Canon EOS 400D, officially.

Link HERE.

Not sure what to think about this. Having just bought a 30D, should I be miffed that Canon have just undercut it with a cheaper model with more pixels and some better features like this anti-dust thing? I guess time will tell and we'll have to see how the reviews go, but it looks fairly decent if it's at the 350D price point.

Anyway, enjoy.

 

Looks promosing. I wonder when it will be available at the stores and how much it is going to cost. If it is only slightly more expensive as a 350D then I will definatly be tempted.

I had another look at the 30D this morning and it does feel alot more professional then the 350D. But the features it offers more then the 350D aren't features I'm willing to pay the extra price for.. And with the 400D coming in the same price range, I don't think I will go the 30D-way. But I do agree it feels more professional.

Guess I'll have to wait for the 400D then.
L

 

It doesnt look revolutionary to the price range. A 10MP doesnt do a huge amount. Just more noise so will probably produce the same kind of quality as a 6 or 8MP. Might be able to blow it up a bit more but thats it.

 

Press Release:

There you go - late September 2006 for £720/€1040 inc the kit lens. But I would imagine that price will drop by at least £100 fairly soon after if not immediately - I think the RRP of the 350D + lens is technically £750, although nowhere sells them at that price.

 

The upgrade on this is far better than the 'tweaks' that the 20DMkII 30D got. For those in the market at this price range, it looks brilliant.

However, I still wouldn't buy one. Having used a 350D over the last couple of weeks (the girlfriend just bought one) I can really only stand to use it for short periods like nicking a shot on her cam when I've not got mine handy. I never got what Pookey meant by the manual controls on the 350D being cumbersome but, damn, now I do.

That's not to say it's not a great cam, just giving opinion here. Which leads me to say whilst I think this is a great upgrade, it is the same body (all accessories fit) and so I wouldn't consider it.

It does make me wonder though about the timescale for the 40D. Surely with these AD (anti-dust) features, sensor upgrade (performance remains to be seen) they will be releasing 40D earlier than the usual 18 months?

Just noticed in the PR that they've given the 400D the 9 point AF from the higher models. Slick!

 

It had better not be as small as the first one (didn't look at the size specs)
I can't stand holding the rebel xt (350D).

 

Like Hwu said, it uses the same battery grip as the 350D, so I don't see how it can be any different in size really. Maybe the grip will be marginally wider or something. I would have thought that, given pretty much the only complaints about the 350 were about its size, they might have addressed that.

 

I'm afraid it will be the same size. Hopefully the price will be reasonable. Canon official sale price for the 350D is round 800euro, but you can find them for 600euro. SO I reckon the same stores will probably sell the 400D for a bit under the canon suggestion price.

L

 

MSRP $800, not too bad.

 

740Euro on top-foto.de ! (for the 400D)
Woooohoooow I'm thrilled.

 

DAMN. I could care less about sensor cleaning - my focusing screen's the real victim.

I could care less about 10 MPx.

BUT DAMN I want that 2.5" LCD and 9 point AF.

 

70-200 F4 L IS USM will be around 1100euro
50 F1.2 about 1170euro

I think the F4 IS is very reasonably priced. It is cheaper then the F2.8 Non IS, so right where it should be. It is still another 450euro more then the F4 Non-IS though. But it was a needed addition..the gap between the F4 and F2.8 was too big.

L

 

Why should it produce more noise? It's the same CMOS sensor technology, with the same image processor chip, so what makes you think it will offer the same quality as a 6mp camera? The image quality will be identical to the 350D... but with 2mp more resolution. In fact... all things being equal (which they seem to be) it will be 40% higher quality than the 300d, and noticeably better than the 350d. In fact, I've compared the downloadable samples, and they are clearly superior to my 350D, and almost as good as the D2X.

If it's aimed at the same price bracket as the 350D it's a winner if you ask me.

 

same size sensor with more Mp on it = more noise

If you look at the Nikon/Sony 10.2Mp sensor it is noiser at high ISO than their 6Mp & whilst it can resolve more detail it needs better glass (i.e. non-kit lens) to do so. Canon have previously said that similar would be true of their technology.

 

Huh, I was just starting to look into a 350D. What timing. Something else to demo at the local store whenever it's available. It sounds like a nice upgrade if it's in the same price range, not that I could afford either.

 

If the sensor technology is exactly the same, and they are just squishing more detail onto the sensor, then yes the noise will go up. But it won't be as bad as a 6mp camera.

Also keep in mind that those shots they give are likely the best they can produce from that camera. They are probably even post processed. I didn't see anything saying that they aren't.

 

As has been said. If you use a denser sensor. The sensitivity of each element has to increase due to the area of the element reducing. As every element has a fixed noise threashold which is defined by the technology used by increasing the sensitivity you bring that threashold closer to what you have to detect.

Its like a 6MP dSLR compared to a 6MP P&S. The dSLR will have massivly improved noise performance due to the huge difference in size of the sensor. This can be seen by the fact dSLRs work much better indoors without a flash and can do ISO 1600 and still look respectable.

So unless they increase the physical sensor area when they increase the number of pixels you will have more noise. Its a fact of life.

 

So it was worth waiting a bit longer

Any idea on what price cut the 350D will get?(if any)

 

If by longer you mean about 6 months. dSLRs are notorious for taking ages to actually hit the shelves. You could be in for a long wait.

For the price cut. I would expect about £100 (maybe) once it hits the shelves sometime around Febuary.

 

Stores here have already lowered there price on the 350D with about 40euro. And 400D should be available in the beginning of september. Most webshops are already adding it to there website.

Michiel.