In recent months, Canon has dominated the D-SLR market with the 400D, its super-successful entry-level camera. Some time after launch, newcomers are still snapping that model up for its superb image quality, ease of use and bargain price.

Last summer, Canon also launched the high-end 40D, and many keen amateurs made the leap up to this semi-professional, yet still highly affordable, model.

Capitalising on that success, Canon has now upgraded the 400D to the 450D. It’s matured like a fine wine and is all the better for it, boasting an impressive array of features, many of which are borrowed from the 40D.

Big LCD screen

The body itself has evolved little from its predecessor; it’s still pretty compact and weighs in at only 475g. However, on handling it you’ll notice it’s now got a chunkier, rubberised handgrip, which provides better stability. You’re also faced with a whopping great big 3-inch LCD screen (the same as the 40D). Not only can you review your photos with greater ease, you can also compose your shots from tricky angles, thanks to the addition of Live View.

Click the dedicated switch and in an instant you can compose your shot on the LCD screen, as with many standard compact digital cameras. A revamped colour-coded menu system and a fresher feel to the display both complement the bigger screen.

Cosmetics aside, Canon has made some substantial changes to the inner workings of the 450D. Most notably, there is a boost in the number of megapixels, with the 450D packing in 12.2MP compared to the 10.1MP offered by the 400D and 40D. The increase in megapixels allows for greater enlargements and finer detail when zooming in and cropping.

If you open the memory card slot, you’ll notice that the 450D now takes SD cards, rather than the more traditional CompactFlash. Canon could set a trend here, because the smaller card format frees up space and weight. This is great news if you currently own a compact camera and are looking to buy your first D-SLR, but it’s a bit of a nuisance if you’re upgrading from the 400D, as you’ll have to ditch your current cards.