He gave me the taste of the photo

There are thirty, happy owner of a Nikon FE, I was for some years a keen photographer. But with the passage of time, the professional obligations, my reflex slowly "broken" deep in my attic.
As I work in broadcasting today, I wanted to see what it was now possible to do with a camera. After much research and reading countless comparative, my choice fell on the 550D.
Why?
a) Because it is technically a Canon 7D (considered the best device in APS-C format Professionals) "simplified": 18 Megapix same sensor, same processor ... and - potentially - the same quality image.
b) Because it costs almost four times cheaper than a EOS 5D Mark II, the unit "full size" reference of the new film, but nevertheless can shoot 1080P HD 25i / s.
c) Because it simply offers a quality / price unbeatable for a semi-pro job.

And since my purchase, I found the true pleasure of photography while discovering the joys of video with interchangeable lenses.
The 550D's sensor is so good that it really deserves high-level optics, although transtandard 18-55 is delivered in kit (unlike the proclamations of some grumpy) far from being unworthy. It's a bit "plastic" lens, the cheap appearance, but that really has an excellent dive when closing the diaphragm of one or two notches.
Personally, I'm still offered other pieces of glass for fun:
- The very economical (! -from 100 euros) 50mm 1.8 II Canon super bright lens at fabulous dive and very acceptable bokeh, equivalent to a 80mm on an APS-C format camera like the 550D. Ideal for portrait!
- The ultra wide-angle zoom Tokina 11-16mm 2.8, extraordinary precision, I use a picture of landscape and architecture.
- The Canon 100mm macro 2.8, almost legendary, which I use for small corny, the tight portraits and proxi-photography.
- The 55-250 zoom 3.5 / 5.6 Canon during the 18-55, which has a beautiful image quality even if it is not very bright.
In short, I have ruined myself ... but - I repeat - I am once an avid photographer. And happiness is priceless.
Especially as I discovered at the same time the video capabilities of the 550D, thanks to the fantastic unofficial firmware "Magic Lantern" (search Google). This firmware, very easy to use and safe for your machine (if you do not do anything !,) transforms into a true business device 550D with an incredible number of additional features: the ability to manually adjust the gain, use a micro "balanced" zebras for judging overexposure, programmable zooms, "time lapse picture", improved viewfinder, precise adjustment of the sensitivities, etc, etc. More "special HDR photo" setting that I use and I abuse almost daily.
The 550D is simply a pure technological marvel. A near miracle that the 600D, more recent, has not trumped even if it provides the ability to remotely control the slave flash and has a tilting screen.
I do not recommend it for a beginner amateur, who would do better to look first to a hybrid, a bridge or a simple compact. The biggest downside for the amateur as being almost impossible to use the Autofocus in video (it works, but it makes noise and it lacks precision ... it is better to work in manual).
Anyway, if, like me, you have a day was crazy picture.
500 euros for the body only, you can now open up a world of boundless creativity.
Welcome to the twenty-first century!