THE EOS 550 is the star of the new Canon launches. It has several improvements over a previous model, the EOS 500.

For a start, the EOS 550 is an 18-megapixel camera (similar to the higher-end EOS 7D) with a wide-aspect 3inch LCD, redesigned button layout and toplimit Auto ISO control (which is new to the EOS).

The camera uses the same 63-zone dual-layermetering sensor launched in the EOS 7D and is nearly double the 35 in the EOS 500.

Additionally, 1080p (1920x1080) full-HD video recording at 24, 25 and 30fps is supported. It also offers 720p (1280x720) and SD (640x480) at higher frame rates of 50 and 60fps.

Refinements to the body of the EOS 550 give it a better feel and grip.

The Canon folks must have thought hard about what the competition was offering. The new EOS 550 kits will be: body plus 18-55mm lens and body plus 18-135mm lens, which are a happy compromise for people who are not prepared to splurge on an expensive and heavy 200mm lens.

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