Canon EOS 550D 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
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 ¹
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
EXPOSURE CONTROL
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
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
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
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 (x3)
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)) ²³
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
FOLDERS
File Numbering
(1) Consecutive numbering
(2) Auto reset
(3) Manual reset
OTHER FEATURES
Custom Functions
12 Custom Functions with 36 settings
Metadata Tag
User copyright information (can be set in camera)
LCD Panel / Illumination
Yes
INTELLIGENT ORIENTATION SENSOR
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.
INTERFACE
Computer
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)
DIRECT PRINT
Canon Printers
Canon Compact Photo Printers and PIXMA Printers supporting PictBridge
PictBridge
Yes
STORAGE
Type
SD card, SDHC card or SDXC card
SUPPORTED OPERATING SYSTEM
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
Batteries
1 x Rechargeable Li-ion Battery LP-E8
Battery Life
Approx. 440 (at 23°C, AE 50%, FE 50%) ¹
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
PHYSICAL SPECIFICATIONS
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)
ACCESSORIES
Viewfinder
Eyecup Ef, E-series Dioptric Adjustment Lens with Rubber Frame Ef, Eyepiece Extender EP-EX15II, Angle Finder C
Case
Semi-Hard Case EH19-L
WIRELESS FILE TRANSMITTER
Lenses
All EF and EF-S lenses
Flash
Canon Speedlites (220EX, 270EX, 270EX II, 320EX, 420EX, 430EX, 430EX II, 550EX, 580EX, 580EX II, Macro-Ring-Lite, MR-14EX, Macro Twin Lite MT-24EX, Speedlite Transmitter ST-E2)
Battery Grip
BG-E8
Remote Controller/ Switch
Remote Switch RS-60E3, Remote Controller RC-6
Other
Hand Strap E2
Disclaimer
* Recommended Exposure Index
Footnote
¹ with EF300mm f/2.8L IS USM at 50kph
¹ Large/Fine(Quality 8) resolution
² Based on Canon's testing conditions, JPEG, ISO 100, Standard Picture Style. Varies depending on the subject, memory card brand and capacity, image recording quality, ISO speed, drive mode, Picture Style, Custom functions etc.
³ Maximum fps and buffer capacity may be reduced depending on the cameras settings and light level
¹ Based on the CIPA Standard and using the batteries and memory card format supplied with the camera, except where indicated