Sometimes, handling too much of a good thing is a bad thing. Thankfully, it is not the case here with Canon’s new offering. For over 70 years, the company has been in the forefront in imaging technology, and for the past few decades, the forerunner in digital technology.
Their Digital Single Lens Reflex (DSLR) camera are usually the choice for novice, amateur and even professional photographers around the world, and they just recently launched an update to their incredibly successful mid-range EOS DSLR camera, the 550D.
From the first go, you will notice one thing – the camera still looks the same as the previous generation. This is not coincidence as the saying ‘if it is not broken, don’t fix it” is in play here.
The same basic shape from the EOS line of DSLR is present, with the classic black color and the rugged surface makes the camera look timeless. Changes are minor – more buttons at the back, a larger screen (which is greatly welcomed) and a sturdier build feel – but the overall feel makes the camera, well, feel better in the hands of the user.
Let go to the ergonomics of the camera. When you hold it in your hands, Canon has hit the nail in giving the users the best access to the controls – even though the number of buttons CAN confuse newcomers to the DSLR world. Apart from the typical buttons, the 550D comes with a new dedicated button for Live-view mode. When one presses this button, the camera changes to Live-view – emulating the view that is usually used in compact cameras. While this mode is useful, it is also slow as the refresh rate for the mode still cannot reach the same rates as your pocket point and shoot. Live-view is also the only mode for video on the 550D.
Talking about video, the 550D trumps its siblings as it can record full high definition video at 1080p. Yes, this DSLR is one of the few that records Full HD videos. There is a caveat over this capability though – the sound recorded is only in mono, not stereo. This and the fact that the lens need to be focused manually when taking the video means that the 550D video mode is strictly for advanced users, or with enough training and practice.
Sharing the same sensor as the 7D, the 550D maintains the same picture quality as the bigger brother, in a more compact size, which makes the camera a very enticing prospect for those who wants high image quality, but in a small package.
Pictures taken with the camera are good out of the box, even with the attached kit-lens. The pictures tend to be a bit on the cooler side but it’s not enough to deter the pictures to look incredible – both on screen and in print. Playback of the images and video looks very impressive on the large screen, specially made to fit the 3:2 ratio that the sensor of the camera natively capture.
For those who wants to upgrade themselves to be a bit more serious photographers, the 550 is a good choice to go, backed up by Canon’s extensive line of accessories.
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