Canon 400D vs 300D

The Canon EOS 400D (called Canon XTi in some regions) and the Canon EOS 300D (labelled Canon Rebel in some countries) are two digital cameras that were officially introduced, respectively, in August 2006 and August 2003. 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 300D provides 6.3 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 300D
Digital single lens reflex		Digital single lens reflex
Canon EF mount lenses		Canon EF mount lenses
10.1 MP – APS-C sensor		6.3 MP – APS-C sensor
no Video		no Video
ISO 100-1,600		ISO 100-1,600
Optical viewfinder		Optical viewfinder
2.5" LCD – 230k dots		1.8" LCD – 118k dots
Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive)		Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive)
3 shutter flaps per second		2.5 shutter flaps per second
370 shots per battery charge		400 shots per battery charge
127 x 84 x 65 mm, 556 g		142 x 99 x 72 mm, 649 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 300D? 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

The side-by-side display below illustrates the physical size and weight of the Canon 400D and the Canon 300D. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three consecutive perspectives from the front, the top, and the back are available. All width, height and depth measures 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 300D is notably larger (32 percent) than the Canon 400D. Moreover, the 300D is markedly heavier (17 percent) than the 400D. In this context, it is worth noting that neither the 400D nor the 300D 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 300D can take 400 images on a single charge of its Canon BP-511 power pack.

The following table provides a synthesis of the main physical specifications of the two cameras and other similar ones. If you would like to visualize and compare a different camera combination, you can navigate to the CAM-parator app and make your selection from a broad list of cameras 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 300D	142 mm	99 mm	72 mm	649 g	400	n	Aug 2003	899	ebay.com
3.		Canon 750D	132 mm	101 mm	78 mm	555 g	440	n	Feb 2015	749	ebay.com
4.		Canon 760D	132 mm	101 mm	78 mm	565 g	440	n	Feb 2015	649	ebay.com
5.		Canon 650D	133 mm	100 mm	79 mm	575 g	440	n	Jun 2012	849	ebay.com
6.		Canon 1100D	130 mm	100 mm	78 mm	495 g	700	n	Feb 2011	449	ebay.com
7.		Canon 550D	129 mm	98 mm	62 mm	530 g	440	n	Feb 2010	699	ebay.com
8.		Canon 500D	129 mm	98 mm	62 mm	520 g	400	n	Mar 2009	799	ebay.com
9.		Canon 450D	129 mm	98 mm	62 mm	524 g	500	n	Jan 2008	799	ebay.com
10.		Canon 40D	146 mm	108 mm	74 mm	822 g	750	n	Aug 2007	1,299	ebay.com
11.		Canon 350D	127 mm	94 mm	64 mm	540 g	400	n	Feb 2005	899	ebay.com
12.		Canon 20D	144 mm	106 mm	72 mm	770 g	700	n	Aug 2004	1,499	ebay.com
13.		Canon 10D	150 mm	107 mm	75 mm	850 g	500	n	Feb 2003	1,999	ebay.com
14.		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

Any camera decision will naturally be influenced heavily by the price. The retail prices at the time of the camera’s release place the model in the market relative to other models in the producer’s line-up and the competition. The 400D was launched at a somewhat lower price (by 11 percent) than the 300D, which makes it more attractive for photographers on a tight budget. 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. Then, after the new model is out, very good deals can frequently be found on the pre-owned market.

Sensor comparison

The size of the sensor inside a digital camera is one of the key determinants of image quality. All other things equal, a large sensor will have larger individual pixel-units that offer better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixels in a sensor of the same technological generation. Furthermore, a large sensor camera will give the photographer more possibilities to use shallow depth-of-field in order to isolate a subject from the 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 300D is 4 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.

In terms of chip-set technology, the 400D uses a more advanced image processing engine (DIGIC II) than the 300D (DIGIC), with benefits for noise reduction, color accuracy, and processing speed.

Despite having a slightly smaller sensor, the Canon 400D offers a higher resolution of 10.1 megapixels, compared with 6.3 MP of the Canon 300D. This megapixels advantage comes at the cost of a higher pixel density and a smaller size of the individual pixel (with a pixel pitch of 5.71μm versus 7.38μm for the 300D). However, it should be noted that the 400D is much more recent (by 3 years) than the 300D, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that make it possible to gather light more efficiently.

The resolution advantage of the Canon 400D implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the 400D for good quality output (200 dots per inch) amounts to 19.4 x 13 inches or 49.4 x 32.9 cm, for very good quality (250 dpi) 15.6 x 10.4 inches or 39.5 x 26.3 cm, and for excellent quality (300 dpi) 13 x 8.6 inches or 32.9 x 21.9 cm. The corresponding values for the Canon 300D are 15.4 x 10.2 inches or 39 x 26 cm for good quality, 12.3 x 8.2 inches or 31.2 x 20.8 cm for very good quality, and 10.2 x 6.8 inches or 26 x 17.3 cm for excellent quality prints.

The Canon EOS 400D has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 1600. The Canon EOS 300D offers exactly the same ISO settings.

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 is based on lab testing and assigns an overall score to each camera sensor, as well as ratings for dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), color depth ("DXO Portrait"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"). Of the two cameras under review, the 400D has a notably higher overall DXO score than the 300D (overall score 7 points higher), which gives it an advantage in terms of imaging quality. This advantage is based on 1.1 bits higher color depth, 0.2 EV in additional dynamic range, and 0.3 stops in additional low light sensitivity. The adjacent table reports on the physical sensor characteristics and the outcomes of the DXO sensor quality tests for a sample of comparator-cameras.

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 300D	APS-C	6.3	3072	2048	none	21.0	10.8	544	55
3.		Canon 750D	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	1080/30p	22.7	12.0	919	71
4.		Canon 760D	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	1080/30p	22.6	12.0	915	70
5.		Canon 650D	APS-C	17.9	5184	3456	1080/30p	21.7	11.2	722	62
6.		Canon 1100D	APS-C	12.2	4272	2848	720/30p	21.9	11.0	755	62
7.		Canon 550D	APS-C	17.9	5184	3456	1080/30p	22.1	11.5	784	66
8.		Canon 500D	APS-C	15.1	4752	3168	1080/20p	21.7	11.5	663	63
9.		Canon 450D	APS-C	12.2	4272	2848	none	21.9	10.8	692	61
10.		Canon 40D	APS-C	10.1	3888	2592	none	22.1	11.3	703	64
11.		Canon 350D	APS-C	8.0	3456	2304	none	21.8	10.8	637	60
12.		Canon 20D	APS-C	8.2	3504	2336	none	21.9	11.0	721	62
13.		Canon 10D	APS-C	6.3	3072	2048	none	21.1	10.9	571	57
14.		Nikon D40X	APS-C	10.0	3872	2592	none	22.4	11.4	516	63

Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a variety of features. The 400D and the 300D 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 300D has a higher magnification than the one of the 400D (0.55x vs 0.49x), so that the size of the image transmitted appears closer to the size seen with the naked human eye. The table below summarizes some of the other core capabilities of the Canon 400D and Canon 300D in connection with corresponding information for a sample of similar 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 300D	optical	n	1.8 / 118	fixed	n	1/4000s	2.5/s	Y	n
3.		Canon 750D	optical	n	3.0 / 1040	swivel	Y	1/4000s	5.0/s	Y	n
4.		Canon 760D	optical	Y	3.0 / 1040	swivel	Y	1/4000s	5.0/s	Y	n
5.		Canon 650D	optical	n	3.0 / 1040	swivel	Y	1/4000s	5.0/s	Y	n
6.		Canon 1100D	optical	n	2.7 / 230	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.0/s	Y	n
7.		Canon 550D	optical	n	3.0 / 1040	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.7/s	Y	n
8.		Canon 500D	optical	n	3.0 / 920	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.4/s	Y	n
9.		Canon 450D	optical	n	3.0 / 230	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.5/s	Y	n
10.		Canon 40D	optical	Y	3.0 / 230	fixed	n	1/8000s	6.5/s	Y	n
11.		Canon 350D	optical	n	1.8 / 115	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.0/s	Y	n
12.		Canon 20D	optical	Y	1.8 / 118	fixed	n	1/8000s	5.0/s	Y	n
13.		Canon 10D	optical	Y	1.8 / 118	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.0/s	Y	n
14.		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.

Concerning the storage of imaging data, both the 400D and the 300D write their files to Compact Flash 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 300D 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 300D	Y	- / -	-	-	-	1.1	-	-	-
3.		Canon 750D	Y	stereo / mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	Y	Y	-
4.		Canon 760D	Y	stereo / mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	Y	Y	-
5.		Canon 650D	Y	stereo / mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
6.		Canon 1100D	Y	stereo / mono	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
7.		Canon 550D	Y	stereo / -	Y	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
8.		Canon 500D	Y	mono / mono	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
9.		Canon 450D	Y	- / -	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
10.		Canon 40D	Y	- / -	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
11.		Canon 350D	Y	- / -	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
12.		Canon 20D	Y	- / -	-	-	-	1.1	-	-	-
13.		Canon 10D	Y	- / -	-	-	-	1.1	-	-	-
14.		Nikon D40X	Y	- / -	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-

Both the 400D and the 300D have been discontinued, but can regularly be found used on ebay. The 300D was replaced by the Canon 350D, while the 400D was followed by the Canon 450D. Further information on the features and operation of the 400D and 300D can be found, respectively, in the Canon 400D Manual (free pdf) or the online Canon 300D Manual.

Review summary

So how do things add up? Is there a clear favorite between the Canon 400D and the Canon 300D? Which camera is better? Below is a summary of the relative strengths of each of the two contestants.

Advantages of the Canon EOS 400D:

• More detail: Offers more megapixels (10.1 vs 6.3MP) with a 27% higher linear resolution.
• Better image quality: Scores markedly higher (7 points) in the DXO overall assessment.
• Richer colors: Generates images with noticeably better colors (1.1 bits more color depth).
• Better jpgs: Has a more modern image processing engine (DIGIC II vs DIGIC).
• Larger screen: Has a bigger rear LCD (2.5" vs 1.8") for image review and settings control.
• More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (230k vs 118k dots).
• Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (3 vs 2.5 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
• More compact: Is smaller (127x84mm vs 142x99mm) and thus needs less room in the bag.
• Less heavy: Is lighter (by 93g or 14 percent) and hence easier to carry around.
• Faster data transfer: Supports a more advanced USB protocol (2.0 vs 1.1).
• More affordable: Was introduced into a lower priced segment (11 percent cheaper at launch).
• More modern: Reflects 3 years of technical progress since the 300D launch.

Reasons to prefer the Canon EOS 300D:

• Larger viewfinder image: Features a viewfinder with a higher magnification (0.55x vs 0.49x).
• More heavily discounted: Has been around for much longer (launched in August 2003).

If the count of individual advantages (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the 400D is the clear winner of the match-up (12 : 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 wildlife photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a family photog, and a person interested in architecture has distinct needs from a sports 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 300D 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 300D perform in practice. At times, user reviews, such as those published at amazon, address these issues in a useful manner, but such feedback is on many occasions incomplete, inconsistent, and unreliable.

Expert reviews

This is why hands-on reviews by experts are important. The adjacent summary-table relays the overall verdicts of several of the most popular 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 300D	..	..	..	+ +	..	..	Aug 2003	899	ebay.com
3.		Canon 750D	5/5	..	..	75/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Feb 2015	749	ebay.com
4.		Canon 760D	5/5	+	..	77/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Feb 2015	649	ebay.com
5.		Canon 650D	4/5	+ +	..	77/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Jun 2012	849	ebay.com
6.		Canon 1100D	..	80/100	..	69/100	4/5	4.5/5	Feb 2011	449	ebay.com
7.		Canon 550D	..	+ +	..	77/100	4/5	4.5/5	Feb 2010	699	ebay.com
8.		Canon 500D	..	+ +	..	74/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Mar 2009	799	ebay.com
9.		Canon 450D	..	+ +	..	+ +	4/5	4.5/5	Jan 2008	799	ebay.com
10.		Canon 40D	..	+ +	..	+ +	4.5/5	4.5/5	Aug 2007	1,299	ebay.com
11.		Canon 350D	..	80/100	..	+ +	o	..	Feb 2005	899	ebay.com
12.		Canon 20D	..	..	..	+ +	..	..	Aug 2004	1,499	ebay.com
13.		Canon 10D	..	..	..	+ +	..	..	Feb 2003	1,999	ebay.com
14.		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. Hence, a score should always be seen in the context of the camera's market launch date and its price, and comparing ratings of very distinct cameras or ones that are far apart in terms of their release date have little meaning. It should also be noted that some of the review sites have over time altered the way they render their verdicts.

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Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? In case you are interested in seeing how other cameras pair up, just make a corresponding selection in the search boxes below. Alternatively, you can follow any of the listed hyperlinks for comparisons that others found interesting.

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