Canon PowerShot SD500 7.1 MP Digital ELPH Camera with 3x Optical Zoom (Coach Edition)

by Canon

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 10 x 8 x 4.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B0007WK8JE
• Item model number: 9885A004
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (164 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #24,535 in Camera & Photo (See Top 100 in Camera & Photo)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: February 24, 2005

Product Description

Style: SD500 Coach Edition

Amazon.com Product Decription

The SD500 is the first Digital ELPH from Canon to be equipped with 7.1 megapixel resolution -- a major step forward for a camera this easy to use. With Canon's exclusive DIGIC II image processor, a big, two-inch LCD screen, and an outstanding set of features and capabilities, the SD500 is a digital camera designed to lead Canon's impressive Digital ELPH line.

The SD500's 7.1 megapixel CCD (the highest resolution in the Digital ELPH line) delivers images with unprecedented detail. Meanwhile, the powerful 3x optical zoom provides plenty of close-up excitement with a focal length equivalent to 37 to 111 millimeters in a 35-millimeter film camera. The camera's stylish new perpetual curve design -- a first in digital cameras -- fits your hands perfectly, and though its body is superbly slim, the SD500 has an oversized two-inch LCD screen that makes for easy framing and playback.

Designed to improve processing speed and image quality, the SD500's DIGIC II processor provides markedly faster camera startup, auto-focus and playback. Plus, it assures that every image is more accurate, with a broader range and vibrant colors. The processor is so fast and powerful that it could change the way even a die-hard film photographer feels about digital camera image quality and performance.

Canon has added nine special scene modes to help you take the best pictures in various situations. "portrait" sets a large aperture, focuses the subject, and artistically blurs the background to make your subject appear clear and bright. "foliage" captures excellent organic shots, like autumn leaves, greenery, or blossoms. "beach" gets clear shots at sunny locales without darkening faces. Other scenes include fireworks, night snapshot, kids and pets, indoor, and snow.

You can also set the camera to "digital macro" to shoot larger-than-life close-ups, or turn the dial to "underwater" to snap images with reduced backscatter, so you'll see the fish and coral, not your flash. If you're interested in taking pictures underwater, you'll want to make sure you pick up the WP-DC70 from Canon -- a waterproof case made especially for the SD500.

Ready for some filmmaking? With this camera, you can shoot great full motion video at an astonishing 60 frames per second (fps) -- perfect for capturing fast moving subjects. Always thinking, Canon designed the SD500 to also offer a 30 fps movie mode that is perfect for creating video files that are small enough to email.

The SD500 is the first of Canon's compact digital cameras to support the USB 2.0 high-speed standard. You'll enjoy the highest data transfer speeds with any USB 2.0 compatible computer, making it easier than ever to download your digital images from the camera and clear your memory card. Also, this camera's performance level is high enough to take full advantage of super-high-speed SD memory cards.

What's in the Box
PowerShot SD500 digital camera, wrist strap, SD memory card, battery pack, battery charger, digital camera solution CD-ROM, AV cable, and interface cable.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1,208 of 1,224 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Which of the SDxxx Series is right for you?, April 18, 2005

By 

diljs - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Canon Powershot SD500 7.1MP Digital Elph Camera with 3x Optical Zoom (Electronics)

Let me begin by saying that Canon makes exceptional digital cameras; the best in the market right now. This is because they have always used high quality components since they began manufacturing digital cameras. This one is no exception.

Now that I've sold you on a Canon, which one should you choose?

First off, let's see if you really need an SDxxx camera, or would be better suited with a cheaper non ultraportable camera.

The SDxxx Series offers several key advantages over less portable models:

-Beautiful, sleek design and metallic body will wow anyone who sees it.

-Gorgeous 2 inch LCD screens

-The excellent Dig!c 2 processor (other Canons only have dig!c 1)

-Much better movie mode than previous Canons

-Small light, easy pocketability

On the other hand, there are some significant drawbacks due to the components Canon had to use to get the camera so small:

-Few manual controls.

-Pictures are not as sharp as those of similar non ultraportable cameras.

-The flash is very close to the lens (lots of redeye problems)

-More purple fringing issues than other Canons

-Proprietary batteries that are expensive to replace

-The LCD is very fragile. Read the SD200 and SD300 reviews to see lots of unhappy people whose LCDs broke. Canon's warranty does NOT cover this either. My suggestion? Buy using a credit card that offers a warranty in addition to the manufacturer's. If your lcd breaks, many CC companies will replace the camera no questions asked!

If you don't need the ultra portability and flashy looks of the SD cameras, a slightly larger camera with more features might be right for you. I would highly suggest Canon's A510 or A520 if you don't need an SD model.

If you still want an SD model, which one should you choose? The SD200 with 3.2mp, the SD300 with 4mp, the SD400 with 5mp, or the SD500 at a whopping 7.1mp?

Your first instinct may be that more megapixels is better. Today, however megapixel ratings are similar to Ghz ratings in the computer world: They used to mean a lot, but they don't mean as much anymore. More megapixels do NOT mean a better image. They mean a larger printable image. Unless you have to have huge prints, you simply do not more megapixels. In fact, the 3.2mp of the SD200 is enough for anyone who doesn't plan on printing pictures larger than a standard 8.5x11 sheet of paper.

That having been said, there are some differences between each SDxxx model. In order to get the larger 7.1mp sensor in the SD500, Canon had to make the camera larger. Thus, it is around a quarter inch thicker and 30% heavier than the other 3 models. The larger size did enable Canon to pack more features into it, however:

Features unique to the SD500:

-1/4 inch thicker

-30% heavier

-50% longer flash range

-14% more battery life

The SD400 and SD500 also share these benefits over the SD200/SD300:

-New "Night Display" feature which brightens the LCD in low light

-My Colors feature lets you highlight or swap colors right on the camera

-USB 2.0 High Speed support

The following are shared by all the SDxxx Cameras:

Pros:

-Beautiful, eye catching design

-Great image quality, though not as good as non ultraportable models

-New Dig!c 2 image processor

-Excellent Movie Mode

-3x optical zoom is adequate for most people

-Excellent, intuitive manual controls

-Huge 2.0 inch lcd that looks great under various lighting conditions

-Uses widely available and cheap SD cards

Cons (most of these are minor quirks):

-Some purple fringing problems

-Proprietary batteries are expensive to replace and inconvenient at times

-Lots of issues with fragile LCDs

-No RAW support

-Few manual controls

If you do choose this product, the first thing you should buy is a larger SD memory card. The camera comes with a 16mb card (32 in the SD500), which is pretty much useless.

You should also immediately purchase a case and some screen protectors to protect the LCD.

331 of 345 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Canon SD500 vs Sony DSCP200, March 13, 2005

By 

William M. Gibson (Washington DC) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Canon Powershot SD500 7.1MP Digital Elph Camera with 3x Optical Zoom (Electronics)

I am probably one of the first people that can now say that they have owned the new Sony DSC P-200 and the new Canon SD-500. In another review, I noted why I was not pleased with the picture quality of the Sony (lots of blurry pictures and unnatural color). I went out and got the Canon today. WOW! Big difference! I've taken about hundred shot with the Canon, in varying lighting situations, all in auto mode, and not one blurry picture!!! The quality, detail and clarity is much better than the Sony in my opinion. I did not conduct a rigorous test, but just took some identical shots in identical lighting with both cameras, and the Canon won hands down. Sharper pictures. More detail. More natural color.

The Canon is very small, definitely pocket sized, but still easy to hold firmly. It powers up quickly, so you won't miss that quick shot. I can't comment on most of the manual features of the camera because I've been shooting in auto mode, but based on my experience so far, manual adjustment, while available, won't be needed for most of the shots I will be taking. Once I have the time, I plan to explore all the high end features of the camera, but for now, I can't comment intelligently or fairly.

The only knock I have is that the flash is underpowered. This is a common problem with all ultra compacts, but I think I will probably go out and buy an external flash at some point. A few of my indoor shots could have benefited from a stronger flash, but even those shots were not all that bad.

Perhaps I have a defective Sony camera, but I have seen some other reviews where people had problems with blurry pictures, and it seems to be a known problem with the camera. After playing around with the Canon, I don't even want to take the chance of returning the Sony and getting a replacement. Its getting returned right away.

65 of 66 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hindsight is always 20/20 - Made the right decision up front, May 13, 2005

By 

J. P. Koenig (Dallas, TX) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Canon Powershot SD500 7.1MP Digital Elph Camera with 3x Optical Zoom (Electronics)

Before I took the family on a Disney Cruise to the Carribean, I shopped for a digital camera. I spent many nights reading reviews from various sites, compared prices vs features, size, megapix, accessory cost, memory card price,etc. I narrowed it down to a Sony Cybershot vs the Canon. I can say that I am not a pro photographer in any sense, but I enjoy snapping "tourist" photos and ones of the family so one day when I am senile I will remember. THIS CAMERA TOOK FANTASTIC PHOTOS, FOOEY ON THE NAYSAYERS. The only reason their pictures turned out blurry is because they cant hold their hands still!

WHY I'M GLAD I DIDNT BUY THE SONY:

Sony memory cards are a rip off (try pricing their high-speed ones versus regular SD high speed), their spare batts are a cha-ching, and their fragile LCD's are complained about a lot. Even though the Canon camera itself costs more than the Sony camera did, the Sony accessories would have cost me more than a fully loaded Canon w/ accessories! I'm sure the photos would have been nice also, but the features on the Canon are better and I have a higher megapizel camera for an overall cheaper cost of ownership.

CANON'S COOL FEATURES!

1. Besides taking gorgeous, rich, color photos, I spent a few minutes reading the manual. If you set it to SCN scene mode, there are a ton of pre-programmed modes that compensate for every setting, beach, night, indoor, close-up plants, and even fireworks. I played with the various modes and I easily figured out which was best for the picture about to take. The Disney cruise ship did fireworks from it and the pix are awesome. Cant wait until the 4th of July!

2. Super fast 1 second, ready to shoot time from the pocket. Didnt miss a single action moment!

3. Photostich- allows you to take panaramic photos left, right, up and down, then the included software automatically pastes the pictures together! It rocks!

4. Battery life was fantastic. I wasted my money on the spare battery (which was a generic Digipower from Best Buy and it died after 20 shots!) I used the camera all day, took photos and motion video and used up the 1gb storage space and the battery never died that day.

5. I bought a 1GB high-speed SD card for it from Fry's and I took motion videos with this camera! They play back in Windows media player and I emailed those out; people thought it was from a camcorder! I owned a Panasonic D-Snap and promptly sold it after my trip to Australia last fall. Wish I took the Canon there instead! Make sure you buy the high speed SD cards not a super Sunday sale cheap 512 card for $59! A 1gb high speed is about $80-$100. Also, dont forget to do a low level format 1st!

6. Their included software is a little cumbersome to learn, but it works well once figured out. Just wish it had more editing features in it instead of having to use an external software for advanced editing.

7. LCD can be seen at 50% level even in full sunlight & zoom was decent for a compact dig cam.

CONS (IF ANY)

I dont really have any true complaints, but to be fair here are some. Why pack a 32mb SD card? That's worthless, it holds like 7 pictures, Canon ditch it and lower the price instead! Dont like the flappy door thing covering the USB jack, seems cheesy. Camera can get slippery, use the hand strap at all times, thats cheap insurance!

Hope this review helps, I know I appreciate the other reviews people posted here, it helped me make the right decision for an investment that costs over $700 with all the accessories.

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