Canon EOS 550D
Canon EOS Rebel T2i
Canon EOS Kiss X4
Overview
TypeDigital single-lens reflex
Lens
LensCanon EF lens mount, Canon EF-S lens mount
Sensor/medium
SensorCMOS APS-C 22.3 × 14.9 mm (1.6x conversion factor)
Maximum resolution5,184 × 3,456 pixels (18.0 megapixels)
Film speedISO 100 to 6400 (expandable to 12800 with Canon Firmware, expandable to 24000 with Magic Lantern firmware)
Storage mediaSecure Digital Card
Secure Digital High Capacity
Secure Digital Extended Capacity
Focusing
Focus modesAI Focus, One-Shot, AI Servo, Live View
Focus areas9 AF points, f/5.6 cross-type center (extra sensitivity at f/2.8)
Exposure/metering
Exposure modesFull Auto, Portrait, Landscape, Close-up, Sports, Night Portrait, No Flash, Program AE, Shutter-priority, Aperture-priority, Manual, Auto Depth-of-field, Movie
Exposure meteringFull aperture TTL, 63-zone SPC
Metering modesEvaluative, Spot (4% at center), Partial (9% at center), Center-weighted average
Flash
FlashE-TTL II automatic built-in pop-up
Flash bracketingNo
Shutter
Shutterfocal-plane
Shutter speed range1/4000 to 30 sec and bulb, 1/200 s X-sync
Continuous shooting3.7 frame/s for 34 JPEG or 6 raw frames
Viewfinder
ViewfinderEye-level pentamirror SLR, 95% coverage, 0.87× magnification, and electronic (Live View)
Image processing
White balanceAuto, Daylight, Shade, Cloudy, Tungsten, Fluorescent, Flash, Custom
WB bracketing± 5 stops for 3 frames
General
LCD screen3 in 3:2 color TFT LCD, 1,040,000 dots
BatteryLP-E8 Lithium-Ion rechargeable battery
Optional battery packsBG-E8 grip
Dimensions129 mm × 98 mm × 62 mm
Weight530 g (19 oz) (including battery and card)
Made inJapan
Chronology
PredecessorCanon EOS 500D
SuccessorCanon EOS 600D

The Canon EOS 550D is an 18.0-megapixel digital single-lens reflex camera, announced by Canon on 8 February 2010.[1] It was available since 24 February 2010,[2] and to US dealers from early March.[3] It is known as the EOS Kiss X4 in Japan, and as the EOS Rebel T2i in the Americas.[4] It is part of Canon's entry- / mid-level digital SLR camera series, and was the successor model to the EOS 500D. It was succeeded by the EOS 600D (Kiss X5 / Rebel T3i) but remained in Canon's lineup until being discontinued in June 2012 with the announcement of the EOS 650D (Kiss X6i / Rebel T4i).[5]

Features

Bundled software

The 550D comes with following image-processing and camera-operating software:[7]

Neewer battery grip for T2i, T3i, T4i and T5i

Optional accessories

The Canon 550D has available accessories, such as:[8]

Firmware updates

In July 2010, Canon released firmware 1.0.8 that fixed a phenomenon in which the set aperture moves unexpectedly when shooting movies in manual exposure mode using some Canon lenses (such as macro lenses).[9] On 25 December 2010,[10] Canon offered firmware version 1.0.9 which fixed tone jumps in some images, depending on the shooting scene and when shooting with the Auto Lighting Optimizer settings (low / standard / strong).[11]

Custom firmware

Magic Lantern is an open-source (GPL) firmware add-on for Canon DSLR cameras, which has enhancements for video and still photography without replacing the stock firmware.[12] The Canon T2i is compatible with Magic Lantern firmware.[13]

Reception

The British Journal of Photography was impressed by the 550D and said "the EOS 550D is a good match for the 7D at half the price".[14] On Digital Photography Review, it got overall score of 77%.[15] For most of its product life, alternative cameras included the Nikon D5000, Nikon D3100, Canon 500D,[16] Nikon D90,[17] and Pentax K-7. Immediately before it was discontinued in 2012, the main competitors of the 550D were the Nikon D3200 and D5100 (respectively the replacements for the D3100 and D5000), Pentax K-r (replacement for the K-x), and the Sony Alpha 57, one of the company's SLT cameras. (The replacement for the Nikon D90, the D7000, is positioned upmarket from the 550D.)

See also

References

  1. ^ Marc Chacksfield (2010). "Canon EOS 550D officially announced". techradar.com. Retrieved 6 January 2011.
  2. ^ "18MP, 1080p HD Movies, ISO 6400: Canon redefines the boundaries of the consumer DSLR with the EOS 550D". 8 February 2010. Retrieved 8 February 2010.
  3. ^ "The new Canon Rebel T2i digital SLR takes aspiring photographers beyond the still with advanced video features". 8 February 2010. Archived from the original on 23 March 2021. Retrieved 8 February 2010.
  4. ^ "Canon Rebel T2I/Canon EOS Kiss Digital X4/Canon EOS 550D". techgenie.com. 2010. Archived from the original on 3 February 2013. Retrieved 6 January 2011.
  5. ^ Westlake, Andy (8 June 2012). "Canon EOS 650D (Rebel T4i) Hands-on Preview". Digital Photography Review. Retrieved 8 June 2012.
  6. ^ "Canon Rebel T2i / EOS 550D Compared to Nikon D90 Side by Side". digitalreview.ca. Archived from the original on 4 December 2011. Retrieved 15 December 2011.
  7. ^ "canoneos550d (Rebel T2i) specifications". dpreview.com. Retrieved 6 January 2011.
  8. ^ "EOS 550D". canon.com.au. 2010. Archived from the original on 1 December 2011. Retrieved 20 November 2011.
  9. ^ "EOS-1D Mark IV and 550D firmware updates". cpn.canon-europe.com. Retrieved 2 January 2011.
  10. ^ "EOS Digital". canon.com. Archived from the original on 28 February 2009. Retrieved 2 January 2011.
  11. ^ "Canon EOS 550D Firmware 1.0.9". photographyblog.com. Retrieved 6 January 2011.
  12. ^ "Magic Lantern Firmware Wiki". Magiclantern.wikia.com. Retrieved 24 August 2011.
  13. ^ "Magic Lantern Nightly Builds". builds.magiclantern.fm.
  14. ^ David Kilpatrick (2010). "Canon 550D impresses". bjp-online.com. British Journal of Photography. Archived from the original on 14 March 2012. Retrieved 6 January 2011.
  15. ^ "Canon EOS 550D / Rebel T2i". Digital Photography Review. Retrieved 6 January 2011.
  16. ^ "Compared to..." dpreview.com. Retrieved 6 January 2011.
  17. ^ "CANON EOS T2i/550D Review – Shoot to Kill?". digital-photography-school.com. Retrieved 6 January 2011.

External links

Canon EOS digital camera timeline
Categories