Canon EOS 550D Perfect for entry level photography

One of the best entry level cameras on the market.

The Canon EOS 550D is a difficult product to categorize. Ostensibly designed to appeal to first-time DSLR buyers and enthusiasts, it offers a lot more technology, and at a higher price, than we might expect for a camera aimed squarely at this sector. Although it might seem logical for the 550D to replace the EOS 500D, the older camera is set to continue in Canon’s lineup, which leaves the 550D pinched between its entry-level (represented by the still-current EOS 1000D and the 500D) and nominally enthusiast (the EOS 50D) peers. Confusingly however, apart from build quality (which is all but identical to the EOS 500D), the 550D has more in common with the prosumer EOS 7D, and – perhaps even more confusingly – it out-specifies the EOS 50D in many areas.

Central to the impressive specification of the EOS 550D is a high-spec movie mode which offers full HD capture at up to 30 fps, manual control over exposure, and the option to use an external stereo microphone. The new camera also inherits the EOS 7D’s sophisticated metering system (which brings it a lot closer to similarly positioned Nikon SLRs).

So why has Canon apparently risked cannibalizing 7D sales by releasing such a similarly-specced, lower-end model? Well, Canon might have invented the ‘entry-level’ DSLR way back in 2003 with the attractively priced (for the time) EOS 300D, but these days, this sector of the marketplace is pretty crowded. Far from enjoying a monopoly, Canon, like all manufacturers, faces a stiff battle to make its products stand out amongst their numerous peers. To this end, Canon has pulled out all the stops with the EOS 550D and produced the most highly-spec’d Rebel we’ve ever seen. Now that a production sample has arrived in dpreview’s offices, we’ve had the chance to subject it to our full in-depth test procedure. Read on to find out how it performs.

The EOS 550D redefines the boundaries of Canon’s consumer DSLR range, incorporating technologies and features more commonly found in semi-professional DSLRs into the compact, lightweight body favoured by consumers. With a newly-developed 18 Megapixel (MP) APS-C CMOS sensor, coupled with Canon’s advanced DIGIC 4 image processor and the ability to shoot Full HD movies, photography enthusiasts are empowered to explore new levels of creativity.

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Conclusion

Canon has pulled out all the stops with the EOS 550D, and has delivered the most highly specified Rebel-series DSLR we’ve ever seen. In practice, the camera does not disappoint, and in all respects it gives excellent performance, at least matching but in most cases bettering the best of the competition. Given that the competition includes cameras like the excellent Pentax K-x, and Nikon D5000 – both of which also feature video capture – this is high praise indeed.

After extended use of the EOS 550D, one of the most impressive things about the camera is its consistency. The 550D can be relied upon in almost any environment to deliver pleasant, well-exposed images, and although it obviously can’t match the likes of the EOS 1D Mark IV or the Nikon D3S at its highest ISO setting of 12800, it is measurably better than its predecessor the EOS 500D, despite a hike in resolution. This is impressive in itself, but the fact that the 550D also brings an improved video mode (equal in the essential points to the current best video-enabled DSLRs on the market) will come as music to the ears of Canon users looking either to upgrade from a 1000D or 450D, or to 7D users looking for a (relatively) inexpensive backup camera.

It is these photographers, who already own a higher-end DSLR, that I think will really appreciate the 550D. Despite the entry-level ergonomics, and the inclusion of beginner-friendly features like Creative Auto mode, the 550D is actually closer to the EOS 7D in terms of specification. Crucially, it delivers this specification at a fraction of the size and weight, not to mention a lower price.