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Value
The E-400 is in a suddenly crowded market – there are several 10-megapixel DSLRs marketed for beginners. It costs a bit more than some of them, namely the Canon Rebel XTi (EOS 400 in Europe, where the E-400 will compete) The Nikon D80 has better controls, and the Sony Alpha adds stabilization as well as dust removal. The E-400 brings very little distinction to the party. It's smaller, but not so much that it would change the way users would carry or store it. There are finally other manufacturers selling Four Thirds cameras; when the E-300 was hanging out there with just the beleaguered E1, Four Thirds smelled like a disadvantage. At this point, we'd upgrade it to a difference.
Who’s this Camera For?
Point-and-Shooters - The E-400 should be an easy transition for point and shooters – it's well-automated, compact, and not too heavy.
Budget Consumers - The E-400 costs more than comparable cameras, without a compelling advantage.
Gadget Freaks - Without compelling new technology or unusual execution, we don't see the tech-lust factor in the E-400.
Manual Control Freaks - Though the E-400 has full manual controls, we think this group should look for more convenient implementations of them.
Pros / Serious Hobbyists - We sometimes look at entry-level cameras with the thought that they might make a nice back-up body for a serious shooter. The question is – what's the pro body that the E-400 would back up? We haven't seen pro-level image quality from a Four Thirds body yet.
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