Firstly, let me start out by saying that this review is written from my perspective as an amateur switcher. By that I mean someone who has been a keen photographer in the past, but purely from a compact, point and click background.

At the time of writing, the Canon Eos 400D can be purchased in the UK for somewhere in the region of £410, once you include the canon cash back offer of £50 this makes the total outlay just £360 (for the pack including the 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 kit lens) Amazon

First Impressions: Although at this price, the camera is obviously targeted at the entry-level end of the DSLR spectrum, the body has a solid feel and nice weight to it. With the 18-55 mm lens attached, it is very compact and portable. Although physically the same size as it's predecessor, the Eos 350D, there are several marked improvements. The first of the changes is the sensor, which is now 10 mega pixels, and compares favourably with the other DSLR's in this price range.

The 400d also incorporates a dust cleaning system composed of both a vibrating sensor at camera startup and shutdown, as well as a dust mapping system which allows the camera to map where dust fragments are which can subsequently be removed automatically with the supplied software. This process is entirely automated and leaves you to concentrate on task taking great photos. Another nice feature is the 2.5 inch LCD on the rear which not only serves as the display for the photo's you've taken, but also incorporates the information previously found on the separate monochrome lcd of the 350D. In addition to this, the LCD automatically powers off so as not to cause eye glare when you raise the viewfinder up to your eye.

It's far to easy when entering the DSLR world to get caught up in all the hyperbole surrounding lenses for your new camera. This is especially the case with the 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 kit lens supplied with the 400D. You will undoubtedly read many reviews that will criticize this lens, and point out all the short comings without necessarily taking into account the target audience. To put it bluntly, coming from point and shoots, I have found this lens more than satisfactory, and the quality of the images produced are a marked improvement over my previous efforts with compacts. Two sample photos taken with the supplied kit lens (Durdle door, and rabbit). Don't get me wrong, it's not the be all and end all, but should see you through your early days with the camera with many great photos along the way.

Verdict

I can highly recommend this camera as a great introduction to the world of DSLR photography; it will grow with your abilities and with the range of lenses and accessories to fit the canon, is flexible enough to be used in any situation.