Camera 450D

The Camera 450D Digital SLR is a powerful, effective and nicely designed camera. My wife, Anna's, specific interest is macro photography (precise close-ups) of things like butterflies and flowers, so macro features and functionality will be the focus of this review.

Our previous purchases in the digital photography field have been Fuji: a FinePix S602 (my favourite), then the much more powerful FinePix S9500. This Canon EOS is our first digital SLR.

The first, massive, improvement (and, I believe, over the 400D too) is the screen: it's much larger, brighter and clearer. However, I prefer to frame my shots using the screen (`Live View') but then you can't have the camera in `Full Auto' mode: Not a devastating restriction, but still significant.

For pukka macro photography there will always be the need to get at least one specific macro lens. We went for a cheap (£65) Tamron AF 55-200mm Macro Zoom which offers a workable compromise: but this lens still requires the purchase of a quality close-up lens (another £45-£50) because filling a frame with a bumble bee, for instance, needs the extra help & power of a close-up lens.

This is even more true of the supplied 18-55mm lens. The gent in our local photography shop described the standard lens supplied by Canon as `very basic' - but it is still a really good lens. Macro shooting is obviously much more restricted because, to fill the whole frame with a butterfly, for instance, you have to get, literally, right on top of it and the lens is unable to focus when you get that close to a subject. Therefore, a good close-up lens is essential. (The Canon 500D Close-up Lens we bought for the Fuji S9500 works perfectly as it's also a 58mm thread. Unfortunately, the Tamron Macro Zoom uses a 52mm thread. Such is life!) But some basic macro work is still possible with the standard Canon lens (if you're clever and very patient), but a close-up lens is a necessity... And the basic 18-55mm lens even includes very effective integral image stabilisation.

Anna says that `the big bonus is the clarity & sharpness of the images if you're comparing a standard digital with a digital SLR'.

In the end, the extra investment is more than justified in the move to digital SLR. Photography becomes more intuitive (something like it used to be on old 35mm SLRs) but still benefits from the digital age. A friend who has owned a Canon 35mm SLR for more than a decade said that the buttons and dials are much the same, so those who liked the old Canon SLR system may feel at home right away. For us, the Camera 450D represents a significant improvement over our previous digitals (and Fuji's over-complex menu systems) but note that `significant' improvement also comes at a `significant' cost: a half-grand camera may well require another half-grand on lenses - or more. However, if you have the cash, I think you'll be happy with your purchase.

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Overall, a sturdy, well specified no-nonsense camera which I'd highly recommend for the price.

I'm not going to include the lens in this review as its inclusion in the package is worth it as a backup given the differential between package price and body only price. Suffice to say, I like to manual focus and this is a bit fiddly with the supplied EF-S IS 18-55mm in certain circumstances, with only average overall quality IMO. However, I wish they'd give buyers the choice of a fixed focal length but fast standard lens as an alternative to the wooly and slow zoom.

I've given the camera itself 4.5 stars (4 on the official rating with no half increments): Firstly, I do not understand the charges that suggest this camera is "a bit plastic-like". I think the build quality of the body (not the supplied lens) is of the usual high quality expected from Canon and is indeed, according to the mark, made in Japan and not the usual Chinese clone-shop effort I had expected. I have large hands and very quickly got used to the small size, finding the grip very effective for single hand-holds - but then I am right-handed. The most relevant function buttons seem to be in all the right places (inc depth-of-field) with the shutter button being very positive and accurately punctuated at the half-way metering point. The functions and features available are seemingly geared towards those with serious photographic aspirations, with Canon resisting the temptation to add on special effect features, gimmicks and video other than monochrome/b & w. All the attention goes into photography whilst the rest can be done through software (not reviewed here).

The reason I don't give this camera full marks is easy for 3 reasons; 1) the delicate image sensor can easily be damaged when changing lenses if the camera is inadvertently left on and the set button is pressed (which is easy to do when the fingers are blindly holding the camera when fixing from the front), so it's imperative that users realise this and understand that the sensor should only be open to the air (with the mirror up) when Canon engineers are manually cleaning it for whatever reason - although the instructions do permit manual self-cleaning in certain circumstances. 2) The live view/preview screen, like most dSLRs that I've come across, is fixed into the rear of the body. My Canon G5 screen is articulated such that it becomes very, very useful in awkward places. So if I need to place the camera on the floor for a shot, the screen can be popped out and pointed towards the photographer at almost any angle. This is not possible with this camera. 3) The ISO settings are limited to the higher range of 1600. I suspect this is artificially set by Canon according to price and intended market but feel the camera's sensor is more than capable of taking the ISO setting to 3200 and beyond.

My favourite features are, 1) the RAW + dL setting which allows both RAW and highest quality jpg's to be saved simultaneously and 2) the camera's speed of performance given the price range. It is very responsive, allowing for candid shots to be made akin to the semi-pro models.

To reiterate, overall, a sturdy, well specified, no-nonsense camera which I'd highly recommend at the price (£450 mark) for those venturing into dSLR photography.

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I ordered through Amazon as they had the best price at the time, took a little longer than expected to arrive, over 2 weeks.

I had upgraded from a Sony Cybershot 7.2MP. Well you cant even compare the two. From only ever owning a point and shoot camera I now do not believe I could ever use anything but a dslr again.

The camera came with the 18-55mm canon lens, and the normal included accessories. This did not include a pouch, so I ordered the canon semi hard case EH19 L from 7dayshop for £27.99. Expensive but quality product. The only problem you might find is that the case fits the camera only with the 18-55mm lens, and so when I am using the 55-250mm lens I need to change the lens before I pack it away. Minor issue for me.

Ordered the Kingston Technology 4GB Secure Digital High Capacity Class4 Card - gets over 600 photos on a good quality setting (not RAW).

Having read all the other feedback I also ordered the 55-250mm canon lens through Amazon. Not being a pro photographer I can only give a layman's view - the 18-55 is great for normal shots, but useless for zooming. The 55-250mm is a telephoto lens, and the photos are magnificent. I tested it on numerous occasions eg day at Lords watching cricket, and the 55-250mm adds a whole new dimension to what you can take pictures of. Taking pics one after the other, and switching between the two lens', highlights how you cant really do with one or the other, you need both. I read some comments about buying the camera body only, and then not getting the 18-55mm and ordering other types, but my math told me that the incremental cost to get the offered package meant I was only really paying in about £45 more to get the lens than just the body. You cant get any lens for that price. If you want a specific lens for your individual circumstance and you have more money to spend - go for it. If you aren't really sure and were only going to do it because others recommended it, think again.

The extra lens doesn't come with a pouch either - I ordered a lower pro 1N through 7dayshop for £10. Fits perfectly, I had read that I should get the 1W - no good - its too big. I know lots of people order special backpacks for their cameras - this didn't suit me - I want to be able to pack my camera away, not carry a whole bag just for the camera.

Back to the camera - I am learning all types of new things. There are different pre-set modes that cover most scenarios, but as you read through the extensive manual you slowly learn more advanced techniques and begin to use the manual mode where you make your own decisions for the different settings. I have a long way to go, but anyone can see what a huge difference the camera has made to the quality of photos I am now taking. I honestly am not able to provide any info on flaws or problems because I haven't come across any.

This camera is great quality, there are good accessories available, the photo's are stunning, and with the determination to learn how to use all the features you will increase your photography knowledge by a huge amount. Highly recommended.

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