Canon 400D My Impressions

[Steven Gourlay]

Ive been using the Canon 400D for about a year now and found it to ideal for what i needed. Moving from a compact digital camera to the size of a DSLR was a big step not including the size difference between both types of cameras.

My main reason for getting a DSLR was i have always like photography i can spend hours looking a photos and even longer taking them. With my first child on the way i wanted to try and get some good photos of him as they grow up so quickly. I am a keen motorcyclist and love watching racing on tracks or my favourite is road racing. This has has now progressed into widlife photography i love taking photos of moving objects, anything that is challenging really.

I bought the Canon 400D as reading a lot of reviews i found it to be a good entry level DSLR which was within my budget. I made the stupid mistake of getting the bog standard lens 18-55mm lens with the camera when i should have just bought the body and then decided on what lenses i wanted.

Lenses that ive used on the camera:

Canon 18-55mm lens which i found to be ok to start with but that soon got left on the shelf.

SIgma 24-70 EX DG which i used to replace the 18-55 lens.

Canon 70-300 IS USM this was my first large lens that i pruchased and used it for about 6 months, very happy with the results just seem to be you always need to get bigger lenses to try and get that bit closer. I would recommend this lens to people that don't want to strech to a L lens as the IS is very good for taking wildlife shots.

Canon 100-400L IS USM This was the next logical step up for me from the 70-300 lens that i sold 2nd hand, (canon maybe expensive but they hold their value well). I am very impressed with this lens, it is a bit soft at 400mm. It takes a bit of getting used to the weight of the lens compared to the 70-300, motopod or tripod recommended either that or your arms will get bigger. ;)

I find the camera very easy to use and straight forward, like most i guess i read up on the internet about the advanced settings. To start with i was using P and the basic settings but i found myself quickly going to TV so i could change the shutter speed. I tend to find im using TV for most of my shots apart from landscapes.

I found the camera to be exactly what i needed and would recommend it to anyone who is looking for an entry level DSLR to play about with. The major thing i have found over the year of using the camera is the 3fps was just not enough for me when using it for small fast moving objects like garden birds etc. Its good enough to get a short burst of images but i found that i was waiting for the camera to catch up a few times which annoyed me as i thought i was going to get the pefect shot. I am now planning on upgrading my camera to the 5D but might hold off and see as there are rumours of a new 5D Mark II being released next year.

What extras i got over the year for the camera

Lenses

Canon 70-300 IS USM
Sigma 24-70 EX DG
Canon 100-400 L IS UM

Accessories

Camo-Tree Wildlife Photographers Hide
Camera Armour
Tamrac Expediton 7
Wireless Shutter
Few spare batteries
Few 2gig CF cards

Hello Steven

Thanks for giving your review of your equipment you use, i to use the Canon 100-400 and find it great for what i require. I have been looking at Canon EF 400mm f/2.8L but its a bit out of my price range at present. I have been reading up about the new Canon 5D Mark II that is meant to be out next year, think that will be popular.

[Steven Gourlay]

Yeah the rumoured features seem to be really good but bet there will be a high price tag also. :(

15.3MP up from 12.8MP
Full frame CMOS sensor
2 stop bump in light sensitivity to 25600 ISO
6fps instead of 3
Dual Digic III processors instead of a single Digic II CPU
AF system will use 29 points instead of 9
Live View
Weather sealing as topline 1Ds Mark III


Would be good to get an offical date soon so i can see how long i have to convince the misses.

Ive been looking at getting a photographers type camera but am not sure whats the best to go for?
I hear people saying canon is more expensive than nikon but i want to make the right choice as i know that canon lenses would not fit a nikon model and vis versa. Basically i am looking for a entry level camera nothing too fancy and too expensive but somthing i can play about with and not have to upgrade within a few months.

Currently looking at the Canon 450D anyone got one?

[Steven Gourlay]

Hi Deano

I have been very pleased with my Canon 400D and would recommend it to anyone that is wanting an entry level DSLR. I would agree with what you said its important pick the camera manufacturer you want to stay with as you will probably build up a range of lenses and accessories for that model.

If you are worried about the price of lenses the L lens is classed as professional lens and you don’t have to pay that sort of money if you do not want to. You will also find they are 3rd party manufacturers of lenses like Sigma which are considerably cheaper than Canon.
Then Canon 450D is the upgrade model to mine, ive not personally used it but you should see the price of the 400D going down in price due to the upgrade.

What i would recommend shop around, look for a body only and then buy the lens that you want, as you will find that the cameras are normally packaged with cheap 18-55mm lenses that bump the price up. If you are looking for a cheaper wildlife photography lens look at:

Canon 70-300
Sigma 50-500

Hope this helps.

Hello,

I to own a Canon 400D, i bought mine from the the states so its actually a Canon XTI Digital Rebel (same thing). I would say its a very good alround camera. I use the camera for all different types of photography from family portraits to macro. I would say Steven is right, find a body and then find the lenses that you want to get as the 18-55 is very basic.