Canon Rebel 550D detailed review
dpreview.com published today detailed review of the Canon Rebel T2i/EOS 550D. The EOS 550D combines high-end features taken from the 7D, with the low-cost, user-friendly ergonomics of previous entry-level models (500D, etc..). On paper its the most compelling Rebel-series DSLR to date, so can it span the bridge between first-time DSLR buyers and more experienced users? Read our full test to find out.
Canon Rebel 550D preview
Northlight compared 550D vs 500D
Pro points
- 18MP CMOS sensor with gapless micro lenses
- ISO 6400 in default ISO range (12,800 is extra)
- Customisable auto ISO ranges
- Expanded bracketing range (+/- 5 stops)
- Dedicated button for video/live shooting
- 63 zone iFCL metering
- 3:2 LCD screen with more pixels
- 1080 HD at 30, 24 or 24fps
- Stereo microphone input
- Manual controls in video mode
- Slightly higher burst shooting rate (3.7 fps vs. 3.4 fps)
- SDXC compatible
Con points
- Reduced buffer size (JPEG 34 vs. 170, RAW 6 vs. 9)
- Price – higher
Canon 5D MkII new firmware 2.0.4
20th March – Firmware bumped to V2.0.4
Firmware changes
In the Version 2.0.4 firmware, the following phenomena that occurred with the Version 2.0.3 firmware (which was to enhance the movie functions) have been corrected.
- There was a phenomenon in which the manual recording settings made in C1/C2/C3 were changed and sound could not be recorded if manual sound recording was used in the C1/C2/C3 settings and the camera was subsequently turned off (or if Auto Power Off was activated). This does not occur in modes other than C1/C2/C3.
The Version 2.0.4 firmware includes the movie function enhancements listed in items 1 through 5 below, and also incorporates the correction listed in item 6.
- Adds or changes the following movie frame rates.
- 1920×1080 : 30 fps (changed – actual 29.97 fps)
- 1920×1080 : 24 fps (added – actual 23.976 fps)
- 640×480 : 30 fps (changed – actual 29.97 fps)
- 1920×1080 : 25 fps (added – actual 25.0 fps)
- 1920×1080 : 24 fps (added – actual 23.976 fps)
- 640×480 : 25 fps (added – actual 25.0 fps)
- Adds a function for manually adjusting the sound recording level (64 levels).
- Adds a histogram display (brightness or RGB) for shooting movies in manual exposure.
- Adds shutter-priority AE mode (Tv) and aperture-priority AE (Av) mode to the exposure modes for shooting movies.
- Changes the audio sampling frequency from 44.1 KHz to 48 KHz.
- Fixes a phenomenon where communication between the camera and the attached lens is sometimes interrupted after manual sensor cleaning. (This phenomenon only affects units with Firmware Version 1.2.4.)
NTSC: PAL:
Caution:
- Firmware Version 2.0.4 is for cameras with firmware up to version 2.0.3. If the camera’s firmware is already version 2.0.4, it is not necessary to update the firmware.
- Movies captured using EOS 5D Mark II cameras with Firmware Version 1.1.0 to 1.2.4 can be played back on cameras updated with Firmware Version 2.0.4. However, if you try to play back movies captured with a camera with the new firmare on a camera with a previous firmare version, a message, Cannot play back image, appears on the camera’s LCD monitor.
- It is recommended that you use the latest Canon applications*1 to edit movies captured with EOS 5D Mark II cameras that have the latest firmare because some previous versions do not support movie-editing functions and the frame rates that are added or changed by the latest firmware. You can download the latest Canon applications from our Web site.
*1 ZoomBrowser EX Version 6.5.0 or later (compatible operating systems : Windows XP/Vista/7)
ImageBrowser Version 6.5.0 or later (compatible operating systems : Mac OS X v10.4/10.5/10.6) - In addition to the enhancements to the movie function, the accompanying instruction manual has also been revised. Users are asked to download both the latest firmware and the latest instruction manual. You can proceed to download the instruction manual by clicking the [I Agree] button from the bottom of this page.
Read the whole story and instructions on canon’s official firmware page.
Canon 5D mkII description
Improvements compared to original EOS 5D
- 21.1 megapixel (5,616 x 3,744 pixels), compared to 12.8 megapixels (4,368 x 2,912 pixels)
- DIGIC 4 image processor, compared to DIGIC II
- 100-6400 ISO (expandable to L (50), H1 (12800), H2 (25600)), compared to 100-1600 (expandable to L (50), H (3200))
- 3.9 frames per second continuous shooting (78 JPEG or 13 Raw in a single burst), compared to 3 fps (60 JPEG or 17 Raw)
- Small Raw modes: sRAW1 mode (10 megapixel/3861 x 2574 pixels), sRAW2 mode (5.2 megapixel/2784 x 1856 pixels)
- 98% viewfinder coverage with 0.71x magnification, compared to 96% coverage
- Larger 3.0-inch (76 mm) LCD display with 640 x 480 VGA resolution (307,200 pixels/921,600 dots), compared to 2.5-inch (64 mm)
- 1800mAh LP-E6 battery, compared to 1390mAh BP-511A
New features
- Movie recording with 12 minutes of full HD at 1920×1080, or 30 minutes of SDTV at 640×480 resolution, up to 4 GB, 30 frames/s (due to FAT32‘s limitations)
- Monaural microphone for audio during video recording, speaker for playback and microphone jack for external stereo microphone
- Live preview with contrast-detect autofocus
- HDMI video output for live preview or playing clips and images on an external monitor via Type C MiniHDMI port
- Dust reduction system to perform automatic sensor cleaning
- Battery management software
The 5D Mark II is the first camera in the EOS line to provide video recording functions. Still photography during video recording is possible, but the camera suspends recording video until the final still frame is captured.
The Li-Ion battery for the 5D Mark II (LP-E6) has a 1800mAh capacity. Each battery contains a microchip with a unique identifier for reporting charge status and battery health for display on the camera. The 5D Mark II’s ‘Battery Info’ screen can track battery health and shooting history for up to six LP-E6 batteries.
Source: Wikipedia