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Canon 550D vs Nikon D300

Portability
70
Imaging
58
Features
63
Overall
60
Canon EOS 550D front
 
Nikon D300 front
Portability
55
Imaging
51
Features
59
Overall
54

Canon 550D vs Nikon D300 Key Specs

Canon 550D
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400 (Push to 12800)
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Canon EF/EF-S Mount
  • 530g - 129 x 98 x 62mm
  • Launched April 2010
  • Additionally referred to as EOS Rebel T2i / EOS Kiss X4
  • Old Model is Canon 500D
  • Replacement is Canon 600D
Nikon D300
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 200 - 3200 (Bump to 6400)
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • No Video
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 925g - 147 x 114 x 74mm
  • Introduced March 2008
  • Old Model is Nikon D200
  • Replacement is Nikon D300S
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Canon 550D vs Nikon D300 Overview

Below, we will be looking at the Canon 550D and Nikon D300, one is a Entry-Level DSLR and the latter is a Advanced DSLR by competitors Canon and Nikon. There is a sizeable difference among the sensor resolutions of the 550D (18MP) and D300 (12MP) but they possess the exact same sensor dimensions (APS-C).

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The 550D was brought out 2 years after the D300 which is a fairly large gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of these cameras come with different body type with the Canon 550D being a Compact SLR camera and the Nikon D300 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before we go in to a comprehensive comparison, below is a concise highlight of how the 550D matches up against the D300 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Canon 550D over the Nikon D300

 550D D300 
IntroducedApril 2010March 2008More modern by 25 months
Screen resolution1040k922kClearer screen (+118k dot)

Reasons to pick Nikon D300 over the Canon 550D

 D300 550D 

Common features in the Canon 550D and Nikon D300

 550D D300 
Manually focus More exact focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen sizing
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch screen Neither offers Touch screen

Canon 550D vs Nikon D300 Physical Comparison

If you're aiming to carry around your camera frequently, you will have to factor its weight and size. The Canon 550D offers outer measurements of 129mm x 98mm x 62mm (5.1" x 3.9" x 2.4") and a weight of 530 grams (1.17 lbs) and the Nikon D300 has specifications of 147mm x 114mm x 74mm (5.8" x 4.5" x 2.9") accompanied by a weight of 925 grams (2.04 lbs).

Contrast the Canon 550D and Nikon D300 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are working with at that moment. Here is the front view proportions comparison of the 550D vs the D300.

Canon 550D vs Nikon D300 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the 550D and D300 is 70 and 55 respectively.

Canon 550D vs Nikon D300 top view buttons comparison

Canon 550D vs Nikon D300 Sensor Comparison

Often, it can be difficult to visualise the difference in sensor sizes only by looking through specifications. The pic here may give you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the 550D and D300.

To sum up, both of these cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements albeit not the same MP. You should count on the Canon 550D to provide you with greater detail having its extra 6MP. Higher resolution can also let you crop pictures much more aggressively. The younger 550D will have a benefit when it comes to sensor technology.

Canon 550D vs Nikon D300 sensor size comparison

Canon 550D vs Nikon D300 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon 550D vs Nikon D300 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon 550D Portrait photography features
Nikon D300 Portrait photography features
74
focusing manually
MP count decent (18 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
provides face detection focusing
delivers RAW formats
60
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
low resolution sensor (12MP)
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Street Comparison

Canon 550D Street photography details
Nikon D300 Street photography details
60
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
no articulating screen
no image stabilization
56
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
weather proofing
fixed screen
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Canon 550D Sports photography advice
Nikon D300 Sports photography advice
54
MP count decent (18MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect AF
very slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames/s)
no image stabilization
bad battery life (470 CIPA)
56
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
weather proofing
better than average battery power (1,000 shots)
sensor has phase detect autofocus
max frames per second low (6.0 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
low resolution sensor (12MP)
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Travel Comparison

Canon 550D Travel photography details
Nikon D300 Travel photography details
55
MP count decent (18 megapixels)
flash built-in
no Timelapse function
bad battery life (470 CIPA)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
56
better than average battery power (1,000 per charge)
weather proofing
has built in flash
low resolution sensor (12MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Canon 550D Landscape photography factors
Nikon D300 Landscape photography factors
63
focusing manually
change lenses (Canon EF/EF-S mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
MP count decent (18MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
no image stabilization
bad battery life (470 CIPA)
no Timelapse function
64
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Nikon F mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
weather proofing
better than average battery power (1,000 CIPA)
lack of image stabilization
low resolution sensor (12MP)
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Canon 550D
Vlogging with Nikon D300
31
provides face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
includes external microphone socket
does not have a selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
9
no video shooting
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Canon 550D vs Nikon D300 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon 550D and Nikon D300
 Canon EOS 550DNikon D300
General Information
Company Canon Nikon
Model Canon EOS 550D Nikon D300
Also referred to as EOS Rebel T2i / EOS Kiss X4 -
Type Entry-Level DSLR Advanced DSLR
Launched 2010-04-01 2008-03-12
Physical type Compact SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Chip Digic 4 Expeed
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor dimensions 22.3 x 14.9mm 23.6 x 15.8mm
Sensor area 332.3mm² 372.9mm²
Sensor resolution 18 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2
Full resolution 5184 x 3456 4288 x 2848
Max native ISO 6400 3200
Max boosted ISO 12800 6400
Min native ISO 100 200
RAW data
Min boosted ISO - 100
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 9 51
Lens
Lens mounting type Canon EF/EF-S Nikon F
Amount of lenses 326 309
Crop factor 1.6 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 1,040 thousand dots 922 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen technology TFT color liquid-crystal LCD Super Density TFT color LCD with wide-viewing angle
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 95% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.55x 0.63x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 4.0 frames/s 6.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 13.00 m 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, Rear curtain
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/200 secs 1/250 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30, 25, 24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 50 fps), 640 x 480 (60, 50 fps) -
Max video resolution 1920x1080 None
Video file format H.264 -
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 530 grams (1.17 lbs) 925 grams (2.04 lbs)
Dimensions 129 x 98 x 62mm (5.1" x 3.9" x 2.4") 147 x 114 x 74mm (5.8" x 4.5" x 2.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 66 67
DXO Color Depth score 22.0 22.1
DXO Dynamic range score 11.6 12.0
DXO Low light score 807 679
Other
Battery life 470 photos 1000 photos
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LP-E8 EN-EL3e
Self timer Yes (2 sec or 10 sec) Yes (2 to 20 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC Compact Flash (Type I or II)
Card slots One One
Launch pricing $599 $1,100