DPreview.com: Rebel XTi/400D Review

[GTaudiophile]

Not a preview...but a review.

 

[NTB]

Originally posted by: GTaudiophile
Not a preview...but a review.

Saw that earlier today. looks like a good camera, and a good upgrade from the original 300D. I will be sticking with my 350, though

Nathan

 

[jpeyton]

Where does the EOS 400D come up short? For me, the camera isn't as comfortable to use as the Nikon or Sony. This may sound petty but I do feel that Canon's tiny grip is a mistake of form over function. Nor does it have the D80's large and bright pentaprism viewfinder, nor can it match the 'eye on the scene' feel you get from the short viewfinder black-out time. The D80 also gives you the surprisingly useful configurable automatic ISO, spot metering, a wider range of customization, wireless flash control, advanced battery information and in-camera retouching. The A100's trump card is it's in-camera CCD-shift Anti-Shake, and we haven't even started to consider Pentax's recently announced K10D which at least on paper is looking like a very strong competitor.

 

[yhelothar]

Nice JPG quality.
The viewfinder is still horrendously small though.

 

[GTaudiophile]

There is no denying that the D80 is a better built camera than the Canon. The Rebel's grip is silly small. Can't really comment on the viewfinder.

But keep in mind the Rebel does cost $200 less. ($100 less than the Sony.)

 

[tfinch2]

Originally posted by: GTaudiophile
There is no denying that the D80 is a better built camera than the Canon. The Rebel's grip is silly small. Can't really comment on the viewfinder.

But keep in mind the Rebel does cost $200 less. ($100 less than the Sony.)

Even my E-300 viewfinder seems bigger than the XTi's. I was handling it today and it's a pretty sad excuse for a viewfinder.

 

[jamesbond007]

Originally posted by: tfinch2

Originally posted by: GTaudiophile
There is no denying that the D80 is a better built camera than the Canon. The Rebel's grip is silly small. Can't really comment on the viewfinder.

But keep in mind the Rebel does cost $200 less. ($100 less than the Sony.)

Even my E-300 viewfinder seems bigger than the XTi's. I was handling it today and it's a pretty sad excuse for a viewfinder.

I haven't looked through a 400D, but my 300D's viewfinder is too small - MK2N, here I come!

(in all reality, I'm hoping to buy the successor to the 1D-MK2N next spring if they release a new one)

 

[Zenmervolt]

Canon's Digital Rebels are great cameras, I wish I'd found it comfortable to work with, but I'd have had to move up to the 30D in order to have Canon that fit my hands.

In the end, I think this is great news for amateur photographers. It keeps the heat on Nikon, Sony, Olympus, and Pentax and in a price and features war, the comsumer wins.

ZV

 

[randomlinh]

yeah, the viewfinder is my biggest complaint. My sister's yearbook class uses a samsung something.. and even it's viewfinder is amazingly huge compared to my 300D Granted, it's a couple of generations newer... but seemed to be slightly larger than the 400D from memory.

 

[GTaudiophile]

I am waiting for the EOS-40D and EOS-6D before investing another dime. I just have the feeling in my bones that the two will be one in the same. In other words, Canon is going to bust loose a $2K Full-Frame DSLR replacement to both cameras. If so, I'll be buying it and will ditch all my EFS glass. If not, I'll probably get the 6D anyway.

 

[yhelothar]

Originally posted by: randomlinh
yeah, the viewfinder is my biggest complaint. My sister's yearbook class uses a samsung something.. and even it's viewfinder is amazingly huge compared to my 300D Granted, it's a couple of generations newer... but seemed to be slightly larger than the 400D from memory.

Yeah the samsungs are clones of the Pentax DSLRs, which have the biggest viewfinder there is for APS sized sensors.
Generation doesn't matter btw. My 1970's Pentax ME has a bigger viewfinder than any DSLR out in the market(sans the medium format ones). If anything, they have been getting smaller over the years. Cameras used to be like fine swiss watches, now they're just mass market consumer plastic, labeled with big numbers and what not.
Mass consumers are generally blind eyed to the quality nowadays and are overly focused on whatever that has the biggest number and random acronyms - most megapixels, most AF points, highest ISO numbers, USM, VR, IS, ED, AL, IF, APO.
Thus, that's what manufacturers generally focus on now.

 

[Staples]

I hate the fact that this thing does not have an LCD.

And the viewfinder sucks in the Rebel XT. Never thought about worrying about this before I bought mine however if I ever buy a new SLR, the viewfinder will be something high on my list to watch out for.

 

[A1CSpence]

I like my 350D, and I think the 400D is a bit of a disappointment. The D80 looks pretty good, if only it wasn't $200 more. Couple an 80D with that 18-200 VR lens and you'd be all set.