Capture your story in stunning detail with the EOS 550D. With the creative freedom to capture the decisive shot, see all the detail of your holiday sunset or follow action in the local football match.Canon’s triple-digit EOS cameras have long been the yardstick by which consumer digital SLRs are measured. The 550D is fairly pricey, but with the same 18-megapixel resolution, metering system and 1080p video mode as the upmarket 60D and 7D, it’s more of a cut-price enthusiasts’ model than an overpriced entry-level SLR.The sophisticated 63-point iFCL metering system is the same as the 7D's, and it's much better than the older 500D's 35-point system. It uses two sensors to gather the colour and luminance information that helps to calculate the correct exposure settings. It also takes subject distance information from the auto-focus system and balances the exposure based on that.

The single DIGIC 4 image processor reduces the 550D's burst rate to 3.7fps, down from 8fps on the 7D, but up from the 500D's 3.4fps. The 550D can shoot 34 fine JPEG or six RAW frames at this speed. That's fewer that the 500D's 170 fine JPEG or nine RAW frames.