Canon EOS 550D From Richard Nathaniel C's Photograph

Less than a year after the launch of the EOS Rebel T1i (500D) comes the latest in Canon’s hugely popular consumer SLR range, the Rebel T2i (EOS 550D). With the 450D and 500D Canon appeared to be pulling away slightly from the real ‘entry level’ (a sector driven almost entirely by price), and the EOS 550D – on paper at least – is no exception, outgunning many of the ‘upper entry level’ and mid range SLRs on the market today in terms of spec. To ensure it doesn’t lose out at the price-sensitive DSLR entry point Canon is once again introducing its new flagship Rebel as a ‘sister’ product to the camera it ostensibly replaces. The EOS 500D (Rebel T1i) will be staying in the range for the rest of 2010 (at, one presumes, a more attractive price point). We would assume that the new model finally spells the end of the line for the current ‘bargain’ Canon, the venerable Rebel XSi (EOS 450D).

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In many respects the EOS 550D is a ‘baby EOS 7D’. As well as getting a resolution boost to a class-leading 18 megapixels and a significantly upgraded movie mode (which now offers full HD capture at up to 30 fps, has full manual control and the option to use an external stereo microphone), the EOS 550D gets the 7D’s sophisticated new metering system (bringing it a lot closer to similarly positioned Nikon SLRs). It also sports a new widescreen (3:2) LCD panel, has improved button design and finally offers the ability to customize the Auto ISO function.

It’s clear Canon has been feeling the heat from the aggressive competition it faces from the numerous feature-laden cameras offered by Nikon, Pentax, Sony and Olympus in this market sector, and has decided to throw down the gauntlet with the most highly-specced Rebel we’ve ever seen. We’ll reserve judgment on whether it’s destined to be a class-leader until we’ve got a final production sample in for review, and I’m sure there’s plenty of you interested to see how well it does too. As it stands we’ve managed to get hold of a pre production sample for a day in order to produce this brief hands-on preview to tide you over.

Headline features

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 (although viewfinder scale is still +/-2 stops)
Select maximum value for Auto ISO
External Microphone socket
Movie crop function
Eye-Fi connected functions compatibility

Canon EOS 550 vs EOS 500D: what’s changed

As before Canon isn’t officially ‘replacing’ the EOS 500D with the new 550D, and for the foreseeable future the EOS 550D will sit in the range between the EOS 500D and the EOS 7D (ignoring for the moment the additional confusion of the EOS 50D, which the new camera out-specs in some areas). The changes are partly cosmetic (a very slightly different body shell design, tweaks to the buttons and mode dial), but the real changes are under the hood.

As well as a boost from 15 to an EOS 7D-matching 18 megapixels (it’s not the same sensor, though it is apparently ‘very similar’), the EOS 550D gets a non-crippled full HD movie mode (1920 x 1080 at up to 30 fps, 720P at 60/50 fps, manual controls, external mic socket), upgraded metering and a smattering of smaller (but no less welcome) improvements.

The body shell is almost – but not quite – identical. The most obvious changes are the new wider (3:2 aspect ratio) 3.0″ screen, larger, easier to use buttons and a dedicated live view/movie button (which allows the direct print button to double up as a way to directly access the Quick Control Screen).

Canon EOS 550D vs EOS 500D Key differences

Higher resolution 18MP CMOS with gapless micro lenses
ISO 6400 no longer in ‘expanded’ range (12,800 max remains the same)
Redesigned buttons and new movie/live view button
Customizable auto ISO ranges
Improved 63 zone metering (iFCL)
3:2 format screen with more pixels
Improved movie functionality
Slightly higher burst shooting rate (though buffer holds fewer shots)
HDMI control (CEC)
SDXC compatible

Canon EOS 550D vs. EOS 500D major feature and specification differences

	Canon EOS 550D	Canon EOS 500D
Sensor	• 18.7 million effective pixels	• 15.1 million effective pixels
Image sizes	• 5184 x 3456 • 3456 x 2304 • 2592 x 1728	• 4752 x 3168 • 3456 x 2304 • 2353 x 1568
Sensitivity	ISO 100 to 6400, extendable to 12800.	ISO 100 to 3200, extendable to H1 (6400) and H2 (12800).
Metering	• TTL 63-zone SPC	• 35-zone evaluative
Exposure Compensation	+/- 5.0 EV	+/- 2.0 EV
Auto ISO	• ISO 100 to 6400 • User selectable max ISO	ISO 100 to 1600
LCD monitor	• 3.0 ” TFT LCD • 3:2 aspect ratio • 1,040,000 dots	• 3.0 ” TFT LCD • 4:3 aspect ratio • 920,000 dots
Video mode	• 1080p @ 30, 25 or 24 fps • 720p @ 50/60 fps • VGA @ 50/60 fps • Movie crop function • External stereo mike (optional)	• 1080p @ 20fps • 720p @ 30fps • VGA @ 30fps
High-speed continuous	• 3.7 fps • 34 JPEG/Fine frames • 6 RAW frames	• 3.4 fps • 170 JPEG/Fine frames • 9 RAW frames
Connectors	• USB 2.0 Hi-Speed • Video output (PAL/ NTSC) (integrated with USB terminal) • HDMI Type C • Stereo microphone	• USB 2.0 Hi-Speed • Video output (PAL/ NTSC) (integrated with USB terminal) • HDMI Type C
Storage	SD/SDHC/SDXC	SD/SDHC
Eye-Fi compatibility	On-screen messages & menu support, auto power-down disabled when transmitting.	Supported, no feedback
Battery Grip	BG-E8	BG-E5
Others	• Copyright/photographer information • ’Q’ button & separate movie button • 4 level battery reporting • Eye-Fi card menu and UI support • Control over HDMI • Easier access to Auto Lighting Optimizer