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Canon 50D vs Canon 550D

Portability
57
Imaging
53
Features
65
Overall
57
Canon EOS 50D front
 
Canon EOS 550D front
Portability
70
Imaging
57
Features
63
Overall
59

Canon 50D vs Canon 550D Key Specs

Canon 50D
(Full Review)
  • 15MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200 (Boost to 12800)
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • No Video
  • Canon EF/EF-S Mount
  • 822g - 146 x 108 x 74mm
  • Released October 2008
  • Superseded the Canon 40D
  • Successor is Canon 60D
Canon 550D
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400 (Increase to 12800)
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Canon EF/EF-S Mount
  • 530g - 129 x 98 x 62mm
  • Launched April 2010
  • Alternative Name is EOS Rebel T2i / EOS Kiss X4
  • Succeeded the Canon 500D
  • Updated by Canon 600D
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Canon 50D vs Canon 550D Overview

Here is a comprehensive comparison of the Canon 50D vs Canon 550D, former being a Advanced DSLR while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR and both are produced by Canon. The resolution of the 50D (15MP) and the 550D (18MP) is fairly comparable and they use the same exact sensor dimensions (APS-C).

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The 50D was launched 17 months prior to the 550D making the cameras a generation apart from one another. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Canon 50D being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Canon 550D being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go straight into a in depth comparison, below is a quick summation of how the 50D matches up vs the 550D in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Canon 50D over the Canon 550D

 50D 550D 

Reasons to pick Canon 550D over the Canon 50D

 550D 50D 
LaunchedApril 2010October 2008Fresher by 17 months
Display resolution1040k920kCrisper display (+120k dot)

Common features in the Canon 50D and Canon 550D

 50D 550D 
Manual focus More accurate focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display sizing
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither contains Touch friendly display

Canon 50D vs Canon 550D Physical Comparison

For those who are aiming to carry your camera, you will have to think about its weight and volume. The Canon 50D has got outside measurements of 146mm x 108mm x 74mm (5.7" x 4.3" x 2.9") accompanied by a weight of 822 grams (1.81 lbs) and the Canon 550D has sizing of 129mm x 98mm x 62mm (5.1" x 3.9" x 2.4") having a weight of 530 grams (1.17 lbs).

Analyze the Canon 50D vs Canon 550D in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you use at that time. Following is the front view measurement comparison of the 50D and the 550D.

Canon 50D vs Canon 550D size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the 50D and 550D is 57 and 70 respectively.

Canon 50D vs Canon 550D top view buttons comparison

Canon 50D vs Canon 550D Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is very difficult to visualize the contrast in sensor sizing purely by going through specs. The visual underneath will help offer you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the 50D and 550D.

As you can plainly see, the 2 cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing but different MP. You can anticipate the Canon 550D to provide extra detail utilizing its extra 3 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop pics far more aggressively. The older 50D will be behind when it comes to sensor technology.

Canon 50D vs Canon 550D sensor size comparison

Canon 50D vs Canon 550D Screen and ViewFinder

Canon 50D vs Canon 550D Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon 50D Portrait photography details
Canon 550D Portrait photography details
71
has manual focus
decent MP (15MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
provides face detection focusing
saves RAW formats
74
you can focus manually
good megapixels (18 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
provides face detect focus
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Canon 50D as a Street photography camera
Canon 550D as a Street photography camera
57
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
weather proofing
screen is fixed
does not have image stabilization
60
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
fixed screen
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Canon 50D as a Sports photography camera
Canon 550D as a Sports photography camera
62
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
decent MP (15MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
weather proofing
comes with phase detect AF
does not have image stabilization
not so great battery (800 per charge)
53
good megapixels (18MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
comes with phase detect auto focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (4.0 fps)
lack of image stabilization
bad battery life (470 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Canon 50D Travel photography highlights
Canon 550D Travel photography highlights
57
weather proofing
decent MP (15MP)
built-in flash
not so great battery (800 CIPA)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
55
good megapixels (18 megapixels)
flash built-in
lack of Timelapse recording
bad battery life (470 per charge)
display is not selfie friendly
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Canon 50D Landscape photography advice
Canon 550D Landscape photography advice
65
has manual focus
swap lenses (Canon EF/EF-S mount)
nice screen size (3")
decent MP (15 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
weather proofing
does not have image stabilization
not so great battery (800 shots)
63
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Canon EF/EF-S mount)
nice screen size (3")
good megapixels (18 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
bad battery life (470 shots)
lack of Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon 50D as a Vlogging camera
Canon 550D as a Vlogging camera
9
can't record video
31
provides face detect focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does have microphone port
display is not selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
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Canon 50D vs Canon 550D Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon 50D and Canon 550D
 Canon EOS 50DCanon EOS 550D
General Information
Brand Canon Canon
Model type Canon EOS 50D Canon EOS 550D
Also called as - EOS Rebel T2i / EOS Kiss X4
Class Advanced DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Released 2008-10-30 2010-04-01
Body design Mid-size SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Digic 4 Digic 4
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor measurements 22.3 x 14.9mm 22.3 x 14.9mm
Sensor area 332.3mm² 332.3mm²
Sensor resolution 15MP 18MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2
Highest Possible resolution 4752 x 3168 5184 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 3200 6400
Maximum enhanced ISO 12800 12800
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens support Canon EF/EF-S Canon EF/EF-S
Total lenses 326 326
Focal length multiplier 1.6 1.6
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 920k dot 1,040k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display tech TFT liquid-crystal color LCD TFT color liquid-crystal LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.6x 0.55x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 6.3 frames per second 4.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 13.00 m (ISO 100) 13.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye Auto, On, Off, Red-eye
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/250 seconds 1/200 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (30, 25, 24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 50 fps), 640 x 480 (60, 50 fps)
Maximum video resolution None 1920x1080
Video format - H.264
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 822g (1.81 pounds) 530g (1.17 pounds)
Dimensions 146 x 108 x 74mm (5.7" x 4.3" x 2.9") 129 x 98 x 62mm (5.1" x 3.9" x 2.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 63 66
DXO Color Depth rating 21.8 22.0
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.4 11.6
DXO Low light rating 696 807
Other
Battery life 800 shots 470 shots
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BP-511A LP-E8
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 sec or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media Compact Flash (Type I or II), UDMA SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Single Single
Retail pricing $996 $599