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What lenses and accessories are compatible with the Canon 400D and worth keeping or upgrading?
Executive summary
The Canon EOS 400D (Rebel XTi) accepts Canon EF and EF‑S lenses, giving you access to hundreds of native optics from wide‑angle to super‑telephoto; databases list ~330 compatible lenses and many zoom/prime choices [1] [2]. Common, high‑value keep/upgrade moves reported in community and buying guides are: keep the kit 18–55 if needed, add a fast “nifty fifty” (50mm f/1.8 or f/1.4) for portraits/low light, consider a constant‑aperture zoom (e.g., Tamron/Canon 17–50/17–85) or a 70–300/70–200 tele for reach — and remember accessories like CF cards, spare batteries and a flash remain useful [3] [4] [5].
1. Mount and compatibility: “Anything EF/EF‑S fits — so the choice is lens, not mount”
The 400D uses the Canon EF/EF‑S mount, which means any Canon EF or EF‑S lens will physically and electrically mount and function on the body (autofocus and IS features in‑lens) — community threads and compatibility databases repeat this: you can use EF, EF‑S, and Canon specialty EOS lenses on the 400D [6] [7] [8]. Lens catalogs list hundreds (around 331–333) of native lenses compatible with the 400D, so the main limit is your budget and shooting goals, not physical compatibility [1] [2].
2. High‑value lenses to keep from your current kit
If you already own a kit 18–55mm EF‑S, reporting indicates it’s serviceable as a walkaround lens and worth keeping unless you need better low‑light or image quality (forum advice and buyer threads) [5] [9]. The “nifty fifty” (Canon 50mm f/1.8 or 50mm f/1.4) is repeatedly recommended for its low price-to‑performance ratio and portrait/low‑light utility — but note on a 400D it behaves like ~80mm field of view because of the 1.6× crop [3] [5].
3. Lenses to consider upgrading to — practical, budget and pro steps
For a clear upgrade: an f/2.8 constant aperture standard zoom (e.g., Tamron 17–50mm f/2.8 or Canon equivalents) gives better low‑light performance and consistency than kit zooms and is named frequently in community buying advice [5] [3]. For travel and general versatility, EF‑S 15–85 or 17–85 type zooms are commonly suggested; telephoto needs are often met by 70–300/70–200 class lenses (the Canon 70–300 IS and third‑party alternatives are mentioned as sensible tele upgrades) [10] [11] [8]. If you prioritize image quality for portraits, primes like Samyang/Irix or Canon L primes appear in databases of compatible modern lenses, but detailed performance comparisons are not present in these sources [1] [12].
4. Accessories worth keeping or buying for practical gains
Essential non‑lens items: CompactFlash cards (the 400D uses CF), spare batteries/charger, a modest flash (Speedlite) and a sturdy bag; retailers and accessory pages list these as core items for the model [4] [13] [14]. Community advice also flags a battery grip for ergonomics and standard lens hoods, polarizers and filters as useful additions for shooting control [14] [15].
5. Where to save and where to spend — reader tradeoffs
Forum participants repeatedly advise: buy the best glass you can afford (primes or a constant‑f/2.8 zoom) and delay body upgrades; used bodies like the 7D II or 80D are suggested if you do upgrade the camera rather than lenses [16] [3]. Databases emphasize quantity of compatible optics (300+), implying you can often find bargains used — but our available sources do not include systematic lab tests comparing image sharpness or price‑to‑value for specific models, so purchase choices should rely on reviews beyond these listings [12] [2].
6. Limitations and contested points
Some forum threads debate whether lens IS or advanced features ever misbehave on older bodies; multiple commenters argue IS is lens‑based and will work on the 400D, while one thread referenced a claim about IS not working on some later bodies — community responses refute that and point to IS working as expected [11] [6]. Databases list new modern lenses as “compatible” but do not provide operational guarantees for every advanced feature; available sources do not mention detailed firmware or autofocus edge‑case compatibility for every new lens on the 400D [17] [12].
Final takeaway: keep the affordable, high‑utility items (kit zoom for backups, 50mm prime, CF cards, spare battery, flash) and upgrade selectively to a fast standard zoom or a dedicated tele/prime that matches your main subject; the 400D’s EF/EF‑S mount gives you broad, long‑term lens choices [1] [3] [4].