The EOS 550 D highlights include 1080p HD video recording (with full manual control), an 18MP CMOS sensor, 3 inch 3:2 LCD with 1040k dot resolution and the 63-point iFCL metering system first seen on the EOS 7D. As consumers would expect from an EOS DSLR, the EOS 550D is built to a high quality specification. It features bigger, more intuitive buttons which have been redesigned following feedback from users. Based on this feedback, the EOS 550D also features an additional button on the new, battery grip, allowing aperture settings to be changed when shooting with the camera in a vertical position, without having to reorient the body.
| Canon EOS 550D | Canon EOS 500D | |
| Sensor | • 18.7 million effective pixels | • 15.1 million effective pixels |
| Image sizes | • 5184 x 3456 • 3456 x 2304 • 2592 x 1728 |
• 4752 x 3168 • 3456 x 2304 • 2353 x 1568 |
| Sensitivity | ISO 100 to 6400, extendable to 12800. | ISO 100 to 3200, extendable to H1 (6400) and H2 (12800). |
| Metering | • TTL 63-zone SPC | • 35-zone evaluative |
| Exposure Compensation | +/- 5.0 EV | +/- 2.0 EV |
| Auto ISO | • ISO 100 to 6400 • User selectable max ISO |
ISO 100 to 1600 |
| LCD monitor | • 3.0 ” TFT LCD • 3:2 aspect ratio • 1,040,000 dots |
• 3.0 ” TFT LCD • 4:3 aspect ratio • 920,000 dots |
| Video mode | • 1080p @ 30, 25 or 24 fps • 720p @ 50/60 fps • VGA @ 50/60 fps • Movie crop function • External stereo mike (optional) |
• 1080p @ 20fps • 720p @ 30fps • VGA @ 30fps |
| High-speed continuous | • 3.7 fps • 34 JPEG/Fine frames • 6 RAW frames |
• 3.4 fps • 170 JPEG/Fine frames • 9 RAW frames |
| Connectors | USB 2.0 Hi-Speed • Video output (PAL/ NTSC) (integrated with USB terminal) • HDMI Type C • Stereo microphone |
• USB 2.0 Hi-Speed • Video output (PAL/ NTSC) (integrated with USB terminal) • HDMI Type C |
| Storage | SD/SDHC/SDXC | SD/SDHC |
| Eye-Fi compatibility | On-screen messages & menu support, auto power-down disabled when transmitting. | Supported, no feedback |
| Battery Grip | BG-E8 | BG-E5 |
