Canon EOS 400D: fail

[Gnoll110]

EOS 400D is not a suitable replacement for my 1997 analogue EOS 50E!

Hi people.

This is my second post.

Here is a link to my first post.
1st post: What first digital camera?
1st post: What first digital camera?

As I said in my first post. I do some sport photography.

This weekend saw the state titles for my home state (territory) & its neighbouring state.

Yesterday I used my 1997 EOS 50E and took 8 rolls of 24 shots (192 shots) at the NSW titles in Sydney. Today I got to use a friends EOD 400D and took 500 shots at the ACT titles is Canberra.

Part of the nature the sport involves intense short periods of dynamic active. Usually 90 seconds, when you want a number of shot close together. This is the first and show stopper problem. The cycle time was just to slow. My friend set the camera to the Auto setting (after trying a few others first). Advise or recommendation would be helpful.

I noticed a second issue reviewing today's photos on a laptop when I got home. I don't think that the built in flash of the EOS 400D is as good as that of the EOS 50E.

I do want a digital camera. Not having to worry about (ration) how many shots (on roll & overall) are left is great!

On Friday night, friends (who I borrowed the EOS 400D from) where a Teds (camera shop) looking at gear (and I brough film too). They also had a EOS 40D on display, think I'll look at that next.

Photo sample from my EOD 50E, 1/ Dubbo titles in February and 2/ Sydney titles in June. warning, pictures of men & women in their underwear (aka bodybuilders) be here.

[Klaidas]

Well, the built in flash isn't too powerful... But canon has a nice collection of speedlites, which aren't too expensive (compared to, for example, lenses).

[jdepould]

Auto is about the last place you want to be for sports. Can't really help with specific settings because I'm not familiar with what goes on in that particular sport. I don't think the two cameras are in the same class though, perhaps you should look at a 30/40D?

[waffles]

Yeah, don't use auto. I tried it just to see what it would do with volleyball, didn't work at all. Stick with TV or AV mode.

[Gnoll110]

Originally Posted by Klaidas

Well, the built in flash isn't too powerful... But canon has a nice collection of speedlites, which aren't too expensive (compared to, for example, lenses).

Hi Klaidas, thanks for the comment. Was just noting the difference in flash power. I brought a speedlite for the EOS 50E ten years ago and newer used it, because the built in work fine for all the uses I have. It’s still in one of my (computer) hardware boxes somewhere

Originally Posted by jdepould

Auto is about the last place you want to be for sports. Can't really help with specific settings because I'm not familiar with what goes on in that particular sport. I don't think the two cameras are in the same class though, perhaps you should look at a 30/40D?

Originally Posted by waffles

Yeah, don't use auto. I tried it just to see what it would do with volleyball, didn't work at all. Stick with TV or AV mode.

Hi jdepould & waffles: Auto was the last place Forgot to say, in the first post, I started with the Tv setting. That’s the setting I’ve been using for all my bodybuilding shots for years.

I'm an IT person. Doing stuff in software has lots of advantages. You tend to trade these off against speed. So for film (analogue chemical memory) versus digital (digital electronic memory), digital is always going to be behind the 8-ball.

You’re right, technically they are not in the same class. Marketing wise they are in the same class. Both were/are entry level SRLs when they were released. Yes, the 30/40D is the next place to look.

One person there yesterday has an EOS 5D. I think that’s another price point up from the 40D? That looked to be a very nice camera too.

[Sime™]

[starting backwards] the 5D is the next price point up... that said, not as fast as the 40D if you're into sports.. 3.2fps v's 5 (30D) or 6.5 (40D) ..while the 400D is only 3fps

the 5D is a very nice camera.

Not the same class, and i'm a little bit stumped... marketing? There was no way I was going for a 400D / 350D I guess... the 30D [my weapon of choice] was a different level of camera all the way through my deciding process.. maybe I don't get what ya mean?

The 50e [I had one] is about 3fps max?.. I'm an IT person too.. [don't hold this against me!] i'd say the digital is equal or ahead [ducks behind couch]

I'd be firmly on Av me thinks... that's just me

Having looked at your website, how close were you to the action?.. [to sortof work out how effective an onboard flash would be?]

Hope this helps some...

sime

[jdepould]

I prefer M for sports, the last thing I'd want is to think I just snagged a great shot only to see that my shutter speed was 1/80 or something like that.

[Sime™]

yeah, was thinkin that - but to go from Auto to M is a sharp kick in the pants!... thought i'd suggest Av first :P

OK OK... M then heh

[Gnoll110]

Hi Sime(tm)

When I say marketing, I'm talking targeting at people. In 97, the EOS 50E was the entry point Canon SLR, now the EOS 400D is. Aimed at the same group of people.

When we are taking speed, I think we talking slightly different things. I'm not talking fps. I mean the ability to refocus and take a new picture. I'm was looking at, say 15 or 20 different pictures in 90 second. I spent soooo much time with a 'busy' camera yesterday.

I'm use to only having to wait for the flash to recharge.

The most frustrating time was during the Masters division yesterday. That's my division. Wes, the guy who beat me into second last year, competed and won. We've known & competed against each few times since 2000. It's a great friendly rivalry (he always win, but it's great fun anyway). I would have liked more pics of that division than I actually got. know thyme enemy Wonder if I'ld have finish second or third in yesterday's division?

The ability to take a lot of different pics in 90 seconds is my bottom line. I'm guessing that the EOS 400D has to start shuffling pics from in camera memory to card memory after about 4 pics. That shuffling makes the camera 'busy' and that's a real pain!

On the Tv front, I set the shutter to 1/125. No blur with max depth.

[smc1377]

There are more things that also determine the speed of a camera. If you're talking about refocusing, it could be a lens issue. What lens did your friend have on the 400D? Some autofocus really fast and some will hunt for focus forever and then just give up.

Also, if you're talking about the camera being busy, the memory card speed will also have a big impact on your waiting time. It could be that your friend has an inferior memory card. If it's only taking 4 pics and buffering out on you (which it really should be taking more IIRC), then he/she definitely had a slow memory card.