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Photograph: Rick Rizner
Canon PowerShot SD500 Digital Camera (7.1MP, 3072x2304, 3x Opt, 32MB SD Card)
- Spec Navigator
- Digital Format
- Display
- Exposure
- Image Processor
- Included Software
- Lens
- Shutter
- Storage
- LCD Screen
- Exposure Controls
- Dimensions
- Power
- Flash
- Lens Features
- Connectivity
- Other Features
Image Processor
| Number of image sensor pixels | 7.1 megapixels |
| Image sensor | CCD |
| Maximum horizontal image resolution | 3072 |
| Maximum vertical image resolution | 2304 |
| Image sensor quantity | 1 |
| Image format | JPEG |
| White balance | 0 |
Exposure Controls
| Maximum shutter speed | 2000 |
| Minimum shutter speed | 15 |
| Bulb setting | 0 |
| ISO equivalencies |
|
| Exposure settings | 0 |
| Exposure compensation range | 0 |
| Number of scene modes | 9 |
- Lab Tested
- How We Test Cameras »
Pros
Small size
Rugged body
Cons
Image quality isn't tops
Bottom Line
This Digital Elph has a smooth metal body and is small enough to take everywhere, but image quality could be improved.
Canon PowerShot SD500 Digital Elph
PowerShot SD500 Digital Camera (7.1MP, 3072x2304, 3x Opt, 32MB SD Card) Review, by Tom Mainelli June 9, 2005
The $500 Canon PowerShot SD500 Digital Elph is so small it fits easily in just about any pocket, leaving you no excuse for not having a camera handy when those once-in-a-lifetime baby/puppy/soccer shots happen. The resulting photos weren't our taste testers' favorites, but they should prove more than acceptable for all but the most demanding photographers.
Pick up the SD500, and it just feels substantial. It weighs only 6 ounces, but the metal body appears sturdy and well-made. Its dimensions are petite: 3.37-inches wide by 2.24-inches tall by 1.04 inches deep. Canon helps keep things small by using an SD Card to store photos (a 32-MB card is included). The unit's compactness is most notable when you compare it with other small cameras. For example, place Sony's comparable Cyber-shot DSC-W7 next to the Canon, and the Sony looks positively oversized.
When you power up the camera, its 3X optical lens opens and its sharp 2-inch LCD quickly springs to life. In addition to the LCD, the unit also includes an optical viewfinder--a nice touch that's often missing in cameras this size. Controls are logically placed, with power, shutter, and zoom mounted on top. The camera's mode dial gives you access to its various shooting modes: Automatic, Manual, Special Scene, Movie, and Playback. From within the manual mode you can set white balance, ISO sensitivity, and exposure compensation. The SD500's f/2.8 to f/13 aperture range is the widest I've seen on such a small camera, but you can't set the aperture or shutter speed manually.
Additional settings available within the manual mode include My Colors (which lets you swap colors within an image) and Digital Macro (for extreme close-ups). There are more tricks within the camera's Special Scene menu. Here you can pick from nine different modes: Portrait, Foliage, Snow, Beach, Fireworks, Underwater, Indoor, Kids and Pets, and Night Snapshot. (Note: I wouldn't recommend using the underwater setting without the optional underwater camera housing).
Navigating the camera's menus is fairly straightforward using the circular directional thumb pad, Function Setting button, Menu button, and Display button, but at first I couldn't figure out how to delete an image (it's a simple downward click on the multidirectional Function button). During my informal testing I found the camera a joy to use--the epitome of point-and-shoot simplicity. The SD500 is simple enough that you can hand it to someone else while you pose for a group shot, and be confident that they'll be able to figure it out.
You should net a fair number of photos from the camera between charges of its removable, proprietary lithium ion battery. In our tests it lasted 230 shots (half with flash and half without). That's not bad, but Sony's comparable (if somewhat larger) Sony DSC-W7 managed 406 shots, and the equally compact and less expensive Fujifilm F10 exceeded 500.
The SD500's weakness is its image quality. The photos looked good overall, but in our taste tests they didn't score as well as some other compact point-and-shoots in the same price range. For example, the Fujifilm F10 significantly outscored the SD500 in all image-quality categories, and is significantly less expensive at $370. Most disappointing was the SD500's weak performance in our test shot using the built-in flash; overall, its score for exposure accuracy was lower than most other point-and-shoot cameras. That said, test images looked sharp, and most casual photographers won't find much to quibble about when it comes time to make prints from everyday snapshots.
Upshot: The small and rugged Canon SD500 Digital Elph is a good companion for capturing everyday mementos, though image quality may disappoint more-demanding photographers.
Canon PowerShot SD500 Digital Elph
7.1 megapixels, 3072 by 2304 maximum resolution, 37mm to 111mm focal range (35mm equivalent), f2.8 to f13.0 maximum aperture range, shutter speeds from 15 seconds to 1/2000 second, optical and LCD viewfinders, USB connection, 32MB internal memory and SD slot, rechargeable lithium ion batteries, 6 ounces, Digital Camera Solutions CD. One-year parts and labor warranty, 11-hour weekday toll-free support.
$500
800/652-2666
www.usa.canon.com
Tom Mainelli
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PCWorld Lab Results
- Rating Breakdown
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73
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66
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80
- See Complete Lab Results »
Performance Comparison with Similar Cameras
73
81
69
73
Performance
| Battery Life (minutes) | 125 |
| Battery Life Score | Good |
| Image Quality Score | Good |
| Image Quality, Color | 60 |
| Image Quality, Distortion | 54 |
| Image Quality, Exposure | 56.5 |
| Image Quality, Exposure--Flash | 53 |
| Image Quality, Exposure--Normal | 58 |
| Image Quality, Overall | 54 |
| Image Quality, Sharpness | 40.3 |
| Number of Batteries | 1 |
| Number of Shots | 230 |
User Reviews
Average User Reviews for Canon PowerShot SD500 Digital Camera (7.1MP, 3072x2304, 3x Opt, 32MB SD Card)
1 Review Add your own »
- Latest User Reviews 1 review
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Reviewed by: Nic48
Duration of ownership: 1 Year
Strengths: 7.1 megapixels, easy to use, compact
Weaknesses: Lacks the 3" LCD screen that the later model SD750 has.
Overall: Great little camera for everyone to love. I bought this camera as an upgrade from my Canon S500 which had a 1.5" screen to the SD550 which contains a 2.5" vivid LCD display. I usually set the camera to the highest resolution when taking pictures so that I can zoom in really close on the camera or computer and still have a crystal clear image.
Review Now! Already own it? Tell us What You Think
User Reviews From Around the Web
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Reviewed by: postman454
Strengths: Great quality, Easy to use, Good Price, sturdy
Weaknesses: A bit Large for the pocket, other than that awesome camara
Overall: Just got the camara a month ago and I dont have any complaints, It starts up quick, takes great pictures, easy to switch to video or other picture settings, easy quick to download from the 2 GB card I bought, which gives me 600+ pictures on the highest setting. 7MP is great to have for cropping and the 16x20 picutes I make for senery shots.
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Reviewed by: thestockkeeper
Strengths: Nice auto-focus, compact size, learned all menu functions in one day. Indoor Pics.
Weaknesses: A little awkward to hold and take pictures due to its small size.(but is that a good thing?)
Overall: this is my third $300+ camera, and it is the best. I reviewed this camera online for 6 months. I went to Circuit City and tried all of the cameras that were on display, this one by far had the best picture quality. ALL 10 other camera's that I tested resulted in blurry images and this one takes the best indoor shots (any camera can take good outdoor shots.) As of today Feb 2006, this camera i think is the best reasonable priced compact 7.1 camera around.
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Reviewed by: walteufel
Strengths: Fast start up.Very good low light performance
Weaknesses: Battery life when camera off
Overall: We purchased this camera and took it to Germany for a month of museums and cathedrals. Performed very good inside with the flash turned off as required in many locations. Performed just fine with daily use. However, if the camera is not used for a couple of days (less than a week) the battery will totally discharge. Canon has provided no useful information
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Reviewed by: CarlNToney
Strengths: Great quality photos
Weaknesses: Long lag-time when taking photos.
Overall: I think Canon cameras produce some of the best quality point and shoot photos. CNET and others who criticize this camera for "purple fringes" not nearly as hard on other cameras in this class which have greater difficulty with over-exposure and blurriness. HOWEVER, this camera is a typical slow Canon. I'm guessing the lag-time is somewhere around .5 sec from the time that you push the button to take the picture and when the camera actually takes the photo. Because this camera was slow, I returned it. If you want consistent, great quality photos, but don't mind a little slower camera, then this camera is for you. As for me, I had to pass.
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Reviewed by: siren
Strengths: Great 2.5" screen, extremely easy to use, and wonderful pictures
Weaknesses: The 2.5 screen could be at a higher resolution but it works fine
Overall: This is the third Canon Powershot Digital Elph that I have owned. I LOVE them. Everyone always tells me how wonderful my vacation pictures are and want to know what camera I use. If you are looking for a good point and shoot - this is your camera. I use my digital SLR for more professional quality and manual controls but this one for everyday pictures!
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