Decision tools · Compare
EOS 550D vs EOS M5
Quick take: The EOS M5 has the highest resolution at 24MP; the EOS 550D is the most affordable.
Where the EOS 550D wins
- Cheaper new: £26 vs £196
- Battery Life: ~440 shots (CIPA)
Where the EOS M5 wins
- Resolution: 24.2MP
- Burst Rate: 9fps
- Weight: 427g (body only)
- Portrait: 5.9 vs 5.4
- Street: 6.2 vs 5.4
16 specs side by side·14 genres scored·UK prices from Wex Photo Video, Clifton Cameras, MPB, eBay and Amazon UK
How to read this page. Highlighted cells win that row on the spec alone. Genre scores are the engine's base scores (enthusiast, photo and video); Camera Match re-weights them for your level and priorities. Price buttons are affiliate links; the price you pay is the same.
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Size comparedbody only, no lens · drawn to one scale
- EOS 550D 129 × 98 × 75 mm · 530 g
- EOS M5 116 × 88 × 61 mm · 427 g
The EOS M5 is 13 mm narrower, 10 mm shorter, 14 mm slimmer and 103 g lighter than the EOS 550D.
Drawn to scale from the makers' dimensions (W × H × D). Front shown, depth on the slanted edge.
Verdictwhich should you buy?
EOS M5 — Travel & Portrait: The EOS M5 was the first EF-M camera with a built-in EVF — and it made the system feel complete. Fast Dual Pixel AF, a 9fps burst, and a high-resolution articulating screen deliver a confident shooting experience. No IBIS and 1080p video only limit its appeal for hybrid work, but for stills photographers it remains one of the most well-rounded EF-M bodies available.
Who should buy what
EOS M5 (2016)
is the right camera for you if…
- Enthusiast photographers who want an EVF in a compact EF-M body
- Photographers switching from DSLR who want familiar handling
- Portrait and travel photographers who value fast AF and good ergonomics
- Used-market buyers wanting a capable EF-M stills camera
Full specificationsthe better value in each row is highlighted
| Specification | EOS 550DCanon · 2010 | EOS M5Canon · 2016 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £26 usedBest | £196 used |
| Sensor | 18MP APS-C CMOS | 24.2MP APS-C CMOS (Dual Pixel) |
| Resolution | 18.0MP | 24.2MPBest |
| Video | Full HD 1080p/30, 720p/60 | 1080p/60p |
| Autofocus | 9-point phase-detect via viewfinder; contrast AF with face detection in live view | Dual Pixel CMOS AF with face detection |
| Stabilisation | No IBIS (lens-based stabilisation only) | — |
| Burst Rate | 3.7fps | 9fpsBest |
| Battery Life | ~440 shots (CIPA)Best | ~295 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 530g (with battery) | 427g (body only)Best |
| Dimensions | 128.8 × 97.5 × 75.3mm | 116.2 × 88.1 × 60.6mm |
| Weather Sealed | Not weather sealed | Not weather sealed |
| Viewfinder | Optical pentamirror, 0.87x | Electronic, 2.36M dots, 0.39" type |
| Screen | 3.0" fixed LCD, 1.04M dots | 3.2" tilting touchscreen, 1.62M dots |
| Mount | Canon EF / EF-S | Canon EF-M mount |
| Memory Cards | Single SD slot | Single SD UHS-I slot |
| Connectivity | USB 2.0, mini HDMI, AV out, 3.5mm mic, E3 remote | USB, Wi-Fi, NFC, Bluetooth |
Wins the row — price, resolution, burst, battery, weight and sealing are compared; text specs aren't ranked.
How they score by genreengine base scores out of 10
Genre
EOS 550D
EOS M5
Portrait
5.4/10
5.9/10
Street
5.4/10
6.2/10
Travel
4.8/10
5.5/10
Wedding & Events
4.0/10
4.5/10
Documentary
4.0/10
4.2/10
Sports & Action
4.5/10
5.3/10
Landscape
4.0/10
4.6/10
Wildlife
5.0/10
5.3/10
Casual
3.3/10
4.4/10
Food
4.0/10
5.4/10
Macro
3.8/10
4.4/10
Architecture
4.4/10
4.7/10
Astrophotography
4.4/10
4.1/10
Vlogging & Video
—
4.5/10
Scores come from the same engine as Camera Match: verified specifications weighted by what each genre needs, with documented adjustments. The product page and this table show the enthusiast base score. See how scores are calculated →
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