My First DSLR (Canon EOS 400D)

Member Name: dandelionyeahkou

Product:	Canon EOS 400D
Date:	10/09/09 (13 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: ease of use, value for money

Disadvantages: battery life

As a first time DSLR, the Canon EOS 400D is perfect to satisfy an interest for photography or to just capture moments beautifully. General point and shoot photography is easy with the auto setting which saves on hours of reading the tricky manual and still produces good results. Personally I use the automatic programme setting (P) so I can change the ISO, focus and white balance (amongst other features) depending on the lighting, subject and effect desired. Other settings are pre-set for the type of picture you're taking such as movement, landscape, close up etc and the icons shown on the camera body itself are extremely helpful so you rarely need to consult your manual. The general ease of use of this particular model means it's ideal for beginners but the wide range of features means it's still suitable for a more advanced user.
There are a few annoyances as with everything, such as the busy status when using the flash repeatedly in quick succession as the flash takes a moment to recharge and disruption to recharging causes the busy status to last longer. In addition, the battery life in general is pretty good and dependent on it's use and the use of the photo review facility but when the indicator is on one bar you really haven't got as much camera life left as you might think which means you might miss out on a few shots if you're not careful.

All in all I think the EOS 400D is well worth the money, and definately suitable for first time DSLR buyers and even users. For me, I like that I have the potential to broaden my skills with this camera, that is if I ever get down to reading the manual.

Summary: Excellent for first time buyers

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