Stills or movies, capture your story in detail

Capture your story in stunning detail with the EOS 550D. With the creative freedom to capture the decisive shot, see all the detail of your holiday sunset or follow action in the local match.

Features
18 MP APS-C CMOS sensor
DIGIC 4
ISO 100-6400, H:12800
3.7fps shooting
Full HD movies
7.7cm (3.0”) 3:2 Clear View LCD with 1,040k dots
iFCL metering
Quick Control screen
Ext. Mic socket
Movie crop

18 MP CMOS sensor
Ideal for those who want to create large, poster-size prints – or crop images without losing any of the detail necessary for printing – EOS 550D’s 18MP CMOS sensor is outstanding in low light, and produces images with incredibly low noise.

DIGIC 4
Canon’s DIGIC 4 processor works with the CMOS sensor to deliver 14-bit image processing, for smooth gradations and natural looking colours. DIGIC 4 also powers advanced Noise Reduction when shooting at higher ISO speeds, plus split-second start-up times and near-instant image review after shooting.

High ISO for low light
When light levels fall, the EOS 550D offers an ISO range of up to 6400 – expandable to 12800 for those environments where using flash is undesirable.

Full HD movie recording
The EOS 550D combines exceptional still shooting with the ability to shoot Full HD (1080p) video. To satisfy your creativity the EOS 550D features full manual control and selectable frame rates. You can also shoot high speed 50/60fps movies at 720P for when the action is really fast. An HDMI connection allows High Definition playback of footage and images on any HDTV. Also with compatible TVs playback can be controlled using the TV’s remote control.

7.7cm (3.0”) 3:2 Clear View LCD
Detailed checks on images and video are possible with a 7.7cm (3.0”) 3:2 Clear View LCD screen, which features an ultra-high 1,040,000 dots for increased clarity. Switch to Live View mode and use the real-time visual feed to shoot from awkward angles.

iFCL metering system
A new 63-zone dual layer metering sensor analyses Focus, Colour and Luminance information, providing accurate and consistent metering.

Quick Control screen
Accessible using a dedicated button it provides easy access to commonly used functions, ensuring that you are ready to take the shot as it happens.

External Microphone Socket
Add an additional microphone for better quality sound using the 3.5mm stereo jack socket.

Movie Crop
Shoot VGA movies with an effective zoom of 7x. Movie crop uses only the centre part of the sensor and allows long distance shooting without having to change lenses.

Create a shooting system as unique as you are
The EOS 550D is compatible with Canon’s full range of EF and EF-S lenses and EX-series Speedlites.

SPECIFICATIONS

Image Sensor Type: 22.3 x 14.9mm CMOS

Effective Pixels: Approx. 18.0 megapixels

Total Pixels: Approx. 18.7 megapixels

Aspect Ratio: 3:2

Low-Pass Filter: Built-in/Fixed with Self Cleaning Sensor Unit

Sensor Cleaning: EOS integrated cleaning system

Colour Filter Type: Primary Colour

Image Processor Type: DIGIC 4

Lens Mount: EF/EF-S

Focal Length: Equivalent to 1.6x the focal length of the lens

Focusing Type: TTL-CT-SIR AF-dedicated with a CMOS sensor

AF System/ Points: 9 AF points (f/5.6 cross type at centre, extra sensitivity at f/2.8)

AF Working Range: EV -0.5 -18 (at 23°C & ISO100)

AF Modes: AI Focus, One Shot, AI Servo

AF Point Selection: Automatic selection, Manual selection

Selected AF Point Display: Superimposed in viewfinder and indicated on LCD monitor

Predictive AF: Yes, up to 10m

AF Lock: Locked when shutter button is pressed half way in One Shot AF mode.

AF Assist Beam: Intermittent firing of built-in flash or emitted by optional dedicated Speedlite

Manual Focus: Selected on lens

Metering Modes: TTL full aperture metering with 63-zone SPC
(1) Evaluative metering (linked to all AF points)
(2) Partial metering at center (approx. 9% of viewfinder)
(3) Spot metering (approx. 4% of viewfinder at center)
(4) Center weighted average metering

Metering Range: EV 1-20 (at 23°C with 50mm f/1.4 lens ISO100)

AE Lock: Auto: In 1-shot AF mode with evaluative metering exposure is locked when focus is achieved.
Manual: By AE lock button in creative zone modes.

Exposure Compensation: +/-5 EV in 1/3 or 1/2 stop increments (can be combined with AEB).

AEB: 3 shots +/- 2 EV, 1/2 or 1/3-stop increments

ISO Sensitivity: AUTO(100-6400), 100-6400 Expandable to H (approx 12800) in 1-stop increments
Shutter Type: Electronically-controlled focal-plane shutter

Shutter Speed: 30-1/4000 sec (1/2 or 1/3 stop increments), Bulb (Total shutter speed range. Available range varies by shooting mode)

White Balance Type: Auto white balance with the imaging sensor

WB Settings: AWB, Daylight, Shade, Cloudy, Tungsten, White Fluorescent light, Flash, Custom.

White balance compensation: 1. Blue/Amber +/-9 2. Magenta/ Green +/-9.

Custom White Balance: Yes, 1 setting can be registered

WB Bracketing: +/-3 levels in single level increments
3 bracketed images per shutter release.
Selectable Blue/Amber bias or Magenta/ Green bias.

Viewfinder Type: Pentamirror

Coverage: (Vertical/Horizontal) Approx. 95%

Magnification: Approx. 0.87x

Eyepoint: Approx. 19mm (from eyepiece lens centre)

Dioptre Correction: -3 to +1 (1/m) (dioptre)

Focusing Screen: Fixed

Mirror: Quick-return half mirror (Transmission: reflection ratio of 40:60, no mirror cut-off with EF600mm f/4 or shorter)

Viewfinder Information: AF information: AF points, focus confirmation light
Exposure information: Shutter speed, aperture value, ISO speed (always displayed), AE lock, exposure level/compensation, spot metering circle, exposure warning, AEB
Flash information: Flash ready, high-speed sync, FE lock, flash exposure compensation, red-eye reduction light
Image information: White balance correction, SD card information, monochrome shooting, maximum burst (1 digit display), Highlight tone priority (D+)

Depth of Field Preview: Yes, with Depth of Field preview button.

Eyepiece Shutter: On strap

LCD Monitor Type: 7.7cm (3.0") 3:2 Clear View TFT, approx. 1040K dots

Coverage: Approx. 100%

Viewing Angle: (Horizontally/Vertically) Approx 160°

Coating: Dual Anti-reflection, anti smudge

Brightness Adjustment: Adjustable to one of seven levels

Display Options: (1) Quick Control Screen (2) Camera settings

Flash: Built-in Flash GN (ISO 100, meters) 13

Built-in Flash Coverage: up to 17mm focal length (35mm equivalent: 27mm)

Built-in Flash Recycle Time: Approx. 3 seconds

Flash Modes: Auto, Manual Flash On/off

Red-Eye Reduction: Yes - with red eye reduction lamp

X-Sync: 1/200sec

Flash Exposure Compensation: +/- 2EV in 1/2 or 1/3 increments

Flash Exposure Bracketing: Yes, with compatible External Flash

Flash Exposure Lock: Yes

Second Curtain Synchronisation: Yes

HotShoe/ PC Terminal: Yes

External Flash Compatibility: E-TTL II with EX series Speedlites, wireless multi-flash support
External Flash Control: via camera menu screen

Shooting Modes: Auto, Portrait, Landscape, Close-up, Sports, Night Portrait, No Flash, Movie, Program AE , Shutter priority AE, Aperture priority AE, Manual, A-DEP

Picture Styles: Standard, Portrait, Landscape, Neutral, Faithful, Monochrome, User Defined

Colour Space: sRGB and Adobe RGB

Image Processing: Highlight Tone Priority
Auto Lighting Optimizer (Basic and Creative modes)
Long exposure noise reduction
High ISO speed noise reduction
Peripheral illumination correction

Drive Modes: Single, Continuous, Self timer (2s, 10s+remote, 10s + continuous shots 2-10)

Continuous Shooting: Max. Approx. 3.7fps. (speed maintained for minimum of approx 34 images (JPEG)¹, 6 images (RAW)

Live View Mode Type: Electronic viewfinder with image sensor

Coverage: Approx. 100% (horizontally and vertically)

Frame Rate: 30 fps

Focusing: Manual Focus (Magnify the image 5x or 10x at any point on screen)
Autofocus: Quick mode, Live mode

Metering: Real-time evaluative metering with image sensor
Active metering time can be changed

Display Options: Grid overlay, Histogram

File Type: Still Image Type JPEG: Fine, Normal (Exif 2.21 [Exif Print] compliant) / Design rule for Camera File system (2.0),
RAW: RAW (14bit, Canon original RAW 2nd edition),
Digital Print Order Format [DPOF] Version 1.1 compliant

RAW+JPEG Simultaneous Recording: Yes (RAW + Large JPEG only)

Image Size: JPEG: (L) 5184x3456 (M) 3456x2304, (S) 2592x1728
RAW: (RAW) 5184x3456

Movie Type: MOV (Video: H.264, Sound: Linear PCM)

Movie Size: 1920 x 1080 (29.97, 25, 23.976 fps)
1280 x 720 (59.94, 50 fps)
640 x 480 (59.94, 50 fps)

Movie Length: Max duration 29m 59sec, Max file size 4GB

File Numbering: (1) Consecutive numbering (2) Auto reset (3) Manual reset

Custom Functions: 12 Custom Functions with 36 settings

Metadata Tag: User copyright information (can be set in camera)

LCD Panel / Illumination: Yes

Playback Zoom: 1.5x - 10x enabled in 15steps

Display Formats: (1) Single image with information (2 levels)
(2) Single image
(3) 4 image index
(4) 9 image index
(5) Jump Display

Slide Show: Image selection: All images, by Date, by Folder, Movies, Stills
Playback time: 1/2/3/5 seconds
Repeat: On/Off

Histogram: Brightness: Yes, RGB: Yes

Highlight Alert: Yes (Shooting information display only)

Image Erase/Protection: Erase: Single image, Checkmarked images, Unprotected images
Protection: Erase protection of one image at a time

Data Verification: Original image verification data can be appended to the image (OSK-E3 required for verification)

Menu Categories: (1) Shooting menu (x4)
(2) Playback menu (x2)
(3) Setup menu (x3)
(4) My Menu

Menu Languages: 25 Languages
English, German, French, Dutch, Danish, Portuguese, Finnish, Italian, Norwegian, Swedish, Spanish, Greek, Russian, Polish, Czech, Hungarian, Romanian, Ukrainian, Turkish, Arabic, Thai, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Korean and Japanese

Firmware Update: Update possible by the user.

Computer Interface: Hi-Speed USB

Other: Video output (PAL/ NTSC) (integrated with USB terminal), HDMI mini output (HDMI-CEC compatible), External microphone (3.5mm Stereo mini jack)

PictBridge: Yes

Storage Type: SD card, SDHC card or SDXC card

Sopported OS: PC & Macintosh Windows XP (SP2/SP3) / Vista inc SP1 (excl. Starter Edition) / 7 (excl. Starter Edition)
OS X v10.4-10.6

Software: Browsing & Printing ZoomBrowser EX / ImageBrowser

Image Processing: Digital Photo Professional

Other: PhotoStitch, EOS Utility (inc. Remote Capture, Original Data Security Tools*), Picture Style Editor
* Requires optional accessory

Power Source: 1 x Rechargeable Li-ion Battery LP-E8

Battery Life: Approx. 440 (at 23°C, AE 50%, FE 50%)
Approx. 400 (at 0°C, AE 50%, FE 50%)

Battery Indicator: 4 levels

Power Saving: Power turns off after 30sec or 1, 2, 4, 8 or 15mins.

Power Supply & Battery Chargers: AC Adapter Kit ACK-E8, Battery charger LC-E8, LC-E8E

Body Materials: Stainless Steel and polycarbonate resin with glass fiber

Operating Environment: 0 – 40 °C, 85% or less humidity

Dimensions (WxHxD): 128.8 x 97.3 x 62 mm

Weight (Body Only): Approx. 530g (CIPA testing standard, including battery and memory card)