Original URL: http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2008/06/27/review_canon_eos_450d_dslr/
Review The EOS 450D is more like a step-up than a follow-on to the EOS 400D (http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2008/06/03/review_canon_eos_400d/) entry-level digital SLR we recently looked at. The question is, what does the extra 50 in the model number mean in terms of improvement?
Well, quite a few things, both from a cosmetic and from a performance point of view. That said, this is no massive leap forward in terms of technological advances, but there are some nice new enhancements. The EOS 450D uses a 22.2 x 14.8mm CMOS image sensor with 12.2 megapixels - the 400D has 10.1 megapixels - and it also uses a DIGIC III image processor to the 400's DIGIC II.
Canon's EOS 450D: not a massive technological advance
The LCD screen size has also been increased from 2.5 to 3in, although both versions have 230,000 pixels. Not that you notice the lower resolution on the new screen, but you do notice how much clearer and easier it is to see all the relevant camera data – the new screen is 50 per cent brighter.
Then there are some nice little touches, like putting the ISO button close to the control dial and shutter button for even easier operation. The viewfinder also provides extra information, including the ISO speed, which means you spend even less time checking the LCD screen during a shoot.
Appealing to wider target audience
Canon has also opted to use SD/SDHC memory cards in place of the Compact Flash used by the EOS 400D and most other DSLRs. To the purist, this might seem like a retrograde step, but in fact, the SD/SDHC card format offers very high capacities these days (up to 32GB) and fast writing speeds.
The move is clearly designed to make the EOS 450D appeal to a wider target audience and the compact nature of the SD card does help to reduce the camera size and weight a little - the EOS 450D measures 129 x 98 x 62mm and weighs 475g. We certainly didn’t notice any deterioration in performance with SD cards - from either a writing speed or a picture quality point of view.
The EOS 450D is compatible with a wide range of Canon EF and EF-S lenses – we used an EF-S 18-55mm zoom. No surprise that there’s not a great deal of difference between the EOS 450D and EOS 400D in terms of looks and layout.
The LCD screen is bigger and 50 per cent brighter
At the top is a pop-up flash, large function dial, on/off switch, ISO button, control dial - for adjusting parameters such as shutter speed and aperture - and shutter button. At the back is the LCD screen, two tiny zoom buttons for magnifying the playback image up to 10x, plus buttons for menu, display mode, exposure compensation, white balance, playback and delete.
A large rocker multi-controller is used for adjusting various parameters, including autofocus mode, drive mode and metering mode. Below the viewfinder is a sensor which automatically disables the LCD screen whenever your eye looks through the viewfinder. At the right-hand side is the card slot; at the bottom, the battery compartment. On the left-hand side is a small flap concealing video-out and mini USB ports.
Switch-on is super-fast and shutter lag is minimal
When it comes to features, the EOS 450D offers an ISO speed range of 100-1600 and a shutter speed range of 1/4000-30s. The camera shoots both JPEG and RAW images, and you can shoot both formats at the same time. The maximum JPEG resolution is 4272 x 2848, giving a file size of 4.3MB. RAW file size is 15.3 MB at a fixed resolution of 4272 x 2848.
A continuous shooting mode gives a maximum speed of three frames per second, and the buffer can store up to 53 JPEG images at the highest resolution or six RAW images. If you shoot RAW and JPEGs simultaneously, this goes down to four. RAW files can be recorded with SRGB or Adobe RGB colour space, and Canon provides RAW processing software.
As with the EOS 400D, there are two main operating modes. The basic zone is for point-and-shoot photography and includes landscape, macro, sport and portrait modes. The creative zone gives you more control and its offerings include program AE, manual, aperture priority and shutter priority. The EOS 450 also offers a lens image stabilisation system.
Canon provides RAW processing software, which you can use to tweak the image
In terms of handling, the EOS 450D feels good to hold, with a solid, well-balanced body. Almost everything is easy to hand and unlike some cameras, there’s none of that scrabbling around for the right button or setting. The viewfinder and LCD screen provide oodles of information so you’re always aware of what settings you’re on.
The tabbed menu is well designed and puts all relevant information onto a single screen – there’s no need to scroll through screens. Switch-on is super-fast and shutter lag is minimal so you would be very unlucky to miss a shot with this camera.
The software also allows you to adjust the sharpness, contrast, saturation and colour tone
The EOS 450 also has a Live View shooting mode, which gives you a real-time view of the scene you’re shooting on the camera’s LCD screen – the viewfinder is disabled in this mode.
Sample shots
Click for larger images
(http://regmedia.co.uk/2008/06/27/close_up_big.jpg)
The macro mode lets you take some nice close-up shots
(http://regmedia.co.uk/2008/06/27/rh_continuous_spread_big.jpg)
The continuous shooting mode operates at 3.5f/s and is great for tracking a fast-moving subject
(http://regmedia.co.uk/2008/06/27/zoom_big.jpg)
You can use a variety of lenses with the EOS 450D. If you opt for a body and lens package, you get a zoom with an 18-55mm focal length
(http://regmedia.co.uk/2008/06/27/rh_sport_spread_big.jpg)
We’re not normally impressed with the various program modes on offer, but the sport mode does a good job in keeping a moving object in the frame
(http://regmedia.co.uk/2008/06/27/detail_big.jpg)
The EOS 450D can capture lots of fine detail like the wet moss on these rocks
You can also connect the EOS 450D to a PC (using the supplied software) and monitor the scene on your PC screen. Canon says this function is handy if you’re using the EOS 450D on a tripod or shooting at an awkward angle, so budding paparazzi are likely to appreciate this feature.
In terms of performance, the EOS 450 is good, although anyone expecting a spectacular improvement over the EOS 400D, even with the extra megapixels and enhanced image processor, will be disappointed. That said, colour, resolution, noise and exposure were all impressive under a variety of shooting situations. In fact, we were surprised by how little noise there was, even when shooting at ISO 1600.
We were most impressed with the continuous shooting mode and the sport mode - both functions really lock onto the subject and capture fast-moving objects. Close-up shooting was impressive too. We think that if you’re new to digital SLR photography or on a tight(ish) budget, you’ll like this camera.
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Canon EOS 450D |
| Summary | A small stop up from the EOS 400D, the 450D offers some nice new enhancements, although its SRP is £100 more than the other model/ |
|---|---|
| Rating | 70% |
| Price | £600 / $1190 |
| More info | EOS 450D DSLR page on Canon's UK website (http://www.canon.co.uk/For_Home/Product_Finder/Cameras/Digital_SLR/EOS_450D/index.asp) |
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