Upgrade Guide
Canon EOS M→Canon EOS 400D
Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.
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Worthwhile
Clear improvements over the EOS M. Whether it justifies the cost depends on which upgrades matter most to your shooting.
What's new in the EOS 400D
-
StabilisationIBIS added — significant for handheld and video
-
Battery life~360 shots (CIPA) vs ~230 shots (CIPA)
Unchanged or similar
-
Resolution10MP (down from 18MP — optimised for low light)
Suitability by genre
Base scores — computed from verified specs for an enthusiast shooting photo and video. The Upgrade Checker adjusts them for your skill level.
| Genre | EOS M | EOS 400D | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | -0.1 | ||
| Street | -1.3 | ||
| Travel | -1.4 | ||
| Wedding & Events | -0.1 | ||
| Documentary | -1.6 | ||
| Sports & Action | +0.4 | ||
| Landscape | -0.9 | ||
| Wildlife | +0.7 | ||
| Casual | -1.7 | ||
| Food | -1.0 | ||
| Macro | -0.5 | ||
| Architecture | -0.2 | ||
| Astrophotography | +0.6 |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | EOS M | EOS 400D | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £40 used | £25 used | |
| Released | 2012 | 2006 | ↓ |
| Sensor | 18MP APS-C CMOS | 10.1MP APS-C CMOS | |
| Resolution | 18MP | 10MP | ↓ |
| Video | 1080p 30fps | No video | |
| Autofocus | Hybrid CMOS AF (phase + contrast), notoriously slow | 9-point phase-detect AF | |
| Stabilisation | — | No IBIS (lens-based stabilisation only) | |
| Burst Rate | 4fps | 3fps | ↓ |
| Battery Life | ~230 shots (CIPA) | ~360 shots (CIPA) | ↑ |
| Weight | 262g (body only) | 510g (with battery) | ↓ |
| Weather Sealed | Not weather sealed | Not weather sealed | |
| Viewfinder | No viewfinder | Optical pentamirror, 95% coverage, 0.8x | |
| Screen | 3.0" fixed touchscreen, 1.04M dots | 2.5" fixed LCD, 230k dots | |
| Mount | Canon EF-M mount | Canon EF | |
| Memory Cards | 1× SD/SDHC/SDXC | Single CompactFlash slot |
Compare side-by-side
⚖️ Compare these cameras
See EOS M and EOS 400D next to each other with our interactive comparison tool.
Get a personalised upgrade score
Run the upgrade checker →
Tell us what you shoot and we'll score the EOS 400D against your specific genres — not just specs.
Other upgrades from the EOS M
Related buying guides
Camera family history