Canon EOS 500D

Is this just another beginner D-SLR squeezing its way into the already crowded Canon line-up, or does the Canon EOS 500D have what it takes to jump to the front of the queue?

Canon’s range of beginner/enthusiast D-SLRs is already pretty comprehensive – there’s the 10.1Mp EOS 1000D, 12.2Mp EOS 450D, 10.1Mp EOS 40D and 15.1Mp EOS 50D. And now here comes the 15.1Mp EOS 500D, slotting in between the EOS 450D and EOS 40D in the line-up. But what sets the 500D apart from other models in the EOS range (with the exception of the full-frame EOS 5D MkII) is its ability to record High Definition video, while still sharing many features already seen on previous models.

Features & build
There’s a real familiarity to the Canon EOS 500D compared to other D-SLRs in the EOS family, and it bears a close resemblance to the 450D and 1000D. It would’ve been nice to see some kind of evolution in this tried-and-tested design, but it’s been a very successful formula so far.
The Canon 500D has a mainly plastic feel, but most of the surfaces have a subtly improved finish over the cheaper models in the EOS range. That said, the build can’t match that of the marginally cheaper EOS 50D, which has a rugged magnesium alloy chassis, and the handgrip may still be a little on the small side for those with larger hands.
Separating the 500D from the 450D is the sensor, which employs a 15.1Mp CMOS chip that matches the resolution of the EOS 50D. It’s worth noting, though, that a different sensor is used; a 2-channel readout compared to the EOS 50D’s 4 channels. This also goes some way to explain why the frame rate of the EOS 500D is almost half that of the EOS 50D, at a steady 3.4 frames per second, even though the same DIGIC 4 image processor is used.
The ISO is very good, going from 100-3200 – but can be expanded to an ISO equivalent of 12,800 with the H2 setting, the same as the EOS 50D, and a vast improvement over the EOS 450D’s limit of ISO 1600.
There’s a 9-point AF system, which is now standard fare on many Canon D-SLRs, with a single central cross-type sensor for more precise autofocus performance. The screen is the same size as the EOS 450D at 3in, but the resolution has been increased to 920k dots and there’s the implementation of Canon’s EOS Integrated Cleaning System, which shakes dust from the sensor. As for the memory card, the storage medium is SD or SDHC.
The EOS 500D is compatible with both EF-S and EF fit Canon lenses, with a 1.6x multiplication factor, so an 18mm lens will offer a film-equivalent focal length of 28.8mm. If you’re after an anti-shake system, Canon’s Image Stabilizer (IS) system is lens based, so it’s down to  the specific lenses you use. If you go for the EOS 500D kit (an extra £100 on the body-only price) you get an 18-55mm zoom lens with IS.

Performance & Handling
With a frame rate just above average at 3.4fps, the EOS 500D can capture 11 continuous RAW files before slowing up – 5 less than the 50D, while over 100 continuous JPEGs are achievable. RAW files take 2secs to write, and it’s 1.5secs for a JPEG image.
The 9-point AF arranged in a diamond formation in the centre of the viewfinder offers reasonable coverage and shouldn’t provide problems for most shooting situations. AF point selection is carried out by depressing the * button and turning the command wheel on the front, which works well, while AF itself is quick and rarely struggles to lock on.
The EOS 500D features a solid Live View system, with three types of AF available – AF Quick, which uses the 9 AF points to focus, but requires the feed to be interrupted momentarily; AF Live, which uses contrast-detect AF to focus in a similar way to a compact camera; and AF Face Detect, which uses contrast-detect AF, but can recognise faces from a wide variety of angles. These three settings can be toggled through once Live View is in operation, along with Picture Styles, WB, Drive and Quality.
To record in HD video, there’s a dedicated Scene mode on the command dial, next to the flash/pentaprism. It’s simple to set-up and start recording, but like other video modes on D-SLRs, it’s manual focus only during the recording, though AF can be used beforehand during composition.
Shooting info is clearly displayed on the rear 3in screen and can also be adjusted, rather than having to resort to the main menu. This is done via the Set and directional buttons, and it’s great for moments when you want to change settings quickly. The menu itself is not overly intuitive but luckily, you don’t need to delve into it too often.

Image Quality
At low ISO sensitivities, the EOS 500D displays smooth images with no Noise, but naturally as ISO increases, Noise becomes more evident. At ISO 3200 it’s quite pronounced and isn’t handled quite as well as the similarly priced Nikon D90, which could be due to the higher resolution, with the extra pixels affecting the Signal-to-Noise ratio. It’s the same story at ISO 6400 – it can’t quite match it. The extra stop at the ISO equivalent of 12,800 (the EOS 500D’s H1 setting) gives a bit of extra flexibility when shooting in low light, but displays high levels of Noise and should only be used as a last resort.

Value & Verdict
Though the price will drop after the initial launch, at £869 for the body alone it’s quite a pricey piece of kit – especially when you consider what else is on offer for a comparable price.
If you’re thinking of upgrading from an older Canon D-SLR, then there’s little doubt that you should go for the slightly cheaper 15.1Mp EOS 50D over the EOS 500D. Focused more at the enthusiast, the EOS 50D has a much more solid build and better overall performance, with a better AF and faster frame rate. The only thing it lacks in comparison is HD video.
The EOS 500D is also competing against the much cheaper 12.2Mp EOS 450D, which can be picked up for just over £500 with a standard kit lens. Both share a virtually identical design (though some would argue that the 500D has a better finish) and many of the same core features. Though the 450D lacks the latest DIGIC 4 processor, it’s still very capable, and a popular choice among those investing in a first D-SLR. Again, the only thing lacking is HD video.
If you must have HD video, then the EOS 500D fulfils that demand, but while it’s a very capable and well-specified D-SLR, the price-point is just too high to make it a viable option for stills-only use – especially when there are better and cheaper options in the EOS line-up.

 At a Glance
Price: £869 (body only)
Resolution: 15.1Mp
(4752x3168 pixels)
Lens mount: Canon EF-S
Focal length multiplication: 1.6x
Focusing: 9-point selectable
Burst rate: 3.4fps (11 RAW & Unlimited JPEG)
Write times: 2secs (RAW), 1.5secs (JPEG)
ISO range: 100-3200, expandable to 12,800 (H2)
Shutter range: 30-1/4000secs + B
Monitor: 3.0in, 920K dot VGA
Live View: Yes
HD Video: Yes: 1920x1080 @ 20fps, or 1280x720p @30fps
Storage: SD/SDHC
Weight: 480g
Dimensions: 129x98x62mm

www.canon.co.uk