Canon EOS 550D
 | |
| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Type | Digital single-lens reflex |
| Lens | |
| Lens | Canon EF lens mount, Canon EF-S lens mount |
| Sensor/medium | |
| Sensor | CMOS APS-C 22.3 × 14.9 mm (1.6x conversion factor) |
| Maximum resolution | 5,184 × 3,456 (17.9 recorded megapixels) |
| Film speed | ISO 100 to 6400 (expandable to 12800 with Canon Firmware, expandable to 24000 with Magic Lantern firmware) |
| Storage media | Secure Digital Card Secure Digital High Capacity Secure Digital Extended Capacity |
| Focusing | |
| Focus modes | AI Focus, One-Shot, AI Servo, Live View |
| Focus areas | 9 AF points, f/5.6 cross-type center (extra sensitivity at f/2.8) |
| Exposure/metering | |
| Exposure modes | Full Auto, Portrait, Landscape, Close-up, Sports, Night Portrait, No Flash, Program AE, Shutter-priority, Aperture-priority, Manual, Auto Depth-of-field, Movie |
| Exposure metering | Full aperture TTL, 63-zone SPC |
| Metering modes | Evaluative, Spot (4% at center), Partial (9% at center), Center-weighted average |
| Flash | |
| Flash | E-TTL II automatic built-in pop-up |
| Flash bracketing | No |
| Shutter | |
| Shutter | focal-plane |
| Shutter speed range | 1/4000 to 30 sec and bulb, 1/200 s X-sync |
| Continuous shooting | 3.7 frame/s for 34 JPEG or 6 raw frames |
| Viewfinder | |
| Viewfinder | Eye-level pentamirror SLR, 95% coverage, 0.87× magnification, and electronic (Live View) |
| Image processing | |
| White balance | Auto, Daylight, Shade, Cloudy, Tungsten, Fluorescent, Flash, Custom |
| WB bracketing | ± 3 stops for 3 frames |
| General | |
| LCD screen | 3 in 3:2 color TFT LCD, 1,040,000 dots |
| Battery | LP-E8 Lithium-Ion rechargeable battery |
| Optional battery packs | BG-E8 grip |
| Dimensions | 129 mm × 98 mm × 62 mm |
| Weight | 530 g (19 oz) (including battery and card) |
| Made in | Japan |
The Canon EOS 550D is an 18.0 megapixel digital single-lens reflex camera, announced by Canon on 8 February 2010.[1] It was made available starting 24 February 2010[2] and to US dealers starting early March.[3] It is known as the EOS Kiss X4 in Japan, and as the EOS Rebel T2i in the Americas.[4] It is part of Canon's entry/mid-level digital SLR camera series, and was placed by Canon as the successor model to the EOS 500D. It was superseded by the EOS 600D (Kiss X5/Rebel T3i), but remained in Canon's lineup until being discontinued in June 2012 with the announcement of the EOS 650D (Kiss X6i/Rebel T4i).[5]
Features
- 18.0 effective megapixel CMOS sensor
- 1080p HD video recording at 24p (23.976 fps), 25p (25 fps), and 30p (29.97 fps) with drop frame timing
- 720p HD video recording at 50p (50 Hz) and 60p (59.94 Hz)[6]
- 480p ED video recording at 50p (50 Hz) and 60p (59.94 Hz)
- 3.5mm microphone jack for external microphones or recorders.
- PAL/NTSC video output
- DIGIC 4 image processor
- 14-bit analog to digital signal conversion
- 3.0-inch (76 mm) 3:2 aspect ratio LCD monitor
- Live view mode
- Built-in flash
- Wide, selectable, nine-point AF with centre cross-type sensor extra sensitive at f/2.8
- Four metering modes, using 63-zones: spot, partial, center-weighted average, and evaluative metering.
- Highlight tone priority
- EOS integrated cleaning system
- Internal monaural microphone
- sRGB and Adobe RGB colour spaces
- ISO 100–6,400 expandable to 12,800
- Continuous drive up to 3.7 frame/s (34 images (JPEG), 6 images (raw))
- SD, SDHC, and SDXC memory card file storage
- Raw and large JPEG simultaneous recording
- USB 2.0, HDMI control ( CEC )
- LP-E8 battery
- Approximate weight 0.53 kg (1.2 lb) with battery and card
Handling the Camera
Like Most canon cameras the T2i is a right handed camera, in order to hold it properly, place your right hand on the back side of the body of the camera, while placing the right-hand index finger over the shutter release button(Revell). Then place the bottom of the camera in the palm of the left hand, and the rest of the hand curved over the lens to have easy access to the Manual zoom function of the lens (Revell). Body positions, while shooting always keeps your left foot in front of your right foot, keeping them a shoulder length apart and always stand straight up while taking photos(Revell). Finally pull your elbows as close to your body to keep your shot as stable as possible(Revell).
The Different Modes
In order to take a photo with the canon T2i rebel the first step is to select a mode using the mode dial at the top left side of the camera(Busch pg.29). There are two different types of modes offered, The basic zone( for beginner photographers) and Creative zone(For the experienced photographer) (Busch pg.32).The basic mode offers Auto, Flash off, Portrait, Landscape, Close up, Sports, Night Portia, and Movie(Busch pg.29). The creative mode offers A-DEP (Automatic depth-of-field), M (Manual), AV (Aperture-priority), TV (shutter-priority), and finally P (program) While in the basic zone, the photographer can only change two things, Drive mode, and image quality (Busch pg.29). The drive mode determines how many shots will be taken with every click of the shutter button (Busch pg.29). There are two types, single shooting, and contusions shooting. Image quality can be small, medium, or large (Busch pg.32). In the creative zone the photographer can change any setting that is offered through the camera(Busch pg.25).
Taking Pictures and Viewing The Photos
After a mode is selected, and setting are at preferred levels, the photographer can direct the camera to desired photo shot, and by half pressing the shutter release button, can lock in a focus that is selected by the auto-focus built into the camera (Busch pg.29). Once shot is ready to be taken simply fully press down shutter button and the camera will then shoot the photo and save it to the SD card placed in the SD slot (Busch pg.32).
To view an image after the photo has been taken, simply press the Display last image capture button( the blue play button, with a blue rectangle around it) and use the four arrows directly left of the display button to rotate through the pictures (Busch pg.32). Right under and to the right of the four arrows is the trashcan button (Busch pg.32). This button will delete all photos selected or photo displayed on the LCD screen (Busch pg.32). To change the zoom of the photo previewed on the screen, use the zoom in and out buttons located on the top right side of the camera, labeled with a blue magnifying glasses (Busch pg.32).
Shooting HD Video
In order to shoot full HD movies, go into settings, then enter 1920 by 1080 for a manual resolution under movie setting (Britton and Joinson). Another Addition to the camera is the ability to add your own copyright information directly on the camera, instead of having to do so online or in an editing program (Britton and Joinson). Button design, the button has all been changed to fit the hand better, but one button in specific that is changed is the live view mode (Britton and Joinson). This button immediacy switches the Manual view scope(directly above the display screen) to a locked position, and turns the display careen into a live view of what the photo shot or video shot will look like (Britton and Joinson).
Battery, SD Slot, and External Plugs
The t2i, an upper level entry level camera, has a LP-E8 Lithium Ion battery pack. Which powers to t2i with a 400 mAh powered battery then the original t1i (Camera Labs). The battery can be found on the bottom right side of the camera, removable with a latch and a firm pushes down on the battery till a click (Camera Labs). While using things like full flash instead 50 percent power flash, or full screen display (instead of the manual) can substantially cut the amount of shots able to be taken with the camera on a single battery life (Camera Labs).
With the t2i, there are four externals plugs on the left side of the body of the camera, covered by a rubber flap, called the terminal Cover (Camera Labs). The first plug is for an external mic for recording audio during video shooting (Camera Labs). The second plug is for a remote use, after purchasing a remote control; this accessory is used to take photos with a click of a button, on the controller (Camera Labs). This accessory is used for taking photos while; the photographer is not able to use the shutter release button manually (Camera Labs). The third plug is a micro USB port, cable included in camera bundle, will allow the camera to directly plug into a computer or television for larger viewing, or photo transferring (Camera Labs). Lastly HDMI slot for High Definition viewing of photos on a bigger screen or laptop (Camera Labs). On the opposite side of the camera (right side) there is a hard plastic slid-able door, where SD slot is placed (Camera Labs). This is where you can hold many types of SD cards of all different sizes to hold storage for your photos (Camera Labs).
Bundled software
The 550D comes with following image processing and camera operating software: ZoomBrowser EX / ImageBrowser Image Processing, Digital Photo Professional, PhotoStitch, EOS Utility and Picture Style Editor.[7]
Optional accessories
The Canon 550D has available accessories such as:[8]
- All EF and EF-S Lenses
- Macro Ring Lite MR-14EX
- Macro twin lite MT-24EX
- E-series Dioptic Adjustment Lenses
- Angle Finder C
- Semi hard case EH19L
- Interface Cable IFC-200U/500U
- Original Data Security Kit OSK-E3
- Canon EX-series Speedlites & ST-E2
- AC Adapter Kit (AC Adapter CA-PS700 & DC Coupler – DR-E8)
- Battery grip BG-E8
- Battery Magazine BGME8A/L
- Eyepiece Extender EPEX15II
- HDMI Cable HTC-100
- Remote Switch RS-60E3
- Wireless Remote Controller RC-6
Firmware updates
In July 2010 Canon released firmware 1.0.8 that fixes a phenomenon in which the set aperture moves unexpectedly when shooting movies in manual exposure mode using some Canon lenses (such as macro lenses).[9] 25 December 2010[10] Canon offered firmware version 1.0.9 which should fix tone jumps in some images, depending on the shooting scene and when shooting with the Auto Lighting Optimizer settings (low/standard/strong).[11]
Custom firmware
Magic Lantern is an open source (GPL) firmware add-on for Canon dSLR cameras, which has enhancements for video and still photography without replacing the stock firmware.[12]
Reception
The British Journal of Photography was impressed by the 550D and said "the EOS 550D is a good match for the 7D at half the price".[13] On Digital Photography Review it got overall score of 77%.[7] For most of its product life, alternative cameras included the Nikon D5000, Nikon D3100, Canon 500D,[14] Nikon D90,[15] and Pentax K-7.[16] Immediately before it was discontinued in 2012, the main competitors of the 550D were the Nikon D3200 and D5100 (respectively the replacements for the D3100 and D5000), Pentax K-r (replacement for the K-x), and the Sony Alpha 57, one of the company's SLT cameras. (The replacement for the Nikon D90, the D7000, is positioned upmarket from the 550D.)
See also
References
- ^ Marc Chacksfield (2010). "Canon EOS 550D officially announced". techradar.com. Retrieved 6 January 2011.
- ^ "18MP, 1080p HD Movies, ISO 6400: Canon redefines the boundaries of the consumer DSLR with the EOS 550D". 8 February 2010. Retrieved 8 February 2010.
- ^ "The new Canon Rebel T2i digital SLR takes aspiring photographers beyond the still with advanced video features". 8 February 2010. Retrieved 8 February 2010.
- ^ "Canon Rebel T2I/Canon EOS Kiss Digital X4/Canon EOS 550D". techgenie.com. 2010. Retrieved 6 January 2011.
- ^ Westlake, Andy (8 June 2012). "Canon EOS 650D (Rebel T4i) Hands-on Preview". Digital Photography Review. Retrieved 8 June 2012.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ "Canon Rebel T2i / EOS 550D Compared to Nikon D90 Side by Side". digitalreview.ca. Retrieved 15 December 2011.
- ^ a b "canoneos550d (Rebel T2i) specifications". dpreview.com. Retrieved 6 January 2011. Cite error: The named reference "dpreview.com" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
- ^ "EOS 550D" (PDF). canon.com.au. 2010. Retrieved 20 November 2011.
- ^ "EOS-1D Mark IV and 550D firmware updates". cpn.canon-europe.com. Retrieved 2 January 2011.
- ^ "EOS Digital". canon.com. Retrieved 2 January 2011.
- ^ "Canon EOS 550D Firmware 1.0.9". photographyblog.com. Retrieved 6 January 2011.
- ^ "Magic Lantern Firmware Wiki". Magiclantern.wikia.com. Retrieved 24 August 2011.
- ^ David Kilpatrick (2010). "Canon 550D impresses". bjp-online.com. British Journal of Photography. Retrieved 6 January 2011.
- ^ "Compared to..." dpreview.com. Retrieved 6 January 2011.
- ^ "CANON EOS T2i/550D Review – Shoot to Kill?". digital-photography-school.com. Retrieved 6 January 2011.
- ^ "Nikon D90, Canon EOS 550D & Pentax K7 Comparison Test Digital SLR Review". ephotozine.com. Retrieved 6 January 2011.
External links
Media related to Canon EOS 550D at Wikimedia Commons- Product Page
