Canon Eos 400D review

Verdict:

A superb entry-level DSLR and worthy successor to the 350D

Review Date: 15 Sep 2006

Price when reviewed: (£612 ex) VAT with 18-55mm lens; £649 (£552.34 ex VAT) body only

Reviewed By: Gordon Laing

Our Rating 4 stars out of 5

In use, the 400D handles much like the 350D; starting quickly and feeling very responsive overall. The anti-dust systems may not be 100% infallible, but they're a welcome development and well-implemented - being able to interrupt the filter vibration and append images with dust data for later removal are excellent touches.

The resolving power is measurably higher than the 350D in lab tests, but doesn't make a big difference in real-life. Luckily though, the increased resolution hasn't compromised noise levels. They may be fractionally higher than the 350D, at 1600 ISO, but the 400D still delivers silky smooth results across its ISO range, which remains cleaner than the Sony A100 at higher sensitivities.

The only real downside is lack of anti-shake in the standard package. To combat any wobbles, you'll need to invest in an image-stabilised lens, and in this respect the Sony A100 which features built-in anti-shake takes the lead. This aside, the Eos 400D is a superb entry-level DSLR and worthy successor to the 350D. We can highly recommend it, but also consider the Sony A100 and Nikon D80.

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