550D Still good now?

Pretty simple question, is the 550D still a good choice even in 2015?

I can get a 550D in Exc condition (4k shutter count) and 85mm 1.8 for £370 delivered (used both).

Or I could get a 60D in Exc condition (shutter unknown) with 18-135 and 50mm 1.8 for £505 delivered (used).

I'm not sure I can justify the £130 more for the 60D...my other half has a 7D with 18-135 and 50 1.8 already so I have access to those lenses.

Benefits of 550D that I can see are:
- Smaller and lighter

Benefits of 60D:
- Swivel screen (pointless for me as I don't do video and live view AF is poor)
- Weathersealing (i've never had a weather sealed body so not a bother)
- Top LCD
- More cross type focus points (i only usually use centre point)
- 1/8000 shutter - compared to 1/4000
- Better build quality

You'll get a lot of opinions here. I was just at a photo shoot this weekend. One photographer had a 1DIV and the other had a T5i and a Sony nex. The 550d is a capable camera. Others will tell you go off or else your pictures are junk. What exactly are you taking photos of? I shoot with a 60d and a T3i. Both excellent for what I do. The 60d edges the t3i out only because of the rear wheel on the 60d. As for the size, the 60d is a little bigger. Some will say bigger always better. In all honesty, sometimes I like taking the 60d and other times I prefer taking my junky rebel with me because of its diminutive size.

Frodge wrote in post #17655936
You'll get a lot of opinions here. I was just at a photo shoot this weekend. One photographer had a 1DIV and the other had a T5i and a Sony nex. The 550d is a capable camera. Others will tell you go off or else your pictures are junk. What exactly are you taking photos of?

Well the reason I'm debating purchased one is that i Have a Sony NEX-6, I shot a wedding over the weekend and although im happy with the image quality and low light performance, handling, evf etc the battery life and focus was slacking. I missed a few shots i would of liked due to focus, and although i changed battery three times it felt like more.

My other half uses a 7D so we would share the same sensor effetively and we could swap lenses around.

Frodge wrote in post #17655936
You'll get a lot of opinions here. I was just at a photo shoot this weekend. One photographer had a 1DIV and the other had a T5i and a Sony nex. The 550d is a capable camera. Others will tell you go off or else your pictures are junk. What exactly are you taking photos of? I shoot with a 60d and a T3i. Both excellent for what I do. The 60d edges the t3i out only because of the rear wheel on the 60d. As for the size, the 60d is a little bigger. Some will say bigger always better. In all honesty, sometimes I like taking the 60d and other times I prefer taking my junky rebel with me because of its diminutive size.

Others will indeed say this. I think it's pretty much BS.

I had a 500D and a 600D, I liked both of them and they both took great pictures. Many crap on the Rebels simply because it doesn't cost $3000. I can't count how many times I've seen pictures shot with high end cameras that simply suck. It's not the camera that takes a great photo. The person holding any given camera is the determining factor on the quality of the pictures that come from it. A more elaborate camera might make certain situations easier for you but the 550D certainly won't cripple you.

I just looked at Ebay and there a number of 550Ds on there for quite a bit less money. There's one there right now with the 18-55 priced at (equivalent) 224.00 pounds. Something to kick around.

saea501 wrote in post #17655952
Others will indeed say this. I think it's pretty much BS.

I had a 500D and a 600D, I liked both of them and they both took great pictures. Many crap on the Rebels simply because it doesn't cost $3000. I can't count how many times I've seen pictures shot with high end cameras that simply suck. It's not the camera that takes a great photo. The person holding any given camera is the determining factor on the quality of the pictures that come from it. A more elaborate camera might make certain situations easier for you but the 550D certainly won't cripple you.

I just looked at Ebay and there a number of 550Ds on there for quite a bit less money. There's one there right now with the 18-55 priced at (equivalent) 224.00 pounds. Something to kick around.

Thanks for that!

Yes i did think this aswell/ One of my first DSLR's was a Canon 550D but I didnt have it long due to financial reasons, it never let me down though but its been a while since I had it.

Yes the 550D i found was from MPB Photographic, body only is £199 with 6 months warrenty and only 4k shutter count. its the 85mm which is £175 which bumps the price lol

All cameras have their benefits and draw backs. The biggest benefit you listed that would sway me one way or the other is the 60d has 8,000th TV, 550d having 4000.

I still routinely use my 500d, but as I shoot out of doors very often, i did find, too many times for my taste, I hit to wall at 4000Tv. Adding filters helped certainly, but was frustrated by it.

I have both cameras. You get a lot more camera with the 60D. Unless you install Magic Lantern on your camera, and I don't, you can set ISOs in 1/3 stop increments on the 60D. The viewfinder is better, AF is faster, and you get the top display. There are options for custom white balance on the 60D, and I don't recall if you have this on the T2i. I sometimes take the T2i when I want a smaller camera. When I want a more capable camera with more options and faster AF and a better viewfinder, I may pick the 60D.

I have a T4i (650D) that I still use even though I have a 7D and 6D as well; I just enjoy using the smaller body sometimes. That being said, I do think the benefits of the 60D are worth the added cost, and if it's money you can spare, I'd personally recommend it. But I'd also say you'd be able to get more than adequate shots using the 500D if you can't bring yourself to spend the extra cash. I can say 1/8000th shutter and the top mount LCD are two things I certainly miss at times when I use my T4i.

I think you mentioned the need for focus accuracy in low light and good iso performance.. and really the 6D would be more suited, or the 70D - the rebels fall apart pretty fast above 800 iso. JMHO.

The 550D is still a fine camera. A lot of people will subtly denigrate it by comparing it to their newer, more expensive camera, but for what was available in 2010 it was excellent. It will shoot upwards of ISO1600 with some care, it will AF as well as any non-pro series camera (keeping in mind that the adjustments aren't as flexible as a 7D or 5D), and its sensor is a solid 18MP. I only switched to the 7D because I wanted the AFMA adjustment and improved ergonomics. I was able to shoot fairly demanding sports with it and didn't have any major issues, though of course the 7D was a step up in capability. Know the limitations of the camera and it will do a very good job. Incidentally, the 60D doesn't support AFMA either, so if your camera/lens combo requires that, you will probably not be happy; both of my 70-200 zooms were not sharp without it - that's why I went to the 7D.

I'd go with the 550D, unless two situations are likely to occur:

1. You might need an extra 1.6 FPS continuous burst speed. (3.7 vs 5.3)

2. You're going to shoot video or use live view on a tripod a lot. (That articulated screen really helps)

bboysmax wrote in post #17655887
Pretty simple question, is the 550D still a good choice even in 2015?

I can get a 550D in Exc condition (4k shutter count) and 85mm 1.8 for £370 delivered (used both).

Or I could get a 60D in Exc condition (shutter unknown) with 18-135 and 50mm 1.8 for £505 delivered (used).

I'm not sure I can justify the £130 more for the 60D...my other half has a 7D with 18-135 and 50 1.8 already so I have access to those lenses.

Benefits of 550D that I can see are:
- Smaller and lighter

Benefits of 60D:
- Swivel screen (pointless for me as I don't do video and live view AF is poor)
- Weathersealing (i've never had a weather sealed body so not a bother)
- Top LCD
- More cross type focus points (i only usually use centre point)
- 1/8000 shutter - compared to 1/4000
- Better build quality

Heya,

Depends on usage.

If this is to be a work camera, ie, you're doing gigs like weddings and what not for payment, then I would get the more durable camera with the most aggressive AF and other features. This will favor the 60D or any XXD version. There's nothing wrong with the Rebel, it has good image quality and is a good enough camera in skilled hands to take portraits no problem. The 550D (T2i) shouldn't cost much these days, very inexpensive. Granted, it all comes down to where you're buying it.

Ultimately I would shop. There's a lot of options right now on the used/refurb market. You could shop another 7D, they are dime a dozen and very cheap these days with them selling all over the place used.

Very best,

bboysmax wrote in post #17655887
Pretty simple question, is the 550D still a good choice even in 2015?

I can get a 550D in Exc condition (4k shutter count) and 85mm 1.8 for £370 delivered (used both).

Or I could get a 60D in Exc condition (shutter unknown) with 18-135 and 50mm 1.8 for £505 delivered (used).

I'm not sure I can justify the £130 more for the 60D...my other half has a 7D with 18-135 and 50 1.8 already so I have access to those lenses.

A question that I don't believe has been asked -- you have access to a 7D, and have shot with a 550D before. Which feels better in your hands?

The camera that feels better is one you're going to want to use more. If nothing else decides the question, that should.

For any onlookers who doubt the kind of quality you can get out of a Rebel-series camera, this was taken with a 450D. Stunning imagery is something those cameras are perfectly capable of.

kcbrown wrote in post #17656805
A question that I don't believe has been asked -- you have access to a 7D, and have shot with a 550D before. Which feels better in your hands?

The camera that feels better is one you're going to want to use more. If nothing else decides the question, that should.

For any onlookers who doubt the kind of quality you can get out of a Rebel-series camera, this was taken with a 450D. Stunning imagery is something those cameras are perfectly capable of.

It has been about 2-3 years since I held the 550D, and ive used about 100 cameras since then so I can't recall! But in regards to the 7D, I believe it's very heavy oir bulky for what it is. This is obviously down to the materials used in the build and weather sealing. I'm use to mirrorless cameras now for the last 6 months so anything seems bulky ha!

Unfortunately no photo has come with your reply?

Yep, the my 550D is still a great camera, and I still use it on jobs. It's an entry-level DSLR and will behave as such, but it will generate keepers.