Canon 350D or Canon 400D with or without?
With or without what, I hear you ask.
The grip.
Who owns either of these cameras and has tried it with, or without, the grip?
I have just taken receipt of my new 400D and I can see Matt_XYZ's, and others, thinking. However, as soon as the grip goes on its a totally different animal and more substantial than the 20 or 30D.
If you have not got a grip, go into Jessops, get the 350 or 400 that they will have on the counter, take off the battery compartment, which has a device a bit like that you get on a watch strap, and take it off. Then ask the sales person to get you a grip. Fit the grip, and see the difference. Everything will become clear. Then leave the shop and order a Hahnel grip off Warehouse Express, at a considerably reduced price to that of Canon's.
Anyone who then says the body feels anything other than lovely to hold is probably a Nikon or Olympus user
On first glance I know I am going to love this piece of kit, as I loved my 350D and this is the 350, and some. The first great noticable difference is the 2.5 inch LCD display. Some moan it just means less room in which to cram the buttons in with. What a load of tosh. Some reviewers are being a little precious there I think. I like display too on the LCD, which vanishes when the sensors just below the eyepiece sense proximity.
Theres more focus points. The versatility of the dust cleaning system, gives me greater confidence to change lenses more often. And although the shape is primarily identical the tactility points have some relief, so it feels different to hold.
I can't wait to get out with this properly.
And back to issue in hand.
I have observed many 350 users who have yet to buy the grip and both the manipulation of the camera and their facial expressions share one characteristic. They look a bit effeminate.
So get a grip man, and notice the difference.