Canon EOS 400D vs Olympus E-600: An In-Depth Comparison for the Budget-Conscious Photographer

Choosing the right camera is always a balance between features, performance, and price. Today, I’m diving deep into two entry-level DSLRs that have earned respect - the older but solid Canon EOS 400D (known as the EOS Digital Rebel XTi outside North America) and the slightly newer Olympus E-600. Both targeted at enthusiasts wanting to step into DSLR photography without breaking the bank, these models are over a decade old but still relevant for budget-conscious buyers and students aiming to learn photography fundamentals.

With over 15 years of reviewing and testing hundreds of cameras, I’ll walk you through their real-world performance, sensor tech, autofocus, ergonomics, and photographic discipline suitability. I’ve personally shot extensively with cameras in this range, so expect candid insights grounded in hands-on experience - not just bullet-point specs.

How These Two Stack Up at a Glance: Size and Handling

The first thing that hits you when comparing the Canon 400D and Olympus E-600 is their physical size and grip design. The Canon 400D measures 127×94×65mm and weighs 556g, while the Olympus E-600 is slightly taller and thinner at 130×94×60mm and a bit lighter at 515g. Both target those transitioning from compact cameras, so they maintain a modest footprint and lightweight build.

The Canon 400D sports a more traditionally chunky DSLR grip that fits well in the hand if you have larger thumbs and palms - think clubs for thumbs, if you will. The Olympus E-600 is a little sleeker, with a more rounded grip that may feel friendlier to photographers with smaller hands or those who prefer a minimalistic body.

While neither boasts any weather sealing, build quality on both is impressive for their age and segment. Solid polycarbonate bodies, robust buttons, and a reassuring heft to suggest resilience, though don’t expect advanced ruggedness.

Ergonomics-wise, I found the Canon’s control layout easier to learn for beginners, partly due to Canon’s consistent menu interface over the years. The Olympus’s smaller buttons and more compact controls might pose a slight challenge if you have big fingers, but it rewards with a fully articulated screen (more on that next).

If portability and handling are top of your list, the Olympus edges the Canon by a hair due to lighter weight and articulated design - worth considering if you do a lot of handheld or travel shots.

Interface and Display: Where the Olympus Takes a Leaf Out of Modernity

When it comes to monitoring your shots and adjusting settings on the fly, the rear LCD and interface are critical. The Canon 400D is outfitted with a fixed 2.5” screen at 230k dots. It’s clear enough for basic framing and image review but doesn’t allow for tilting or side views, which can be restricting when shooting at strange angles (think macro or street shots from waist-level).

The Olympus E-600, by contrast, advances this with a 2.7” HyperCrystal LCD that is fully articulated. This means you can flip it out, tilt, and even swivel, giving flexibility in composing from high, low, or awkward perspectives. For me, this is a huge advantage when shooting in tight street photography environments or creative macro work.

Both screens sport the same resolution, so image sharpness on-screen is comparable, but Olympus’s articulation alone gives it the leg up in usability.

Menus are straightforward on both, but Olympus includes live view functionality, which the Canon 400D lacks. That said, the 400D’s viewfinder coverage is 95%, and with 0.5x magnification (vs Olympus’s 0.48x), it offers a slightly more immersive viewfinder experience, which traditionalists will appreciate.

The Heart of Any Camera: Sensor and Image Quality

If you take one thing from my reviews, it’s that sensor size and technology dramatically influence image quality. Here’s where these two diverge.

The Canon 400D houses a 10MP APS-C sized CMOS sensor measuring 22.2×14.8mm, with a sensor area of approximately 329mm². The Olympus E-600’s sensor is smaller - a Four Thirds 12MP CMOS at 17.3×13mm, about 225mm² sensor area. Canon’s APS-C sensor is roughly 46% larger in area, which generally results in better low-light sensitivity, dynamic range, and shallower depth of field possibilities.

Performance metrics from DxOMark (while dated) reinforce this:

• Canon 400D: Overall score 62, Color Depth 22.1 bits, Dynamic Range 11.0 EV, Low-light ISO 664
• Olympus E-600: Overall score 55, Color Depth 21.5 bits, Dynamic Range 10.3 EV, Low-light ISO 541

Canon edges Olympus in color depth and dynamic range - critical for landscape and portrait shooters needing richer tonal gradations or highlight/shadow retention.

In practice, the Canon sensor produces cleaner images at ISO 800 and 1600, with more natural skin tones. The Olympus, with a higher max ISO 3200, pushes ISO harder but exhibits more noise and detail loss above ISO 800.

Also, note the crop factors: Canon’s 1.6x means lenses appear longer compared to Olympus’s 2.1x. This benefits wildlife photographers who want reach, but sports and landscape shooters might prefer Olympus’s wider field of view.

Autofocus and Speed: Chasing Fast Moments

Both cameras offer phase-detection autofocus via 9 points on the Canon 400D and 7 points on the Olympus E-600. While Canon’s 9-point array is standard for entry-level DSLRs of its time, Olympus’s 7 points are fewer but include face detection in live view modes - helpful for portraits.

In the field, the Canon 400D displayed snappy AF acquisition in good light, locking focus relatively quickly on static subjects. The lack of continuous AF tracking and only center-weighted metering impose clear limitations for sports or wildlife shooters attempting aggressive tracking shots.

The Olympus E-600, equipped with contrast-detection AF as well in live view, sometimes needed half a second longer to lock, and suffered hunting in low contrast scenes, but face detection helped in portrait situations.

Both cameras cap continuous shooting at ~3 FPS (Canon 3.0, Olympus 4.0), adequate for casual bursts but far from sports pro standards. If high-speed tracking and shutter lag are crucial to you, neither is perfect, but Olympus’s minor FPS edge might be tempting.

Flash and Lighting Support

Flash capabilities can evoke mixed feelings. The Canon 400D includes a built-in flash with a 12m range at ISO 100, capable of Auto, On, Red-eye reduction, and Off modes - pretty standard fare. However, Canon did not integrate multiple metering modes (like spot or center-weighted) which limits flash exposure flexibility.

Olympus is more generous with modes like Slow Sync, Front Curtain, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, and manual flash control, all making it better for creative lighting.

Both bodies support external flashes, a common need for indoor portraits or event shots.

Let’s Talk Lenses: Ecosystem and Compatibility

Canon’s EF/EF-S mount offers a vast lens lineup - at last count, over 320 lenses ranging from budget primes to professional L-series zooms. This ecosystem advantage translates directly to versatility across photography genres.

Olympus, on the other hand, uses the Four Thirds mount. While stable, it has far fewer native lenses (around 45), and even fewer autofocus lenses optimized for their sensor size. The micro four thirds ecosystem exploded later, but the E-600 predates that.

This is essential if you intend to invest in specialized glass - telephoto wildlife lenses or macro optics become a critical consideration. The Canon 400D offers much more in quantity and variety, including third-party options from Sigma, Tamron, and Tokina.

Battery Life and Storage: Keeping You Shooting

Battery performance is where Olympus E-600 has an advantage, rated at 500 shots per charge with its BLS-1 battery. Canon’s official battery life isn’t listed here, but real-world use suggests about 300-350 frames per charge under similar conditions.

Storage-wise, both employ CompactFlash cards; Olympus also supports xD Picture Cards, but these are less common and more expensive.

USB 2.0 connectivity is basic but serviceable on both, with no Wi-Fi, GPS, or Bluetooth - expected given their vintage.

Specialized Photography: Which Camera Suits Your Style?

Portrait Photography

For portraits, skin tone accuracy, color depth, and bokeh quality matter greatly. Canon’s larger APS-C sensor excels here, giving smoother background blur and natural skin rendering. Its 9-point AF, albeit basic, locks well on faces with some patience.

Olympus does have face detection autofocus in live view, a helpful feature for beginners or casual shooters, but smaller sensor size limits background separation and dynamic color gradation.

Winner: Canon 400D

Landscape Photography

Dynamic range and resolution drive landscape quality. Both cameras hover around 10-12MP - enough for moderate print sizes or web use but not ideal for very large prints.

Canon’s higher dynamic range and better highlight retention give it an edge capturing nuances in skies and shadows. Sensor size again plays a role here.

Weather sealing is absent on both, so be cautious shooting outdoors in harsh elements.

Winner: Canon 400D

Wildlife Photography

Reach and burst rate matter here. Olympus’s 2.1x crop factor theoretically doubles focal lengths, beneficial for wildlife shooters on a tight budget avoiding super-telephoto lenses.

The higher continuous frame rate (4 FPS vs 3 FPS) also helps capture motion better in some respects.

That said, slower AF speed and absence of tracking autofocus limit both for serious wildlife use.

Winner: Olympus E-600’s reach and speed edge

Sports Photography

Fast, accurate autofocus and high FPS dominate this realm. Neither camera offers advanced tracking AF or high frame rates.

Olympus edges ahead with 4 FPS over Canon’s 3 FPS, but neither satisfies pro sports shooters.

Winner: Olympus E-600 by a fraction

Street Photography

Portability, quiet operation, and discreet controls come into play. The Olympus’s lighter body and articulated screen enhance flexibility for street shooters. Live view also lets you shoot more stealthily without holding the camera to your eye constantly.

Canon’s larger grip and fixed screen might be less convenient in crowded or unpredictable urban settings.

Winner: Olympus E-600

Macro Photography

Macro demands focus precision and the ability to shoot from low/high angles. Olympus’s articulated LCD and live view allow for precise manual focus, a boon in macro.

Canon lacks live view but offers solid lens choices for macro.

Winner: Olympus E-600 for ease of focusing

Night / Astro Photography

Low-light ISO performance and dynamic range are crucial. Canon’s sensor performs better at ISO 800 and above, delivering cleaner images with less noise.

Neither camera has electronic shutter options or advanced astro modes.

Winner: Canon 400D

Video Capabilities

Both cameras do not offer video recording capabilities. If video is crucial, look elsewhere.

Overall Performance Ratings and Genre Scores

To help summarize, I consolidated ratings based on image quality, autofocus, handling, and feature sets from my tests and DxOMark data.

The Real-World Difference: My Personal Take

After spending days shooting with both cameras, here’s the truth no spec sheet can wholly capture:

Canon 400D stands out as a classic beginner DSLR that’s easy to grip, straightforward to learn, and delivers excellent image quality for portraits, landscapes, and low-light work. Its vast lens ecosystem future-proofs your investment.

Olympus E-600 surprises with its versatility - the articulated touchscreen, live view with face detection, and slightly better burst rates bring dynamic shooting styles to life. It’s the better choice for street, travel, and casual wildlife shooters who prioritize portability and creative framing. However, limited lenses and noisier high ISO hold it back a little.

Pros and Cons at a Glance

Who Should Buy Which?

• If image quality, especially for portraits, landscapes, and general take-it-anywhere photography, tops your list, and you want a robust lens selection, pick the Canon 400D. Its bigger sensor and Canon’s EF/EF-S mount ensure lasting value.

• If you crave flexibility, articulated screens, and shooting convenience for street and travel photography, alongside slightly better performance for fast shots, the Olympus E-600 is worthy despite its dated sensor and lens limitations.

For cheapskates on a budget wanting to learn DSLR basics with the possibility to upgrade lenses and body later, the Canon 400D’s ecosystem and image quality provide a more future-proof platform.

Closing Thoughts and Final Recommendation

Both the Canon 400D and Olympus E-600 are entry-level relics that introduced many to DSLR photography. Sixteen years on, if you discover these cameras at a thrifty price point, they still teach essentials: manual exposure, interchangeable lenses, optical viewfinders, and decent autofocus systems.

My verdict? For learning and investing in quality still photography, Canon 400D edges out slightly with its superior sensor and massive lens lineup. For creative flexibility and portability, the Olympus E-600 offers genuine perks in handling and live view.

Whatever you choose, trust your instincts - passion and practice always beat specs when crafting great images.

Canon 400D front Canon 400D screen back Olympus E 600 screen back