Creative control with no compromise on quality
The EOS 550D makes Canon’s powerful imaging technology more accessible to consumers. Canon’s advanced DIGIC 4 image processor and 18MP sensor support standard ISO settings of 100 – 6400 (expandable to 12800), while enhanced in-camera noise reduction technology boosts performance in low light conditions. The system’s 14-bit image processing also produces smoother tonal gradation and natural looking colours for high quality prints and on-screen display.
For swift and accurate focusing, the EOS 550D features a 9-point AF system with one extra-sensitive cross–type point at the centre for f/2.8 or faster lenses. The EOS 550D also supports high-speed, continuous shooting at 3.7 frames per second (fps). These features provide users with the opportunity to exert greater control over their images, allowing them to capture split-second moments with ease and accuracy.
Continuing Canon’s tradition of filtering new technology and features down from its advanced and professional DSLR ranges, the EOS 550D includes the iFCL metering system first launched in the EOS 7D. New for EOS is the ability to set the top limit for automatic ISO, allowing users to control the maximum amount of noise in their images. In a first for entry level EOS, exposure compensation and bracketing can be set up to plus or minus five and two stops respectively, allowing the photographer to take a number of differently exposed versions of the same shot to ensure they capture a well-exposed image, even in difficult lighting conditions.
“Digital SLR photography has captured the imagination of consumers globally,” said Kieran Magee, Director of Product Planning, Consumer Products, Canon Europe. “Every year, more and more individuals are looking to record key life events with unrivalled quality or to test and explore their creativity. The EOS 550D redefines the entry level DSLR category, putting technologies and features previously the preserve of the professional into the hands of the consumer – allowing them to achieve outstanding results. With the EOS 550D, consumers are free to explore the limits of their own creative vision.”
EOS Movies: Full HD video with creative control
As the ability to record Full HD video becomes increasingly important, Canon continues to deliver DSLR technology that sets the industry benchmark for multimedia functionality. The EOS 550D records video in full 1920x1080p HD resolution, allowing photographers to select the frame rate preferred from 30, 25 and 24fps, as well as offering 720p video at 60 and 50fps. The EOS 550D also includes a 3.5mm stereo microphone socket, enabling the use of an external microphone when capturing video.
Photographers can also take manual control over exposure settings, changing the depth of field and degree of motion blur to shoot more creatively. To provide the best possible video quality, highlight tone priority (HTP) can be set independently for movie capture, without changing any still image capture settings. In situations where the subject is further away, the EOS 550D Movie Crop function records with the central 640×480 pixel area of the sensor, creating an effective magnification of approximately seven times. The EOS 550D is the first in the EOS range to feature Movie Crop and gives consumers more flexibility to capture important moments which would otherwise be too far away.
A clear view of your world
The EOS 550D also allows photographers to view their images and video in unhindered clarity. A 7.7cm (3.0”) 3:2 Clear View LCD screen with 1,040k dot resolution makes it possible to see 100% of captured images with no borders. The anti-reflective, water-repellent coating also makes it easier to see the screen in bright conditions and from a variety of angles.
EOS build – Canon quality
As consumers would expect from an EOS DSLR, the EOS 550D is built to a high quality specification. It features bigger, more intuitive buttons which have been redesigned following feedback from users. Based on this feedback, the EOS 550D also features an additional button on the new, battery grip, allowing aperture settings to be changed when shooting with the camera in a vertical position, without having to reorient the body.
Share the moment with friends and family
For EOS 550D photographers, shooting great pictures and video is just a first step. Thanks to an integrated HDMI port compatible with High-Definition Multimedia Interface – Consumer Electronics Control (HDMI-CEC), video and images stored on the EOS 550D can be viewed on an HD-ready TV and controlled via the TV remote.
For users who want to transfer content wirelessly, the EOS 550D includes Eye-Fi* connected functions. The EOS 550D features a dedicated Eye-Fi section in the User Interface and it disables the automatic power-down function when an Eye-Fi card is transmitting – allowing users to transfer content easily and without interruption**.
Accessories
The EOS 550D is fully compatible with all Canon EF and EF-S lenses and EX series Speedlite flash units, including the compact Speedlite 270EX. The EOS 550D is also compatible with the new RC-6 Remote Control, allowing photographers to capture high quality stills and Full HD video without touching the camera body. The slimline infrared controller can trigger the shutter release from up to five metres away, with users able to select either immediate release or a two second delay for greater flexibility when shooting. As well as supporting EOS 550D, the RC-6 is also compatible with the EOS 450D, 500D, 7D and 5D Mark II.
CANON iMAGE GATEWAY – share your stories
Owners of the new Canon EOS 550D can join the CANON iMAGE GATEWAY, a free online facility for Canon users that makes it easy to share their photos and video. Users can take advantage of up to 2GB of personal storage space, creating enough room for hundreds of high-quality images. Mobile browsing is also supported, making it easy for friends and family to view photos on the move.
Features at a glance:
- 18 Megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor
- DIGIC 4 processor with ISO 100-6400 (Expansion to 12800)
- Continuous shooting at 3.7fps
- Full HD movie recording with manual control and selectable frame rates
- 7.7cm (3.0”) 3:2 Clear View LCD with 1,040k dots
- iFCL metering System with 63-zone Dual-layer Metering Sensor
- Quick Control screen to change shooting settings
- Exposure compensation +/-5 stops.
- Select maximum value for Auto ISO
- External Microphone socket
- Movie crop function
- Eye-Fi connected functions compatibility
209 Comments
Beware of what? The new Nikon Coolpix P100 does ~10fps at 10Mpix and HD Video of 1080p at 30fps. Not bad for US$400. A sign of thinks to come?
You are right concerning the issues on sensors charge dissipation problems, this is an issue. Large sensors are not in question from my perspective, but i may be wrong. There are also differences between CCD sensors and CMOS on that…
My two cents are that this issue is more related to pixel density and internal design of electronic function like peak detection and signal noise reduction. At high speed it’s difficult to clear the sensors of the previous electrical charges. Hence the problems that are arising on remanent image, or remains of previous shots on a picture (somewhat seen of the 7D). I am pretty sure that CCD, more expensive, prone to heating, requiring to be charged to function (not passive capture), are relatively shielded from that problem…
The highest speed of D3s is achieved with DX format…but given the super coverage that a FF taylored AF would have on APS-H or APS-C coverage, and the enhanced tracking performances (pure speculation and whishful thinking here but…) it would have. I am pretty sure it will find great interest among photographers.
I am not sure on the Higher X-Synch, but yeah…at this price point, 300th should really be the minimum
god dam, i just saved up for 5 months to get my 500D for christmas, oh well i guess thats how technology goes, i just thought the 500D would be replaced after the 1000D.
i want refund on 500D now so i can get 550D :) anyone know if that actully could be possible
Well, I’ve since lost the link but someone on here had a link to a reviewer on DPR quoting a canon engineer regarding one of the reasons they opted against making the 1d IV FF as apposed to 1.3 and apparently this notion of image ghosting came up in some FF tests as a result of not being able to dissipate the charge, as I understood it both pixel density (as affecting resolution) and sensor size (whether this is again purely relating to pixel density or something more wasn’t clear) have an effect on this undersized phenomenon.
The thing to be aware of with CCD, is that when doing the read out of a sensor after capture, it has in the past always been limited to row by row, so you can imagine you have to clear one row at a time, it’s actually very slow. CMOS on the other hand allows for all rows to be read out at the same time which as a rule means you can get the image off the sensor and ready for the next frame a lot faster.
CCD is probably the better technology in a lot of ways, but due to production costs very little R&D is done on it when compared to CMOS, ironically CCD was originally the technology associated with less noise and better IQ for the longest time until canon started producing their own CMOS sensors and winning the IQ/low noise game for a few years, at which point nikon started to look at alternatives to CCD as well.
It still makes me laugh a little that the SLR market is dominated by CMOS, but the med format market is still using CCD for it’s once upon a time better DR and lower noise in shadows, but then if you go down to the compact market… we see a lot of CCD’s again which I think come mostly from sony still? although I’m not 100% on that.