Updated (November, 2011): Compare the Canon EOS 600D vs Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1

Canon EOS 550D

74

Reasons to buy the Canon EOS 550D

Screen resolution
High resolution screen
1,040k dots
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
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1

32

Reasons to buy the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1

Size
Really small
Mid size 119x71x36 mm
Badge
Autofocuses shooting video
Contrast detection
Badge
Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
Thickness
Thin
1.4"
Weight
Light-weight
330 g
Longest exposure
Long exposures
60 seconds

differences

Advantages of the Canon 550D

Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen 1,040k dots vs 460k dots
Help
Around 2.5x higher resolution screen
Movie format Higher resolution movies 1080p @ 30fps vs 720p @ 30fps
Help
Shoots higher resolution Full HD (1080p) video
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
Overall image quality Better image quality 66.0 vs 54.0
Help
More than 20% better image quality
Lens availability Much more lenses available 162 lenses vs 26 lenses
Help
More than 6x more lenses available
True resolution Significantly higher true resolution 17.9 MP vs 12 MP
Help
Capture around 50% more detail in your photos
Dynamic range More dynamic range 11.5 EV vs 10.3 EV
Help
1.2 f-stops more dynamic range
Color depth Better color depth 22.1 bits vs 21.2 bits
Help
Distinguishes 0.9 more bits of color
Startup delay Less startup delay 400 ms vs 1400 ms
Help
3.5x less delay when turning on
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
Viewfinder Has a viewfinder Pentamirror vs None
Help
A viewfinder can help save battery life by keeping the screen turned off
Sensor size Larger sensor APS-C 22.3x14.9mm vs Four thirds 18.0x13.5mm
Help
Around 40% larger sensor
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 784 ISO vs 513 ISO
Help
The 550D has a slight edge (0.6 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Shutter lag Slightly less shutter lag 252 ms vs 409 ms
Help
Around 40% less delay when taking photos
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
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 fps
Help
More than 20% faster continuous shooting
Lowest price Cheaper $691.01 vs $1,138.49
Help
The best price we've seen is $447 cheaper (around 40% less)
Canon EOS 550D Learn more about
the Canon 550D

Advantages of the Panasonic DMC-GF1

Size Significantly smaller 119x71x36 mm vs 129x98x62 mm
Help
2.6x smaller
Autofocus Video autofocus Contrast detection vs None
Help
Automatically focuses shooting video
Focus points More focus points 23 vs 9
Help
Set focus accurately within the frame
Weight Lighter 330 g vs 530 g
Help
Around 40% lighter
Thickness Thinner 1.4" vs 2.4"
Help
More than 40% thinner
Longest exposure Significantly longer exposures 60s vs 30s
Help
2x longer exposures
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1 Learn more about
the Panasonic DMC-GF1
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent digital cameras, and ignoring price

Canon EOS 550D Canon EOS 550D
74 vs 32
Explain scores
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1
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 mirrorless interchangeable-lens.

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 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"

0
votes
by CHAPPERS1 last week
Canon 600D vs Canon 550D

HAVE BEEN PHOTOGRAPHING WITH 40D WILL THE EXTRA PIXELS MAKE A GREAT DIFFERENCE ASSUMING MAX A4 S...

similarities

Compared to recent digital cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Interchangeable lenses Both support interchangeable lenses, which is uncommon in cameras similar to these Help
Many lenses to choose from
Sensor size Large sensors Help
550D:APS-C 22.3x14.9mm
DMC-GF1:Four thirds 18.0x13.5mm
Supports RAW RAW support Help
Better editing
External flash Support external flash Help
Better lighting
Sensor cleaning Self cleaning sensors Help
Avoids dust in your photos
Sensor type Better sensor types Help
Better in low light
Fastest shutter speed Fast max shutter speeds Help
1/4000 of a second
Longest exposure Long exposures Help
550D:30s
DMC-GF1:60s
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
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
Cross type focus points Few cross-type focus points Help
550D:1
DMC-GF1:0
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

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
Built-in flash Doesn't have a built-in flash
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
Built-in flash Doesn't have a built-in flash
Startup delay Has slightly more startup delay

Canon EOS 550D Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon EOS 600D

Canon EOS 600D

Entry-level DSLR

$863 with 18-55mm lens

Screen flips out Has a flip-out screen
Size Larger
Startup delay More startup delay
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $597 body only

$600 - $697 with 18-55mm lens

Screen flips out Has a flip-out screen
Overall image quality Better image quality
Lens focus motor Doesn't have a built-in focus motor
Size Larger
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 1100D

Canon EOS 1100D

Entry-level DSLR

$489 - $559 body only

$587 - $643 with 18-55mm lens

Battery life Significantly longer battery life
Weight Lighter
Screen resolution Much lower resolution screen
Movie format Lower resolution movies
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

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$643 - $1,125 body only

$739 - $964 with 14-42mm lens

Movie format Higher resolution movies
Touch screen Has a touch screen
Color depth Worse color depth
Battery life Shorter battery life
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$469 body only

Movie format Higher resolution movies
Touch screen Has a touch screen
Overall image quality Slightly worse image quality
Color depth Worse color depth
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$376 with 14-42mm lens

Movie format Higher resolution movies
Touch screen Has a touch screen
Battery life Shorter battery life
Sensor size Slightly smaller sensor
Olympus PEN E-PL1

Olympus PEN E-PL1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$260 - $279 with 14-42mm lens

External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Image stabilization Image stabilization
Screen size Significantly smaller screen
Screen resolution Lower resolution screen
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

Pro digicam

$325

Image stabilization Image stabilization
Continuous shooting Shoots faster
Overall image quality Worse image quality
Interchangeable lenses Built-in lens only

appearance

Canon EOS 550D Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1
Canon EOS 550D Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1
Canon EOS 550D Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1

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