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Monday, September 28th, 2009 | Posted by Editor - Blog News Service

Canon EOS 500D Review – Digital SLR

Canon EOS 500D

Canon EOS 500D

Canon announces the new 15.1MP EOS 500D which offers photographers an outstanding combination of features. Following the launch of the first Canon EOS camera to shoot movies – the EOS 5D Mark II in September 2008 – Canon now brings Full High Definition (HD) video capability to consumers in a compact and lightweight DSLR.

The new EOS 500D features a 15.1 Megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor – ideal for large detailed prints or enormous cropping possibilities. For shooting in near-dark conditions, the EOS 500D offers a high ISO sensitivity up to 3200 which is expandable to 12800, giving photographers the power to shoot in the dimmest light conditions. Outstanding noise reduction is made possible by Canon’s DIGIC 4 processor.

The EOS 500D heralds a new way for photography enthusiasts to capture their world. It pairs outstanding still image capture with Full HD 1080P video recording. For longer video shoots, users can also choose lower shooting resolutions of 720P or VGA.*

Every detail revealed
Exacting image preview and review is provided by a 3.0” Clear View LCD screen.The same screen as used on the acclaimed 5D Mark II, it features a 920,000 dot count – for ultra-detailed image review, accurate focus checks, and clear access to the EOS menu system. As well as aiding shooting from awkward angles, Live View mode includes contrast based and Face Detection AF options. Ideal for newcomers to digital SLR photography, these allow compact-camera style auto focus, with a real-time image displayed on the LCD.

Fast processing, fast focusing
Canon’s DIGIC 4 processor drives continuous shooting speeds of up to 3.4 fps in bursts of up to 170 JPEGs**. Using Canon’s wide area AF system – which features 9 individual sensors, including a central cross type point with a high precision sensor for f/2.8 or faster lenses– makes capturing split-second action sequences possible.

DIGIC 4 works in conjunction with the CMOS sensor to deliver exceptional noise reduction and 14-bit image processing for smooth gradation of tones and natural-looking colours. In addition, DIGIC 4 enables the ultra-fast start-up times and near-instant image review after shooting that photographers demand.

Distinctive EOS quality
Despite its compact, lightweight body, the EOS 500D includes all the hallmarks of the EOS system. Every detail of the EOS 500D – from the large, bright viewfinder to the famously intuitive EOS menu system – is designed to provide users with a world-class shooting experience.

Image quality is protected by the EOS Integrated Cleaning System, which reduces, repels and removes unwanted dust from the sensor. Stubborn particles can be easily removed in post-production by using Dust Delete Data – which can be added to the image in-camera – and Canon’s included Digital Photo Professional software.

Digital Photo Professional software offers a comprehensive RAW editing package, with functions such as a quick check tool, a cropping tool, and a stamp tool – plus the ability to change brightness, White Balance and Picture Styles in RAW images. The software suite is included with EOS Utility and Picture Style editor for unrivalled versatility.
Compatibility with the full range of Canon’s EF and EF-S lenses and EX-series Speedlites – including the exceptionally compact, powerful new Speedlite 270EX, which features a bounce and zoom head, plus fast recharging from just 2 AA sized

batteries – allows the creation of a shooting system as unique as the photographer using it.
“The EOS 500D pushes the boundaries of what photographers can demand from their cameras, combining exceptional images with full HD video,” said Rainer Fuehres, Head of Canon Consumer Imaging, Europe. “Photography enthusiasts can now capture their most significant moments in a manner that matches their creativity.”

Any Canon photographer can register for the CANON iMAGE GATEWAY service, which allows access to the latest EOS information, useful updates and exclusive EOS content – plus tools that allow users to create their own video podcasts and store images online.

Features at a glance:

* 15.1 Megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor
* Full HD movie recording with HDMI connection for viewing and playback on an HDTV
* ISO 100-3200 (expandable to 12800)
* 3.4 frames per second continuous shooting
* Max. 170 large JPEG images in a single burst
* 3.0” ClearView LCD with Live View mode
* 9-point wide area AF with cross type centre point
* High speed DIGIC 4 performance and superb image quality
* EOS Integrated Cleaning System
* Full compatibility with Canon EF and EF-S lenses and EX-series Speedlites, including new Speedlite 270EX, TS-E 17mm f/4L and TS-E 24mm f/3.5L II

Technologies Explained:

CMOS
Canon’s CMOS technology is one of the company’s key competitive advantages, with noise reduction circuitry at each pixel site delivering virtually noise-free images. In comparison with CCD technology, the lower power consumption characteristics of Canon’s CMOS sensors also contribute to longer battery life.

Signal conversion in Canon’s CMOS sensors is handled by individual amplifiers at each pixel site. Unnecessary charge transfer operations are avoided, vastly speeding up the process of getting signal to the image processor. Noise generation is reduced, power consumption is limited and faster frame rate potential is increased.

DIGIC
Image data captured by the CMOS sensor is processed by Canon’s purpose-built DIGIC image processors before being written to the camera’s memory card. DIGIC technology uses advanced image processing algorithms to ensure precise, natural colours, accurate white balance, and advanced noise reduction. Ultra-fast processing speeds result in highly responsive camera operation and near-instant start-up times.

DIGIC chips work with a high speed image buffer – reading, processing, compressing and writing image data fast enough to keep the buffer clear during long continuous shooting bursts. And because DIGIC integrates all key processing functions, power consumption is kept to a minimum.

EOS Integrated Cleaning System
The EOS Integrated Cleaning System combats sensor dust in three important ways: Reduce, Repel and Remove.

* Reduce – Internal camera mechanisms are designed to minimise dust generation. The redesigned body cap prevents dust generation through wear on the cap itself.
* Repel – Anti-static technologies, including a special fluorine coating, are applied to the low-pass filter covering the front of the sensor so as not to attract dust.
* Remove – A Self-Cleaning Sensor Unit uses hi-frequency vibrations to shake dust from the infrared filter for a period of approximately one second after each start up. For instant shooting after power up, this feature is disabled immediately the shutter release is depressed.

Canon has also developed an internal Dust Delete Data system, which can map the position of visible dust on the sensor. This can then be deleted automatically after the shoot with the latest Digital Photo Professional software.

Clear View LCD
Canon’s Clear View LCD screens are 3.0” in diameter and feature a VGA (640×480) pixel resolution with 920,000 dots. This allows high-quality viewing of images and ultra-accurate focus checks in playback. Thanks to a wide 170º angle-of-view, a Clear View LCD can be viewed in a wide range of environments with ghosting and reflections being eliminated thanks to Canon’s unique dual layer anti reflective coating. This combination of features enables photographers to enjoy shooting from awkward angles.

Full HD
Thanks to the combination of a Canon CMOS sensor and DIGIC 4 processing, Canon is able to offer Full HD resolution movie recording in a digital SLR camera. An HDMI connection provides the ability to play back movies directly on any HDTV in high quality HD resolution. Canon’s Full HD products feature the same maximum resolution available for HDTV’s (1920×1080 pixels), ensuring outstanding clarity. Full HD exceeds the quality found in HD ready (720) resolution devices.

Picture Style
Picture Style pre-sets simplify in-camera control over image qualities. Picture Style pre-sets can be likened to different film types – each one offering a different colour response. Within each selectable pre-set, photographers have control over sharpness, contrast, colour tone and saturation. The camera’s factory default configuration is set to deliver immediately-usable JPEG images without need for additional menu settings. Picture Style presets applied to a RAW image can be revised with Canon’s Digital Photo Professional software.

The six pre-sets are:

* Standard – for crisp, vivid images that don’t require post-processing
* Portrait – optimises colour tone and saturation and weakens sharpening to achieve attractive skin tones
* Landscape – for punchier greens and blues with stronger sharpening to give a crisp edge to mountain, tree and building outlines
* Neutral – ideal for post-processing
* Faithful – adjusts colour to match the subject colour when shot under a colour temperature of 5200K
* Monochrome – for black and white shooting with a range of filter effects (yellow, orange, red and green) and toning effects (sepia, blue, purple and green).

Software

Digital Photo Professional Software
Digital Photo Professional software provides high speed, high quality processing of lossless RAW images. Processing with Digital Photo Professional allows real-time display and immediate application of image adjustments, giving control over RAW image variables such as white balance, dynamic range, exposure compensation, noise reduction and colour tone – plus the ability to view Auto Focus points on an image.

Recently added functions to Digital Photo Professional include a Peripheral Illumination Correction tool, which reduces the darkening that can occur in the corners of images shot with certain lenses. The Lens Aberration correction tool allows precise correction of different types of distortion caused by certain cameras. Users can also control the highlights and shadows within an image, reducing the problem of ‘clipped’ areas where detail is lost.

Digital Photo Professional supports sRGB, Adobe RGB, ColorMatch RGB, Apple RGB and Wide Gamut RGB colour spaces. ICC (International Colour Consortium) profiles can be attached to TIFF or JPEG images when converted from RAW. This allows faithful reproduction of colours in software applications that support ICC profiles, such as Adobe Photoshop. For improved efficiency, a set of image adjustments can be saved as a recipe and applied.

EOS Utility
The latest version of EOS Utility provides essential support for Live View remote shooting, camera configuration and image transfers. Tightly integrated with Digital Photo Professional, EOS Utility can be configured to monitor ‘hot’ folders, automatically renaming and moving incoming images to a structured file system. Users can also tag their images with EXIF data, including copyright information.

Picture Style Editor
Picture Style Editor allows users to create individual Picture Styles that fit with their personal requirements. Each Picture Style contains detailed information on how specific colours should be represented within an image. Once new Picture Styles have been created, they can be uploaded directly into the camera and applied to JPEG or RAW images. When working with RAW files in DPP, both personal Picture Styles and the 6 predetermined Picture Styles can all be adjusted.

ZoomBrowser/ImageBrowser
For extra-easy review, editing and management of JPEG files, two pieces of software are included: ZoomBrowser for PC, and ImageBrowser for Mac.

Both programs feature a MovieEdit function plug-in, which supports the .MOV clips recorded by the EOS 500D and EOS 5D Mark II. Users can use this to perform basic editing tasks, including creating and exporting clips which combine movie files and JPEGs.

*A built-in HDMI connection allows easy and instant review of images and movie clips on any compatible HDTV.
**Figure may vary depending on capacity of SD card used

Canon EOS 500D/Rebel T1i Reviews

PCAuthority reviews the Canon EOS 500D/Rebel T1i and writes;
“Our test videos looked superb: well-balanced colours, lots of detail, and the ability to switch lenses is a feature missing from all but the most expensive semi-professional camcorders.”
Rating: ★★★★☆

LetsGoDigital reviews the Canon EOS 500D/Rebel T1i and writes;
“The camera is user-friendly and provides an extremely high image quality. The Canon 500D is everybody’s friend. The camera will offer the ideal learning curve for the beginning photographer and help elevate him or her to new level of photography. As far as we’re concerned, the Canon EOS 500D is a complete camera and therefore a camera that will suit every user.”
Rating: ★★★★☆

PopPhoto reviews the Canon EOS 500D/Rebel T1i and writes;
“The image quality the Rebel T1i offers with its 14-bit RAW capture, Digic 4 processing, and accurate 35-zone metering is astonishing given its price. Just a few years ago, you couldn’t hope to get talent like this for under $1,000. In all, an amazing first—or step-up—DSLR .”
Rating: N/A

Photocrati reviews the Canon EOS 500D/Rebel T1i and writes;
“Buy it. The Rebel T1i may not be as much fun to use as some cameras in this size or price range, but it delivers plenty of bang for the buck. Just be sure to buy a second lens, in case the kit lens should meet with an untimely demise.”
Rating: N/A

Shutterbug reviews the Canon EOS 500D/Rebel T1i and writes;
“In all, the Canon Rebel T1i performed admirably in that it delivered very good images, at least with the lens provided; I suspect the images would be even better with more than a kit lens. “
Rating: N/A

Photozone reviews the Canon EOS 500D/Rebel T1i and writes;
“the EOS 500D is another recommendable masterpiece from Canon. However, Canon EOS 450D users don’t really need to upgrade unless there’s a critical need for the movie mode functionality. “
Rating: N/A

CameraLabs reviews the Canon EOS 500D/Rebel T1i and writes;
“If Canon’s feature-set fits the bill though, or you’re simply after a good step-up from a budget DSLR, the EOS 500D / T1i comes Highly Recommended.”
Rating: ★★★★½

KenRockwell reviews the Canon EOS 500D/Rebel T1i and writes;
“The reason to get this T1i is because of its greatly improved ergonomics. It just works better than earlier Canons… I’d have no problem turning out incredible images with a T1i and any Canon lens. “
Rating: N/A

BobAtkins reviews the Canon EOS 500D/Rebel T1i and writes;
“Overall I think the Digital Rebel T1i is one of the best bargains in Canon’s (or anyone else’s) DSLR lineup. You get a high resolution sensor, ISO capabilities up to 12,800, HD video and most of the “bells and whistles” that the average photographer will ever need. “
Rating: N/A

DCRP reviews the Canon EOS 500D/Rebel T1i and writes;
“the Canon EOS Rebel T1i (also known as the EOS-500D) is a well-designed, compact digital SLR that takes good quality photos and videos. Whether you’re just starting out or upgrading from an older Canon D-SLR, it’s well worth a look. “
Rating: N/A

MacWorld reviews the Canon EOS 500D/Rebel T1i and writes;
“Overall image quality is great, and the camera does a startlingly good job of shooting in low light at high ISOs. While the previous Rebels began to suffer above ISO 800, the T1i delivers fantastic results at ISO 1600, and even produces usable images at ISO 3200. This supposedly lower-end camera delivers high ISO results that are better than you’d have seen with the pro cameras of just a couple of years ago.”
Rating: ★★★★☆

PhotographyBay reviews the Canon EOS 500D/Rebel T1i and writes;
“Overall, I highly recommend the Canon Rebel T1i to anyone looking for a feature-rich and very capable DSLR on an entry-level budget. There are plenty of great DSLRs on the market – some offer more features and some may be cheaper. However, this is the best Rebel yet. Image quality rivals cameras much more expensive than it and, if you buy something cheaper, you’re going to miss out on some cutting edge stuff that only the Rebel T1i offers.”
Rating: N/A

DigitalStory reviews the Canon EOS 500D/Rebel T1i and writes;
“It feels good in the hands, is light on the shoulder, records excellent images, and I have my entire inventory of Canon lenses at my disposal.”
Rating: N/A

DCR reviews the Canon EOS 500D/Rebel T1i and writes;
“The Canon Rebel T1i is both a great camera for the photographer looking to move up from compacts and advanced amateurs who want total control and excellent image quality… This is one of the better DSLRs I have shot with in the past few years, and by far the best Rebel yet to hit the market.”
Rating: N/A

DxOMark compares Nikon D5000 to Canon EOS 500D/Rebel T1i and writes;
“The Nikon D5000 sensor obtains exceptional results for low ISO settings and outperforms the Canon EOS 500D sensor in Dynamic Range and Color Depth. When ISO increases, however, the differences become smaller, but the Nikon D5000 still maintains a slight advantage.”

Pocket-Lint reviews the Canon EOS 500D/Rebel T1i and writes;
“The still image performance is compelling but we can’t help but feel the video is something of a novelty. Yes, you can capture crisp and detailed high-definition video, but it comes with a list of limitations.”
Rating: ★★★★½

Steve’sDigicams reviews the Canon EOS 500D/Rebel T1i and writes;
“we are very pleased with Canon’s Latest Digital Rebel. The T1i offers some very powerful features that have been handed down from its big brothers… This camera possesses a high degree of appeal with loads of exposure options, and class leading ISO capabilities, performance, and image quality. “
Rating: N/A

DCI reviews the Canon EOS 500D/Rebel T1i and writes;
“In our extensive lab testing, the T1i only stood out in two sections: still image color accuracy and video quality… The worst problem area was image sharpness, where it performed very poorly, producing photos much softer than we expected.”
Rating: ★★★★½

DigitalTrends reviews the Canon EOS 500D/Rebel T1i and writes;
“The Canon EOS Rebel T1i is a solid mid-range DSLR with the added spice of HD video recording. We have no squawks on the camera section, other than noise becoming readily apparent beyond ISO 800. It’s responsive, and you’ll be more than happy with the prints, whether you making 4×6s or 13×19s. “
Rating: ★★★★☆

InfoSync reviews the Canon EOS 500D/Rebel T1i and writes;
“Image Quality – Very Good: We had no complaints within the realm of color, detail, or exposure, and certain close-range images were magazine quality. However, we had to closely monitor our lighting, for the Eos 500D’s biggest weakness was a narrow dynamic range. “
Rating: ★★★★☆

PCMag reviews the Canon EOS 500D/Rebel T1i and writes;
“images looked spectacular and were on a par with those of the more-expensive Canon 50D, since both cameras use the same sensor. At lower ISOs (100, 200, and 400), the T1i captured 2,102, 2,079, and 2,035 lines per picture height, respectively. These numbers are very impressive and go hand in hand with mega-sharp images”
Rating: ★★★★☆

RegHardware reviews the Canon EOS 500D/Rebel T1i and writes;
“The EOS 500D offers better picture quality than the EOS 450D, but the difference is not spectacular. That said, images are sharp and colours are vivid, as the sample images highlight.”
Rating: ★★★★☆

PhotographyBlog reviews the Canon EOS 500D/Rebel T1i and writes;
“the new Canon EOS 500D / Digital Rebel T1i is a much-improved DSLR camera that’s easily worthy of our Highly Recommended award. It doesn’t quite merit our full 5-star rating due to the combination of its high recommended retail price and quirky video mode, but the 500D is still one of the best mid-range DSLRs around.”
Rating: ★★★★½

CNET.asia reviews the Canon EOS 500D/Rebel T1i and writes;
“The good: Full-HD video-recording feature; fast performance; good image quality; high-resolution LCD. The bad: Autofocus points are small and blink briefly; video clips not as smooth at 20fps.The bottom line: The EOS 500D is a very decent dSLR for first-time users and the inclusion of full HD video-recording function sweetens the deal.”
Rating: ★★★★☆

PhotoReview.au reviews the Canon EOS 500D/Rebel T1i and writes;
“Low-light performance was outstanding, with no visible noise in long exposures right up to ISO 1600 and very little noise at ISO 3200. By ISO 6400, noise was visible – although not obvious. Noise was evident at ISO 12,800 but images were printable at 15 x 10 cm size.”
Rating: ★★★★½

GoodGearGuide reviews the Canon EOS 500D/Rebel T1i and writes;
“Canon’s EOS 500D is a nice step up from the 400D. It is worth considering this digital SLR if you want the ability to capture high quality video with a still camera.”
Rating: ★★★★☆

DPInterface reviews the Canon EOS 500D/Rebel T1i and writes;
“Image quality produced by the Canon Rebel T1i aka EOS 500D was very good with low noise and very usable pictures up till ISO 3200. And those who know their way or have the time to make use of post-processing and noise reduction software can scavenge ISO 6400 and 12800 shots for small to midsize prints/display too”
Rating: N/A

TechRadar reviews the Canon EOS 500D/Rebel T1i and writes;
“We’re more impressed with the Digic 4 image processor and other noise reduction technologies, which really boost the ISO (light sensitivity) range on the 500D. With this camera, you can comfortably go as far as ISO 1200 without noise becoming a major headache”
Rating: ★★★★☆

RobGalbraith has a preview of Canon EOS 500D/Rebel T1i;
“Our first impression of the Rebel T1i sound quality is that it’s a notch below that, but still serviceable for a built-in mic (and noticeably better than the Nikon D90’s built-in audio)”

ImagingResource has a preview of Canon EOS 500D/Rebel T1i;
“So it’s pretty clear, if the Beta unit’s quality holds up, that the Canon Rebel T1i’s image quality is at least as good as the Canon 50D, delivering more detail than most of the 12-megapixel cameras on the market for less money.”

Gizmodo has a preview of Canon EOS 500D/Rebel T1i;
“So with the T1i, you get a sizable chunk of the more expensive 50D’s imaging performance plus an arguably better spec-wise video capture mode than the D90—a pretty sweet deal here at an entry-level price where even the MSRP beats the street price of the 50D and D90 both.”

DCI has a preview of Canon EOS 500D/Rebel T1i;
“The T1i offers a nice balance of flexibility for sophisticated shooters and point-and-shoot auto mode for compact camera converts…As for the control buttons, the layout is easy to master and labels are legible and well placed, with two exceptions (the focus lock and focus area labels sitting on top of the camera while the buttons are on the back below).”

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