Canon announces EOS 550D DSLR

[CSBC]

AP News

[dangie]

I'm not a Canon user but...:

I don't really see the point of the 550D..!?!
(Apart from Canon bringing out a new camera that is).

To say it will fit above the 450D and 500D...but below the EOS 7D.... Isn't that what the 50D does now?

If I were to choose between the new 550D and the 50D, the 50D would win every time.

I think this is another new camera for the sake of a new camera. No worthwhile improvement over what is already available.

[Mark101]

I'm a cannon user and I don;t see the point either

[beejaybee]

I'm a cannon user and I don;t see the point either

Aw, c'mon, it's at least 3 weeks since they released the 500D ...

[f_o_d]

Oh I don't know. It seems to have a set of features which would take it ahead of the competition in this class (wireless flash would have been nice though). What is odd is that they will still be making the 500D. As Damien points out - who would buy one now?

[AGW]

They said they would continue the 40D at the release of the 50D.....but it just quietly melted away as stocks ran out.

Graeme

[dangie]

...What is odd is that they will still be making the 500D. As Damien points out - who would buy one now?

More to the point, who would buy the 550D when for a similar price you can have the 50D.
For a beginners dSLR in the Canon range the 450D takes some beating and can be had at a good price as well.

[Benchista]

I think I would buy a 550D in preference to a 50D, TBH.

[hey_joni]

i've only just bought the 500d and i'm more than happy with it. To me it's marginally better than the 450d (and the video isn't even somethng i use...). Both good cams though.

I see no need for the 550d right now, personally and generally. in a confusing market for beginners, they're blatantly just hoping for the 'bigger number means better camera' brigade.

and before anyone says anything, i bought the 500 over the 450 after trying both out. What won it for me? the screen,slightly better feel,better viewfinder. it is slower in continuous mode but i'm a landscape man, i don't need that feature. sorry for the rant!

[Scphoto]

Things get updated, Canon update Cameras twice a year. It's a shock and disgrace to some when it happens, if it didn't happen they'd be neglecting someone somewhere.

sorry for the rant!

No need to apologise, you bought something, you're happy with it.

[Malcolm_Stewart]

Your news item only discusses the 550D - some other sites list other Canon introductions. Have they ignored the release embargo?

[Terrywoodenpic]

I am getting confuse with their model numbers
single figures used to be top range stuff
double figures mid range
three figures entry level.

The 7d should be a double figure camera
and if this new Job fits above the 50D it should be two figures. they are losing focus in their ranges.

[LeeJay]

I think I would buy a 550D in preference to a 50D, TBH.

Whilst not a criticism, I find it hard to see why you'd buy a consumer level plastic camera with absolutely no weather sealing and a "standard duty" shutter, compared to a magnesium alloy semi-professional camera which has far more "industrial strength" components inside, not to mention the higher frame rate and more advanced features to boot. Granted you lose video capability, but if I wanted to shoot video I take a video camera. If I want to shoot quality stills I take an SLR. I have a 400D and a 50D, and the 400D gets trotted out for travel shots - preferably where the weather is warm and sunny!! - whereas the 50D gets the general run of the mill abuse thrown at it purely because it's more than capable of standing up to the task where the 400D may not quite be able to stomach it.

As I said, not a criticism, just my viewpoint.

[LeeJay]

I am getting confuse with their model numbers
single figures used to be top range stuff
double figures mid range
three figures entry level.

The 7d should be a double figure camera
and if this new Job fits above the 50D it should be two figures. they are losing focus in their ranges.

The 7D appears to be designed as a step up camera from the xxD range for those who want pro level performance in a crop sensor camera

AFAIK, the xx(D) range has always been regarded as Canon's high end amateur / low end semi-pro range. This dates back from the days of film cameras - eg the EOS 10 was semi-pro, whereas the EOS 100 was consumer.

I'm not sure how you would justify placing the 550D as a xxD camera when it has
- plastic body
- low frame rate
- standard rated (ie 50,000 cycle) shutter
- no standing within the Canon Professional Network

I would happily admit that Canon's marketing machine appears to be going down the plug hole - the 7D, for example, has an (allegedly) far better crop sensor than the 5D II's full frame sensor, as well as a much better AF performance

The 550D also has a similar 18.1MP jobbie, and yet sits below the 50D in terms of Canon's target market. The chances are that the 550D will end up at around the £500 mark, as the current 500D is. 450D sales are still strong, and the 500D is very likely to be squeezed out very rapidly. I would guess that the 450D and the 500D will soon be disappearing from the radar, as did the 40D shortly after the 50D achieved sufficient market share.

The other thing to note is that the 50D is now getting close to its 18 month replacement period - the launch was on September 22nd 2008. When the 50D was released, it was at a higher level than the then current 450D. It stands to reason that cameras released after that point will have higher specs, better sensors etc. When the 60D is released - assuming it is - then you can be sure that it's capabilities will exceed those of the 550D, and will come closer to the 7D in terms of image quality. The result? We then start the leap frog game all over again. Only this time, I hope Canon's marketing machine stop cramming more and more pixels in and just improve on noise and image quality. That, for me, would be a serious blessing !!

[daft_biker]

It's not unusual for a higher pixel count xxxD to come out when xxD cameras seem a bit past it - before the 50D the 450D had 12MP and the 40D 10MP for example.

As for the weather sealing and build argument? Have you ever had a camera fail? My 300D saw it's fair share of rain and bike crashes but never complained. I hear a lot of weather sealing is important comments but where are all the broken cameras to suggest it's necessary?

[Damien_Demolder]

I'm a cannon user and I don;t see the point either

Gas or electric?

Sorry Mark, nerd joke - but makes me laugh everytime.

xx

[Benchista]

Firstly, because of video ability - for what I want, a DSLR is vastly better than any affordable video camera.
Secondly, because I would want it to back up my 5D II. The 50D offers me pretty much nothing of benefit in such a role beyond faster shooting availability, and if that were an issue, I would stretch to a 7D, by hook or by crook. In contrast, the 550D offers a much better LCD screen, and above all a smaller and lighter body to carry. It's also likely to have better high ISO performance than the 50D, and generally better image quality, if it's based on the 7D. Weigh all that up against an extra rear control dial and better build quality - and despite the fact I'm rough with cameras and use them in all conditions, I've not bust one yet - and for me it's a no-brainer. YMMV, of course, but for me the 550D is hugely more convincing than the 50D.

[LeeJay]

Good points one and all; I think they key point is here, as always, that it's not what you have, it's what you do with it that counts.

BTW for those who are interested, looks like J*c*bs have it on pre-order for £799 including card, bag and extra genuine battery - a good deal it would seem.

[Pogbellies]

It sounds like it will be a good camera, however having handled both Canon body types to me at least, the 2 digit models are far better to use unless you're used to a bridge or compact, in which case you would be buying a 1000D, 450 or 500D. What I find strange is that Canon has put this models spec above the 50D. It would have made more sense if they had updated that model to the 60D where it would have been a real D90 beater (and arguably a D300 beater.)

[Mark101]

I'm a cannon user and I don;t see the point either

Gas or electric?

Sorry Mark, nerd joke - but makes me laugh everytime.

xx

Can I help it if my words don't develop as well on the page as a print ...... [img]/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img]

I'm actually now waiting for the Canon 777D, or is that an aeroplane ?