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Canon D30 vs 400D

The Canon EOS-D30 and the Canon EOS 400D (labelled Canon XTi in some countries) are two digital cameras that were revealed to the public, respectively, in May 2000 and August 2006. Both are DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex) cameras that are equipped with an APS-C sensor. The D30 has a resolution of 3.1 megapixels, whereas the 400D provides 10.1 MP.

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

Headline Specifications
Canon D30
versus
Canon 400D
Canon D30   Canon 400D
Digital single lens reflex Digital single lens reflex
Canon EF mount lenses Canon EF mount lenses
3.1 MP – APS-C sensor 10.1 MP – APS-C sensor
no Video no Video
ISO 100-1,600 ISO 100-1,600
Optical viewfinder Optical viewfinder
1.8" LCD – 114k dots 2.5" LCD – 230k dots
Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive) Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive)
3 shutter flaps per second 3 shutter flaps per second
540 shots per battery charge370 shots per battery charge
150 x 107 x 75 mm, 750 g 127 x 84 x 65 mm, 556 g
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Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Canon EOS-D30 and the Canon EOS 400D? 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.

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Body comparison

The physical size and weight of the Canon D30 and the Canon 400D are illustrated 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.

Size Canon D30 vs Canon 400D
Compare D30 versus 400D top
Comparison D30 or 400D rear

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Canon 400D is considerably smaller (34 percent) than the Canon D30. Moreover, the 400D is markedly lighter (26 percent) than the D30. In this context, it is worth noting that neither the D30 nor the 400D 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 D30 gets 540 shots out of its Canon BP-511 battery, while the 400D can take 370 images on a single charge of its Canon NB-2LH power pack.

The table below summarizes the key physical specs of the two cameras alongside a broader set of comparators. In case you want to display and compare another camera duo, you can use the CAM-parator app to select your camera combination among a large number of options.

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Body Specifications
# image Camera
Model
Camera
Width
Camera
Height
Camera
Depth
Camera
Weight
Battery
Life
Weather
Sealing
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price (USD)
Street
Price
1.
 
Canon D30 150 mm 107 mm 75 mm 750 g 540 n May 2000 2,999ebay.com
2.
 
Canon 400D 127 mm 84 mm 65 mm 556 g 370 n Aug 2006 799ebay.com
3.
 
Canon T7 129 mm 101 mm 78 mm 475 g 500 n Feb 2018 449 amazon.com
4.
 
Canon SL2 122 mm 93 mm 70 mm 453 g 650 n Jun 2017 549ebay.com
5.
 
Canon T7i 131 mm 100 mm 76 mm 532 g 600 n Feb 2017 749ebay.com
6.
 
Canon 80D 139 mm 105 mm 79 mm 730 g 960 Y Feb 2016 1,199ebay.com
7.
 
Canon 750D 132 mm 101 mm 78 mm 555 g 440 n Feb 2015 749ebay.com
8.
 
Canon 760D 132 mm 101 mm 78 mm 565 g 440 n Feb 2015 649ebay.com
9.
 
Canon 450D 129 mm 98 mm 62 mm 524 g 500 n Jan 2008 799ebay.com
10.
 
Canon 40D 146 mm 108 mm 74 mm 822 g 750 n Aug 2007 1,299ebay.com
11.
 
Canon 30D 144 mm 106 mm 74 mm 785 g 750 n Feb 2006 1,399ebay.com
12.
 
Canon 350D 127 mm 94 mm 64 mm 540 g 400 n Feb 2005 899ebay.com
13.
 
Canon 20D 144 mm 106 mm 72 mm 770 g 700 n Aug 2004 1,499ebay.com
14.
 
Canon 10D 150 mm 107 mm 75 mm 850 g 500 n Feb 2003 1,999ebay.com
15.
 
Canon Rebel 142 mm 99 mm 72 mm 649 g 400 n Aug 2003 899ebay.com
16.
 
Canon D60 150 mm 107 mm 75 mm 855 g 620 n Feb 2002 2,999ebay.com
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.
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Any camera decision will obviously take relative prices into account. The manufacturer’s suggested retail prices give an idea on the placement of the camera in the maker’s lineup and the broader market. The 400D was launched at a markedly lower price (by 73 percent) than the D30, 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 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. Moreover, a large sensor camera will give the photographer more control over depth-of-field in the image and, thus, the ability to better 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. 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.

Canon D30 and Canon 400D sensor measures

With 10.1MP, the 400D offers a higher resolution than the D30 (3.1MP), but the 400D has smaller individual pixels (pixel pitch of 5.71μm versus 10.29μm for the D30). Yet, the 400D is a much more recent model (by 6 years and 3 months) than the D30, 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 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 D30 are 10.8 x 7.2 inches or 27.4 x 18.3 cm for good quality, 8.6 x 5.8 inches or 21.9 x 14.6 cm for very good quality, and 7.2 x 4.8 inches or 18.3 x 12.2 cm for excellent quality prints.

The Canon EOS-D30 has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 1600. The Canon EOS 400D 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.

D30 versus 400D MP

For many cameras, data on sensor performance has been reported by DXO Mark. 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"). The following table provides an overview of the physical sensor characteristics, as well as the sensor quality measurements for a selection of comparators.

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Sensor Characteristics
# image Camera
Model
Sensor
Class
Resolution
(MP)
Horiz.
Pixels
Vert.
Pixels
Video
Format
DXO
Portrait
DXO
Landscape
DXO
Sports
DXO
Overall
1.
 
Canon D30 APS-C 3.1 2160 1440none........
2.
 
Canon 400D APS-C 10.1 3888 2592none22.111.066462
3.
 
Canon T7 APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/30p23.813.3168481
4.
 
Canon SL2 APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60p23.613.4104179
5.
 
Canon T7i APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60p23.713.1158680
6.
 
Canon 80D APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60p23.613.2113579
7.
 
Canon 750D APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/30p22.712.091971
8.
 
Canon 760D APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/30p22.612.091570
9.
 
Canon 450D APS-C 12.2 4272 2848none21.910.869261
10.
 
Canon 40D APS-C 10.1 3888 2592none22.111.370364
11.
 
Canon 30D APS-C 8.2 3504 2336none21.510.873659
12.
 
Canon 350D APS-C 8.0 3456 2304none21.810.863760
13.
 
Canon 20D APS-C 8.2 3504 2336none21.911.072162
14.
 
Canon 10D APS-C 6.3 3072 2048none21.110.957157
15.
 
Canon Rebel APS-C 6.3 3072 2048none21.010.854455
16.
 
Canon D60 APS-C 6.3 3072 2048none20.39.830147
Note: DXO values in italics represent estimates based on sensor size and age.
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Neither the D30 nor the 400D offer Live View, so that they cannot project the live image that the sensor receives onto the rear screen. Moreover, both cameras are still-image focused and cannot record videos.
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Feature comparison

Beyond body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. The D30 and the 400D 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 D30 has a higher magnification than the one of the 400D (0.54x vs 0.49x), so that the size of the image transmitted appears closer to the size seen with the naked human eye. The adjacent table lists some of the other core features of the Canon D30 and Canon 400D along with similar information for a selection of comparators.

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Core Features
# image 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 D30optical Y1.8 / 114 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
2.
 
Canon 400Doptical n2.5 / 230 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
3.
 
Canon T7optical n3.0 / 920 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
4.
 
Canon SL2optical n3.0 / 1040 swivel Y 1/4000s 5.0/s Y n
5.
 
Canon T7ioptical n3.0 / 1040 swivel Y 1/4000s 6.0/s Y n
6.
 
Canon 80Doptical Y3.0 / 1040 swivel Y 1/8000s 7.0/s Y n
7.
 
Canon 750Doptical n3.0 / 1040 swivel Y 1/4000s 5.0/s Y n
8.
 
Canon 760Doptical Y3.0 / 1040 swivel Y 1/4000s 5.0/s Y n
9.
 
Canon 450Doptical n3.0 / 230 fixed n 1/4000s 3.5/s Y n
10.
 
Canon 40Doptical Y3.0 / 230 fixed n 1/8000s 6.5/s Y n
11.
 
Canon 30Doptical Y2.5 / 230 fixed n 1/8000s 5.0/s Y n
12.
 
Canon 350Doptical n1.8 / 115 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
13.
 
Canon 20Doptical Y1.8 / 118 fixed n 1/8000s 5.0/s Y n
14.
 
Canon 10Doptical Y1.8 / 118 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
15.
 
Canon Rebeloptical n1.8 / 118 fixed n 1/4000s 2.5/s Y n
16.
 
Canon D60optical Y1.8 / 114 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.
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One feature that is present on the D30, but is missing on the 400D is a top-level LCD. While being, of course, smaller than the rear screen, the control panel conveys some of the essential shooting information and can be convenient for quick and easy settings verification.

Concerning the storage of imaging data, both the D30 and the 400D write their files to Compact Flash cards.

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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-D30 and Canon EOS 400D and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

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Input-Output Connections
# image Camera
Model
Hotshoe
Port
Internal
Mic / Speaker
Microphone
Port
Headphone
Port
HDMI
Port
USB
Port
WiFi
Support
NFC
Support
Bluetooth
Support
1.
 
Canon D30Y- / ----1.0---
2.
 
Canon 400DY- / ----2.0---
3.
 
Canon T7Ymono / mono--mini2.0YY-
4.
 
Canon SL2Ystereo / monoY-mini2.0YYY
5.
 
Canon T7iYstereo / monoY-mini2.0YYY
6.
 
Canon 80DYstereo / monoYYmini2.0YY-
7.
 
Canon 750DYstereo / monoY-mini2.0YY-
8.
 
Canon 760DYstereo / monoY-mini2.0YY-
9.
 
Canon 450DY- / ---mini2.0---
10.
 
Canon 40DY- / ----2.0---
11.
 
Canon 30DY- / ----2.0---
12.
 
Canon 350DY- / ----2.0---
13.
 
Canon 20DY- / ----1.1---
14.
 
Canon 10DY- / ----1.1---
15.
 
Canon RebelY- / ----1.1---
16.
 
Canon D60Y- / ----1.1---
padding

Studio photographers will appreciate that the Canon D30 (unlike the 400D) features a PC Sync socket, so that professional strobe lights can be controlled by the camera.

Both the D30 and the 400D have been discontinued, but can regularly be found used on ebay. The D30 was replaced by the Canon D60, while the 400D was followed by the Canon 450D. Further information on the features and operation of the D30 and 400D can be found, respectively, in the Canon D30 Manual (free pdf) or the online Canon 400D Manual.

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Review summary

So what conclusions can be drawn? Is the Canon D30 better than the Canon 400D or vice versa? A synthesis of the relative strong points of each of the models is listed below.


Advantages of the Canon EOS-D30:

  • Larger viewfinder image: Features a viewfinder with a higher magnification (0.54x vs 0.49x).
  • Easier setting verification: Features an LCD display on top to control shooting parameters.
  • Longer lasting: Can take more shots (540 versus 370) on a single battery charge.
  • Better studio light control: Has a PC Sync socket to connect to professional strobe lights.
  • More heavily discounted: Has been available for much longer (launched in May 2000).


Arguments in favor of the Canon EOS 400D:

  • More detail: Has more megapixels (10.1 vs 3.1MP), which boosts linear resolution by 80%.
  • 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 114k dots).
  • More compact: Is smaller (127x84mm vs 150x107mm) and will fit more readily into a bag.
  • Less heavy: Has a lower weight (by 194g or 26 percent) and is thus easier to take along.
  • Faster data transfer: Supports a more advanced USB protocol (2.0 vs 1.0).
  • More affordable: Was introduced into a lower priced category (73 percent cheaper at launch).
  • More modern: Reflects 6 years and 3 months of technical progress since the D30 launch.

If the count of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a measure, the 400D emerges as the winner of the match-up (8 : 5 points). However, the relevance of individual strengths will vary across photographers, so that you might want to apply your own weighing scheme to the summary points when reflecting and deciding 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.

D30 05:08 400D

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Canon D30 and the Canon 400D 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 D30 or the 400D 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 expert reviews 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.

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Expert Camera Reviews
# image  Camera 
 Model 
 AP 
 score 
 CL 
 score 
 DCW 
 score 
 DPR 
 score 
 EPZ 
 score 
 PB 
 score 
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price (USD)
Street
Price
1.
 
Canon D30......+ +.... May 2000 2,999ebay.com
2.
 
Canon 400D..+ +..+ +o4/5 Aug 2006 799ebay.com
3.
 
Canon T7..o3.5/5..3.5/53.5/5 Feb 2018 449 amazon.com
4.
 
Canon SL24/5+ +4/578/1004.5/54.5/5 Jun 2017 549ebay.com
5.
 
Canon T7i4.5/5..3.5/580/1004.5/54/5 Feb 2017 749ebay.com
6.
 
Canon 80D4/5+ +4.5/584/1004.5/54.5/5 Feb 2016 1,199ebay.com
7.
 
Canon 750D5/5....75/1004.5/54.5/5 Feb 2015 749ebay.com
8.
 
Canon 760D5/5+..77/1004.5/54.5/5 Feb 2015 649ebay.com
9.
 
Canon 450D..+ +..+ +4/54.5/5 Jan 2008 799ebay.com
10.
 
Canon 40D..+ +..+ +4.5/54.5/5 Aug 2007 1,299ebay.com
11.
 
Canon 30D..+ +..+ +o.. Feb 2006 1,399ebay.com
12.
 
Canon 350D..80/100..+ +o.. Feb 2005 899ebay.com
13.
 
Canon 20D......+ +.... Aug 2004 1,499ebay.com
14.
 
Canon 10D......+ +.... Feb 2003 1,999ebay.com
15.
 
Canon Rebel......+ +.... Aug 2003 899ebay.com
16.
 
Canon D60......+ +o.. Feb 2002 2,999ebay.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.
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The above review scores should be interpreted with care, though. The assessments were made in relation to similar cameras of the same technological generation. A score, therefore, has to be seen in close connection to the price and market introduction time of the camera, 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 would like to check on the differences and similarities of other camera models, just make your choice using the following search menu. Alternatively, you can follow any of the listed hyperlinks for comparisons that others found interesting.

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    Specifications: Canon D30 vs Canon 400D

    Below is a side-by-side comparison of the specs of the two cameras to facilitate a quick review of their differences and common features.

    Camera Specifications
    Camera Model Canon D30 Canon 400D
    Camera Type Digital single lens reflex Digital single lens reflex
    Camera Lens Canon EF mount lenses Canon EF mount lenses
    Launch Date May 2000 August 2006
    Launch Price USD 2,999 USD 799
    Sensor Specs Canon D30 Canon 400D
    Sensor Technology CMOS CMOS
    Sensor Format APS-C Sensor APS-C Sensor
    Sensor Size 22.0 x 14.9 mm 22.2 x 14.8 mm
    Sensor Area 327.8 mm2 328.56 mm2
    Sensor Diagonal 26.6 mm 26.7 mm
    Crop Factor 1.6x 1.6x
    Sensor Resolution 3.1 Megapixels 10.1 Megapixels
    Image Resolution 2160 x 1440 pixels 3888 x 2592 pixels
    Pixel Pitch 10.29 μm 5.71 μm
    Pixel Density 0.95 MP/cm2 3.07 MP/cm2
    Moiré control Anti-Alias filter Anti-Alias filter
    Movie Capability no Video no Video
    ISO Setting 100 - 1,600 ISO 100 - 1,600 ISO
    DXO Sensor Quality (score) .. 62
    DXO Color Depth (bits) .. 22.1
    DXO Dynamic Range (EV) .. 11.0
    DXO Low Light (ISO) .. 664
    Screen Specs Canon D30 Canon 400D
    Viewfinder Type Optical viewfinder Optical viewfinder
    Viewfinder Field of View 95% 95%
    Viewfinder Magnification 0.54x 0.49x
    Top-Level Screen Control Panel no Top Display
    Rear LCD Size 1.8inch 2.5inch
    LCD Resolution 114k dots 230k dots
    LCD Attachment Fixed screen Fixed screen
    Shooting Specs Canon D30 Canon 400D
    Focus System Phase-detect AF Phase-detect AF
    Continuous Shooting 3 shutter flaps/s 3 shutter flaps/s
    Fill Flash Built-in Flash Built-in Flash
    Storage Medium CF cards CF cards
    Single or Dual Card Slots Single card slot Single card slot
    Connectivity Specs Canon D30 Canon 400D
    External Flash Hotshoe Hotshoe
    Studio Flash PC Sync socket no PC Sync
    USB Connector USB 1.0 USB 2.0
    HDMI Port no HDMI no HDMI
    Wifi Support no Wifi no Wifi
    Body Specs Canon D30 Canon 400D
    Battery Type Canon BP-511 Canon NB-2LH
    Battery Life (CIPA)540 shots per charge370 shots per charge
    Body Dimensions 150 x 107 x 75 mm
    (5.9 x 4.2 x 3.0 in)
    127 x 84 x 65 mm
    (5.0 x 3.3 x 2.6 in)
    Camera Weight 750 g (26.5 oz) 556 g (19.6 oz)
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