LCD and Viewfinder
Canon 550D has a Fixed Type 3" LCD screen with a resolution of 1,040k dots. Both the screen size and the screen resolution is up to the standards of this class.
550D has a built-in Optical (pentamirror) viewfinder. The viewfinder has a coverage of 95% and a magnification ratio of 0.55x. 95% coverage means that what you see in your viewfinder while shooting will slightly be different from the actual image.
Max Shutter speed
Canon 550D can shoot continuously at max speed of
4 fps and has max shutter speed of
1/4000 sec.
Flash
550D has a built-in flash, and it also has a flash shoe to mount your external flashes too.
Focusing
Canon 550D features both Contrast Detection and Phase Detection autofocus (AF) systems which ensures speed and accuracy of focusing in most situations. The AF system has 9 points to choose from. Canon 550D also features
Face detection AF where it intelligently detects the faces in the frame and locks the focus automatically.
Video Features
With Canon 550D, you can record your videos at a highest resolution of 1920 x 1080 at 30,25,24 fps and save in and H.264 formats. Full HD resolution of Canon 550D will be adequate in most of the situations. But if you are after the highest resolution videos available, see our list of
Top Cameras with 4K (Ultra-HD) Video.
550D has a built-in Stereo microphone but no speaker. Canon 550D also has a port for an external microphone so you can record high quality sound with the help of an external microphone.
Connectivity and Storage
You can connect 550D to compatible devices via its HDMI port or USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) port.
Battery
Canon 550D is powered by battery which provides a shooting life of 470 according to CIPA standards.
Considering that the average battery life of DSLR type cameras is 886 shots, Canon 550D has a short battery life for its class so we strongly recommend 550D owners to buy some extra batteries.
Battery Life Comparison in Entry-Level DSLR Cameras
Pentax K-x with its 1900shots is the model with longest battery life among Entry-Level DSLR cameras. Check the comparison of Canon 550D vs Pentax K-x or take a look at Longest Battery Life DSLR cameras list.
Canon 550D Features Compared to Main Competitors
User Manual
You can download Canon 550D's User Manual here