teiddy
07-25-2008, 11:37 PM
Canon 450D-Is it worthy to upgrade?
When a new camera model released to the public, many people may wonder “Is it worthy to upgrade to the new one?” The result is often disappointing. The Canon EOS 450D is advertised as an upgrade and a most improved version of the 400D. But is the 450D truly superior to the 400D? When weighing the evidence, it is clear that the 450D has some considerable upgrades over the 400D. The upgrades that I find important to general photography are:
1. Larger LCD-The 450D’s larger 3-inch LCD is the major upgrade in appearance. A larger LCD is a definite advantage because it makes viewing the saved photographs and composing each shot a lot easier. It's not just bigger but the viewing angle is much better.
2.Live View- Available for the first time on a Canon consumer D-SLR, Live View mode makes it easier to shoot from awkward angles, such as ground-level macro shots or when shooting from a tripod. The image from the Live View mode is displayed as a smooth, 30fps video feed on the 3.0” LCD, which is 50% brighter than the screen of the EOS 400D. A grid line display and live histogram can be selected to help with shot composition and exposure. While focusing, the photographer can zoom in on specific details with up to 10x magnification of the image displayed on the LCD screen. Two types of auto focus are available: Quick AF flips the camera mirror momentarily to engage the AF sensor; Live AF uses the image contrast data to focus - a method familiar to anyone upgrading from a compact digital camera.
3. Highlight Priority mode is a handy tool, to help stop the sky washing out when you are photographing JPEG's in the shadows.
4.The EOS quality advantage- The EOS 450D’s specially designed 12.2 Megapixel sensor employs Canon’s high-sensitivity, low-noise CMOS technology to produce richly detailed images with minimal grain. The DIGIC III processor ensures superior image rendering and rapid response times, with an almost instant 0.1 start up. Image data is processed at 14 bits for Delivering a burst rate of 3.5 frames per second, the DIGIC III processor works with the image buffer to handle up to 53 JPEGs (6 in RAW) without interruption.
5. Memory Card-The 450D switched from the CF card (400D) format to SD and SDHC memory card. The move is to allow users of its compact range to move up to the entry-level DSLR without having to invest in new memory cards.
6. Spot metering has been added, though with only 4 degrees coverage, not the 1 degree coverage that is usually implied by the term. This will be appreciated by anyone doing stage shooting or in any circumstance where the lighting conditions make matrix-style metering difficult.
So the bottom line is the available funds. If you can afford the 450D, I would suggest that you go for it. It will be a worthwhile upgrade for anyone purchasing it.
When a new camera model released to the public, many people may wonder “Is it worthy to upgrade to the new one?” The result is often disappointing. The Canon EOS 450D is advertised as an upgrade and a most improved version of the 400D. But is the 450D truly superior to the 400D? When weighing the evidence, it is clear that the 450D has some considerable upgrades over the 400D. The upgrades that I find important to general photography are:
1. Larger LCD-The 450D’s larger 3-inch LCD is the major upgrade in appearance. A larger LCD is a definite advantage because it makes viewing the saved photographs and composing each shot a lot easier. It's not just bigger but the viewing angle is much better.
2.Live View- Available for the first time on a Canon consumer D-SLR, Live View mode makes it easier to shoot from awkward angles, such as ground-level macro shots or when shooting from a tripod. The image from the Live View mode is displayed as a smooth, 30fps video feed on the 3.0” LCD, which is 50% brighter than the screen of the EOS 400D. A grid line display and live histogram can be selected to help with shot composition and exposure. While focusing, the photographer can zoom in on specific details with up to 10x magnification of the image displayed on the LCD screen. Two types of auto focus are available: Quick AF flips the camera mirror momentarily to engage the AF sensor; Live AF uses the image contrast data to focus - a method familiar to anyone upgrading from a compact digital camera.
3. Highlight Priority mode is a handy tool, to help stop the sky washing out when you are photographing JPEG's in the shadows.
4.The EOS quality advantage- The EOS 450D’s specially designed 12.2 Megapixel sensor employs Canon’s high-sensitivity, low-noise CMOS technology to produce richly detailed images with minimal grain. The DIGIC III processor ensures superior image rendering and rapid response times, with an almost instant 0.1 start up. Image data is processed at 14 bits for Delivering a burst rate of 3.5 frames per second, the DIGIC III processor works with the image buffer to handle up to 53 JPEGs (6 in RAW) without interruption.
5. Memory Card-The 450D switched from the CF card (400D) format to SD and SDHC memory card. The move is to allow users of its compact range to move up to the entry-level DSLR without having to invest in new memory cards.
6. Spot metering has been added, though with only 4 degrees coverage, not the 1 degree coverage that is usually implied by the term. This will be appreciated by anyone doing stage shooting or in any circumstance where the lighting conditions make matrix-style metering difficult.
So the bottom line is the available funds. If you can afford the 450D, I would suggest that you go for it. It will be a worthwhile upgrade for anyone purchasing it.