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Canon 550D vs Pentax K-x

Portability
70
Imaging
58
Features
63
Overall
60
Canon EOS 550D front
 
Pentax K-x front
Portability
69
Imaging
52
Features
47
Overall
50

Canon 550D vs Pentax K-x Key Specs

Canon 550D
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400 (Boost to 12800)
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Canon EF/EF-S Mount
  • 530g - 129 x 98 x 62mm
  • Revealed April 2010
  • Other Name is EOS Rebel T2i / EOS Kiss X4
  • Earlier Model is Canon 500D
  • Updated by Canon 600D
Pentax K-x
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400 (Expand to 12800)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 580g - 123 x 92 x 68mm
  • Revealed December 2009
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Canon 550D vs Pentax K-x Overview

In this write-up, we will be contrasting the Canon 550D and Pentax K-x, both Entry-Level DSLR digital cameras by competitors Canon and Pentax. There exists a sizable gap between the sensor resolutions of the 550D (18MP) and K-x (12MP) but they come with the same exact sensor measurements (APS-C).

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The 550D was brought out 4 months later than the K-x so they are both of a similar age. Both the cameras offer the identical body type (Compact SLR).

Before going in to a comprehensive comparison, below is a short view of how the 550D scores vs the K-x when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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

 550D K-x 
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution1040k230kClearer screen (+810k dot)

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

 K-x 550D 

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

 550D K-x 
RevealedApril 2010December 2009Similar age
Focus manually Dial accurate focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither provides Touch friendly screen

Canon 550D vs Pentax K-x Physical Comparison

In case you're looking to lug around your camera regularly, you need to factor in its weight and measurements. The Canon 550D provides external dimensions 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 Pentax K-x has proportions of 123mm x 92mm x 68mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 2.7") and a weight of 580 grams (1.28 lbs).

Check out the Canon 550D and Pentax K-x in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you select at that moment. Following is the front view dimensions comparison of the 550D versus the K-x.

Canon 550D vs Pentax K-x size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the 550D and K-x is 70 and 69 respectively.

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

Canon 550D vs Pentax K-x Sensor Comparison

Normally, it's tough to envision the gap between sensor measurements merely by reading specs. The visual underneath should give you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the 550D and K-x.

All in all, each of the cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing albeit not the same megapixels. You can count on the Canon 550D to offer greater detail having its extra 6MP. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop photographs far more aggressively.

Canon 550D vs Pentax K-x sensor size comparison

Canon 550D vs Pentax K-x Screen and ViewFinder

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

Portrait Comparison

Canon 550D as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax K-x as a Portrait photography camera
74
manual focus
resolution is good (18MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
features face detection focusing
saves RAW files
63
focusing manually
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
offers face detect focus
supports RAW formats
low megapixels (12MP)
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Street Comparison

Canon 550D Street photography information
Pentax K-x Street photography information
60
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW files
screen does not articulate
no image stabilization
67
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
no moving screen
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Sports Comparison

Canon 550D as a Sports photography camera
Pentax K-x as a Sports photography camera
54
resolution is good (18MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports phase detect AF
slow continuous shooting (4.0 fps)
no image stabilization
terrible battery (470 shots)
61
maximum shutter speed is high (1/6,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
better than average battery pack (1,900 per charge)
supports phase detect auto focus
slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames per second)
low megapixels (12MP)
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Travel Comparison

Canon 550D Travel photography information
Pentax K-x Travel photography information
55
resolution is good (18MP)
flash built-in
missing Timelapse function
terrible battery (470 CIPA)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
54
better than average battery pack (1,900 per charge)
built-in flash
does not have Time Lapse recording
low megapixels (12MP)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Canon 550D
Landscape photography with Pentax K-x
63
manual focus
switch lenses (Canon EF/EF-S mount)
nice screen size (3")
resolution is good (18MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW files
no image stabilization
terrible battery (470 per charge)
missing Timelapse function
61
focusing manually
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
better than average battery pack (1,900 shots)
tiny screen (2.7 inch)
low megapixels (12MP)
does not have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon 550D Vlogging details
Pentax K-x Vlogging details
31
features face detection focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
comes with external microphone port
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
27
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detect focus
does not feature selfie friendly screen
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have mic port
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Canon 550D vs Pentax K-x Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon 550D and Pentax K-x
 Canon EOS 550DPentax K-x
General Information
Brand Canon Pentax
Model type Canon EOS 550D Pentax K-x
Also called EOS Rebel T2i / EOS Kiss X4 -
Category Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Revealed 2010-04-01 2009-12-23
Body design Compact SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Digic 4 Prime
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor dimensions 22.3 x 14.9mm 23.6 x 15.8mm
Sensor surface area 332.3mm² 372.9mm²
Sensor resolution 18 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2
Highest Possible resolution 5184 x 3456 4288 x 2848
Maximum native ISO 6400 6400
Maximum enhanced ISO 12800 12800
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 9 11
Lens
Lens mount type Canon EF/EF-S Pentax KAF2
Available lenses 326 151
Crop factor 1.6 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inch 2.7 inch
Screen resolution 1,040k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen technology 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
Min shutter speed 30s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/6000s
Continuous shutter speed 4.0 frames per sec 5.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 13.00 m 16.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear curtain, Wireless
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync 1/200s 1/180s
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) 1280 x 720 (24 fps), 640 x 416 (24 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 530 grams (1.17 lbs) 580 grams (1.28 lbs)
Dimensions 129 x 98 x 62mm (5.1" x 3.9" x 2.4") 123 x 92 x 68mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 2.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 66 72
DXO Color Depth rating 22.0 22.8
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.6 12.5
DXO Low light rating 807 811
Other
Battery life 470 photos 1900 photos
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LP-E8 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 sec or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC card
Storage slots 1 1
Price at release $599 $600