher resolution screen
Macro focus Much worse macro capability
Size Larger
Canon PowerShot G10

Canon PowerShot G10

Pro digicam

Screen size Larger screen
True resolution Significantly higher true resolution
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Overall image quality Worse image quality
Nikon Coolpix P7000

Nikon Coolpix P7000

Pro digicam

$249

External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Screen resolution Significantly higher resolution screen
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Overall image quality Worse image quality
Canon PowerShot G9

Canon PowerShot G9

Pro digicam

Screen size Larger screen
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Wide angle Much worse wide angle
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out

appearance

Canon EOS 550D Canon PowerShot G11
Canon EOS 550D Canon PowerShot G11
Canon EOS 550D Canon PowerShot G11

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