DSLRUsers.com

Or even better:
http://www.dpreview.com/previews/CanonEOS550D

Leigh had a play yesterday.

Looks like an interesting body. This might fit nicely in the void between 50D and 7D. The high ISO performance looks ok.

surenj wrote:Looks like an interesting body. This might fit nicely in the void between 50D and 7D. The high ISO performance looks ok.

Is it meant to fit between those two? i thought it was still below the 50d, it is at least physical size wise etc

Doctor wrote:Is it meant to fit between those two? i thought it was still below the 50d, it is at least physical size wise etc

You make a valid point! my Sony, I think it's between the 500D (perhaps to be discontinued) and 50D. However some of the features trump the 50D!

surenj wrote:

Doctor wrote:Is it meant to fit between those two? i thought it was still below the 50d, it is at least physical size wise etc

You make a valid point! my Sony, I think it's between the 500D (perhaps to be discontinued) and 50D. However some of the features trump the 50D!

I think it effectively replaces the 450d, pushing the 500d down a peg and wedging itself between the 50d and the 500d.

Its the usual game of leapfrog though, the lower end cameras always end up catching the higher up ones and trumping them on some features... The 550d still couldnt replace my 50d though, there are instances when the higher FPS are handy, and the physical size difference is too much, my hands used to crap on the 400d, i dont think the 550 could be a much bigger improvement

Doctor wrote:

surenj wrote:

Doctor wrote:Is it meant to fit between those two? i thought it was still below the 50d, it is at least physical size wise etc

You make a valid point! my Sony, I think it's between the 500D (perhaps to be discontinued) and 50D. However some of the features trump the 50D!

I think it effectively replaces the 450d, pushing the 500d down a peg and wedging itself between the 50d and the 500d.

Its the usual game of leapfrog though, the lower end cameras always end up catching the higher up ones and trumping them on some features... The 550d still couldnt replace my 50d though, there are instances when the higher FPS are handy, and the physical size difference is too much, my hands used to crap on the 400d, i dont think the 550 could be a much bigger improvement

I think Doc is closer to correct here, either everything bumps down and we lose the 1000D or the 450D is lost and the 500D is pegged down. The 50D will not be replaced by the 550D, there is more of a chance of the 50D and 7D merging, but even that looks unlikely due to the need to address the price point.

The way Canon described it to me was that there's now a 1000D, 450D, 500D, and 550D in the beginner line-up.

Nnnnsic wrote:The way Canon described it to me was that there's now a 1000D, 450D, 500D, and 550D in the beginner line-up.

Something has to go....unless we are looking to emulate the SONY shotgun....A230, A330, A380, A500, A550.....

I think the 450D will go after a while.

It's like when the 50D came out and Canon said that the 40D was still a current product. They've done similar things with some other models: I think it's just to clear their stock levels of the old model. I doubt the 450D is still being made!

Had a play with one today, and High ISO is remarkably better than what canon has previously offered in terms of IQ and reduction of Chroma Noise.

Bear in mind, that even though the 550D has the same sensor as the 7D, there are alot of perks that it misses out on,

1. AF drive, unlike the 7D, it wont be able to maximize the usage of the new 70-200 2.8's and the 100mm macro's hybrid IS system.

2. Mastering of Canon flashes with the pop up ( essentially Creative Lighting System in Nikon).

3. Built Quality is an unmistakable obvious.

4. 8fps vs. 3.7fps.

5. The 550D Doesn't have a dedicated Metering Mode button, first one to my knowledge that lacks one.

6. You can't really do much in Custom Fn in the 550D, you also dont have a rear AF ON button ( I know you probably wont like that DaveB, the AF ON technique works well )

But the bonuses in the 550D

1. 1040K screen. Happiness in 2:3 for consumers, means their postcard prints are what they see on the back of their screens which means i wont have to stab any customers with a 550D when they print =D

2. Q menu is better refined.

3. Eye-Fi capable as well as User Interface installed.

4. Noise Reduction is better than the 7D's in my opinion.. though I haven't tested them side by side yet as my 7D is being loaned to a friend, the 550D at 6400 is remarkably good.

5. Rear buttons are better positioned against the 450D, stupid little AV +/- circle button on the 450D bugged me ( used to the 1000D's size, now 7D's wheel).

6. AF during video =) what the general consumers want.


As a competitor, i have to say that the 550D in my opinion puts the D90 to shame, besides built quality which is a major let down, i find that the 550D will be a sure fire hit in the market. The new gripstyle is extremely comfortable and I believe this camera would be the one to make Nikon users want to switch in the sub $2000 body range.

So my personal verdict, the girlfriend thinks she wants one. That's saying ALOT.

DaveB wrote:I think it's just to clear their stock levels of the old model. I doubt the 450D is still being made!

Apparently the 450D will still be produced for a little while longer.. will run parallel for a few months, similar to the 40D and 50D, but i think the 450D will be short lived alot faster.

Other articles say it's not the same sensor as the 7D. It's apparently "very similar."

photomarcs wrote:6. You can't really do much in Custom Fn in the 550D, you also dont have a rear AF ON button ( I know you probably wont like that DaveB, the AF ON technique works well )

Not a problem in this case. Like every Canon DSLR other than the 300D, you can move the AF-ON function from the shutter to the '*' button. In this case via C.Fn IV-9 (set to 3).

It was only in the 40D that they introduced a separate AF-ON button (and you still need to configure those cameras with that button to take the AF away from the shutter button). Even in 2000 my D30 had focus tied to the '*' button!

DaveB wrote:

photomarcs wrote:6. You can't really do much in Custom Fn in the 550D, you also dont have a rear AF ON button ( I know you probably wont like that DaveB, the AF ON technique works well )

Not a problem in this case. Like every Canon DSLR other than the 300D, you can move the AF-ON function from the shutter to the '*' button. In this case via C.Fn IV-9 (set to 3).

It was only in the 40D that they introduced a separate AF-ON button (and you still need to configure those cameras with that button to take the AF away from the shutter button). Even in 2000 my D30 had focus tied to the '*' button!

HAHA! forgot about that! although.. i do prefer the placement of the AF-ON button to the * button. But hey! whatever works