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Canon Powershot SD500 Review
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Review Summary
Reader Score: 7.31 (out of 10)
Digital cameras have come a long way in the past few years, and a perfect example of the progress this technology has made is the Canon PowerShot SD500 Digital Elph camera ($480). Even though it's tiny, it features 7.1 megapixel digital imaging and a 3x optical zoom. We extensively tested the new camera by taking hundreds of shots in a variety of circumstances, and evaluated its video features as well. Our conclusion was that good things do indeed come in small packages.
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Other Reviews For This Model
| Review Site |
Review Score |
Date |
Link |
| DCResource |
9.07 |
04-29-05 |
Read Full Review
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| Updated 4/29/2005 - When Canon set out to make an ultra compact, ultra high resolution camera, it wasn't as simple as dropping a new CCD into an existing body. The reason for that is due to the size of the CCD sensor itself: on the SD200, SD300, and the new SD400, the CCD is 1/2.5" in size. But a 7.1 Megapixel sensor -- also used in the PowerShot G6 and S70 -- is physically larger (1/1.8"), so it wouldn't work in the SD200/300/400 body. So, Canon designed a camera that shares most of the guts of the other SD series cameras and gave it a radically different look. That camera is the PowerShot SD500 Digital ELPH ($500). Canon calls it a "perpetual curve" design, and it's certainly eye-catching. Since the sensor and lens are larger, the whole camera is as well. It's about a quarter inch thicker than the other SD models, and it's 30% heavier as well. |
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| Review Site |
Review Score |
Date |
Link |
| DigiCam Review |
9.00 |
09-02-05 |
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| The Canon Digital IXUS 700 / SD500 features a Canon 3x optical zoom lens, a 7.2 megapixel sensor, and a large 2" screen (the newer IXUS 750 features a 2.5" screen). The IXUS 700 is available from around £275 | $396, making the IXUS 700 decent value for money. The camera's 3x optical zoom lens is equivalent to 37 – 111mm on a 35mm camera. The camera is enclosed in a silver aluminium body. It records unlimited 640 x 480 / 30fps videos with sound. The camera's very compact (it will easily fit into trouser pockets), takes a rechargable lithium-ion battery and measures: 89.5 x 57.0 x 26.5 mm (without protruding parts), and weighs 170g (without batteries and memory card) |
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| Review Site |
Review Score |
Date |
Link |
| Digital Camera Info |
8.86 |
04-14-05 |
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| Canon added the 7.1-megapixel PowerShot SD500 to its Digital Elph line in February, 2005. The new model again expresses Canon's Elph-line philosophy of excellent imaging in small packaging; the SD500 has a 1/1.8-inch CCD with 7.4 total megapixels and Canon Digic II image processor housed in its thin, 6-ounce durable plastic body. Canon engineers departed from the sharp, linear Elph aesthetic, opting for a more fluid styling, dubbed the "Perpetual Curve Design." The compact camera boasts a 3x optical zoom lens and 2-inch LCD screen and retails for a bold $499.99 (USD). |
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| Review Site |
Review Score |
Date |
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| Imaging-Resource |
8.83 |
04-21-05 |
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| Almost the same size as the predecessor PowerShot S500 model, the new Canon PowerShot SD500 features the great looks and sharp design that are a signature of Canon's ELPH cameras. Canon refers to the SD500 as having "Perpetual Curve Design", which basically means that there are few flat surfaces or right-angled corners on the camera body - it has a very smooth, comfortable feel in your hands. Very compact and quick on the draw (thanks to a smoothly operating retractable lens design), the Canon SD500 is a convenient point-and-shoot digital camera with a handful of extra exposure features for added flexibility, including a few features that you might not use every day, but that add some "wow" factor. |
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| Review Site |
Review Score |
Date |
Link |
| Mac World |
8.33 |
05-26-05 |
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| The 7.1-megapixel Canon PowerShot SD500 is a smooth operator, housed in a sleek metallic body and capable of taking outstanding images, but its dearth of manual features and high price make it an expensive choice.
At six ounces (without batteries), and about the size of a deck of cards, the SD500 is a true pocket camera. The 2-inch LCD is bright and easy to see, even in afternoon sunlight, and it brightens automatically when shooting in low-light conditions. Its buttons and controls are well-placed and menus are easy to read and navigate. Unfortunately, there's no live histogram to help you gauge exposure. |
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| Review Site |
Review Score |
Date |
Link |
| DPReview |
7.95 |
04-15-05 |
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| Announced just before PMA in February 2005, the SD500 (which goes by the names of Digital Ixus 700 in Europe and IXY DIGITAL 600 in Japan) is the latest in a long line of ultra-compact 'ELPH' or 'IXUS' cameras stretching back to early 2000 (and a lot farther back than that in the film camera world). The 7 megapixel SD500 is curvier and slightly wider than previous models, and replaces the S500 (IXUS 500) as the flagship of the range (it's around 8% lighter than that model). Other changes (many also seen in the new SD400) include a new mode dial, faster USB 2.0 connectivity, improved performance thanks to the DIGIC II processor and upgraded movie capabilities. Like its predecessors, the SD500 lacks much in the way of manual controls, but it does manage to cram a lot of high end features into its diminutive all-metal casing.
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| Review Site |
Review Score |
Date |
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| PC Magazine |
7.83 |
03-29-05 |
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| Canon has added yet another sibling to its ever-popular Digital Elph series—the 7.1-megapixel Canon PowerShot SD500 Digital Elph. As we've said time and again, having more megapixels doesn't necessarily lead to better images. But we certainly can't argue with this camera's excellent image quality. The SD500 also performed very well on our speed and sharpness tests, and it's got a fun My Color feature that will appeal to many types of shooters. Overall, the SD500 is strong enough to earn Editors' Choice among ultracompact cameras. |
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| Review Site |
Review Score |
Date |
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| Megapixel |
7.00 |
09-04-05 |
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| The latest addition to Canon's Digital Elph/IXUS line is the SD500 (IXUS 700 in Europe) which offers a 7.1 megapixel resolution. This new camera retains the family's good looks, offering a 3X zoom and a 2-inch LCD monitor. Barely bigger than previous models, the SD500 is a touch more rounded but still entirely metal-clad with a satin finish. The lens trim and the wrist strap post are both thickly chromed, their gloss combining with the satin surfaces to give this very compact camera a luxurious appearance. |
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| Review Site |
Review Score |
Date |
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| CNET Reviews |
6.67 |
04-07-05 |
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| Deuced machine! The Canon PowerShot SD500 is in many ways a lovely camera and in many ways a frustrating one. On the plus side, it has an exterior design that combines form and function more elegantly than any point-and-shoot we've ever tested. A Digic II-powered image-processing system enables the SD500 to snap a limitless stream of 7-megapixel photos at a respectable clip, and its start-up time is tops in its class. Unfortunately, the camera's downside is also substantial. Severe fringing, hit-and-miss focus, and high noise even at lower ISO settings bedevil the SD500's photos. In the end, this is a camera that we really enjoyed shooting with but whose weak photo quality ultimately disappointed us. |
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| Review Site |
Review Score |
Date |
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| Digital Trends |
6.67 |
09-12-05 |
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| Canon wins very high marks with this tiny camera. Picture quality is excellent, the form factor is terrific but not museum quality. One of the ELPH's few negatives is the proprietary lithium ion battery that really doesn't have the juice to keep you shooting for a day. A spare is mandatory as is a high-speed SD card. The LCD screen isn't the best in the world but it's more than adequate. Beyond that, you'll be shooting like crazy and since it's so small you'll take it everywhere. And that's what photography is all about. |
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| Review Site |
Review Score |
Date |
Link |
| Pocket-Lint |
6.67 |
07-04-05 |
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| Before you even think about buying this camera you have to ask yourself one key question. Do I really need 7 megapixels in a compact digital camera? I ask the question, because that's what the Ixus 700 offers, 7 megapixel resolution in a body the size of a bar of soap. |
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| Review Site |
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| Digital Camera Review |
----- |
05-02-05 |
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| One of the digital imaging revolution's most fascinating high-tech product developments was the ultra compact digital camera. Canon has dominated that very popular marketing niche since the first micro-cams hit store shelves and the new Canon Powershot SD500 continues that tradition. The SD500 offers consumers 7 megapixel resolution, a fully retractable 3X optical zoom, a tough as nails stainless steel body, and point & shoot ease of use -- all stuffed into a body small enough to be dropped into a shirt pocket. Canon's little pseudo spy cam is almost as cool as the highly modified Aston Martin DB4GT that "Q" issued to James Bond in Goldfinger and much more practical than the Personal Rocket Pack 007 used in From Russia with love. |
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