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Canon 550D vs Pentax K-r

Portability
70
Imaging
58
Features
63
Overall
60
Canon EOS 550D front
 
Pentax K-r front
Portability
67
Imaging
53
Features
52
Overall
52

Canon 550D vs Pentax K-r Key Specs

Canon 550D
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400 (Expand to 12800)
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Canon EF/EF-S Mount
  • 530g - 129 x 98 x 62mm
  • Revealed April 2010
  • Alternative Name is EOS Rebel T2i / EOS Kiss X4
  • Older Model is Canon 500D
  • Later Model is Canon 600D
Pentax K-r
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 200 - 12800 (Boost to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Max Shutter
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 598g - 125 x 97 x 68mm
  • Introduced March 2011
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Canon 550D vs Pentax K-r Overview

Its time to take a more detailed look at the Canon 550D versus Pentax K-r, both Entry-Level DSLR cameras by competitors Canon and Pentax. There is a crucial difference among the sensor resolutions of the 550D (18MP) and K-r (12MP) but they feature the same exact sensor sizing (APS-C).

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The 550D was launched 11 months before the K-r so they are both of a similar generation. Both the cameras offer the identical body type (Compact SLR).

Before going in to a in depth comparison, below is a simple introduction of how the 550D matches up against the K-r with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Canon 550D over the Pentax K-r

 550D K-r 
Screen resolution1040k921kCrisper screen (+119k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax K-r over the Canon 550D

 K-r 550D 
IntroducedMarch 2011April 2010Fresher by 11 months

Common features in the Canon 550D and Pentax K-r

 550D K-r 
Manually focus Dial exact focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen measurement
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch screen Neither contains Touch screen

Canon 550D vs Pentax K-r Physical Comparison

For anybody who is looking to carry your camera, you are going to need to factor in its weight and volume. The Canon 550D has got exterior dimensions of 129mm x 98mm x 62mm (5.1" x 3.9" x 2.4") accompanied by a weight of 530 grams (1.17 lbs) while the Pentax K-r has sizing of 125mm x 97mm x 68mm (4.9" x 3.8" x 2.7") having a weight of 598 grams (1.32 lbs).

See the Canon 550D versus Pentax K-r in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are using during that time. Here is the front view measurements comparison of the 550D vs the K-r.

Canon 550D vs Pentax K-r size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the 550D and K-r is 70 and 67 respectively.

Canon 550D vs Pentax K-r top view buttons comparison

Canon 550D vs Pentax K-r Sensor Comparison

Generally, it can be difficult to visualize the gap in sensor sizing merely by going through specifications. The visual below will help offer you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the 550D and K-r.

Plainly, each of these cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing albeit different MP. You should expect the Canon 550D to show extra detail utilizing its extra 6MP. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop shots far more aggressively. The older 550D will be behind in sensor tech.

Canon 550D vs Pentax K-r sensor size comparison

Canon 550D vs Pentax K-r Screen and ViewFinder

Canon 550D vs Pentax K-r Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Canon 550D
Portrait photography with Pentax K-r
74
focusing manually
MP count good (18 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
comes with face detect focus
saves RAW files
63
manual focus
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
features face detection focusing
delivers RAW formats
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Canon 550D Street photography features
Pentax K-r Street photography features
60
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
screen does not articulate
lack of image stabilization
67
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
screen does not articulate
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Sports Comparison

Canon 550D Sports photography info
Pentax K-r Sports photography info
54
MP count good (18MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports phase detect auto focus
max frames per second low (4.0 frames per second)
lack of image stabilization
not so great battery (470 CIPA)
55
great max shutter speed (1/6,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports phase detect AF
slow frames per second (6.0 frames/s)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
not so great battery life (470 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Canon 550D Travel photography factors
Pentax K-r Travel photography factors
55
MP count good (18MP)
has built in flash
missing Timelapse recording
not so great battery (470 shots)
display isn't selfie friendly
47
built-in flash
not so great battery life (470 shots)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
does not have a selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Canon 550D Landscape photography info
Pentax K-r Landscape photography info
63
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Canon EF/EF-S mount)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
MP count good (18MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
lack of image stabilization
not so great battery (470 per charge)
missing Timelapse recording
65
manual focus
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
low megapixels (12MP)
not so great battery life (470 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon 550D Vlogging advice
Pentax K-r Vlogging advice
31
comes with face detect focus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
comes with microphone socket
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
26
image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detection focusing
does not have a selfie friendly display
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have external microphone socket
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Canon 550D vs Pentax K-r Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon 550D and Pentax K-r
 Canon EOS 550DPentax K-r
General Information
Make Canon Pentax
Model type Canon EOS 550D Pentax K-r
Also called as EOS Rebel T2i / EOS Kiss X4 -
Category Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Revealed 2010-04-01 2011-03-11
Physical type Compact SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Chip Digic 4 Prime II
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor measurements 22.3 x 14.9mm 23.6 x 15.8mm
Sensor surface area 332.3mm² 372.9mm²
Sensor resolution 18MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2
Highest Possible resolution 5184 x 3456 4288 x 2848
Maximum native ISO 6400 12800
Maximum enhanced ISO 12800 25600
Lowest native ISO 100 200
RAW support
Lowest enhanced ISO - 100
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 9 11
Cross type focus points - 9
Lens
Lens support Canon EF/EF-S Pentax KAF2
Amount of lenses 326 151
Crop factor 1.6 1.5
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3" 3"
Display resolution 1,040k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display tech TFT color liquid-crystal LCD TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent 96 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.55x 0.57x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/6000s
Continuous shutter rate 4.0 frames/s 6.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 13.00 m 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye Auto, Red-eye Reduction, Slow-speed Sync, Trailing Curtain Sync, High-Speed Sync and Wireless Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/200s 1/180s
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) 1280 x 720 (25 fps), 640 x 480 (25 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone 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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 530 grams (1.17 pounds) 598 grams (1.32 pounds)
Dimensions 129 x 98 x 62mm (5.1" x 3.9" x 2.4") 125 x 97 x 68mm (4.9" x 3.8" x 2.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 66 72
DXO Color Depth rating 22.0 22.9
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.6 12.4
DXO Low light rating 807 755
Other
Battery life 470 photographs 470 photographs
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LP-E8 D-LI109,4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 sec or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC
Card slots One One
Price at release $599 $1,100