Digital SLR

Canon's EOS 550D slips into the company's line-up between the EOS 500D and the EOS 50D and offers higher resolution than both models without displacing either. It boasts the same 18-megapizel sensor as the EOS 7D but has only one DiG!C 4 processor. A key feature is the addition of a new, high-resolution 3:2 aspect ratio LCD monitor and a redesigned interface. Video capabilities have also been extended to support Full HD movie recording at a range of different frame rates.

Build and Ergonomics
Both the 550D and the EOS 500D that preceded it are built to match their market position - between entry level and ‘pro-sumer' standards. They're neither as robust, nor as heavy as the EOS 50D and 7D models that sit above them in Canon's line-up. And they're less dust- and moisture-resistant. But they're more solid than the entry-level EOS 1000D.

Whereas the shutters in the 7D and 50D are rated for 150,000 and 100,000 cycles respectively, no ratings are provided for the 550D and 500D shutter mechanisms. This doesn't necessarily mean their shutters are poorly constructed; just that they're not designed for heavy usage.

A polycarbonate resin and glass fibre cladding over a stainless steel chassis makes the 550D's body both light and tough. The grip is generous - but not over-large and should suit users with both small and medium-sized hands, without being difficult for those with large hands or limited dexterity to use.


Front view of the new EOS 550D with the pop-up flash raised and the EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS kit lens fitted. (Source: Canon.)

The most obvious differences between the two models are seen on the rear pane, which is dominated by a new 3:2 aspect ratio, 3-inch Clear View Wide LCD monitor with 1,040,000 dots. As well as being a class leader in resolution is bright and clear and provides an ultra-sharp view, making it easy to check images and read menus on-screen. It's a very elegant display and lies flush with the camera body to provide a smooth look.


Rear view of the EOS 550D, showing the new 3:2 monitor and redesigned control buttons. (Source: Canon.)

The viewfinder, which fits snugly in above the monitor, is adjustable across -3 to +1 dioptres and covers 95% of the sensor's field of view. Like the 500D, the focusing screen is non-interchangeable. Two panels below the finder eyepiece control the display-off sensor, which switches off the LCD screen when your eye is near the viewfinder.

Top view of the EOS 550D. (Source: Canon.)

The microphone grille on the rear panel is slightly larger than on the 500D and has nine holes instead of four. However, it remains in roughly the same position on the new camera. As on the 500D, the new camera has no top panel data display for checking camera settings and only one rotating dial control.

The mode dial reverts to a black cap, instead of the silver cap on the 500D but the shooting mode settings are unchanged.  Since there's no joystick-style multi-controller you're dependent on the arrow pad and single rotating dial just behind the shutter button when you adjust any of the functions. In practice, changing settings with this combination is quite straightforward.


The base of the camera body showing the tripod socket and battery compartment. (Source: Canon.)

It's even simpler with the Quick Control screen, which is a refinement of the Quick Control Panel on the EOS 500D. With this interface, users can see and apply common exposure and image quality adjustments from just one screen. The same interface can also be used to modify settings in the Creative Auto settings mode.

The button controls on the rear panel have also been redesigned to improve access and comfort. The layout of the buttons is similar to the 500D's, with two exceptions. The most obvious is the new Movie button that sits level with the viewfinder on the right hand side. This button is used to switch on the Live View mode and trigger video recording.

The Print/Share button on the 500D, which formerly also triggered movie recording, is now used to switch on the Quick Control interface, making it much easier for users to change camera settings quickly. Both changes represent a significant improvement in usability over the previous cameras.

The relocated Movie and Quick Control buttons are indicated by arrows in this illustration. (Source: Canon.)

The memory card compartment, which is located on the rear corner behind the grip, accepts SD and SDHC cards as well as the new, high-capacity SDXC cards. The battery compartment is in the base panel. The LP-E8 battery in the 550D is CIPA rated for approximately 440 shots/charge with viewfinder shooting or 180 shots/charge with Live View. This is slightly less than the EOS 500D, which uses a different (LP-E5) battery.


The EOS 550D fitted with the BG-E8 battery grip. (Source: Canon.)

Unlike the EOS 500D, the 550D can be fitted with a battery grip to extend the photographer's shooting range and provide a vertical control interface for shooting portraits. Another lift-up cover (rubber) on the opposite side of the camera body protects the interface ports. All three lids close securely with an acceptably snug fit.

The camera body is supplied with a body cap plus the LP-E8 battery pack, LC-E8 battery charger and power cable, along with the EW-100DBIII wide strap. A rubber eyecup is fitted to the viewfinder eyepiece and USB and Stereo AV cables (AVCDC400ST) are also provided. The software comes on two disks, one the standard EOS DIGITAL Solution Disk and the other containing an instruction manual for using this software.


The basic kit supplied with the EOS 550D body. (Source: Canon.)

The new camera will be offered as a body only kit, single-lens kit with the EF-S18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS lens (RRP $1499) and twin lens kit with the EF-S18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS and EF-S55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS lenses (RRP $1849). The Super Kit, which pairs the 550D body with the EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS lens is priced at $2149, while the Premium kit containing the camera body with the EF-S18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS lens costs $2349.

The review camera came to us with the EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS lens, which is offered in the Super kit. We've reviewed this lens when it was supplied with the EOS 7D. Click here to read the lens review. (INSERT LINK TO EF-S 18-135mm LENS REVIEW) The table below compares key similarities and differences between the EOS 550D and the EOS 500D and 50D models. 

Sensor and Image Processing
The sensor in the EOS 550D appears to be the same CMOS chip as in the EOS 7D and supports the highest resolution currently available in an entry-level camera. But unlike the EOS 7D, the 550D has only one DiG!C 4 processor, which is adequate for normal shooting but reduces high-speed bursts to a maximum capture rate of 3.7 frames/second.


The sensor unit from the EOS 550D. (Source: Canon.)

The new sensor supports the same sensitivity range as the EOS 7D (and also the 50D and 500D), although its standard range runs from ISO 100-6400 with one expansion step, H1 (equivalent to ISO 12,800), when expansion is enabled via C.Fn1-2. The 50D and 500D include ISO 6400 in the expansion range, which has two steps.

Like other EOS DSLRs, the 550D supports both JPEG and CR2.RAW file capture, with three JPEG sizes and two compression levels available. Unlike the EOS 50D (and higher models), there is only one raw file option (recording at 5184 x 3456 pixels) and Large/Fine is the only JPEG size available for RAW+JPEG capture. The table below provides a guide to typical file sizes.

Live View and Video Shooting
The Live View mode on the 550D is almost the same as other recent Canon DSLRs. However, the new, high-resolution LCD monitor provides a sharper, more detailed and colour-accurate view of the scene.  Autofocusing is supported for Live View shooting with a choice of three AF modes.

The Quick mode uses the normal phase-detection sensor, which requires the mirror to flip up and down again each time the camera is re-focused.  Live mode uses the slower contrast detection method, which measures differences with the main imaging sensor. Face Detection AF uses the same system as the Live mode but focuses on human faces in the scene. As in most DSLRs, Live View AF is relatively slow, particularly in low-contrast situations and with subjects that lack detail.

Unlike previous video-capable DSLRs, the EOS 550D allows autofocusing to be engaged in Live mode, by half-pressing the shutter button. This is much more intuitive and faster than using a separate, dedicated button as was required in previous cameras. However, focusing remains relatively slow and hunting for focus is common for Live View shooting - stills and movie clips.

In Face Detection Live mode, the largest face near the centre of the frame is detected initially, but the arrow pad can be used to select any other face detected. In Quick mode, One-Shot AF is set automatically and the AF point is selectable while the Live View image is displayed.

You can superimpose a grid frame on the monitor in Live View mode and overlay an information display on the live view by pressing the Display button. Toggling through the Display options you can choose from no data (with only the magnification icon and AF point visible), exposure data below the image or a full information display with AF points overlaid and icons for the AF mode, Picture Style, WB, video or drive mode and image quality setting plus a histogram overlay and shooting data below the image.

Video capture options are similar to the EOS 7D, with the ability to select from three different frame rates: 30, 25 or 24 frames/second for Full HD recording and 60 and 50 fps with the other resolutions. The table below shows the options available, along with typical recording times with a 4GB memory card.

Movie recording will stop automatically if the file size reaches 4GB or after 29 minutes and 59 seconds of recording time. A new movie file will start when the Movie button is pressed again.

While shooting video, you can adjust aperture settings, ISO sensitivity, white balance and shutter speeds. A minimum shutter speed of 1/30 second applies when the frame rate is around 30 fps, changing to 1/60 second for 50 fps and 60 fps clips.

A new Movie Crop function allows users to ‘crop into' a scene (up to approx. 7x magnification) when recording in Standard Definition (640x480 pixels). It's a bit like a digital zoom and is designed to help users zoom in on distant subjects and ‘get the shot', albeit at reduced picture quality. Picture Style settings can be applied when shooting video clips.

As with previous video-enabled cameras, users can record a still picture while shooting video by pressing the shutter button. The image quality is the same as that set for still photography and roughly a second of video is sacrificed in this process. An HDMI interface enables users to view still images and video clips on an HD TV screen.

Camera Controls
Most controls and functions from the EOS 500D are replicated in the 550D, which supports 14 shooting modes.  The standard Program AE, Shutter-priority (Tv), Aperture-priority (Av) and Manual (M) modes are complemented by the Depth-of-field AE (A-DEP) mode. program shift is only available in the P mode but not with the other Creative Zone modes - and not when flash is used.

Basic Zone modes include the fully-automated Auto and partially-adjustable Creative Auto shooting modes, a Flash Off setting and a cluster of scene pre-sets (Portrait, Landscape, Close-up, Sports, Night Portrait). The Movie mode setting, located at the end of the Basic Zone modes, provides the only way into video recording

Although the autofocusing system uses the same type of TTL sensor as the 500D, the 550D has nine AF points, like the EOS 50D and 5D Mark II, instead of seven like the 500D. They're arranged in a diamond pattern, with all sensitive to both horizontal and vertical details when using f/5.6 or brighter lenses. All are individually selectable. Face Detection is available for both normal shooting (with the viewfinder) and in Live View mode and it automatically adjusts both focus and exposure.

Sixty-three segments are used for measuring subject brightness with the metering system set for evaluative (multi-pattern) mode. Users can also opt for centre-weighted average, partial (approx. 9% of viewfinder at centre) and spot (approx. 4% of viewfinder at centre) metering.

Sensitivity, white balance, dynamic range control, autofocusing and Picture Style are set automatically in the Basic zone modes and the evaluative metering pattern is locked in by default. Drive and flash modes are also restricted and the colour space is locked at sRGB.

In the Creative zone modes, just about all of the available functions can be adjusted - and you can select the Adobe RGB colour space if you wish to use it. Automatic image correction tools like the Auto Lighting Optimiser, Peripheral Illumination Correction and Highlight Tone Priority function are available for most shooting modes.

The exceptions include the Auto Lighting Optimiser and exposure compensation in Manual mode and the Ai Servo and Ai Focus and manual AF point selection in A-DEP mode. Program shift is blocked in the Tv, Av and M modes, while in the Portrait and Landscape modes in the Basic zone the Picture Style setting defaults to Portrait and Landscape respectively. Ai Servo AF is locked in by default in the Sports mode and the AF-assist beam can't be used with the Landscape, Sports and Flash Off modes. 

Playback and Software
Playback options are essentially the same as other recently-released EOS DSLRs. Pressing the Play button switches the camera to play mode and users can display a single image or index of four or nine thumbnails. You can zoom in on the displayed image and magnify a selected area up to 15 times, rotate, protect or delete selected images and select Auto Playback to view a slideshow of all images on the memory card.

Pressing the Info button lets you choose between four display options: single image with or without shooting data, image plus histogram and detailed shooting data or image plus histogram and abbreviated data. The histogram can be brightness only or brightness plus RGB. Highlight alerts can also be displayed.

When the mode dial is set to Movie, thumbnails of recorded clips are displayed on the monitor and selected via the arrow pad cross keys and SET button. Pressing the SET button again starts playback of the last video clip. The soundtrack for the clip is played back through the speaker on the rear of the camera, just below the AE Lock/AF point selection buttons.

The playback menu is navigated with the cross keys on the arrow pad. You can pause playback by pressing the SET button and adjust the sound volume with the control dial. Frame-by-frame playback is engaged each time you press the SET button, while holding down the SET button rewinds the video clip.
The camera can be connected to any standard TV with monitor-type inputs using the A/V cable supplied with the camera. For HD playback on an HDTV set you will require an additional mini-HDMI to HDMI cable (not supplied with the camera). Playback on a computer is possible via the supplied ZoomBrowser EX (for Windows) or ImageBrowser (for Macintosh) software applications. 

Performance
Not surprisingly, the performance of the review camera was similar to that of the EOS 7D we reviewed last November (which came with the same kit lens). Still pictures were sharp and colourful, although saturation was slightly higher with the 550D, particularly for reds. HD video quality was outstanding, particularly at 1080p resolution with the 24 fps frame rate.

There was a visible difference between the 1080p and 720p video clips and between the HD and SD video. Clips shot in the VGA Crop mode were soft and noticeably lower-quality. However, audio quality from the built-in microphone was well above average.

Autofocusing was mostly fast and accurate, although we experienced some ‘misses' with action shots in bright, contrasty lighting. Blown-out highlights were more common than we'd like in these shooting conditions, even with the basic Zone modes, where the Auto Lighting Optimiser can be used. Low-light autofocusing was generally very good - and noticeably better than the EOS 7D we tested. (Note: the same lens was used for testing both cameras.)

Imatest showed resolution to be slightly below expectations for the sensor‘s resolution with both JPEG and CR2.RAW files and the raw files produced slightly lower MTF50 figures than similar files from the EOS 7D. The graph below shows the results of our Imatest tests with the supplied EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS lens.

When we swapped to the EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM lens, the resolution of both file types increased, almost reaching the expected levels for the sensor's resolution with the raw files. The graph below shows the results of our tests based on this lens.

Image noise at long exposures and with flash shots was similar to the results we obtained with the EOS 7D. Test shots were almost noise-free up to ISO 6400, after which noise became visible in long exposures. Flash exposures were almost noise-free, although some noise could be seen at ISO 12,800 and shots taken at this setting were slightly soft, even without noise-reduction processing. Applying noise-reduction processing softened images slightly and this was visible at ISO settings of 800 and above (but less noticeable at lower ISO settings).

Edge and corner softening was quite pronounced with the 18mm focal length setting through most of its aperture range.  Lateral chromatic aberration was similar to our findings with the EOS 7D - and largely caused by the lens.

Imatest showed it to be mainly in the ‘low' band (0.04 to 0.08% of distance to corner) with the 24mm, 35mm, 50mm and 85mm focal lengths and moderate (between 0.08 and 0.15% of distance to corner) with the 18mm and 135mm focal length settings. Coloured fringing was seen in outdoor shots taken with the 18mm focal length.

Barrel distortion was obvious in shots taken with the 18mm focal length but became relatively insignificant at 24mm. Slight pincushioning became visible at 50mm and moderately noticeable at 135mm. Vignetting (edge and corner darkening) could be seen in open-aperture shots at all focal length settings except 35mm. The image stabiliser in the lens enabled us to use shutter speeds as slow as 1/8 second with a focal length of 60mm, confirming Canon's claim of four f-stops stabilisation advantage.

Auto white balance performance was similar to other Canon DSLR s we've reviewed. Shots taken under incandescent lighting retained warm cast, while shots taken with fluorescent lighting were close to cast-free. For both lighting types, the pre-sets slightly over-corrected colours but the manual measurement system delivered a neutral colour balance. Plenty of in-camera adjustments are provided for tweaking images as you shoot and white balance bracketing of +/- three levels in one-step increments is available for dealing with tricky lighting.

The review camera powered up in approximately half a second and shot-to-shot intervals averaged just under 0.5 seconds. We measured an average capture lag of just under 0.1 seconds when the viewfinder was used for shot composition and 1.3 seconds with Live View mode. In both cases, lag times were eliminated by pre-focusing. It took 2.8 seconds, on average, to process a JPEG file, 4.9 seconds for each RAW file and 5.3 seconds for each RAW+JPEG pair.

For our burst capture timing tests we used a 4GB Verbatim Premium Class 6 SDHC card. In the High-speed burst mode, we recorded a burst of 10 Large/Fine JPEG frames in 2.8 seconds, which equates to just under 3.6 frames/second. It took 12.6 seconds to process this burst.

Changing to raw file capture, we recorded a burst of six shots (the buffer's limit) in 1.5 seconds, which is equivalent to 4 fps. It took 26.1 seconds to process this burst. For RAW+JPEG recording, the camera captured four frames (the buffer's limit) in 0.9 seconds (equivalent to just over 4 fps). It took 21.7 seconds to process this burst.

Buy this camera if:
- You want a lightweight, high-resolution DSLR camera that can record both still pictures and HD video clips.
- You want a camera with a straightforward user interface plus both easy-to-use automated shooting modes and P, A, S and M controls.
- You want a DSLR with a built-in auto flash with a good range of flash modes and exposure adjustments.
- You could make use of the extended sensitivity range for still photography and video capture.
- You want autofocusing while shooting video clips.

Don't buy this camera if:
- You require more than one raw file option and the ability to set different JPEG image sizes and qualities for RAW+JPEG capture.
- You require a wider AE bracketing range than +/- 2 stops.

Footnote: We've nominated the EOS 550D as an Editor's Choice on the basis of the performance of the camera body with our EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM lens. The EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS lens does not meet the Editor's Choice performance standard.

IMATEST GRAPHS
JPEG images

Raw images converted in Digital Photo Professional.

SAMPLE IMAGES

Auto white balance with incandescent lighting.

 
Auto white balance with fluorescent lighting.

30-second exposure at f/4, 35mm focal length, ISO 100.

13-second exposure at f/8, 35mm focal length, ISO 1600.

13-second exposure at f/16, 35mm focal length, ISO 6400. No noise reduction processing.

6-second exposure at f/16, 35mm focal length, ISO 12800. No noise reduction processing.

Flash exposure; 85mm focal length, ISO 800, 1/160 second at f/5.6.

Flash exposure; 85mm focal length, ISO 6400, 1/160 second at f/5.6.

Flash exposure; 85mm focal length, ISO 12800, 1/160 second at f/5.6.

Close-up: 135mm focal length, ISO 100, 1/49 second at f/8.

135mm focal length, ISO 100, 1/20 second at f/5.6. No flash.

18mm focal length, ISO 100, 1/60 second at f/11.

Enlarged crop from the above image showing coloured fringing and edge softening.

Enlarged crop from the above image showing blown-out highlights.

135mm focal length, ISO 100, 1/250 second at f/6.4.

85mm focal length, ISO 100, 1/30 second at f/5.6.

135mm focal length, ISO 200, 1/80 second at f/6.4.

 
47mm focal length, ISO 100, 1/250 second at f/9.9.

Enlarged crop from the above image showing resolution.

106mm focal length, ISO 100, 1/332 second at f/8.

Backlighting; centre-weighted average metering delivered a good exposure balance with this backlit subject. 79mm focal length, ISO 100, 1/166 second at f/6.4.

120mm focal length, ISO 100, 1/125 second at f/5.6.

Still frame from video clip shot with 1920 x 1080 pixel HD resolution.

Still frame from video clip shot with 1280x 720 pixel HD resolution.

Still frame from video clip shot with VGA resolution.

Still frame from video clip shot with the VGA Crop mode.

Image sensor: 22.3x 14.9 mm CMOS sensor with approximately 19 million photosites (18 megapixels effective ); RGB Primary Colour filters and a fixed low-pass filter in front of the sensor chip
A/D processing: 14-bit
Lens mount: Canon EF-S
Focal length crop factor: 1.6x
Image formats: Stills - JPEG, CR2.RAW, RAW+JPEG; Movies - MOV (Video: H.264, Audio: Linear PCM)
Image Sizes: Stills - 5184 x 3456, 3456 x 2304, 2592 x 1728; Movies -  HD: 1920 x 1080 at 30, 25, 24 fps, 1280 x 720 at 60, 50 fps SD: 640 x 480 at 60, 50 fps
Image Stabilisation: Lens-based only
Dust removal: Canon Integrated Cleaning System
Shutter speed range: 30 to 1/4000 sec. Bulb; X-sync at 1/200 sec.
Exposure Compensation: +/-5 EV in 1/3- or 1/2-EV increments
Exposure bracketing: AEB +/- 3EV at 1/3-stop or ½-stop increments
Self-timer: 2 or 10 second delay
Focus system: TTL-CT-SIR phase detection AF with 9 selectable AF points
Focus modes: One-Shot AF, AI Servo AF, AI Focus AF, Manual focusing (MF)
Exposure metering: 63-segment TTL full-aperture metering via Dual-Layer SPC; Evaluative, centre-weighted average, partial (approx. 9.4% of viewfinder at centre) and spot (approx. 2.3% of viewfinder at centre) modes
Shooting modes: Auto, Program AE, shutter-priority AE, aperture-priority AE, manual exposure, A-Dep, CA, Flash off, Portrait, Landscape, Close-up, Sports, Night Portrait, Movie
Picture Style/Control settings: Standard, Portrait, Landscape, Neutral, Faithful, Monochrome, User Defined 1 - 3
Colour space options: sRGB, Adobe RGB
Custom functions: 12
ISO range: Auto (ISO 100-3200); Manual selection from ISO 100-6400 (ISO can be expanded to H: 12,800)
White balance: Auto, Preset (Daylight, Shade, Cloudy, Tungsten light, White fluorescent light, Flash), Custom (1 setting can be registered); +/- 3 levels of white balance bracketing
Flash: GN 13
Flash exposure adjustment: +/- 3 EV in 1/3- or 1/2-EV increments
Sequence shooting: Max. 3.7 fps for 34 JPEGs
Storage Media: SD/SDHC/SDXC, single slot
Viewfinder:  Pentaprism with 95% coverage, -3.0 to +1.0 dpt adjustment, fixed focusing screen (transmissive LCD)
LCD monitor: 3.0-inch Clear View II TFT colour LCD with approx. 1,040,000 dots (VGA);
Live View modes: Yes (Quick, Live & Live face detection AF Modes)
Video Capture: Yes (1920 x 1080 at 30, 25, 24 fps, 1280 x 720 at 60, 50 fps, 640 x 480 at 60, 50 fps)
Data LCD: No
Interface terminals: USB 2.0 Hi-speed; A/V Out; Type C HDMI mini OUT terminal, external microphone input (3.5mm stereo mini jack); remote control terminal
Power supply: Battery Pack LP-E8; CIPA rated for approx. 440 shots/charge with viewfinder shooting; 180 shots/charge with Live View
Dimensions (wxhxd): 128.8 x 97.5 x 75.3 mm (body only)
Weight: 475 grams (body only)