Upgrade Guide
Canon EOS 400D→Canon EOS 550D
Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.
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Strong upgrade
The EOS 550D improves across 3 key areas at a reasonable price gap. Most EOS 400D owners will notice the difference.
What's new in the EOS 550D
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Resolution18MP vs 10MP (+8MP)
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Battery life~440 shots (CIPA) vs ~360 shots (CIPA)
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Generation4 years newer (2010 vs 2006)
Suitability by genre
Base scores — computed from verified specs for an enthusiast shooting photo and video. The Upgrade Checker adjusts them for your skill level.
| Genre | EOS 400D | EOS 550D | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | +0.6 | ||
| Street | +0.1 | ||
| Travel | +0.2 | ||
| Wedding & Events | +0.5 | ||
| Documentary | +1.1 | ||
| Sports & Action | +0.5 | ||
| Landscape | +0.7 | ||
| Wildlife | +0.4 | ||
| Casual | +0.1 | ||
| Food | +0.4 | ||
| Macro | +0.4 | ||
| Architecture | +0.8 | ||
| Astrophotography | -0.2 |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | EOS 400D | EOS 550D | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £31 used | £26 used | |
| Released | 2006 | 2010 | ↑ |
| Sensor | 10.1MP APS-C CMOS | 18MP APS-C CMOS | |
| Resolution | 10MP | 18MP | ↑ |
| Video | No video | Full HD 1080p/30, 720p/60 | |
| Autofocus | 9-point phase-detect AF | 9-point phase-detect via viewfinder; contrast AF with face detection in live view | |
| Stabilisation | No IBIS (lens-based stabilisation only) | No IBIS (lens-based stabilisation only) | |
| Burst Rate | 3fps | 3.7fps | ↑ |
| Battery Life | ~360 shots (CIPA) | ~440 shots (CIPA) | ↑ |
| Weight | 510g (with battery) | 530g (with battery) | ↓ |
| Weather Sealed | Not weather sealed | Not weather sealed | |
| Viewfinder | Optical pentamirror, 95% coverage, 0.8x | Optical pentamirror, 0.87x | |
| Screen | 2.5" fixed LCD, 230k dots | 3.0" fixed LCD, 1.04M dots | |
| Mount | Canon EF | Canon EF / EF-S | |
| Memory Cards | Single CompactFlash slot | Single SD slot |
Compare side-by-side
⚖️ Compare these cameras
See EOS 400D and EOS 550D next to each other with our interactive comparison tool.
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