Canon updates its DSLR idol

Ask any hip young camera company where the coolest place to be seen is at the moment and they’ll all point to a super-fly haunt known as the DSLR market. Sony and Nikon are becoming regulars, but Canon is keen to reaffirm its status as the true original with this new flagship update to its EOS range.

The big news about the 400D is that its sensor’s been upped from the 350D’s 8MP to a pro-friendly 10MP, which brings it into competition with hipsters like Sony’s Alpha 100.

Its more professional status is confirmed by a number of other improvements. The 350D’s LCD has been doubled in size to 2.5 inches, and Canon is also keen to point out its new anti-dust cleaning system.

The 400D is the first camera to benefit from the feature, which helps give the main body a spring clean thanks to anti-static materials and a neat sensor unit that uses vibrations to shake specks from important innards.

Also mention-worthy are a speedy 0.2 second start-up time, a boosted nine point auto focus system and an introductory deal which gives you an 18-55mm lens, some Digital Photo Professional software and 100MB of space at Canon’s online gallery.

It’ll also happily hook up with existing EF and EF-S lenses, so long-time Canon aficionados won’t have to start from scratch. A Stuff hands-on shouldn’t be too far away.

Canon EOS 400D

Price: £720 (£650 body-only)

On sale: September

Contact: Canon

Reviewed: Canon EOS 400D