As some may have read I was having problems with out of focus pictures from my new Canon 450D. Well a mate at work gave me his Nikon D80 to test and compare with the Canon.

After taking a couple of pictures it was obvious there was a problem with the Canon. It was just so much easier to get a nice photo. So off I went to Currys to do an exchange, I am now a happy Nikon D80 owner.

I was sorry to see the Canon go, it's menu system was a lot easier to navigate and the camera itself was a little lighter to hold. It seems Canon have a bigger/cheaper selection of lenes too.

Anyway, enough about all that. On Saturday I dropped swmbo off at her mum's in Somerset. I left them to the girlie stuff while I went off to the Hayes Motor Museum & the Fleet Air Arm Museum which is just down the road:D

So here's a few test shots from the Nikon.

Edited 20 July, 200817 yr by Chris.G

Some cracking pictures there

good photos them

^ Ta:thumbup:

Did you not consider getting a replacement 450? To see if it was just that one that had focus issues? Just seems you preferred the handling and use of the Canon? Or was there more reason to swap?

I should charge you know

Did you not consider getting a replacement 450? To see if it was just that one that had focus issues? Just seems you preferred the handling and use of the Canon? Or was there more reason to swap?

I was thinking exactly the same

I finally took the plunge last week and bought myself a new spangly 450D. So far I've not had any issues with it, well, that I know of. I haven't had a decent opportunity to take many pictures yet.

What sort of issues were you noticing with the Canon? As a noob to DSLRs I'm a bit concerned I won't notice if mine has issues or not until its too late.

Great photos by the way!

Well done Ant, enjoy it

Think Chris was experiencing quite a lot of out-of-focus shots, past ones that can occassionally be caused by user error. Have heard this from a few places, with 450D owners reporting issues with the AF system. Might have been a faulty batch from Canon perhaps, or a manufacturing fault/defect?

Steve

Cheers for the info Steve,

Were these issues with the stock lens only or was it affecting other lenses too?

I'll be taking loads of pics in the next couple of weeks, so I'll soon find out I guess. Although, I imagine any dodgy shots will most likely be operator error!

AFAIK it was an issue with the body, but I can't be 100%.

Steve

AFAIK it was an issue with the body, but I can't be 100%.

Steve

Cheers, I'll do some digging when I get a moment.

Digital Camera Resource Page Review: Canon EOS Rebel XSi

near bottom

i.e.

What I didn't care for:

JPEGs are very soft at default settings (adjust in-camera sharpening or shoot RAW for best results)

Small right hand grip; "plasticky" body

Redeye

Seemed to produce an abnormal number of out-of-focus shots

Very slow contrast detect AF in live view mode; live view not available in auto/scene modes

No built-in wireless flash support (most of competition supports this)

On the expensive side

Repeat of what I posted for Chris.G

Digital Camera Resource Page Review: Canon EOS Rebel XSi

near bottom

i.e.

What I didn't care for:

JPEGs are very soft at default settings (adjust in-camera sharpening or shoot RAW for best results)

Small right hand grip; "plasticky" body

Redeye

Seemed to produce an abnormal number of out-of-focus shots

Very slow contrast detect AF in live view mode; live view not available in auto/scene modes

No built-in wireless flash support (most of competition supports this)

On the expensive side

Repeat of what I posted for Chris.G

Thanks for that, I missed your post first time round.

Thanks for that, I missed your post first time round.

No probs.

Just that Chris.G pointed out focus problems and I'd seen review and it struck a chord so I mentioned it to him.

I'm always browsing cameras - for me though I prefer something 'handier' so will probs get new Panasonic FZ28 when it arrives end August and live with the noise (which can be reduced to some extent if I deem it obtrusive with Neat Image).

I told Chris he should have got the 40D

I should charge you know

:rofl:

I finally took the plunge last week and bought myself a new spangly 450D. So far I've not had any issues with it, well, that I know of. I haven't had a decent opportunity to take many pictures yet.

What sort of issues were you noticing with the Canon? As a noob to DSLRs I'm a bit concerned I won't notice if mine has issues or not until its too late.

Great photos by the way!

As mentioned, out of focus pictures were the problem. It is possible it was user error, I am new to all this:O Nearly all the shots were taken using Auto mode.

Nothing worse than getting home to find most of your pictures are out of focus.

You will notice if your Canon has this issue. I had a handfull of usable pictures after a days shooting filling up three memory cards:eek: It's not easy to spot on the cameras LCD but you will clearly see the lack of focus once the pics are on your PC.

I didn't get a replacement Canon because I read that faulty ones normally come in batches. I really didn't want to go back to Currys again (ever stood in one of their customer service lines?).

I went for the Nikon because I had a chance the to see it working and sample the pics. In auto mode it seemed to take a better picture with better colour and of course, no focus issues.

The Canon is a lovely camera. Hope your one is ok, let us know how you get on. Did you do the £50 cash back? Visit the Canon website if not.

Whack some pictures up on here when you get time:thumbup:

As mentioned, out of focus pictures were the problem. It is possible it was user error, I am new to all this:O Nearly all the shots were taken using Auto mode.

Nothing worse than getting home to find most of your pictures are out of focus.

You will notice if your Canon has this issue. I had a handfull of usable pictures after a days shooting filling up three memory cards:eek: It's not easy to spot on the cameras LCD but you will clearly see the lack of focus once the pics are on your PC.

I didn't get a replacement Canon because I read that faulty ones normally come in batches. I really didn't want to go back to Currys again (ever stood in one of their customer service lines?).

I went for the Nikon because I had a chance the to see it working and sample the pics. In auto mode it seemed to take a better picture with better colour and of course, no focus issues.

The Canon is a lovely camera. Hope your one is ok, let us know how you get on. Did you do the £50 cash back? Visit the Canon website if not.

Whack some pictures up on here when you get time:thumbup:

Thanks Chris,

I really like the feel and usability of the Canon. I was originally interested in the 400D, but the 450D became the better option especially with the cashback. It also came bundled with the Tamron 70-300mm lens, which made the whole lot great value! Also got the Lowepro slingshot 200AW half price (Plus another £10 cashback from Lowepro), as well as a free 4GB SDHC card. Oh and another free smaller bag... I left Jessops grinning from ear to ear.

So far the pictures I have taken have come out okay. I haven't used the auto function much but mainly aperture and shutter priority modes. Like you, I'm still learning, so some are a bit hit and miss. I'm away on holiday next week for a couple of weeks, so I'll be taking loads of pics. I have 8GB to fill up!

I'm sure I'll be posting a few up when I get back!

(Plus another £10 cashback from Lowepro),

Where did you see that offer?

Where did you see that offer?

Off back off a wagon

Soz, couldn't resist

Where did you see that offer?

Protect it with Lowepro

Protect it with Lowepro

Cheers, I did a search. My Off Trail 2 was 36 Stg so ain't covered.

I've never seen focus problems on my 400D, but I've noticed that the Auto mode does seem biased towards aperture rather than exposure. ie It will set a slow shutter speed in low light conditions,rather than wide aperture so as to maintain decent depth of field, and you have to be careful when shooting in less than perfect lighting conditions, especially when a moving subject is involved.

I generally shoot in Program mode now.

Phil