Canon's new EOS 400D / Rebel XTi · Aug 27, 08:59 PM by Simon Mackie
Canon have just announced the followup to the hugely popular 350D/Rebel XT, the 400D. Boasting a boosted pixel count (10 megapixels) and better focusing, it also claims a sensor cleaning system (presumably similar to that found on Olympus digital SLRs) that should reduce problems caused with dust on the filter. Acording to Canon, the new anti-dust mecahnism works in three ways:
1. Reduce
Internal camera mechanisms are designed to minimise dust generation. The body cap is redesigned to prevent dust generation through wear on the cap itself.
2. Repel
Anti-static technologies are applied to the low-pass filter covering the front of the sensor so as not to attract dust.
3. Remove
A Self-Cleaning Sensor Unit uses hi-frequency vibrations to shake dust from the low pass filter for a period of approximately one second after each start up. For instant shooting after power up, this feature is disabled immediately the shutter release is depressed.
It will be interesting to see whether it is effective.
While these incremental improvements won’t be enough to persuade many people (including me!) to upgrade it should help keep Canon ahead in the hugely competitive budget DSLR market. With the announcement of the new model, prices of the existing model are likely to tumble – it’s still a great little camera, so look out for bargains!
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