Canon EOS 500D Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18-55mm IS lens

* 15.1 MP CMOS sensor
* Full HD (1080p) movies
* High ISO up to 12800 for low-light conditions
* 3.4fps with up to 170 JPEG burst
* 3.0 inch Clear View LCD with Live View mode
* 9-point AF system
* DIGIC 4
* EOS Integrated Cleaning System
* EF/EF-S and EX Speedlite compatibility


Our Opinion:

Canon's new 500D is the first DSLR under £1000 to offer FULL HD video recording - and this is what makes it (so far) unique.

Aimed at the serious amateur, it has a superb resolution of 15 MP, offers light sensitivity that can be expanded beyond ISO 3200 by two more stops (up to ISO 12800 equivalent) and a sensor dust reduction system. Bearing in mind that this camera has been designed for the semi-professional user, it is not surprising that the 500D offers only a few token 'compact features'; although there are a few programme modes (Portrait, Landscape, Close-up, Sports, Night Portrait, No Flash, Movie), the D500 does NOT have face recognition or extensive in-camera editing.

You may wonder what the main difference are between the D500 and the more expensive 50D?

* Full HD movies on the 500D/ NO movies on 50D
* 1/200 synch speed on 500D / 1/250 on 50D
* 3.4 fps for 500D / 6.3 fps for 50D
* 13 Custom Functions with 39 setting on 500D / 25 Custom Functions with 74 settings
* / Water & Dust resistance of 50D
* Autoplay slide show on 500D / several slideshow options on 50D
* No Custom functions menu on 500D / but on 50D
* HDMI Type C output / HDMI mini output on 50D
* SD or SDHC cards / CF cards for the 50D
* Approx 400 shots per battery charge with the 500D / 640 with the 50D
* Weight of approx 480g for the 500D / 730g for the 50D

So far, if you wanted to record Full HD movies with a DSLR, you had to buy the full sensor and £2700 EOS 5D Mark II. The EOS 500D has made this fantastic innovation a great deal more affordable.



Manufacturer's description:

With the EOS 500D, every side of your story comes alive. Capture every detail in stunning 15.1 Megapixel resolution, or switch to shooting pin-sharp Full High Definition video.

15.1 MP CMOS sensor
Ideal for those who want to create large, poster-size prints - or crop images to perfection without losing any of the detail necessary for printing - Canon’s 15.1MP CMOS sensor is outstanding in low light, and produces images with incredibly low noise.

Full HD movie recording
The EOS 500D combines exceptional still shooting with the ability to shoot Full HD (1080p) video. For occasions when larger amounts of footage need to be stored on a memory card, users can also choose to shoot at 720p or VGA resolution. An HDMI connection allows High Definition playback of footage and images on any HDTV.

High ISO for low light
When light levels fall, the EOS 500D offers an ISO range of up to 3200 – expandable to 12800 for those environments where using flash is undesirable.

3.4fps with up to 170 JPEG burst
The EOS 500D features shooting speeds of up to 3.4fps in continuous bursts of up to 170 large JPEG images (9 RAW).

3.0” Clear View LCD with Live View mode
Detailed checks on images and video are possible with a 3.0 inch ClearView LCD screen, which features an ultra-high 920,000 dots for increased clarity. Switch to Live View mode and use the real-time visual feed to shoot from awkward angles.

9-point AF system
A high-precision AF system employs 9 AF points AF Points are located throughout the frame to better accommodate off-centre subjects. For accurate focusing with fast aperture lenses, the central AF point features a high sensitivity cross-type sensor, suitable for lenses with an aperture of f/2.8 or faster.

DIGIC 4
Canon’s DIGIC 4 processor works with the CMOS sensor to deliver 14-bit image processing, for smooth gradations and natural looking colours. DIGIC 4 also powers advanced Noise Reduction when shooting at higher ISO speeds, plus split-second startup times and near-instant image review after shooting.

EOS Integrated Cleaning System
Canon’s built-in dust prevention system offers three ways of guarding images against the effects of dust: reduction of internal dust generation; an in-camera sensor cleaning mechanism; and the ability to map stubborn dust sports for removal with the included Digital Photo Professional software.

Full EF/EF-S and EX Speedlite compatibility
The EOS 500D is compatible with Canon’s full range of EF and EF-S lenses and EX-series Speedlites. This allows the creation of a shooting system as unique as the photographer using it.