An excellent choice for the digital photographer. (Canon EOS 400D)

Member Name: severus_snape

Product:	Canon EOS 400D
Date:	24/02/08 (192 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Extremely good quality and easy to use

Disadvantages: Instruction manual is a little hard to follow

I'd long been a photography fan, and had purchased a Film Camera from the EOS range a few years ago (3000V). As good a camera as it was, I found I was wasting whole rolls of film and getting just one or two good shots that I wanted to keep - which given both the cost of film and processing, didn't seem very economical! I'd been thinking about buying a digital SLR for some time, and this one caught my attention...

From all the cameras in Canon's EOS digital range, this is the entry-level model, but nothing to be scoffed at. To be honest, unless you're a professional photographer, this is the most technology you'll need from a digital camera, and the results it delivers are outstanding.

Firstly, the camera is capable of producing images at 10.2 megapixels - much higher than your standard digital camera and an excellent quality. The camera uses Canon's CMOS technology that's standard on all cameras in the EOS collection, regardless of price or specification.

Secondly, the camera has a range of different settings, from fully automatic (where the camera will assess light, speed, and conditions to determine the correct settings), and fully manual (where you can alter the ISO, Shutter Speed, Aperture, and shooting mode). There are also preset settings for Portrait or Landscape shots, for instance, as well as allowing you the opportunity to determine the shutter speed, but let the camera choose the correct aperture.

The display gives an excellent view of your shots, which is great for trial-and-error shooting, where just small details need to be amended. There are different image sizes available, as well as JPEG or RAW file formats. Focusing is a breeze, with automatic lenses and a 9 point AF system. Variations in shooting mode allow continuous shooting, as well as timed or remote control (remote comes separately).

The camera is extremely easy to use, and quite light to transport. The instruction manual is quite comprehensive, and thus isn't the easiest to follow when getting started: however, there are some great tutorials online, and once you've mastered the basics you're free to experiment without costing you the hassle of processing!Uploading to the computer is quick and easy, and the camera comes with a variety of processing software to make any finishing touches.

I've had this camera for six months, and I've been absolutely thrilled with it. As an amateur, I don't honestly think I would have benefited from a higher-spec model; rather, I'm happy to invest in new lenses - of which the camera is compatible with around 60. It's a great purchase and a must-have for any keen photographer.

Summary: A brilliant choice by Canon!

Processing/Quality:
Reliability:
Ease of use:
Features:
Picture quality: