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Canon PowerShot S500 4 to 5 Megapixel

5/5 (3 Reviews)

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  • Image Sensor TypeCCD
    Resolution5.3 Megapixel
    Optical Zoom3x
    Camera TypeCompact
    Interchangeable LensNot Interchangeable Lenses
    35mm Zoom Lens36 - 108 mm
    Digital Zoom4.1x
    Focus TypeAutofocus
    Focus Range18 in. to Infinity (w) / 18 in. to Infinity (t)
    Macro Focus Range2 - 18 in. (w) / 12 - 18 in. (t)
    Focal Length7.4 - 22.2 mm
    Camera Resolution5.3 Megapixel
    Image Resolutions640 x 480 • 2592 x 1944 • 2048 x 1536 • 1600 x 1200
    Video Resolutions320 x 240 (QVGA) • 640 x 480 (VGA) • 160 x 120
    Video Speed15 fps
    Max Movie Length180 Seconds
    Video FormatAVI
    Aperture Rangef2.8/f4.9 (w/t)
    Shutter Speed15 - 1/2000 sec
    White BalanceAuto • Daylight / Sunny (Preset) • Cloudy (Preset) • Fluorescent (Preset) • Tungsten (Preset)
    Frames Per Second2.2 Frames
    Memory TypeCompactFlash Card Type I
    Compression ModesFine • SuperFine • Normal
    Compression TypeJPEG
    File Size (High Res.)2 MB (64 images on 128MB card)
    File Size (Low Res.)0.08 MB (about 1,600 images on 128MB card)
    ISO SpeedsAuto • 50 • 100 • 200 • 400
    Flash TypeBuilt-In
    Flash FunctionsFlash Off • Auto Flash • Fill-in Flash • Red-eye Reduction Flash • Slow Sync
    ViewfinderOptical
    LCD PanelWith LCD Panel
    LCD Panel Size1.5 in.
    LCD Screen Resolution118,000 pixels
    LCD Protected PositionWithout LCD Protected Position
    Interface TypeUSB
    Video InterfaceVideo Out
    Battery TypeProprietary Lithium
    Battery Life190 Images
    Self Timer2 Sec. • 10 Sec.
    Mp3 Built In
    Built-in MicrophoneWith Built-in Microphone
    Built-in SpeakerWith Built-in Speaker
    Tripod MountWith Tripod Mount
    Operating SystemApple Mac OS 9 • Apple Mac OS X • Microsoft Windows 2000 • Microsoft Windows 98 • Microsoft Windows 98SE • Microsoft Windows ME • Microsoft Windows XP
    Width3.43 in.
    Depth1.09 in.
    Height2.24 in.
    Weight0.41 lb.
    Warranty1 Year
    Included AccessoriesSoftware • USB Cable • Video Cable • Hand Strap • 32 MB Memory Card • Lithium Battery • Battery Charger
    MPN9343a005aa
    Product ID22128121

Product Description

Sleek, powerful and eminently portable. Memorable images are a click away, with a high-resolution sensor, 3x optical zoom lens, and impressive capabilities that are as easy to use as they are advanced.


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Reviews 1 - 3 (3 Reviews Total)

User Reviews

Overall Rating:5
Value Rating:5
Submitted by johnisgolden a Intermediate

Date Reviewed: April 7, 2006

Strengths:    Excellent normal pictures. Macros are very good. Bright, High Resolution (118,000 pixels) LCD Screen. 10X Playback Zoom. Great Bundled Software. Lens Quality. Durable Metal Housing. Stylish Design.

Weaknesses:    Weaknesses: Cheap Plastic Battery Compartment and CF Card Compartment Lids. Small (by today's standards) 1.5" LCD Display. Fussy Lens Zoom Control.

Bottom Line:   
This is an Excellent Digital Camera. I recently purchased this camera, which was New Old Stock. The S500 was introduced about two years ago. The newer, smaller Canon models have larger LCD Displays, but make compromises in Lens Quality and Ease of Use (buttons are too small on newer models). So, because I consider the Canon S500 to be the last of the Real Deal Canon Compact Digital Cameras, I decided to buy the older Canon S500. Normal Picture Quality is Excellent. Macros are Very Good, but not the best. The Camera Controls work well, although the Lens Zoom Control is quite fussy. Bundled Software and Owners Manuals are Truly Excellent. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND this Fine Product from Canon.

Expand full review >>

Duration Product Used:   21+ years

Price Paid:    $259.00

Purchased At:   Butterfly Camera

Similar Products Used:   Canon PowerShot S100, Nikon CoolPix 4500

Type of photography:   Other

Overall Rating:5
Value Rating:4
Submitted by C.Eaton a Intermediate

Date Reviewed: July 1, 2004

Strengths:    Image quality
Build quality exceptional
LCD monitor very good
Excellent flash

Weaknesses:    The menus can be fiddly on manual

Bottom Line:   
Excellent compact performer. I bought this for when I don't want to lug around my Canon 10D but still want reasonable images.
To be quite honest apart from the physical size of the images I am hard-pressed to tell which images came from which camera, it really is that good.

Expand full review >>

Price Paid:    $499.00

Purchased At:   San Francisco

Similar Products Used:   Canon 10D
Olympus E-1


Overall Rating:5
Value Rating:5
Submitted by orangefan a Intermediate

Date Reviewed: May 17, 2004

Strengths:    Image quality
Image quality
Image quality
Flash
LCD screen (small but excellent)
Small and light (easily fits in a pocket)
Manual adjustments are plentiful (just about everything except manual focus)

Weaknesses:    Battery life
Digital zoom
Optical zoom (it's a very small camera so you can't realistically expect a strong optical zoom)

Bottom Line:   
Although a bit on the pricey side, I would say that you get what you pay for. This camera is small and light, yet extremely powerful and versatile. The digital zoom may as well have not been included. It stinks like it does on every other digital camera I have ever seen. The 3x optical zoom is more than acceptable for a camera this size. It does come in handy. However, this is not the camera for you if a strong optical zoom is needed.

The small LCD screen is better than screens twice its size. Considering that you can zoom in to the image while it’s displayed on the LCD, the screen size should not be a deterrent. In fact, it is quite good. Very sharp while bright enough that you can see it clearly in direct sunlight.

I have not had much opportunity to use some of its advanced features but one that I have used is its "stitch" function. This function allows you to line up an image with the previous image so that you can take panoramic shots without having to guess where you previously left off. It does this by creating two windows on the LCD screen. One is fixed with the previous image; the other is the current image. All you have to do is line up the left side of the current image with the right side of the previous image. Useless...but cool.

It will take 30 second videos. They are grainy (I think the max resolution is 640x480) and the sound stinks, but this isn't a video camera so there really is no grounds for complaint.

The flash is incredible for a small point-and-shoot. It will easily light up a large room.

Battery life is OK - I don't have anything to compare it to. I'd recommend getting an extra if you won't be able to charge the first for a while. One battery is good for about 40 images with a flash, 80 without it. You could probably get more if you use the view finder instead of the LCD screen.

Most importantly, this camera creates incredible images. So good, in fact, that my wife (a magazine photo editor) has used it to take pictures of the magazine staff that are placed in the magazine. (They were supposed to be only test images.) When I said that you get what you pay for, the image quality is what I was referring to. I could bore you with examples, but that would...well, bore you. As more reviews are posted I think that you will be able to trust that image quality is second to none for a camera this size and price.

Expand full review >>

Price Paid:    $430.00

Purchased At:   Taipei, Taiwan (ther

Similar Products Used:   This is my first digital camera.



Reviews 1 - 3 (3 Reviews Total)

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  • Image Sensor TypeCCD
    Resolution5.3 Megapixel
    Optical Zoom3x
    Camera TypeCompact
    Interchangeable LensNot Interchangeable Lenses
    35mm Zoom Lens36 - 108 mm
    Digital Zoom4.1x
    Focus TypeAutofocus
    Focus Range18 in. to Infinity (w) / 18 in. to Infinity (t)
    Macro Focus Range2 - 18 in. (w) / 12 - 18 in. (t)
    Focal Length7.4 - 22.2 mm
    Camera Resolution5.3 Megapixel
    Image Resolutions640 x 480 • 2592 x 1944 • 2048 x 1536 • 1600 x 1200
    Video Resolutions320 x 240 (QVGA) • 640 x 480 (VGA) • 160 x 120
    Video Speed15 fps
    Max Movie Length180 Seconds
    Video FormatAVI
    Aperture Rangef2.8/f4.9 (w/t)
    Shutter Speed15 - 1/2000 sec
    White BalanceAuto • Daylight / Sunny (Preset) • Cloudy (Preset) • Fluorescent (Preset) • Tungsten (Preset)
    Frames Per Second2.2 Frames
    Memory TypeCompactFlash Card Type I
    Compression ModesFine • SuperFine • Normal
    Compression TypeJPEG
    File Size (High Res.)2 MB (64 images on 128MB card)
    File Size (Low Res.)0.08 MB (about 1,600 images on 128MB card)
    ISO SpeedsAuto • 50 • 100 • 200 • 400
    Flash TypeBuilt-In
    Flash FunctionsFlash Off • Auto Flash • Fill-in Flash • Red-eye Reduction Flash • Slow Sync
    ViewfinderOptical
    LCD PanelWith LCD Panel
    LCD Panel Size1.5 in.
    LCD Screen Resolution118,000 pixels
    LCD Protected PositionWithout LCD Protected Position
    Interface TypeUSB
    Video InterfaceVideo Out
    Battery TypeProprietary Lithium
    Battery Life190 Images
    Self Timer2 Sec. • 10 Sec.
    Mp3 Built In
    Built-in MicrophoneWith Built-in Microphone
    Built-in SpeakerWith Built-in Speaker
    Tripod MountWith Tripod Mount
    Operating SystemApple Mac OS 9 • Apple Mac OS X • Microsoft Windows 2000 • Microsoft Windows 98 • Microsoft Windows 98SE • Microsoft Windows ME • Microsoft Windows XP
    Width3.43 in.
    Depth1.09 in.
    Height2.24 in.
    Weight0.41 lb.
    Warranty1 Year
    Included AccessoriesSoftware • USB Cable • Video Cable • Hand Strap • 32 MB Memory Card • Lithium Battery • Battery Charger
    MPN9343a005aa
    Product ID22128121
    BatteriesRechargeable Lithium-ion
    ExposureProgram AE w. exposure compensation
    File FormatJPEG
    Interface TypeUSB
    LCD Monitor1.5 inch TFT color LCD
    Lens7.4-22.2mm f/2.8-4.9 (35mm equiv: 36-108mm) w. 4.1x digital zoom
    Max Resolution2592 x 1944 pixels
    Release Date6/1/2004
    SensitivityAuto, ISO 50, 100, 200, 400
    Sensor5.3 megapixel 1/1.8 inch CCD
    Storage MediaCompactFlash Type I

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