The New Canon Powershot S500 Digital Elph Is this the definitive micro-cam?
Written: Apr 04 '04 (Updated Apr 27 '04)
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Pros: Ultra-Compact Size, 5 megapixels, 3x Optical Zoom, Print/Share button, very fast operation
Cons: Weak flash and Redeye problems, no scene modes
The Bottom Line: The new Canon Powershot S500 provides a near perfect balance of tough as nails durability, ultra-compact size, intuitive ease of use, and excellent five megapixel images.
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| Howard_Creech's Full Review: Canon PowerShot S500 / IXUS 500 Digital Camera |
One of the high-tech revolution’s most interesting areas has been the ultra compact digicam camera marketing niche. Canon’s digital Elph models have consistently dominated that market sector with their classy synthesis of style and substance and the new Powershot S500 continues that tradition. The S500 offers consumers five megapixel resolution, a fully retractable 3X optical zoom, a tough as nails stainless steel body, point & shoot ease of use, and a genuinely useful selection of nifty features---all shoehorned into a body small enough to be dropped into a shirt pocket or slipped into a small purse. If you’re one of those people who want to have a camera with you at all times, the capable little S500 pretty much guarantees you’ll be ready when one of those “Kodak moments” occurs.
What’s New? How does the S500 differ from the S400
On the surface, there is very little difference between the S500 and its predecessor the S400. The most important differences are under the hood. The S500’s five megapixel CCD imager (the same unit found on Canon’s popular PowerShot G5 and S50 digicams) provides consumers with a 25 per cent increase in resolution over the four megapixel S400.
Canon's newest digital cameras (including the S500) feature a Print/Share button which allows simplified direct printing with compatible Canon Direct Photo and PictBridge printers and one-touch image transfer to Windows XP, Me, 2000, and 98SE computers. The S500 can also record video clips (with audio) up to 30 seconds in duration at 640x480 (the S400 was limited to 320X240) @ 10 fps.
Nuts & Bolts
Viewfinder/LCD
The S500 utilizes the same real image zooming optical viewfinder as the S400. The S500’s coupled tunnel style optical viewfinder is bright, sharp, color correct, and fluid. It covers a bit less than 85 per cent of the frame and doesn’t provide dioptric adjustment for eyeglasses wearers.
The 1.5” color LCD screen is sharp, clear, color correct, fluid and the non-reflective coating makes it easy to use in bright lighting. LCD images can be magnified up to 10x (in Playback mode) and users can adjust the brightness level.
Lens
The S500 features an f2.8-4.9/36-108mm (35mm equivalent) all-glass 3X zoom lens. When the camera is powered up, the lens automatically extends from the camera body. When the camera is powered down the lens is fully retracted into the S500’s body and a built in lens cover slides into place to protect the front element of the lens. Minimum focusing distance (in macro mode) is 2 inches.
The S500’s 3x zoom exhibits noticeable barrel distortion at the wide-angle end of the zoom range, some minor softness in the corners, and a very minor pin cushioning at full telephoto. Chromatic aberration (purple fringing) is minimal and very well controlled. Zoom operation is fast, smooth, and fairly quiet.
Canon’s DIGIC Processor
High-resolution digital cameras have to process massive amounts of image data quickly. Canon’s DIGIC Processor (Digital Imaging Integrated Circuit) combines image processing and camera control functions in one chip to more efficiently manage Auto Exposure, Auto Focus, Auto White Balance, JPEG compression, gain control, and most other “auto” functions. This more efficient approach results in faster processing and write times, lower power consumption, and enhanced auto focusing speed and accuracy while utilizing complex proprietary imaging algorithms to produce images that are optimized for sharp resolution, balanced contrast, low noise, and accurate colors.
Auto Focus
The S500’s 9 focus point AiAF (Advanced intelligent Auto Focus) system covers a much larger part of the image area than earlier AF systems making it easier (and faster) for the AF system to analyze the scene in front of the camera and accurately calculate camera to subject distance to determine which AF point is closest to the primary subject and lock focus on that AF point, even when the subject is not centered in the viewfinder. Creative users can select which of the 9 focus points they want to manually line up with the closest element in the frame. This makes compositions look better because the primary subject is not always placed dead center, snapshooter style.
Manual Focus
The S500 has no provision for manual focusing.
Flash
The S500’s tiny built-in multi mode flash provides a fairly standard selection of lighting options including Red-Eye Reduction and Slow-Synch modes. Maximum flash range is (according to Canon) eleven feet, but realistically anything beyond 6-7 feet is going to be pretty dark, unless you shoot in light colored surroundings with lots of ambient light.
Memory Media
CompactFlash (Type I) cards
Power
The S500 uses the same NB-1LH. Li-ion rechargeable battery that powers the S400 (older NB-1L batteries will work as shorter duration back ups). The NB-1LH is good for about 180-200 exposures (occasional flash and continuous LCD use). Continuous review of captured images substantially lowers battery life. The included charger plugs directly into the wall and charges the battery in about two hours. Plan to spend about $60.00 for a back-up NB-1LH.
Exposure
Auto mode
Select the S500’s auto mode and the camera makes all important exposure decisions----just “point & shoot”. The AiAF (advanced intelligent auto focus), DIGIC processor chip (first seen in the groundbreaking G3), and accurate evaluative metering system produce consistently excellent images.
Manual Mode
The S500’s "manual" mode permits only limited user input (shooters can select ISO sensitivity, enable a Photo Effect, disable AiAF, lock exposure/focus, modify exposure compensation, adjust white balance, change metering options, and select shutter speeds) and the camera controls aperture settings in all modes.
Macro Mode
The S500’s macro capabilities are adequate for e-bay images and simple close-ups, but artistic compositions with bugs and flowers are likely to be disappointing.
Movie Mode
The Powershot S500’s movie mode is somewhat improved over the S400’s. Video clips (with sound) can be shot @ 640x480 at 10 fps for up to 30 seconds. At 320x240 and 160x120, the frame rate is 15 fps and the maximum recording limit is 3 minutes. Unlike most ultra-compact digital cameras, the S500 features a tiny built-in speaker for audio playback. The S500’s Voice Memo feature allows users to add voice notes to saved images.
Metering
The S500’s default evaluative metering system is consistently accurate in all but the most difficult lighting situations. Experienced photographers can opt for center weighted averaging or Spot metering for trickier lighting or for more traditional looking compositions.
White Balance
The S500’s White balance options are fairly standard with settings for: Auto, daylight, cloudy, tungsten, two fluorescent modes, and a custom (one-push WB set) mode.
Sensitivity
ISO Sensitivity TTL Auto, 50, 100, 200, 400 (35mm equivalents)
Noise Reduction
Noise reduction is automatic on long exposures (1to 15 seconds).
In-Camera Image Adjustment
The Photo Effects mode allows shooters to make in camera image adjustments. Users can select vivid or neutral color saturation, low sharpening, and sepia or B&W tonal effects.
Night/Low Light Photography
The S500 does slightly better in low light situations than earlier digital Elph models, however micro digital cameras don’t perform well in night/low light situations, as a class.
Controls, Design, & Ergonomics
The Canon Powershot S500 is a stylish point & shoot micro digicam with a scratch resistant matte finished stainless steel body. The S500 is amazingly easy to use. Minimal controls are logically placed and handling quickly becomes intuitive. Folks with larger hands may need a little hands-on practice to overcome the “fumble finger” syndrome.
Technical Specifications
Resolution: 5 megapixels (2592x1944)
Viewfinder: optical (real image) zooming & 1.5" TFT LCD
Lens: f2.8 -f4.9/36-108 mm (35mm equivalent) 3X zoom
Exposure: Auto, Manual (minimal)
Flash: built-in multi mode (Auto, Slow Sync, Red-Eye Reduction)
Focus Aid Beam: Yes
Metering: evaluative, center-weighted, spot
White balance: Auto, Daylight, Cloudy, Tungsten, Fluorescent, Fluorescent H, & Custom
Shutter speed: auto---15 seconds to 1/2000th of a second
Exposure compensation: yes-- +/- 2EV in 1/3EV increments
Noise Reduction: yes (automatic on long exposures)
In-camera Image Adjustment: yes w/Photo Effects mode: Low Sharpening, Vivid Color, Neutral color, Sepia and B&W
ISO Sensitivity: 50 / 100 / 200 / 400 (35mm equivalents)
Image format: jpeg
Connectivity: USB & Video out
Image storage: CompactFlash type I
Street Price Range $499.00 - $429.00
Included
32MB CompactFlash card, NB-1LH rechargeable Li-ion battery, Battery Charger, Wrist strap, USB cable, A/V cable, software CD-ROMs, printed user’s and software manuals
Optional
WP-DC500 & WP-DC800 waterproof cases, ACK500 AC adapter, Car-Battery Charger, and Canon soft case
In the Field/Handling & Operation
I got together with a good friend (who sells new and used digital and analog photographic equipment) to check out Canon’s new Powershot S500. Our first outing with the newest digital Elph was a trip to Cave Hill Cemetery. The weather was excellent (mid sixties, blue skies, and puffy white clouds) and Louisville’s oldest graveyard was filled with blooming trees and shrubs to set off the thousands of 19th century grave markers. There’s also a small lake filled with swans, geese, and ducks so local shutterbugs always have something to shoot. We spent about an hour photographing all the folks feeding the ducks and geese and got several interesting shots of small children feeding ducks and geese.
After we finished up at Cave Hill we headed for nearby Seneca Park to shoot one of my favorite local nature subjects, a small waterfall right at the edge of the golf course. We’ve had some rain in the past week so the little waterfall was running pretty good. I set up a Cullman Travel Mini tripod and mounted the S500 and spent about half an hour shooting the water tumbling over the rocks and branches at the base of the falls.
After we finished up we headed for the Heine Brothers Coffee shop right across from the Mid City Mall. An alert photographer can sit outside around the small patio and squeeze off a few grab shots without attracting too much attention, especially with a digicam as small as the S500. The Baxter Avenue Cineplex, several upscale (and a couple not so upscale) restaurants, and the Comedy Caravan keep Bardstown Road jumping on Saturday afternoon and evening. We spent about half an hour sneaking candids of some of the more interesting pedestrians before calling it a day.
My friend and I got together Sunday morning and drove out to Blackacre State Nature Preserve. Edward Tyler and his adult sons built homes on Chenoweth Run and farmed the land. Springs and seasonal streams provided plenty of pure water, and massive old growth forests with plentiful limestone outcroppings supplied all the building materials the family needed. Three of the original homesteads survive (each with its own springhouse) and there’s an original log barn (called a pole barn in Kentucky) and a small family cemetery.
Today, the area is called the Tyler Settlement Rural Historic District. Edward Tyler’s grandson built a brick farmhouse at the settlement in 1844 and that house is now the administrative and visitors center for the nature preserve and the historic settlement. The fields, woods, ponds, and streams that make up the Blackacre State Nature Preserve surround the tiny pioneer settlement. The area is used primarily for environmental and historical education by Metro Louisville’s public schools, but the area is open to the public (on Sundays) in the spring and fall.
The Blackacre State Nature Preserve provides a home for old growth trees, native bushes, shrubs, wildflowers, and prairie plants. The preserve provides habitat for salamanders, frogs, terrapins, great blue herons, red tailed hawks, barn owls, white tailed deer, opossum, raccoons, squirrels, rabbits, coyotes, and groundhogs. The preserve staff has cataloged 145 seasonal wildflowers, 61 different butterflies, 19 mammals, and 81 bird species. A gravel road runs through the village and the preserve has three hiking trails.
Sunday started out cold and cloudy, but by early afternoon the sky was blue and the light was wonderful. We wandered around and shot pictures in the historic settlement and along the hiking trails. We used the S500 in macro mode to shoot close-ups of Rue Anemone, Spring Beauties, Trout Lily, and Cut-Leafed Toothwort. Blackacre is an oasis of natural serenity, almost like a trip back in time to simpler era.
We printed two 8X10 enlargements (with an Epson 2200 on Epson photo paper) and both were very good with excellent color and surprising detail, easily comparable to commercially processed 35mm (ISO 200-400) enlargements. Image noise is minimal at ISO 50 and 100 and not too bad at ISO 200, but ISO 400 show fairly high noise levels.
Performance
Image Quality
Resolution is obviously a major factor in just how good the images from any given digital camera will be, but image quality is not reliant solely on resolution. Two other important considerations, the optical quality of the camera’s lens and how well the camera’s image processor handles its job, will ultimately have just as much impact on the finished product (the image) as resolution. The S500’s excellent 3X zoom and 9 point AiAF system, DIGIC processor, and the same the five megapixel imager used in the upscale G5 work together beautifully to produce well above average digital images. Even complete tyros should be able to shoot stunning pictures in P&S mode with the S500. Colors are well saturated with balanced contrast and consistently good shadow detail. Excellent enlargements (up to 8X10) are easy and fairly decent 11X14 enlargements shouldn’t be a problem.
Start-Up/Shutter Lag/CycleTimes
The S500 is ready to go (boot-up time) in about 2 seconds, which is very quick, noticeably better than average for ultra-compact digital cameras with retractable zooms. Write to card times are equally impressive. Shutter lag (from almost instantaneous with pre-focusing to about one second from scratch) is markedly improved over earlier digital ELPH models. AF lag is virtually non existent in good lighting and faster than average at lower light levels. Shot-to-shot times are also excellent, averaging about one second.
A Few Concerns
The S500’s lens exhibits very slight chromatic aberration and some minor barrel distortion at the wide-angle end of the zoom range. The tiny flash is not much help except under optimum conditions and (like all ultra compact digicams) the S500 has serious red-eye problems. Low light images (especially at ISO 400) display increased levels of digital noise. At ISO 400 the S500 is noticeably noisier than the S400. Why doesn’t the S500 have any scene modes? The (relatively easy) addition of basic Portrait, Landscape, Night/Lowlight, and Action/Sports scene modes would have substantially improved an already amazing digicam
Conclusion
Is Canon’s newest digital ELPH the ultimate micro cam? At this point in the rapid evolution of digital imaging the answer is probably yes. The S500 is certainly the most impressive ELPH yet and an almost perfect choice for weight conscious travel photographers, bikers, and backpackers because of its tiny size, tough as nails construction, rich feature set, and excellent images. If you’re looking for a digital camera with high resolution, point & shoot ease of use, and ultra-compact size----the S500 is just about as good as it gets---for now, anyway. Recommended without reservation.
My Final Word
Photography (whether digital or analog) has always been about compromises and tiny cameras have inherent limitations that cannot be completely overcome. Consumers should seriously consider the fact that micro-cams consistently provide shorter battery life and zoom lenses that are more prone to distortion than similar standard sized digital cameras. The S500’s hefty price tag may also discourage some potential purchasers, but bargain hunters will quickly discover the S400 is cheaper and it shares most of the nifty features that make the S500 so attractive.
Remember, Epinions is always your best source for independent and unbiased electronics reviews.
Links
For definitive advice on How to Choose a Digital Camera please see my review:
http://www.epinions.com/elec-review-2E46-17B174E2-39A418E3-prod1
If you’d like to compare the S500 with other ultra-compact (micro) digital cameras, you may find the reviews below informative
Canon Digital Cameras
Canon Powershot S400
http://www.epinions.com/content_94761619076
Canon Powershot S230
http://www.epinions.com/content_78900203140
Canon Powershot SD100
http://www.epinions.com/content_114288463492
Minolta Digital Cameras
Minolta Dimage Xt
http://www.epinions.com/content_106698870404
Olympus Digital Cameras
Olympus Camedia c50
http://www.epinions.com/content_81891724932
Pentax Digital Cameras
Pentax Optio S
http://www.epinions.com/content_102275059332
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 499.00
This Camera is a Good Choice if You Want Something... Easy Enough for Anyone to Use
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Howard_Creech
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Member: Howard Creech
Location: Louisville, KY
Reviews written: 333
Trusted by: 1274 members
About Me:
Photographer/Writer fascinated by Movies, Music, Books, American Diner Food, History, "Popular Culture", and Travel.
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