A 350D vs 400D question

[GJR]

Hi guys,

I know the entry DSLR Q's have been done quite a lot on here recently but.....

Around Christmas time I started thinking about getting a 350D, there were plenty about and it was within my budget. Well I ummm'd and arr'd... now so much time has passed that although the 350D's are still around but the 400D's have dropped a lot in price so that there is about £100 between them.

My question is... in the 'real' world is the 400D worth the extra £100 ?? I've looked at loads of comparisons online which suggests that there's little difference between them bar the extra mega pixels and cleaning system.

Do these matter in practice and is the cleaning system on the 400D a physical cleaning system or electronic, ie. it figures there's dust on the sensor and removes it digitally??

Cheers for any help

G

[350wedge]

I waited for the 400D because it has a much better screen on the back which i much prefer to the small split screens of the 350D.

I've never really tried a 350D properly but I find the menu's on the 400 very good and i had no probs finding my way round.

The anti dust thing really does seem to work well. I change lenses a lot and (touch wood) have had no need at all to clean the sensor yet. I bought my 400D pretty much as soon as they were launched.

The cleaning system is physical in that the sensor is vibrated ultrasonically to shake off any particles that may have attached themselves. This happens when you turn the camera on and off.

The extra pixels are a bonus too, again i cant compare to the 350D but the quality is superb and there is plenty of detail in enlargements.

I'd say for the money its a good upgrade and worth the extra cash....

I've also found that the battery life is fantastic on the 400 as well even though it has the extra features. I've used mine quite happily for a whole days shooting on one battery!!

Edited by 350wedge on Tuesday 22 May 09:51

[jamieboy]

I saw this review on the dpreview website, which lists the differences between the 400 and the 350, and it also has a video of how the sensor cleaning works.

[Andy M]

I'd go for the 400D purely fro the screen being a lot bigger.

You can get the 400D for £350 with rebates, is the 350D available for £250?!

[GJR]

Thanks guys,

That's an interesting little clip on that site

AndyM... where can you find a 400D for £350 even after rebates ???

The cheapest prices I've found so far are the 350D for around £340-£350 and the 400D at around £490 - £450. I know there's a £50 cash back on the 400D in some places but that would still make it £50-£80 dearer than the 350D!?!?

I like the idea of the bigger LCD screen though.... If any one know's where you can pick up a 400D for £350 could you let me know???

Much appreciated

G

[profstoff]

GJR said:

Thanks guys,

That's an interesting little clip on that site

AndyM... where can you find a 400D for £350 even after rebates ???

The cheapest prices I've found so far are the 350D for around £340-£350 and the 400D at around £490 - £450. I know there's a £50 cash back on the 400D in some places but that would still make it £50-£80 dearer than the 350D!?!?

I like the idea of the bigger LCD screen though.... If any one know's where you can pick up a 400D for £350 could you let me know???

Much appreciated

G

I've just bought one from Warehouse Express for £401 (body only) they have got a price beat deal at the moment and I pointed that Jessops were cheaper, they offerd me Jessops price less a quarter of the difference. The £50 cashback is a Canon promo so applies wherever you buy it (as long as it is not a grey import). I find it an easy to use camera with all the variables that you need to use often only a button press away. As well as the screen size and pixel count already mentioned, it's also got the 9 point focussing from the E30 and I believe its got a bigger buffer than the 350 which means it takes more pics in burst mode. I reckoned it was worth the extra over the 350.

Edited by profstoff on Tuesday 22 May 12:46

[David A]

profstoff said:

GJR said:

Thanks guys,



That's an interesting little clip on that site



AndyM... where can you find a 400D for £350 even after rebates ???



The cheapest prices I've found so far are the 350D for around £340-£350 and the 400D at around £490 - £450. I know there's a £50 cash back on the 400D in some places but that would still make it £50-£80 dearer than the 350D!?!?



I like the idea of the bigger LCD screen though.... If any one know's where you can pick up a 400D for £350 could you let me know???



Much appreciated



G

I've just bought one from Warehouse Express for £401 (body only) they have got a price beat deal at the moment and I pointed that Jessops were cheaper, they offerd me Jessops price less a quarter of the difference. The £50 cashback is a Canon promo so applies wherever you buy it (as long as it is not a grey import). I find it an easy to use camera with all the variables that you need to use often only a button press away. As well as the screen size and pixel count already mentioned, it's also got the 9 point focussing from the E30 and I believe its got a bigger buffer than the 350 which means it takes more pics in burst mode. I reckoned it was worth the extra over the 350.

Edited by profstoff on Tuesday 22 May 12:46

Can you give a link to the canon £50 promo please



Thanks

[RobDickinson]

Owning a 350d and having used a 400d I like the screen & the 30'ds focusing system.



Selfcleaning & megapixels are a bit irrelavant. 400d is better but its not that big a step up.

[Andy M]

Keep an eye on: http://www.camerapricebuster.co.uk/prod191.html

[jamieboy]

David A said:

Can you give a link to the canon £50 promo please

Here you go - http://www.canon.co.uk/promotions/Index.asp

[V6GTO]

RobDickinson said:

Selfcleaning...a bit irrelavant.

Have to disagree with that...I'd pay good money to have that in my camera if it works as well as reports suggest. I spend far too much time with the heal and clone tools because of dust...it drives me crazy



Martin.

[GJR]

jamieboy said:

David A said:

Can you give a link to the canon £50 promo please

Here you go - http://www.canon.co.uk/promotions/Index.asp

Promotion closes at the end of next month.... I'd better get my skates on !!



Thanks for the advice everyone. Think I'll probably be tempted by the 400D since the cash back means only £50 or so between them. It's good to find out what other users think... When manufacturers bring out replacement models they can be better by miles or by very little and, to a relative newcomer, it's not always clear what's useful and what is just a gimmick?!?!



Cheers



G

[profstoff]

GJR said:

jamieboy said:

David A said:

Can you give a link to the canon £50 promo please

Here you go - http://www.canon.co.uk/promotions/Index.asp

Promotion closes at the end of next month.... I'd better get my skates on !!



Thanks for the advice everyone. Think I'll probably be tempted by the 400D since the cash back means only £50 or so between them. It's good to find out what other users think... When manufacturers bring out replacement models they can be better by miles or by very little and, to a relative newcomer, it's not always clear what's useful and what is just a gimmick?!?!



Cheers



G

Reviews I read, and I tend to agree having used the camera, is that it's worth it just for the focussing system.