Can the Canon EOS 550D (Rebel T21 in the US) beginner-to-amateur level DSLR match up to the hype? Our Canon EOS 550D review finds out more about the Canon 550D...
Canon EOS 550D Review
Verdict
The EOS 550D is an excellent camera, offering a beginner similar specs to an EOS 7D semi-pro model at a fraction of the price. The low-light and video perfromance are a superb bonus to the excellent overall image quality.
The 18MP resolution may mainly make the files larger, but the sharpness and detail are top notch regardless. The most impressive new addition on the stills side is the 63-zone metering system, as it seems to be capable of coping with almost any lighting condition and still turn out a decent shot.
The ISO range may be verging toward unusable at 12,800, but below that the noise was minimal enough to make it difficult to tell the shots apart.
The price may be a touch high compared to it’s rivals, but the Canon EOS 550D is well worth the extra cash.
Details
Product Shots:View product shots of the Canon EOS 550D
ISO:100-12,800
Built-in Flash:Yes
Lens Mount:Canon EF/EF-S
White Balance:Auto, 7 presets, 1 manual preset storage, WB compensation
Viewfinder Type:Pentamirror
PC Socket:No
Compression:Yes, fine/standard
Cable Release:Yes (Remote Switch RS-60E3, Remote RC-6)
Exposure Comp:+/- 5EV in 1/3, ½, EV
Memory Card:SD, SDHC
Output Size:5184 x 3456 pixels
Field of View:95%
LCD:3in Clear view TFT 1040k-dot
Colour Temp Control:Yes
AF Points:9 point (f/5.6 cross type at centre, extra sensitivity at f/2.8)
White Balance Bracket:3 frames +/- 3 levels
Sensor:18MP APS-C CMOS
Max Flash Sync:1/200th second
Focal Length Mag:1.6x
Metering System:63-zone iFCL
Dust Reduction:Yes
DoF Prview:Yes
Built-in Image Stabilisation:No
Movie Mode:Yes
Exposure Modes:M, A, S, P, CA
Live Mode:Yes
Connectivity:USB, HDMI, AV out, Mic-in
Weight:530g
Power:Rechargeable Li-ion LP –E8
Dimensions:128.8 x 97.3 x 62mm
File Format:JPEG, Raw, MOV (H.264)
Shutter Speeds:1/4000-30secs, Bulb
Drive Mode:Single, continuous, self-timer
Focusing Modes:One Shot, AI Servo, AI Focus, Manual
Colour Space:sRGB, Adobe RGB
Sample Photos:View sample photos of the Canon EOS 550D