Canon 550D

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koffiejunkie

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It's been announced. 18MP :erm: I wonder if it's the same sensor as the 7D?

  • Higher resolution 18MP CMOS with gapless micro lenses
  • ISO 6400 no longer in 'expanded' range (12,800 max remains the same)
  • Redesigned buttons and new movie/live view button
  • Customizable auto ISO ranges
  • Improved 63 zone metering (iFCL)
  • 3:2 format screen with more pixels
  • Improved movie functionality
  • Slightly higher burst shooting rate (though buffer holds fewer shots)
  • HDMI control (CEC)
  • SDXC compatible

Interesting thing not mentioned are an upgraded exposure system. Hopefully it will be better (not that I'm saying there was anything wrong before, but there's certainly room for improvement). Also interesting is the in-camera support for Eye-Fi cards.
 
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Damn, finally! Canon gets it. +/-5EV Exposure Compensation. Too bad they've still restricted Auto Exposure Bracketing to 3 images, but hopefully they'll do this in the higher-end bodies.

The ability to set maximum ISO in Auto-ISO is also welcome (and long overdue).
 
Could be time to upgrade one of my 400Ds.
 
koffiejunkie said:
550D instead of a 1Dmk2n? Or in addition to?
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After the 1Dmk2n (or Mk3 . . . )

I do have two usable, though admittedly somewhat worse for wear, 400D bodies so there's no rush.
 
So, does someone in the market for a new DSLR, get a D90 or a 550D if he is looking in that price range. Bear in mind that he probably likes Nikons more and does not really need 1080p video capabilities right now.
 
Quantum Theory said:
So, does someone in the market for a new DSLR, get a D90 or a 550D if he is looking in that price range. Bear in mind that he probably likes Nikons more and does not really need 1080p video capabilities right now.
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If he likes Nikons more why would he buy a canon? :confused:
 
bwana said:
If he likes Nikons more why would he buy a canon? :confused:
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Well this Canon looks pretty awesome and the D90 is probably close to replacement. I guess if I prefer Nikon I should buy into their system and get a lens collection going. I can upgrade to their future offerings in a few years. Just trying to work this one out for myself.
 
Quantum Theory said:
Well this Canon looks pretty awesome and the D90 is probably close to replacement. I guess if I prefer Nikon I should buy into their system and get a lens collection going. I can upgrade to their future offerings in a few years. Just trying to work this one out for myself.
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What do you currently have?
 
Quantum Theory said:
Well this Canon looks pretty awesome and the D90 is probably close to replacement.
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The thing is, a lot of what makes this camera so exciting (to me at least) is features that it finally has that the Nikon bodies have had for years. If you ignore the resolution and video modes, the 550D certainly leapfrogs the D90 in some areas, but until it's tested, that remains on paper. The 50D, which I own, is, on paper, better than the 40D, in every way. But in real life, it's considered to be slightly worse.

Bottom line, if you like the Nikons, stick to it. Choosing a different brand simply to get the latest whiz-bang is not a good long term strategy.
 
Quantum Theory said:
So, does someone in the market for a new DSLR, get a D90 or a 550D if he is looking in that price range. Bear in mind that he probably likes Nikons more and does not really need 1080p video capabilities right now.
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I think if you have aspirations beyond that of a hobbyist then you're going to want to learn video now - if you dont then video really isnt important.
 
koffiejunkie said:
The thing is, a lot of what makes this camera so exciting (to me at least) is features that it finally has that the Nikon bodies have had for years. If you ignore the resolution and video modes, the 550D certainly leapfrogs the D90 in some areas, but until it's tested, that remains on paper. The 50D, which I own, is, on paper, better than the 40D, in every way. But in real life, it's considered to be slightly worse.

Bottom line, if you like the Nikons, stick to it. Choosing a different brand simply to get the latest whiz-bang is not a good long term strategy.
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I think the D90 will still have the better built and feel (for me at least). Those are probably more important than 18MP and 1080p video at 30fps.

bwana said:
I think if you have aspirations beyond that of a hobbyist then you're going to want to learn video now - if you dont then video really isnt important.
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True, but I can still learn video with the D90. Stills will be my main focus for now though.

I will wait for the 550D release and just go and check it out...
 
Quantum Theory said:
I think the D90 will still have the better built and feel (for me at least).
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The one thing to take not off is that few of Canon and Nikon's cameras are specced (and priced) on similar levels. The D90 sits somewhere between the Canon xxxD and xxD series. The Canon 50D again sits somewhere between the D90 and D300. The Canon 7D is the first camera Canon that competes fairly directly with the Nikon D300 (now D300s) but it still lacks some of the features of the D300.
 
I wonder what the EyeFi support consists of. I also wonder when the new Eye-Fi Pro X2 card will finally be released.
 
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