Canon EOS 550D review

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-specced 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.

A brief history; Canon entry level digital SLR series

• 20/08/03: Canon EOS 300D / Digital Rebel (6 mp)
• 17/02/05: Canon EOS 350D / Digital Rebel XT (8 mp)
• 24/08/06: Canon EOS 400D / Digital Rebel XTi (10 mp)
• 24/01/08: Canon EOS 450D / Digital Rebel XSi (12 mp)
• 10/06/08: Canon EOS 1000D / Digital Rebel XS (10 mp)*
• 25/03/09: Canon EOS 500D / Digital Rebel T1i (15.1 mp)
• 08/02/10: Canon EOS 550D / Rebel T2i (18 mp)

* The Canon EOS 1000D represents a sub-class of the Rebel series and hence should be considered a parallel series.

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

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)
• SDHX Compatible

Technology in Detail/What's New

18.7 megapixel CMOS sensor  The 550D uses a new, 18.7 (total) megapixel sensor that's similar, but not exactly the same as the one featured in the 7D (according to our sources at Canon). As before the sensor uses high frequency vibrations to remove dust.
Gapless micro lenses First touted by Canon on the 50D, the EOS 550D's sensor has what are effectively gapless micro lenses, which significantly increases the efficiency of each pixel.
63-point iFCL metering The consumer EOS range gets a welcome metering boost with a new 63-zone dual layer iFCL metering sensor (first seen on the EOS 7D). The iFCL system uses focus, color and luminance information to determine consistently exposed shots. All focus points provide distance information to the metering system to determine proximity to the subject and allow the algorithm to weight the exposure accordingly.	Typically, metering sensors are more sensitive to red subjects which can lead to overexposure. The EOS 550D combats this with the dual layer sensor, which has one layer sensitive to red and green light and one that is sensitive to blue and green light. The metering algorithm then compares the level of the two layers and adjusts the meter reading accordingly.
Full HD movie modeIn keeping with the overall specification hike the EOS 550D gets full HD (1920 x 1080) movie capture at a range of frame rates (30, 25 and 20), bringing it in line with the EOS 7D. You also get full creative control (over apertures and shutter speeds), and you can set Highlight Tone Priority for movies independently of the setting used for stills. Another welcome addition is the inclusion of a stereo microphone jack.
Screen Color There are several minor changes to the user interface. You can now preview the color schemes available for the Quick Control Screen.	Copyright information The new in-camera copyright information feature - another that's trickled down from the latest professional models - allows copyright data to be entered directly into the camera, appending that information to each image file in the Exif metadata.
Button changesThe EOS 550D gains new button dedicated to Live View / movie mode; where it used to sit on the EOS 500D is now a new 'Q' button (for fast access to the Quick Control Screen). Most of the buttons have been redesigned, and they're generally larger and flatter.

canoneos550d (Rebel T2i) specifications

 

List price (US)	• Body only: $799 • Body+18-55 IS Kit: $899
List price (EU)	• Body only: €729 + VAT • Body+18-55 IS Kit: €829 + VAT
International naming *	• US: Canon Rebel T2i • Japan: Canon EOS Kiss Digital X4 • Elsewhere: Canon EOS 550D
Body material	Stainless Steel and polycarbonate resin with glass fiber
Sensor *	• 18.7 million effective pixels • 18.0 million total pixels • 22.3 x 14.9 mm CMOS sensor • RGB Color Filter Array • Built-in low-pass filter with self cleaning unit • 3:2 aspect ratio
Dust reduction	• Low-pass filter vibration at power-on (can be interrupted) • Anti-static coating on sensor surfaces • Software based dust-removal (camera maps dust, removed later)
Image sizes *	• 5184 x 3456 • 3456 x 2304 • 2592 x 1728
Still image formats	• RAW (.CR2 14-bit) • RAW (.CR2 14-bit) + JPEG Large/Fine • JPEG (EXIF 2.21) - Fine, Normal
Movie recording *	• 1920 x 1080 (1080p, 16:9) @ 30/25/24 fps • 1280 x 720 (720p, 16:9) @ 60/50 fps • 640 x 480 (4:3) @ 60/50 fps • Quicktime MOV format (H.264 video,linear PCM audio) • Up to 29 min 59 sec (or max file size 4 GB)
Image processor	DIGIC 4
Lenses	• Canon EF / EF-S lens mount • 1.6x field of view crop
Focus modes	• Auto Focus • Manual Focus (switch on lens)
Auto Focus	• 9-point CMOS sensor  • F5.6 cross-type at center, extra sensitivity at F2.8 • AF working range: -0.5 to 18 EV (at 23°C, ISO 100) • Predictive AF up to 10 m
AF modes	• AI Focus • One Shot • AI Servo
AF point selection	• Auto • Manual
AF assist	Flash strobe
Shooting modes	• Auto • Portrait • Landscape • Close-up • Sports • Night portrait • Flash off • Movie • Program AE (P) • Shutter priority AE (Tv) • Aperture priority AE (Av) • Manual (M) • Auto depth-of-field
Metering *	• TTL 63-zone SPC • Metering range: EV 1.0 - 20 EV (at 23°C, ISO 100, 50 mm F1.4)
Metering modes	• Evaluative 63-zone (linked to AF points) • Partial 9% at center • Spot 4% at center • Center-weighted average
AE Lock	AE lock button
AE Bracketing	• +/- 2.0 EV (3 shots) • 0.5 or 0.3 EV increments
Exposure compen. *	• +/- 5.0 EV • 0.5 or 0.3 EV increments
Sensitivity	• Auto (100 - 6400 *) • ISO 100 • ISO 200 • ISO 400 • ISO 800 • ISO 1600 • ISO 3200 • ISO 6400 * • H1 expansion (ISO 12800 equiv.) • Highlight tone priority
Shutter	• Focal-plane shutter • 30 - 1/4000 sec (0.5 or 0.3 EV steps) • Flash X-Sync: 1/200 sec • Bulb
Aperture values	• F1.0 - F91 (0.3 EV steps) • Actual aperture range depends on lens used
White balance	• Auto  • Daylight  • Shade  • Cloudy  • Tungsten  • Fluorescent  • Flash  • Custom
WB Bracketing	• +/-3 levels • 3 images • Selectable Blue/Amber or Magenta/Green bias
WB fine-tuning	• Blue (-9) to Amber (+9) • Magenta (-9) to Green (+9)
Color space	• sRGB • Adobe RGB
Picture style	• Standard • Portrait • Landscape • Neutral • Faithful • Monochrome • User 1 • User 2 • User 3
Custom image parameters	• Sharpness: 0 to 7 • Contrast: -4 to +4 • Saturation: -4 to +4 • Color tone: -4 to +4 • B&W filter: N, Ye, Or, R, G • B&W tone: N, S, B, P, G
Image processing	• Highlight Tone Priority • Auto Lighting Optimizer (Basic and Creative modes) • Long exposure noise reduction • High ISO speed noise reduction • Peripheral illumination correction
Drive modes	• Single • Continuous: 3.7 fps up to 34 Large/Fine JPEG / 6 RAW frames * • Self-timer 10 secs (2 sec with mirror lock-up) • Self-timer continuous
Mirror lockup	Yes (custom function)
Viewfinder	• Pentamirror • 95% frame coverage • Magnification: 0.87x (-1 diopter with 50 mm lens at infinity) • Eyepoint: 19 mm • Dioptric adjustment: -3.0 to +1.0 diopter • Fixed precision matte • Proximity sensor disables LCD shooting mode information
Viewfinder info	• AF information (AF points focus confirmation light) • Shutter speed • Aperture value • ISO speed (always displayed) • AE lock • Exposure level/compensation • Spot metering circle • Exposure warning • AEB • Flash ready • High-speed sync • FE lock • Flash exposure compensation • Red-eye reduction light • White balance correction • SD card information • Monochrome shooting • Maximum burst • Highlight tone priority
DOF preview	Yes, button
LCD monitor *	• 3.0" 3:2 TFT LCD • 1040,000 pixels • Approx 100% coverage • Wide viewing angle (160° horizontal and vertical) • Dual anti-reflection, anti-smudge • 7 brightness levels • Up to 10x zoom playback
LCD Live view	• Live TTL display of scene from CMOS image sensor • 100% frame coverage (30 fps display rate) • Real-time evaluative metering using CMOS image sensor • Best view or exposure simulation • Grid optional (thirds) • Magnify optional (5x or 10x at any point on the screen) • Optional Auto-focus with mirror-down / mirror-up sequence • Quick or Live mode autofocus
Record review	• Uses last play mode  • Magnification possible  • 2 / 4 / 8 sec / Hold
Flash	• Auto pop-up E-TTL II auto flash • Guide number approx 13 • Modes: Auto, Manual Flash On/ Off, Red-Eye Reduction • X-Sync: 1/200 sec • Flash exposure compensation: +/-2.0 EV (0.3 or 0.5 EV steps) • Coverage up to 17 mm focal length (27 mm FOV equiv.)
External flash	• E-TTL II auto flash with EX-series Speedlites • Hot-shoe
Other features	• Orientation sensor • In-camera copyright information • Automatically writes FAT16/FAT32 depending on capacity
Auto rotation	• On (playback uses orientation data in file header) • Off
Playback mode	• Single image • Single image with info (histogram brightness / RGB ) • Magnified view (1.5 - 10x in 15 steps, browsable) • 4 and 9 image index • Auto play • Image rotation • Jump (by 10, 100 or date)
Custom functions *	12 custom functions with 36 settings
Menu languages *	• English • German • French • Dutch • Danish • Portuguese • Finnish • Italian • Norwegian • Swedish • Spanish • Greek • Russian • Polish • Czech • Hungarian • Romanian • Ukrainian • Turkish • Arabic • Thai • Simplified Chinese • Traditional Chinese • Korean • Japanese
Firmware	User upgradable
Connectivity *	• USB 2.0 (Hi-Speed) • Video out (PAL / NTSC) (integrated with USB terminal *) • HDMI mini output (HDMI-CEC) • E3 type wired remote control • Remote Controller RC-6 • External microphone (3.5mm Stereo mini jack
Audio *	• Mono microphone on front • Mono speaker on rear • External stereo mike (optional)
Storage	• SD / SDHC card • SDXC card *
Power *	• Lithium-Ion LP-E8 rechargeable battery • Approx 440 shots (23°C AE 50%, FE 50%), CIPA standard • 4 level battery life display • Optional ACK-E8 AC adapter kit
Battery Grip *	Yes, BG-E8
Direct printing	• Canon Selphy Printers • Canon Bubble Jet Printers with direct print function • Canon PIXMA Printers supporting PictBridge • PictBridge
Dimensions	129 x 98 x 75 mm (5.1 x 3.9 x 2.9 in)
Weight (inc batt/card)	530 g (1.17 lb)
Software	• Zoom Browser EX / ImageBrowser • Digital Photo Professional (Windows / Mac) • PhotoStitch • EOS Utility (inc. Remote Capture; Windows & Mac except Mac Intel) • Original Data Security Tools • Picture Style Editor

* New or changed compared to the EOS 500D / Digital Rebel T1i

Design

The Canon EOS is very similar to the EOS 500D and EOS 450D before it, which are themselves evolutions of a basic design which debuted in the EOS 300D, in 2003. There are a few tweaks here and there: the finish is slightly different, there are subtle styling differences (including a new mode dial), and the buttons have been redesigned for easier use. The main functional difference is that there's a new movie / live view button to the right of the viewfinder. Where it used to be (and sharing a button with the indispensable 'direct print' feature) is a 'Q' button, borrowed from the EOS 7D, which gives direct access to the Quick Control Screen. The most obvious external change - button and surface textures aside - is the new wider aspect ratio screen.

Construction

The 550D inherits the 450D and 500D's body and construction, and other than the surface finish and minor tweaks to the casing, it stays essentially the same. As such, it's primarily made from three materials; a stainless steel chassis, the mirror box which is made of high-strength 'engineering plastic' and the body made of a special lightweight polycarbonate resin with glass fiber, which also provides some electromagnetic shielding. Construction isn't bad for the price, but with the EOS 550D it is clear that you're paying for the features, not the build quality.

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

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). 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.

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).

In your hand / grip

Since the body shell is virtually identical to the EOS 500D that it replaces, the handling is (aside from slightly better buttons) also virtually identical, meaning the grip still feels a bit fiddly unless you're got very delicate hands. It's by no means terrible (and can be to an extent mitigated by use of the optional battery grip), but it's worth handling one to find out if you're someone who can't live with it. The most convenient comparison (in terms of size, weight and intended customer base) is with the Nikon D5000, which feels a little meatier.

3:2 LCD Monitor

t's always been something of an oddity of digital SLR design (with the exception of Four Thirds models) that the screen on the back is a different shape to the pictures taken, meaning images are always displayed cropped or with black bars top and bottom. The EOS 550D's 3:2 screen perfectly matches its stills (and gets closer to the 16:9 used for movies), and with over a million dots and anti-reflective design that minimizes glare, it's a joy to behold too. Very nice.

The resolution is similar to the EOS 500D (720x480 / 1040k pixels) but the wider shape makes a lot more sense. Canon has removed the air-gap between the LCD’s protective cover and the liquid crystal to reduce glare. The screen has a viewing angle of 160 degrees.

Viewfinder

The 550D inherits the 500D's viewfinder. It's one of the better pentamirror finders out there, but obviously is not as big or bright as the pentaprism finders generally found in more expensive cameras. The small wheel to the right is a dioptre adjustment.

Viewfinder view

The viewfinder view is identical to the 500D's; the focusing screen has a circle indicating the spot metering location, and the AF areas are indicated by a small LED dot in the center of the AF point rectangle. With a depression of the shutter release button (half or full) this dot will briefly light to indicated the selected AF point (either automatic or manual) and then blink again once AF has been achieved.

Viewfinder size

Typically, entry-level DSLRs are equipped with fairly small, cramped viewfinders compared to their more advanced cousins. This is partly a result of their use of pentamirrors rather than pentaprisms, which tend to produce a dimmer, and - because of size constraints - a smaller viewfinder image. The EOS 550D offers essentially the same viewfinder experience as most cameras of this class.

Because of the way viewfinders are measured (using a fixed lens, rather than a lens of equivalent magnification), you also need to take the sensor size into account, so the numbers in the diagram below are the manufacturer's specified magnifications divided by the respective 'crop factors'. As you can see, the result is that the EOS 550D has a viewfinder that's almost identical to the Nikon D5000, and one that's a touch bigger than the equivalent Olympus Four Thirds SLR.

The diagram below shows the relative size of the viewfinders of the Canon EOS 550D, the Nikon D5000, Olympus E-620 and - for reference - the EOS-1Ds Mark III (currently the biggest viewfinder on the DSLR market, fractionally larger than the Sony Alpha 900).

The EOS 550D's viewfinder is slightly larger than the Nikon D5000's (though the difference is virtually impossible to see). Both are slightly larger than the E-620's viewfinder, thanks in part to the wider aspect ratio they use.

Viewfinder crop

The viewfinder of the Canon EOS 550D shows approximately 95% of the scene to be captured. The 5% 'margin of error' is of little consequence in normal use, but can make framing critical subjects difficult.

canoneos550d: 95% viewfinder.

Battery Compartment / Battery

The EOS 550D's battery compartment is located in the base of the hand grip behind a metal hinged plastic door. The battery fits horizontally into the base and is held in place by an white clip. The 550D uses a new battery (the LP-E8), which provides 4-level battery life information and is good for around 440 shots using the CIPA testing standard. This is a little lower than the EOS 500D, presumably the new sensor and screen draw a touch more power. The battery is charged using the supplied 'brick' charger.

Battery Grip (optional)

The 550D's new battery design means a new optional battery grip too, which won't please upgraders. the BG-E8 can take two of the new batteries or six AA batteries (using different cartridges). As with previous grips the BG-E8 is inserted into the battery compartment and screws tight using the tripod mount. Older grips are not compatible with the EOS 550D. Also like previous models the addition of the BG-E8 transforms the handling of the EOS 550D, particularly when working with larger lenses, where the entire package becomes more comfortable to hold.

Secure Digital Compartment

The EOS 550D sports an SD memory card slot and in addition to the now ubiquitous SD and SDHC cards, it's one of a new generation of cameras to support the new SDXC standard that promises increased speed and capacities up to 2TB. As on the EOS 450D and 500D there is a 'beware I'm still writing to the card' warning screen and beep if you open the card door too soon.

Connections

On the left side of the camera are all of the cameras connections, these are protected by a rubber cover which fits flush when closed. In summary from top to bottom: 3.5mm stereo mike socket, Remote terminal (E3 type), a combined A/V output and an HDMI socket.

Base / Tripod Mount

	On the bottom of the 550D is a metal tripod socket which is aligned exactly with the center line of the lens and the focal plane of the sensor. Otherwise there's little to report here. The small hole you can see to the lower left of the tripod socket is a location point for the optional grip.

Pop-up Flash

The EOS 550D's pop-up flash has the same specifications as its predecessor (and all models of this series back to the the EOS 350D) with a range of approximately 3.7 m (12.1 ft) at wide angle using the 18-55 mm kit lens or 2.3 m (7.5 ft) at telephoto (guide number 13). The camera utilizes Canon's E-TTL II flash metering system which combines subject distance information gathered from the lens with measurements taken from a brief pre-flash before the main flash to determine flash power. The built-in flash can sync up to 1/200s and has an electronic pop-up release, in Auto exposure mode the flash will raise itself when required.

AF Assist

As with previous 'Rebel series' cameras the EOS 550D uses its flash for AF assist. If you need to use AF Assist you must pop-up the flash which will fire a brief strobe of flashes (sometimes just one) to help the AF system to lock.

Flash Hot-shoe

	The EOS 550D's hot-shoe can be used with Canon and third party flashes (although sync only on most third party units). The hot-shoe is E-TTL II compatible. Compatible flashes include the Speedlite 220EX, 270EX, 380EX, 420EX, 430EX, 430EX II, 550EX, 580EX, 580EX II, Macro-Ring Lite MR-14EX, Macro Twin Lite MT-24EX and Speedlite Transmitter ST-E2.

Lens Mount

The EOS 550D has a metal EF / EF-S lens mount which means that it can use the full range of Canon EF lenses as well as the designed-for-digital EF-S lenses. Because the sensor is smaller than a 35 mm frame all lenses are subject to a field of view crop (sometimes called focal length multiplier) of 1.6x, thus a 18 mm lens provides the same field of view as a 29 mm lens on a 35mm camera, a 50mm becomes equivalent to 80mm, etc.

Supplied In the Box

	Items listed below are for the body-only version, but kits with the 18-55mm IS and 18-200mm IS are also offered.

The EOS 550D Kit is supplied as:

• Canon EOS 550D Digital SLR body
• Eyecup (attached to camera)
• LP-E8 Lithium-Ion battery pack
• LC-E8 Battery charger
• Neck strap
• USB Cable
• Video Cable
• CD-ROM: Canon Digital Camera Solutions Disk (Win/Mac)
• Manuals / Reg. card

Top of camera controls

The controls on the top of the EOS 550D are identical to the EOS 500D and the EOS 450D before it. There are a couple of design changes, but they're subtle - the mode dial has switched back to black (the EOS 500D's is silver) and has more pronounced knurling, the ISO button sits inside an indentation (presumably to make it easier to find without looking), and there's a slightly different shape to the angled 'finger rest' that the shutter release sits on.

Buttons/dials

Icon	Description
	Control Dial As normal the control dial is used to change settings when buttons are pressed or menus active, and to alter exposure settings in manual or semi-automatic modes
ISO	ISO button The dedicated ISO button just behind the shutter release brings up an on-screen ISO menu that can be navigated using the control dial or the arrow keys on the rear of the body. When the camera is held up your eye it highlights ISO in the viewfinder, again you can change it with either the dial or the left/right arrow keys.

Mode dial

Basic zone exposure modes

Full Auto and the six scene exposure modes are collectively referred to as the 'Basic Zone', in this 'Zone' certain settings are either fixed, restricted or unavailable. In the basic zone the camera will indicate that blur may occur because of slow shutter speeds, it does so by blinking the shutter speed on the LCD and viewfinder status bar.

Basic zone modes

Icon	Description
	Fully Automatic Exposure Camera has complete control over exposure, point-and-shoot operation.
	Portrait Apertures are kept as large as possible (small F number) to produce a shallow Depth of Field (blurred background).
	Landscape Apertures as small as possible (large F numbers) for the largest depth of field.
	Close-up (Macro) Aperture is kept to a medium setting to ensure the subject DOF is deep enough but the background is blurred.
	Sports Shutter speed is kept as high as possible to ensure capture of fast moving objects.
	Night Scene Allows for slow shutter speeds combined with flash to illuminate foreground and background.
	Flash off Disables internal and external flash for taking automatic slow exposures.
	Creative Auto Exposure is set using two sliders - one representing depth-of-field, the other representing brightness, essentially sticking a 'results-orientated' face onto the aperture-priority mode.

Creative zone exposure modes

The five exposure modes will be more familiar to (and preferred) by most prosumer / professionals. All menu functions and camera settings are available in these modes and can be used in any combination.

Icon	Description
	Program Auto (flexible) Very similar to Auto exposure but you have access to all the normal manual controls, can set the ISO, exposure compensation, use AE lock, bracketing etc. The Program AE is flexible which means that you can select one of a variety of equal exposures by turning the main dial. Example:         • 1/125 sec, F9 (turn left one click)  • 1/160 sec, F8.0 (turn left one click)  • 1/200 sec, F7.1 (metered)  • 1/250 sec, F6.3 (turn right one click)  • 1/320 sec, F5.6 (turn right one click)
	Shutter-Priority Auto In this mode you select the shutter speed and the camera will calculate the correct aperture depending on metered exposure, exposure compensation and ISO sensitivity. Turn the main dial to select shutter speed in the range of 30 to 1/4000 sec (in 0.3 or 0.5 EV exposure steps depending on C.Fn 1).
	Aperture-Priority Auto In this mode you select the aperture and the camera will calculate the correct shutter speed depending on metered exposure, exposure compensation and ISO sensitivity. Turn the main dial to select aperture (in 0.3or 0.5 EV exposure steps depending on C.Fn 1). The exact range of apertures will depend on the lens used.
	Manual Exposure In this mode you define the exposure by selecting the aperture and the shutter speed manually. Turn the main dial to select shutter speed, hold the Av/exposure compensation button and turn the main dial to select aperture. If you change the exposure the meter graphic on the viewfinder status bar and LCD will reflect the exposure level compared to the metered exposure, if it's outside of +/- 2EV the indicator bar will blink either + or -.
	Automatic Depth-Of-Field This mode, common on Canon SLRs, automatically controls the depth of field to ensure that the subjects covered by all of the focusing points, from those close to the camera to those far away from the camera remain sharply defined (are within the depth of field). Note that AF point selection is set at 'Auto'.

Movie mode

The upgraded movie mode brings the consumer Rebels in line with the more advanced (and more expensive) EOS models, offering true HD capture at various frame rates and full control over apertures and shutter speeds. Effectively, in fact, the EOS 550D offers the same movie specification as the more expensive EOS 7D, which represents about the most versatile movie recording package of any APS-C format DSLR currently on the market.

Icon

Description

Movie mode Movies are recorded in .mov (Quicktime) format using H.264 codec for video and PCM for audio. The maximum duration is 29m 59sec, maximum file size is 4GB. You get the option of auto or manual exposure and can set various other parameters including (in a big step up from the EOS 500D) sizes and frame rates. A new 'crop' mode shoots VGA footage using the middle of the sensor (as opposed to downsampling the entire frame), giving the equivalent of a digital teleconverter. You start and stop recording by pressing the dedicated movie button on the back of the camera. Pressing the shutter button while you are recording a video will interrupt the video and record a stills image. The EOS 550D offers control over the various movie settings. You can change the following parameters:  • Movie rec size (1080P, 720P, 640x480, VGA crop)  • Frame rate (1080: 30, 24 or 24 fps, others 50/60 fps according to PAL/NTSC setting)  • Exposure mode (auto or manual)  • AF mode  • Highlight Tone Priority  • Picture style  • White balance  • Image quality for stills images

Rear of camera controls

The positions of the buttons on the rear of the EOS 550D haven't changed much since the EOS 500D, but their shape and profile has (making them a little easier to use), and there's a new dedicated movie/live view button on the right of the viewfinder. The direct print button now doubles as the 'Q' button (for bringing up the Quick Control screen), and the set button is customizable. There's still no dedicated metering mode button, but the plethora of buttons on the back of the camera - plus the ISO button on the top - provide a very useful range of 'hard button' direct access to the most commonly changed camera settings.

On-screen settings adjustment

When pressed the camera's hard buttons activate an adjustment screen (on the LCD) where a setting change can be made using the cursor buttons. Options are changed using the arrow buttons (left / right / up / down) or the main dial.

Camera settings display (Quick Control Screen)

The interactive 'Quick Control Screen' gives you at a glance access to virtually all current settings, as well as the option to dive in and change things directly. It's been slightly redesigned to fit the new screen shape (and has a little more information). It also gets its own dedicated 'Q' button that's easier to access when shooting and means the SET button can be customized (C.Fn 10) to do something else.

Shooting mode buttons

The EOS 550D is a "shooting priority" camera, which means that no matter what mode you are in you can always still take a photograph by pressing the shutter release button. This also extends to live view mode (i.e. the mirror stays up after you've taken a shot, allowing you to take another immediately).

Button	Operation
	AE/FE Lock / AF in Live View Press to trigger automatic exposure and lock the exposure for the next shot. Hold the button to lock the exposure for more than one shot. The exact function of this button can be set via C.Fn 9 (see below). In Live View this button is used to trigger auto focus.
	AF point selection button Press to choose change AF point selection, press the SET button to switch between automatic or manual point selection, use the cursor buttons or main dial to select the point in manual mode.
	Camera Menu Pressing this button enters or leaves the camera menu, described in more detail on the following pages of this review.
	Display Pressing the DISP button shows or hides the camera setting screen (which is shown by default), you can define whether the status of the screen (on or off) is recalled at power off via C.Fn 11.
	Exposure compensation / Aperture Hold this button and turn the main dial to change exposure compensation in the range -2.0 EV to +2.0 EV, steps of either 1/3 or 1/2 stop, C.Fn 1. In manual exposure mode hold this button while turning the main dial to change the aperture.
	Enter the Quick Control Screen Allows you to directly interact with the camera's settings, via its settings display, as shown above.
	Live View / Movie record In shooting mode a press of this button takes you in and out of Live View. The 'Live View function setting' option on the setup menu controls if Live View is available, whether a grid overlay is shown, how long the metered value is displayed and the type of Auto Focus used in Live View mode; Quick mode (Passive; mirror-flip), Live mode (Contrast detect; like a compact camera) or Face Detect.
WB	White Balance  • Auto  • Daylight  • Shade  • Cloudy  • Tungsten  • Fluorescent  • Flash  • Custom
	Drive mode  • Single  • Continuous  • Self-timer (10 sec) / Remote control  • Self-timer (2 sec)  • Self-timer (10 sec): Continuous (2 - 10 shots)
	SET Used to confirm menu choices. In shooting mode the SET button can be assigned to one of a range of different functions, including Image Quality, Flash EC, LCD monitor on/off and Menu display.
AF	AF mode  • One shot  • AI Focus  • AI Servo
	Picture Style  • Standard  • Portrait  • Landscape  • Neutral  • Faithful  • Monochrome  • User def. 1  • User def. 2  • User def. 3
	Play Enters play mode which displays the last image taken or the last image on the card.
	Erase (during record review) Press the Erase button during record review to display a Cancel / Erase option, selecting OK removes the displayed image before it is finalized to the card.

Play mode buttons

Button	Operation
	Thumbnail index / reduce magnification If in single view play mode, pressing this button will switch to a 2 x 2 thumbnail index and once more for a 3 x 3 index. If already magnified it will step back in magnification levels once.
	Magnify Press to magnify the current image, there are fifteen steps up to a maximum magnification of 10x. Use the cursor buttons to scroll around the image while magnified. It is possible to browse images while maintaining magnification by simply turning the main dial.
	Camera Menu Pressing this button enters or leaves the camera menu, described in more detail on the following pages of this review.
	Display Toggles between four different play display modes: • Single image view with no overlay • Single image view with folder, file number, exposure and frame count • Thumbnail image with exposure information, luminance histogram and blinking highlights • Thumbnail image with exposure information, lum & rgb histograms and blinking highlights
	Direct Print / PictBridge If the camera is connected to a PictBridge printer or PTP connection to a computer pressing this button initiates printing / image transfer.
	Jump (Main dial) Turn the dial left or right to jump through images, the dial can also be used to navigate menu options.
	Cursor buttons Press the left or right buttons to browse through images, also be used to navigate menu options. Press the up button to change the jump mode.
	Play Return to shooting mode, the same can be achieved by simply half-pressing the shutter release button.
	Erase Press the Erase button to display a Cancel / Erase option. The 450D doesn't provide an 'All' option from the Erase button, instead you use the 'Erase images / All images on card' option from the Play menu or Format option from the first setup menu.

Shutter button / AE lock button action (custom function 9)

Sports photographers prefer to use setting 1 or 3 where you can control when the camera AF executes, a simple press of your thumb will start AF, then you can fire off as many shots as you like (more quickly obviously) without the camera refocusing.

Custom Function 10
Setting	Shutter button half-press	AE Lock button
0	AF lock	AE lock
1	AE lock (shutter release priority)	AF lock
2	AF lock	AF lock (no AE lock)
3	AE lock (shutter release priority)	AF lock (no AE lock)

Front of camera controls

On the front right side of the camera are the last two camera controls. Uppermost here is the flash open button, a press of this will electronically release the flash unit. Below the lens release button is the depth of field preview button, hold this and the lens stops down to the indicated aperture to give a preview of the depth of field, either through the viewfinder or in Live View. One of the useful things about depth of field preview in Live View mode is that the preview image stays nice and bright, rather than darkening, as it does in the viewfinder.

Live View

The EOS 550D is the third generation of Canon's Rebel series to feature live view functionality, something that's now reached the point of ubiquity in this class of camera. Like its predecessors, the EOS 550D's implementation provides live view of the scene with magnification up to 10x, with optional overlays such as a live histogram and two types of gridlines. Additionally to the 'mirror down' and contrast detect auto-focus, there is also a face detection AF mode. Overall the look, feel and functionality has been updated so it more closely matches the EOS 7D.

Live View function settings

As before, the most useful live view parameters such as grid display and AF mode can be accessed and modified in the Live view function settings screen.

Live View function settings screen	Choose from three AF modes in live view: Phase detect, contrast detect and contrast detect with face detection

Live view display modes

Pressing the DISP button while in Live View toggles between the four available display modes, each with differing levels of overlaid information. As with previous models you can also add gridlines and you can choose to use 'Exposure Simulation' (which will attempt to reflect the brightness of the photo using the current exposure settings). The switch to a 3:2 aspect ratio means the preview image fills the entire frame, so the 'status bar' at the bottom is now semi transparent (on previous models it was outside the picture area on a black strip). To be honest it was easier to see before...

1: Live view with magnification area indicated + status line showing shutter speed, aperture, exposure compensation, frames remaining, ISO sensitivity and battery status.	2: Live view with magnification area + status line + brief overlay (Picture Style, AF mode, drive mode, white balance, image quality)
3: Live view with magnification area + status line + brief overlay + live histogram	4: Live view with magnification area (and nothing else)

Live view magnification

Just as in playback mode you can magnify live view by pressing the enlarge button (or back out again with reduce). While magnified you can use the multi-controller to move around the live image.

Conclusion - Pros

• Excellent detail and resolution (especially in raw mode)
• Lovely new LCD screen - the 3:2 format really makes a difference.
• Capable, flexible AF system in both phase-detection and live view modes
• High-spec video mode, including external microphone jack
• Highly intuitive operation, refined ergonomics
• Fast and responsive operation (although shooting in raw mode slows things down)
• Very reliable metering and white balance in most shooting situations
• Decent build quality for the price - no creaks
• Highlight Tone Priority works well, in both raw and JPEG mode.
• Excellent battery life for its class
• Acceptable - although not outstanding - image quality at highest ISO settings.
• Excellent supplied software suite - DPP is one of the best bundled raw converters around

Conclusion - Cons

• Auto Lighting Optimizer's effect is subtle to the point of being unnoticeable
• No rear control dial (as found on higher-end Canon bodies)
• Entry-level ergonomics won't suit everyone (the EOS 50D and 7D just feel nicer)
• No in-camera raw conversion option
• Slightly soft JPEG output at default settings (but this is far from unusual)
• Chroma noise takes a fairly big chunk out of resolution at ISO 12800 (but better than the 500D)
• AF assist strobe can be annoying

Overall conclusion

As I mentioned in the introduction to this review, 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.

Image Quality

As you can see from the shooting that we've done for this test, the EOS 550D sets new standards for resolution in its class. In favorable conditions, in raw mode, it is clear that the 550D can unequivocally resolve more detail than an equivalent camera with 12 or 14 million pixels. Resolution in JPEG mode is lower than RAW, as we would expect, but at a pixel level, the difference should not concern most users. Unfortunately, however, the high pixel count of the 550D's CMOS sensor is something of a double-edged sword. Whilst it means that in optimal conditions, with a high quality lens attached, detail resolution is superb, it can also mean that when viewed at 100% on screen, images taken with cheaper, lower quality optics (including the bundled 'kit' option 18-55mm) look distinctly sub-par. It's an obvious point - higher resolution sensors make higher demands on lenses - but it is one which is easily overlooked in the race to put higher and higher pixel counts into low-end and enthusiast DSLRs.

The unavoidable fact is that to get the most out of the 550D's sensor you really need to pair it with Canon's better lenses, which is a considerable investment. Arguably, this is academic for most enthusiast photographers, since most of the time digital images are either admired onscreen or in small (sub-A4) prints. Of course if this is how you primarily view your images (and if we're honest, for most of us it is), it could be argued that packing 18 million pixels is somewhat unnecessary in the first place.

That said, the bottom line here is that the EOS 550D offers excellent image quality in a range of different conditions, including exceptionally low light, thanks to its usable ISO 12800 setting. Image quality is equal or better than its predecessor the EOS 500D, and not noticeably inferior to the considerably more expensive EOS 7D. The 550D's video capability is excellent too.

Handling

The EOS 550D is the latest product in a long line of Rebel-series DSLRs which all share basically the same design intent - to make the camera's various advanced features as easy to use, and as easy to understand as possible. As such, it represents not a revolutionary ergonomic advance, but rather a slight refinement of a proven basic design. The handling differences between the 550D and 500D are very minor, and are a consequence mostly of the new, larger LCD screen, but the handling experience of both cameras is to all intents and purposes identical.

The 550D doesn't provide a flawless handling experience though, and we do have some criticisms. The buttons on the rear are rather flat and close together, which makes it easy to mash them by accident, and very hard to press them accurately if your hands are cold/gloved/large. The general feel of the camera is plastic, and although far from flimsy, it doesn't have the reassuring heft of the EOS 50D or 7D. We wouldn't necessarily expect it to, but it is a shame that a camera with so much more to offer than the EOS 1000D (and at a considerably higher price) should have such similar build quality.

It is also a shame that the 550D doesn't share the EOS 7D's stills/video shooting switch. This switch goes a long way to solving the problem of integrating video into a stills camera without the function feeling 'bolted on' and the fact that the EOS 550D - which is aimed at a less sophisticated audience - doesn't have it is frankly a little bizarre. After all, in theory, it is lower end users who will be most used to shooting video on cameraphones and compact cameras, so why not make this feature as easy to use as possible?

The final word

Despite our (very minor) complaints, the EOS 550D is a very satisfying camera, and certainly offers the most compelling feature set of any nominally 'entry level' DSLR that we've used. It isn't just about spec though - the 550D's refined handling and excellent supplied software suite should not be overlooked. Although it doesn't represent a huge improvement over the 500D, the changes that have been made are worthwhile, and well-implemented. An external mic socket, manual control and wide choice of resolutions and frame rates means that the 550D is worthy of consideration for serious video use, and when paired with a high quality lens, image quality is superb.

With all this taken into account, it is hard not to recommend the EOS 550D. Quite simply, taken as a whole, it is the best camera of its class that we've ever seen, and one of those rare cameras that won't look out of date in a couple of years' time.

Canon EOS 550D (EOS Rebel T2i / EOS Kiss X4) Category: Mid Range Interchangeable Lens Camera / DSLR

Compare mode

Build quality Ergonomics & handling Features Metering & focus accuracy Image quality (raw) Image quality (jpeg) Low light / high ISO performance Viewfinder / screen rating Performance Movie / video mode Value	PoorExcellent
Conclusion All in all, the EOS 550D is the most compelling DSLR of its class that we've ever tested. It is hard to imagine how much more we might realistically expect from a product of this type, and although the improvements that Canon has made over the EOS 500D aren't revolutionary, the 550D is a better camera than its predecessor. In terms of both still and video capture, the 550D is currently the best camera of its type on the market.
Good for All-round use, enthusiasts looking for a bargain second body, or beginners that don't want to outgrow their camera anytime soon. Not so good for Entry-level ergonomics won't suit all photographers, and the frame rate and AF system isn't up to sports and action work.
77% OVERALL SCORE

Samples Galleries

There are 35 images in the samples gallery. Please do not reproduce any of these images on a website or any newsletter / magazine without prior permission (see our copyright page). We make the originals available for private users to download to their own machines for personal examination or printing (in conjunction with this review), we do so in good faith, please don't abuse it.

Unless otherwise noted images taken with no particular settings at full resolution. Because our review images are now hosted on the 'galleries' section of dpreview.com, you can enjoy all of the new galleries functionality when browsing these samples. The links on this page will go straight to a slideshow.

Canon EOS 550D review samples

35 images • Posted on Apr 1, 2010 • View album

The following additional sample images were originally posted in our Canon EOS 550D Preview in February.

Canon EOS 550D Beta Samples

23 images • Posted on Feb 8, 2009 • View album