Canon 400D vs 1300D

The Canon EOS 400D (called Canon XTi in some regions) and the Canon EOS 1300D (labelled Canon T6 in some countries) are two digital cameras that were announced, respectively, in August 2006 and March 2016. Both are DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex) cameras that are equipped with an APS-C sensor. The 400D has a resolution of 10.1 megapixels, whereas the 1300D provides 17.9 MP.

Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.

Headline Specifications

Canon 400D		Canon 1300D
Digital single lens reflex		Digital single lens reflex
Canon EF mount lenses		Canon EF mount lenses
10.1 MP – APS-C sensor		17.9 MP – APS-C sensor
no Video		1080/30p Video
ISO 100-1,600		ISO 100-6,400 (100 - 12,800)
Optical viewfinder		Optical viewfinder
2.5" LCD – 230k dots		3.0" LCD – 920k dots
Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive)		Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive)
3 shutter flaps per second		3 shutter flaps per second
370 shots per battery charge		500 shots per battery charge
127 x 84 x 65 mm, 556 g		129 x 101 x 78 mm, 485 g

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Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Canon EOS 400D and the Canon EOS 1300D? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors, their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.

Body comparison

An illustration of the physical size and weight of the Canon 400D and the Canon 1300D is provided in the side-by-side display below. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three successive views from the front, the top, and the rear are shown. All width, height and depth dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Canon 1300D is notably larger (22 percent) than the Canon 400D. However, the 1300D is markedly lighter (13 percent) than the 400D. In this context, it is worth noting that neither the 400D nor the 1300D are weather-sealed.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete since they do not consider the interchangeable lenses that both of these cameras require. In this particular case, both cameras feature the same lens mount, so that they can use the same lenses. You can compare the optics available in the Canon EF Lens Catalog.

Concerning battery life, the 400D gets 370 shots out of its Canon NB-2LH battery, while the 1300D can take 500 images on a single charge of its Canon LP-E10 power pack.

The following table provides a synthesis of the main physical specifications of the two cameras and other similar ones. If you want to switch the focus of the display and review another camera pair, you can move across to the CAM-parator tool and choose from the broad selection of possible camera comparisons there.

Body Specifications

		Camera Model	Camera Width	Camera Height	Camera Depth	Camera Weight	Battery Life	Weather Sealing	Camera Launch	Launch Price (USD)	Street Price
1.		Canon 400D	127 mm	84 mm	65 mm	556 g	370	n	Aug 2006	799	ebay.com
2.		Canon 1300D	129 mm	101 mm	78 mm	485 g	500	n	Mar 2016	449	ebay.com
3.		Canon 40D	146 mm	108 mm	74 mm	822 g	750	n	Aug 2007	1,299	ebay.com
4.		Canon 100D	117 mm	91 mm	69 mm	407 g	380	n	Mar 2013	549	ebay.com
5.		Canon 350D	127 mm	94 mm	64 mm	540 g	400	n	Feb 2005	899	ebay.com
6.		Canon 450D	129 mm	98 mm	62 mm	524 g	500	n	Jan 2008	799	ebay.com
7.		Canon 500D	129 mm	98 mm	62 mm	520 g	400	n	Mar 2009	799	ebay.com
8.		Canon 550D	129 mm	98 mm	62 mm	530 g	440	n	Feb 2010	699	ebay.com
9.		Canon 650D	133 mm	100 mm	79 mm	575 g	440	n	Jun 2012	849	ebay.com
10.		Canon 700D	133 mm	100 mm	79 mm	580 g	440	n	Mar 2013	649	ebay.com
11.		Canon 750D	132 mm	101 mm	78 mm	555 g	440	n	Feb 2015	749	ebay.com
12.		Canon 760D	132 mm	101 mm	78 mm	565 g	440	n	Feb 2015	649	ebay.com
13.		Canon 1100D	130 mm	100 mm	78 mm	495 g	700	n	Feb 2011	449	ebay.com
14.		Canon 1200D	130 mm	100 mm	78 mm	480 g	500	n	Feb 2014	449	ebay.com
15.		Canon 2000D	129 mm	101 mm	78 mm	475 g	500	n	Feb 2018	449	amazon.com
16.		Canon M10	108 mm	67 mm	35 mm	301 g	255	n	Oct 2015	499	ebay.com
17.		Nikon D40X	124 mm	94 mm	64 mm	522 g	520	n	Mar 2007	729	ebay.com
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.
Convert to Imperial

The price is, of course, an important factor in any camera decision. The listed launch prices provide an indication of the market segment that the manufacturer of the cameras have been targeting. The 1300D was launched at a markedly lower price (by 44 percent) than the 400D, which puts it into a different market segment. Usually, retail prices stay at first close to the launch price, but after several months, discounts become available. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down.

Sensor comparison

The imaging sensor is at the core of digital cameras and its size is one of the main determining factors of image quality. A large sensor will tend to have larger individual pixels that provide better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixel-units in a sensor of the same technological generation. Further, a large sensor camera will give the photographer additional creative options when using shallow depth-of-field to isolate a subject from its background. On the downside, larger sensors tend to be associated with larger, more expensive camera bodies and lenses.

Both cameras under consideration feature an APS-C sensor, but their sensors differ slightly in size. The sensor area in the 1300D is 1 percent bigger. They nevertheless have the same format factor of 1.6. Both cameras have a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 3:2.

Technology-wise, the 1300D uses a more advanced image processing engine (DIGIC 4+) than the 400D (DIGIC II), with benefits for noise reduction, color accuracy, and processing speed.

With 17.9MP, the 1300D offers a higher resolution than the 400D (10.1MP), but the 1300D has smaller individual pixels (pixel pitch of 4.31μm versus 5.71μm for the 400D). Yet, the 1300D is a much more recent model (by 9 years and 6 months) than the 400D, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that enhance the light gathering capacity of its pixel-units.

The resolution advantage of the Canon 1300D implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the 1300D for good quality output (200 dots per inch) amounts to 25.9 x 17.3 inches or 65.8 x 43.9 cm, for very good quality (250 dpi) 20.7 x 13.8 inches or 52.7 x 35.1 cm, and for excellent quality (300 dpi) 17.3 x 11.5 inches or 43.9 x 29.3 cm. The corresponding values for the Canon 400D are 19.4 x 13 inches or 49.4 x 32.9 cm for good quality, 15.6 x 10.4 inches or 39.5 x 26.3 cm for very good quality, and 13 x 8.6 inches or 32.9 x 21.9 cm for excellent quality prints.

The Canon EOS 400D has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 1600. The corresponding ISO settings for the Canon EOS 1300D are ISO 100 to ISO 6400, with the possibility to increase the ISO range to 100-12800.

Technology-wise, both cameras are equipped with CMOS (Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensors. Both cameras use a Bayer filter for capturing RGB colors on a square grid of photosensors. This arrangement is found in most digital cameras.

Since 2007, DXO Mark has published sensor performance measurements that have been derived using a consistent methodology. This service determines an overall sensor rating, as well as sub-scores for low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and color depth ("DXO Portrait"). Of the two cameras under consideration, the 1300D has a markedly higher DXO score than the 400D (overall score 4 points higher), which will translate into better image quality. The advantage is based on 0.1 bits lower color depth, 0.7 EV in additional dynamic range, and 0.2 stops in additional low light sensitivity. The following table provides an overview of the physical sensor characteristics, as well as the sensor quality measurements for a selection of comparators.

Sensor Characteristics

		Camera Model	Sensor Class	Resolution (MP)	Horiz. Pixels	Vert. Pixels	Video Format	DXO Portrait	DXO Landscape	DXO Sports	DXO Overall
1.		Canon 400D	APS-C	10.1	3888	2592	none	22.1	11.0	664	62
2.		Canon 1300D	APS-C	17.9	5184	3456	1080/30p	22.0	11.7	781	66
3.		Canon 40D	APS-C	10.1	3888	2592	none	22.1	11.3	703	64
4.		Canon 100D	APS-C	17.9	5184	3456	1080/30p	21.8	11.3	843	63
5.		Canon 350D	APS-C	8.0	3456	2304	none	21.8	10.8	637	60
6.		Canon 450D	APS-C	12.2	4272	2848	none	21.9	10.8	692	61
7.		Canon 500D	APS-C	15.1	4752	3168	1080/20p	21.7	11.5	663	63
8.		Canon 550D	APS-C	17.9	5184	3456	1080/30p	22.1	11.5	784	66
9.		Canon 650D	APS-C	17.9	5184	3456	1080/30p	21.7	11.2	722	62
10.		Canon 700D	APS-C	17.9	5184	3456	1080/30p	21.7	11.2	681	61
11.		Canon 750D	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	1080/30p	22.7	12.0	919	71
12.		Canon 760D	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	1080/30p	22.6	12.0	915	70
13.		Canon 1100D	APS-C	12.2	4272	2848	720/30p	21.9	11.0	755	62
14.		Canon 1200D	APS-C	17.9	5184	3456	1080/30p	21.9	11.3	724	63
15.		Canon 2000D	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	1080/30p	22.6	11.9	1009	71
16.		Canon M10	APS-C	17.9	5184	3456	1080/30p	22.2	11.4	753	65
17.		Nikon D40X	APS-C	10.0	3872	2592	none	22.4	11.4	516	63

Many modern cameras cannot only take still pictures, but also record videos. The 1300D indeed provides for movie recording, while the 400D does not. The highest resolution format that the 1300D can use is 1080/30p.

Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. The 400D and the 1300D are similar in the sense that both have an optical viewfinder. The latter is useful for getting a clear image for framing even in brightly lit environments. The viewfinders of both cameras offer the same field of view (95%), but the viewfinder of the 1300D has a higher magnification than the one of the 400D (0.50x vs 0.49x), so that the size of the image transmitted appears closer to the size seen with the naked human eye. The following table reports on some other key feature differences and similarities of the Canon 400D, the Canon 1300D, and comparable cameras.

Core Features

		Camera Model	Viewfinder (Type or 000 dots)	Control Panel (yes/no)	LCD Specifications (inch/000 dots)	LCD Attach- ment	Touch Screen (yes/no)	Max Shutter Speed *	Max Shutter Flaps *	Built-in Flash (yes/no)	Built-in Image Stab
1.		Canon 400D	optical	n	2.5 / 230	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.0/s	Y	n
2.		Canon 1300D	optical	n	3.0 / 920	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.0/s	Y	n
3.		Canon 40D	optical	Y	3.0 / 230	fixed	n	1/8000s	6.5/s	Y	n
4.		Canon 100D	optical	n	3.0 / 1040	fixed	Y	1/4000s	4.9/s	Y	n
5.		Canon 350D	optical	n	1.8 / 115	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.0/s	Y	n
6.		Canon 450D	optical	n	3.0 / 230	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.5/s	Y	n
7.		Canon 500D	optical	n	3.0 / 920	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.4/s	Y	n
8.		Canon 550D	optical	n	3.0 / 1040	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.7/s	Y	n
9.		Canon 650D	optical	n	3.0 / 1040	swivel	Y	1/4000s	5.0/s	Y	n
10.		Canon 700D	optical	n	3.0 / 1040	swivel	Y	1/4000s	5.0/s	Y	n
11.		Canon 750D	optical	n	3.0 / 1040	swivel	Y	1/4000s	5.0/s	Y	n
12.		Canon 760D	optical	Y	3.0 / 1040	swivel	Y	1/4000s	5.0/s	Y	n
13.		Canon 1100D	optical	n	2.7 / 230	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.0/s	Y	n
14.		Canon 1200D	optical	n	3.0 / 460	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.0/s	Y	n
15.		Canon 2000D	optical	n	3.0 / 920	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.0/s	Y	n
16.		Canon M10	none	n	3.0 / 1040	tilting	Y	1/4000s	4.6/s	Y	n
17.		Nikon D40X	optical	n	2.5 / 230	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.0/s	Y	n
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.

The 400D writes its imaging data to Compact Flash cards, while the 1300D uses SDXC cards.

Connectivity comparison

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Canon EOS 400D and Canon EOS 1300D and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

Input-Output Connections

		Camera Model	Hotshoe Port	Internal Mic / Speaker	Microphone Port	Headphone Port	HDMI Port	USB Port	WiFi Support	NFC Support	Bluetooth Support
1.		Canon 400D	Y	- / -	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
2.		Canon 1300D	Y	mono / mono	-	-	mini	2.0	Y	Y	-
3.		Canon 40D	Y	- / -	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
4.		Canon 100D	Y	mono / mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
5.		Canon 350D	Y	- / -	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
6.		Canon 450D	Y	- / -	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
7.		Canon 500D	Y	mono / mono	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
8.		Canon 550D	Y	stereo / -	Y	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
9.		Canon 650D	Y	stereo / mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
10.		Canon 700D	Y	stereo / mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
11.		Canon 750D	Y	stereo / mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	Y	Y	-
12.		Canon 760D	Y	stereo / mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	Y	Y	-
13.		Canon 1100D	Y	stereo / mono	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
14.		Canon 1200D	Y	mono / mono	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
15.		Canon 2000D	Y	mono / mono	-	-	mini	2.0	Y	Y	-
16.		Canon M10	-	stereo / mono	-	-	mini	2.0	Y	Y	-
17.		Nikon D40X	Y	- / -	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-

It is notable that the 1300D offers wifi support, which can be a very convenient means to transfer image data to an off-camera location. In contrast, the 400D does not provide wifi capability.

Both the 400D and the 1300D have been discontinued, but can regularly be found used on ebay. The 400D was replaced by the Canon 450D, while the 1300D was followed by the Canon 2000D. Further information on the features and operation of the 400D and 1300D can be found, respectively, in the Canon 400D Manual (free pdf) or the online Canon 1300D Manual.

Review summary

So what conclusions can be drawn? Which of the two cameras – the Canon 400D or the Canon 1300D – has the upper hand? Is one clearly better than the other? Below is a summary of the relative strengths of each of the two contestants.

Arguments in favor of the Canon EOS 400D:

• More compact: Is smaller (127x84mm vs 129x101mm) and thus needs less room in the bag.
• More heavily discounted: Has been available for much longer (launched in August 2006).

Reasons to prefer the Canon EOS 1300D:

• More detail: Has more megapixels (17.9 vs 10.1MP), which boosts linear resolution by 33%.
• Better image quality: Scores markedly higher (4 points) in the DXO overall evaluation.
• More dynamic range: Captures a broader range of light and dark details (0.7 EV of extra DR).
• Better jpgs: Has a more modern image processing engine (DIGIC 4+ vs DIGIC II).
• Broader imaging potential: Can capture not only stills but also 1080/30p video.
• Larger viewfinder image: Features a viewfinder with a higher magnification (0.50x vs 0.49x).
• Larger screen: Has a bigger rear LCD (3.0" vs 2.5") for image review and settings control.
• More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (920k vs 230k dots).
• Less heavy: Has a lower weight (by 71g or 13 percent) and is thus easier to take along.
• Longer lasting: Gets more shots (500 versus 370) out of a single battery charge.
• Easier file upload: Has wifi built in for automatic backup or image transfer to the web.
• Easier device pairing: Supports NFC for fast wireless image transfer over short distances.
• More affordable: Was introduced into a lower priced category (44 percent cheaper at launch).
• More modern: Reflects 9 years and 6 months of technical progress since the 400D launch.

If the count of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a measure, the 1300D is the clear winner of the contest (14 : 2 points). However, the relative importance of the various individual camera aspects will vary according to personal preferences and needs, so that you might like to apply corresponding weights to the particular features before making a decision on a new camera. A professional wedding photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a travel photog, and a person interested in cityscapes has distinct needs from a macro shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Canon 400D and the Canon 1300D place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best DSLR Camera listing whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the comparison of the spec-sheets of cameras can offer a general idea of their imaging potential, it remains incomplete and does no justice, for example, to the way the 400D or the 1300D perform in practice. User reviews that are available, for instance, at amazon can sometimes shed light on these issues, but such feedback is all too often partial, inconsistent, and inaccurate.

Expert reviews

This is where reviews by experts come in. The following table reports the overall ratings of the cameras as published by some of the major camera review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], digitalcameraworld [DCW], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge, reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.

Expert Camera Reviews

		Camera   Model	AP   score	CL   score	DCW   score	DPR   score	EPZ   score	PB   score	Camera Launch	Launch Price (USD)	Street Price
1.		Canon 400D	..	+ +	..	+ +	o	4/5	Aug 2006	799	ebay.com
2.		Canon 1300D	4/5	o	4/5	73/100	4/5	4/5	Mar 2016	449	ebay.com
3.		Canon 40D	..	+ +	..	+ +	4.5/5	4.5/5	Aug 2007	1,299	ebay.com
4.		Canon 100D	4/5	+	..	78/100	4/5	4/5	Mar 2013	549	ebay.com
5.		Canon 350D	..	80/100	..	+ +	o	..	Feb 2005	899	ebay.com
6.		Canon 450D	..	+ +	..	+ +	4/5	4.5/5	Jan 2008	799	ebay.com
7.		Canon 500D	..	+ +	..	74/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Mar 2009	799	ebay.com
8.		Canon 550D	..	+ +	..	77/100	4/5	4.5/5	Feb 2010	699	ebay.com
9.		Canon 650D	4/5	+ +	..	77/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Jun 2012	849	ebay.com
10.		Canon 700D	..	..	..	76/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Mar 2013	649	ebay.com
11.		Canon 750D	5/5	..	..	75/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Feb 2015	749	ebay.com
12.		Canon 760D	5/5	+	..	77/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Feb 2015	649	ebay.com
13.		Canon 1100D	..	80/100	..	69/100	4/5	4.5/5	Feb 2011	449	ebay.com
14.		Canon 1200D	3/5	+	..	..	4/5	4.5/5	Feb 2014	449	ebay.com
15.		Canon 2000D	3/5	o	3.5/5	..	3.5/5	3.5/5	Feb 2018	449	amazon.com
16.		Canon M10	..	..	..	..	..	4/5	Oct 2015	499	ebay.com
17.		Nikon D40X	..	79/100	..	+ +	4/5	4/5	Mar 2007	729	ebay.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.

The above review scores should be interpreted with care, though. The ratings were established in reference to similarly priced cameras that were available in the market at the time of the review. A score, therefore, has to be seen in close connection to the price and market introduction time of the camera, and rating-comparisons among cameras that span long time periods or concern very differently equipped models make little sense. Also, kindly note that some of the listed sites have over time developped their review approaches and their reporting style.

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Other camera comparisons

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