 |
| dug |
Member since:
13-Jan-2008 |
|
Category: Review on Canon EOS 400D Digital SLR Camera
Posted by: 14-Jan
Strengths: just backing the car over it now... will get back to you
Weaknesses: where do I start?
Rating
| Overall satisfaction |
|
 |
| Ease of Use |
|
 |
| Durability |
|
|
| Battery Life |
|
 |
| Photo Quality |
|
|
| Portability |
|
 |
Full Review
I had high hopes when I finally took delivery of my new 400D with twin lens kit last week, having heard so much hype about Canon's next generation of EOS cameras.
But my excitement was short lived when I picked up the first defect - a "stuck" blue pixel in the LCD. I tried not to let that bother me, so grinding my teeth, I took some shots. After installing the 1.2Gb of software the camera ships with ( yes... you need most of it to do absolutely anything with the 400D... start cleaning your had disk NOW ) I downloaded some night shots. Just right of center I noticed a small read dot... sure enough... it's in exactly the same spot in all shots... a perfect oval of dead pixels on the sensor. So that's strike two.
I left the 18-55mm lens in the whole time but after a plane flight home I went to take some pictures and suddenly noticed what looked like an eyelash through the viewfinder. I unscrewed the lens and checked the mirror, but it was perfectly clean ( and should be... the mirror hadn't been exposed for 4 days ). I gave it a quick puff but whatever it was remained stuck. Along the top of the inside of the mirror recess is a small strip of black foam... and I suspect it came from there. Whatever it is seems to have glued itself to the diffuser under the viewfinder, and nothing I do seems to remove it. Strike three.
Over the weekend I was irritated to find the flash continually popping up, even under good lighting. I tried any number of manual modes yet nowhere could I find any option to change the aperture. I'm sure it's there... somewhere... perhaps at the 18th level of some obscure submenu. This SHOULD be a basic, easy to access function.
On the plus side the shoulder strap looks really cool and will definitely fool people into thinking you're a pro.
So my 400D is going back to it's maker, and I can only hope that after waiting god knows how long to get a replacement ( assuming Canon Australia consider these dead pixels failures... maybe they won't and I'll be stuck with this piece of junk ) it's not just someone else's warranty cast off. I read a forum post of one poor bloke who sent his 400D back 4 times - only getting a fully functional on on his fifth attempt.
That's a long time and a lot of needless irritation to go through for a $1300 camera. I really hope Canon are able to restore my faith in the EOS cameras, because at this moment, I am off them in a BIG way. :(
Sponsored Links
Comments
|
|
 |
| Cherie David |
|
I had the same problem mate
Posted by: 31-Jan
|
|
 |
|
|
| dug |
|
David really?
So I guess you got the same atrociuos service from Canon Australia I did too?
I got the camera back after 4 weeks today. LCD is fixed... still has dead pixel in sensor... still has unremovable piece of crap stuck behind diffuser.
Good luck to anyone who got a 400D that wasn't a "friday 4pm special" like mine, because if you get a lemon Canon Australia will leave you high and dry.
I sure don't have another 1400 bucks lying around to buy a REAL camera.
Disgusted.
Posted by: 13-Feb
|
|
|
|
 |
| TheArtfulDodger |
|
Not sure about service, but Canon outsourced their spare parts to PartsOvernight. I ordered a flash stand 3 years ago directly from Canon - 3 days later I had it in my letterbox. I paid $5 including postage. I lost the stand and tried to order it again 3 weeks ago. First Canon re-directed me to PartsOvernight where I waited for 45 minutes to speak to a sales rep. They quoted me 30 + postage for the same item. Costcutting due to globalisation and outsourcing is killing the service!
Posted by: 13-Feb
|
|
|
|
|
| dug |
|
Perhaps Canon have outsourced repairs too... even when they say it has been "sent back", does a warranty job then get "set off" by Canon? Would go some of the way to explain why they didn't bother to check my 400D properly before bagging it up and sending it back to me. I just can't imagine *not* checking something that's been in for repair... surely if Canon actually cared about customer service they would want to return the item in "as new" condition? Wouldn't they want me to say "those guys from Canon are great... there was a problem but they dealt with it quickly and efficiently".
I paid the same money as other people who *didn't* get a piece of junk... why should I have to put up with it?
Now I have to wait another month to get my camera back because Canon Australia did not fix it properly the first time. That's over 3 months without a camera I paid for in early January.
Just to add insult to injury, the service center here warned me that Canon may well try to charge me $170 for cleaning the camera!
I'm disgusted with Canon, and will not buy any of their products EVER again. Utterly third rate.
Posted by: 16-Feb
|
|
|
|
|
| TheArtfulDodger |
|
Look, maybe it's just a case of you being a little unlucky. Just give them another chance. I've been using Canon photo equipment for years and nothing went wrong. Have a look at some of my pictures - it's all Canon. photo.net/photos/gyrusI share your disappointment. I agree that their service and spare parts could be better but I wouldn't go as far as calling the equipment junk.
Posted by: 17-Feb
|
|
|
|
|
| dug |
|
TheArtfulDodger: I have also used Canon gear for quite a while. I had an old T-50 SLR that I took around the world, changed lenses in all manner of crazy, awkard places. I find it hard to believe that in the 6 times I changes lenses on mine, all in the safety of a hotel room or my office, I managed to get a dirty great piece of schmutz logded irretrievably INSIDE the view finder. I have never seen anything like that... and I know whatever it is came from the camera itself - a sliver of plastic, or metal... something from manufacture.
I'd wear the "unlucky" label if it was one or two defects, but three... and only two of them fixed under warranty? Not a case of luck IMHO... just lack of care on the part of Canon Australia. I genuinely believe the quality of their products has taken a dive, along with the service.
Look, I am sure they take nice pictures... but since I've hardly seen my 400D since I forked out the cash for it, I'm harldy in a position to comment!
Posted by: 18-Feb
|
|
|
|
|
| Sam.ld |
|
Hi Guys, I bought a Cannon EOS 40D about 6 weeks ago and from day one started having problems.
There was two distinct lines through the photos on the lcd screen which also showed up on my computer. then the camera was not turning on i would have to take out the batery and replace it a couple of time it got to the extent by the 25th day it took me 15 goes before it would turn on. then on top of that i found that the shutter speed would not go any higher than 250, and it should go up to 8000.
I phoned cannon twice and the first guy was really nice but the second time i phoned the guy i spoke to didn't seem to care at all and when you buy a cannon nobody tells you you have 14 days to report a fault if you are to get an exchange . Luckly i was dealing with a Great sales person and he exchanged the camera to a new one as they should.
Owning the new Cannon EOS 40D for two days I found that there was a fault with this camera also. The shutter speed was again not going beond 250, I am able to get another exchang for a new EOS 40D but i am really considering my other options, what if there is a fault with the next one that dosent present itself till later.
Posted by: 29-May
|
|
|
|
|
| TK |
|
I own a 350D and have never had a problem. My brother bought the 400D and I used it on the weekend. There is one thing I didn't like and I am not sure if it's a problem or a feature. When shooting indoors, I normally use a real flash and not the inbuilt one, however, on this occasion my brother forgot to bring it. When taking quick successive shots (as I always do) I noticed that the screen sometimes says 'busy' as if the flash is not ready (an indicator on the screen was telling me that the flash was the item that needed the time). At first I thought it was a low battery, so I swapped it out with one that was fully charged. After a few clicks the same thing. It's really hard to take shots if you have to wait for the flash. (Reminds me of a snippet of Eddie Murphie's dilerious 'This aint no instamatic mother-#ucker')
I have never had this issue with my 350D. I love my 350D and will never trade it for anything else. Sure it's only 8MP but it's my favourite toy!
Posted by: 31-May
|
Add Your Comments
|
