Going from 1D/20D to 400D/XTi

Hi Vivek,

I have done the opposite transition recently, from a 400D/XTi to a 5D. I have found my 400D to be a very capable camera, with the right lenses on it it really shines. Especially, a good/capable photographer can definitely make really good use of it. Obviously, it is less solid compared to a 1D, and it lacks certain custom funtions. Also some available functions are not placed on direct buttons but are located within menus. Having said that, it really is a good camera. I hope wou'll enjoy it.

Sorry to hear about elbow injury, I wish you well and a speedy recovery.

Cheers,

Vivek Khanzode said:

Most of my shooting is family (my kids) and birds (during hikes around the bay area).
Due to a chronic elbow injury, I am now forced to lighten my load for most shooting and as a result I have decided to downgrade to XTi.

Click to expand...

Well, Vivkek,

The choice you have made is excellent. Know that the central cross focus point needs f2.8 large lighrt collecting aperture to work.

Otherwise, there is not much practical disadvantage for your work.

Certainly the x1.6 of the XTi is giving a little more reach for bird shots! That's good. The CMOS sensor is as fine as could be except not the increased dynamic range of the 1DIII or the improved colors of the 5D. However, you will not miss anything there.

The camera will easily capture the most fast moving kids, especially with a little flash which is built in! How perfect!!!

I'd say that we all ought to have an XTi. It's such a neat camera and capable of doing well even fopr formal functions where one uses flash.

The fact that it fits in with your personal needs for a lighter camera is a bonus. The only adjustment i'd make at first is to double your usual shutter speed perhaps, so that the mass of the camera which normally dampened movement is compensated for.

You didn't state what lens you have? If you own a 24-105 IS lens, for example, you can do anything!

Anyway, good luck and post your images.

Asher

Thanks Asher and Cem.

The lens I plan on using is 24-85 since lenses tend to be quite heavy too. I was also thinking that after this (hopefully) temporary disability, I can keep the 400D for travel purposes. As for the lenses that I have, I have 50/1.4 (low light), 17-40, 24-105, 135/2 and 100-400 for the birds.

-- Vivek

Vivek Khanzode said:

Thanks Asher and Cem.

The lens I plan on using is 24-85 since lenses tend to be quite heavy too. I was also thinking that after this (hopefully) temporary disability, I can keep the 400D for travel purposes. As for the lenses that I have, I have 50/1.4 (low light), 17-40, 24-105, 135/2 and 100-400 for the birds.

-- Vivek

Click to expand...

Hi Vivek,

Let's hope that your disability is indeed temporary .
I have used my XTi with a 50mm F1.8 II (which is much cheaper and lighter than the F1.4) and a 24-105, they have both been excellent on the body. Certainly recommended. Also recommended is a EF-S 10-22mm which I had on the XTi; an excellent lens, razor sharp and light.

Cheers,

I tried a friends 400D the other day and was greatly impressed. The camera's ideal for people who want to travel light without paying any penelty in image quality.

I really liked the interface as well. Getting rid of the LCD panel and just using the screen to display all the information actually works really nicely.

Tim

Vivek Khanzode said:

I have used the 20D for most of my shooting and the 1D classic occasionally when the resolution was not important. Most of my shooting is family (my kids) and birds (during hikes around the bay area).

Due to a chronic elbow injury, I am now forced to lighten my load for most shooting and as a result I have decided to downgrade to XTi.

I am wondering if any of you have done this transition what I should expect. I expect to have the XTi next week and any pointers / suggestions would be great.

Click to expand...

I've used both the 20D and the XTi extensively. Both have their areas of inferiority and superiority. I am only going to mention things here that are likely not to be mentioned by others.

The XTi viewfinder is a little darker, but it is much *sharper* than the 20D's, a plus if you use manual focus at all, or like to double-check the camera's AF. The AF on the XTi is newer-generation, too (same as the 30D).

The XTi, of course, has more pixels, and is potentially better for overall image detail. This comes through all-around with good optics at ISOs 100 through 400, but doesn't come through in the shadows as well at ISO 1600, because the higher ISOs on the XTi have more noise, relative to absolute exposure; about 1 stop more at ISO 1600. ISOs 100 and 200 on the XTi have slightly more dynamic range than the 20D (and the 5D as well, at ISO 100). There's a caveat here, though. The XTi by default exposes the RAW data about 1/2 stop lower than the 20D, so you need exposure compensation of about +1/2 EC more than with the 20D, to make full use of the low noise at ISOs 100 and 200; otherwise, the extra DR only goes into increased highlight headroom, and no signal-to-noise advantage over the 20D.

I find that with the XTi, and my 100-400 IS with teleconverters of 2x or greater, the mirror slap on the XTi makes the IS react irrationally, shifting the composition down 1/2 frame, but not always, so it is impossible to compensate with 100% certainty.

John

Thank you very much! Your post is exactly the kind of post I was looking for. Practical usage differences between the two. I got the XTi today and will play with it over the coming weekend. I will also post some photos over the weekend.

Thanks again.

-- Vivek

XTi arrived....

The XTi arrived last week and I took it out over the weekend. It is a pretty capable camera and is small and light. I "sidegraded" from 20D+24-105L to XTi+24-85 for the weight and the combo does what I want it to very well.

The lack of the QCD is an issue, but I was able to live without it for the day. Also, Canon has used the rear LCD _VERY WELL_ IMHO on this camera.

I am traveling now and will post some images later in the week.

Thanks to all who responded and I think I made the right decision.

-- V

Vivek Khanzode said:

John

Thank you very much! Your post is exactly the kind of post I was looking for. Practical usage differences between the two. I got the XTi today and will play with it over the coming weekend. I will also post some photos over the weekend.

Thanks again.

-- Vivek

Click to expand...