Review based on a production Canon EOS 500D
Just 14 months after the launch of the EOS Rebel XSi (450D), Canon has unveiled its latest model, the Rebel T1i (500D). It's the fifth generation of Rebel and enters the market at a difficult time - in the midst of a global economic downturn and against the fiercest competition we've ever seen in the entry-level DSLR sector. So what has Canon done to make this latest model in the longest-established family in the sector live up to the edgy and exciting image implied by its US naming?
The 500D/T1i doesn't quite have to be the everyman camera that its predecessors were. The introduction of the Rebel XS (1000D) in June 2008 means the T1i no longer has to appeal to everybody who doesn't want to stretch to buying into the 50D class. As a result, the 450D was able to bulk up its feature set to include a selection of features that price-conscious shoppers don't necessarily realize they want, such as a larger viewfinder and spot metering. The result was probably the most complete Rebel we'd seen.
There's a full explanation of the differences between the 500D/T1i and it predecessor on the coming pages but, in general terms, it's a gentle re-working of the 450D. So you get the 15MP sensor much like the one that appears in the 50D, helping this to become the first entry-level DSLR to feature video (and 1080p HD video at that). You also get the lovely 920,000 dot VGA monitor that has been slowly working its way down most manufacturer's DSLR line-ups. There are a handful of other specification tweaks that come from the use of the latest Digic 4 processor but essentially this is most of a 50D stuffed into the familiar 450D body.
And, if the loss of the letter 'X' from the US name seems a bit disconcerting, you can comfort yourself with the knowledge that the Japanese market will still know it by the odd-to-European-ears 'Kiss X3 Digital.' For simplicity's sake, we'll refer to the 500D/T1i/Kiss X3 by the name 500D throughout the rest of the review.
* The Canon EOS 1000D represents a sub-class of the Rebel series and hence should be considered a parallel series
Although for the time being the EOS 500D will sit alongside the 450D in the Canon DSLR line-up there is no doubt that sooner or later it will replace the older model and occupy the spot between the 1000D as and the EOS 50D on its own. The most noticeable new features on the EOS 500D are the higher resolution sensor, the new high-res LCD and the HD video mode but the camera also comes with the latest generation DIGIC imaging processor which brings a few more low-key improvements such as fine-tunable noise reduction and Highlight Tone Priority or a fresher, animated menu design with it. See the list and table below for all the spec and feature changes..
 Canon EOS 500D  |
 Canon EOS 450D |
|
|---|---|---|
| Sensor | • 15.1 million effective pixels | • 12.2 million effective pixels |
| Image sizes | • 4752 x 3168 • 3456 x 2304 • 2353 x 1568 |
• 4272 x 2848 • 3088 x 2056 • 2256 x 1504 |
| Image processor | DIGIC 4 | DIGIC III |
| Sensitivity | ISO 100 to 3200, extendable to(6400) and H (12800). | ISO 100 to 1600 |
| Auto ISO | ISO 100 to 1600 | ISO 100 to 800 |
| Noise reduction | Four levels | On/Off |
| Auto lighting optimizer | Four levels | On/Off |
| Viewfinder info | Now includes Highlight Tone Priority icon | |
| LCD monitor | • 3.0 " TFT LCD • 920,000 dots |
• 3.0 " TFT LCD • 230,000 dots |
| Video mode | • 1080p @ 20fps • 720p @ 30fps • VGA @ 30fps • MOV (Video: H.264, Sound: Linear PCM) |
No video capability |
| Live view AF | • Quick mode (Phase detect) • Live view mode (Contrast detect) • Face detect (Contrast detect) |
• Quick mode (Phase detect) • Live view mode (Contrast detect) |
Peripheral illumination |
• Profiles of 25 lenses includes |
|
| High-speed continuous | • 3.4 fps • 170 JPEG/Fine frames • 9 RAW frames |
• 3.5 fps • 53 JPEG/Fine frames • 6 RAW frames |
| Menu UI | Digic 4 interface | Digic III interface |
| Connectors | • USB 2.0 Hi-Speed • Video output (PAL/ NTSC) (integrated with USB terminal) • HDMI Type C |
• USB 2.0 Hi-Speed • Video output (PAL/ NTSC) (integrated with USB terminal) |
| Menu languages | 25 | 20 |
If you're new to digital photography you may wish to read some of our Digital Photography Glossary before diving into this article (it may help you understand some of the terms used).
Conclusion / recommendation / ratings are based on the opinion of the author, we recommend that you read the entire review before making any decision. Images which can be viewed at a larger size have a small magnifying glass icon in the bottom right corner of them, click to display a larger image in a new window.
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Dpreview use calibrated monitors at the PC normal gamma 2.2, this means that on our monitors we can make out the difference between all of the grayscale blocks below. We recommend to make the most of this review you should be able to see the difference (at least) between X,Y and Z and ideally also A, B and C.
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Canon EOS Rebel T1i 15.1 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with 3-Inch LCD (Body Only) | $999.00 |
19 Piece Super Zoom Kit with Canon EOS Rebel T1i 500D 15.1 MP Digital SLR Camera with Canon EF-S 18-55mm IS Lens + Canon 75-300mm Telephoto Zoom Lens + Rokinon 650-1300mm Lens with 2X Converter (=1300-2600mm) Zoom Lens + 8 GB Memory Card + Multi-Coated 3 Piece Filter Kit + Extra High Capacity Li-Ion Battery + Back Pack Case + 57" Tripod + 6 Piece Camera Accessory Kit + 3 Year Celltime Warranty Repair Contract | $1,430.00 |
20 Piece All Purpose Kit with Canon EOS Rebel T1i 500D 15.1 MP Digital SLR Camera (Black Body) + Sigma 28-300mm f/3.5-6.3 DG IF Macro Aspherical Lens + 8 GB Memory Card + Multi-Coated 3 Piece Filter Kit + Premier Holster Case + 50" Tripod + 6 Piece Camera Accessory Kit + 3 Year Celltime Warranty Repair Contract | $1,185.00 |
22 Piece All Inclusive Kit with Canon EOS Rebel T1i 500D 15.1 MP Digital SLR Camera (Black Body) + Sigma 28-300mm f/3.5-6.3 DG IF Macro Aspherical Lens + Rokinon 500mm Lens with 2x Converter (=1000mm) + 8 GB Memory Card + Multi-Coated 3 Piece Filter Kit + Premier Holster Case + 50" Tripod + 6 Piece Camera Accessory Kit + 3 Year Celltime Warranty Repair Contract | $1,300.00 |
Canon EOS Rebel T1i 15.1 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with 3-Inch LCD and EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens | $489.00 |
Canon EOS Rebel T1i 15.1 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with 3-Inch LCD (Body Only) | $999.00 |
Canon EOS Rebel T3i 18 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS II Zoom Lens & EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III Telephoto Zoom Lens + 11pc Bundle 16GB Deluxe Accessory Kit | Too low to display |
Canon EOS Rebel T3i 18 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS II Zoom Lens + 10pc Bundle 16GB Deluxe Accessory Kit | $599.00 |
Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4.0-5.6 IS II Telephoto Zoom Lens (Import) for Canon EOS 7D, 60D, 70D, Rebel SL1, T1i, T2i, T3, T3i, T4i, T5i, XS, XSi, XT, & XTi Digital SLR Cameras + 6pc Bundle Accessory Kit | $177.77 |
Canon EOS Rebel T2i 18 MP CMOS APS-C Sensor DIGIC 4 Image Processor Full-HD Movie Mode Digital SLR Camera with 3.0-inch LCD and EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens | $469.99 |
Canon EOS Rebel T3 12.2 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS II Zoom Lens + 16GB Deluxe Accessory Kit | $449.00 |
Canon EOS Rebel T2i 18 MP CMOS APS-C Sensor DIGIC 4 Image Processor Full-HD Movie Mode Digital SLR Camera with a 3.0-Inch LCD and Dedicated Movie Button (Body Only) | $519.00 |
Focus Camera Canon EOS Rebel T5i 18.0 MP CMOS Digital Camera with EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM Zoom Lens + EF-S 55-250mm f/4.0-5.6 IS Telephoto Zoom Lens + Telephoto & Wide Angle Lenses + 12pc Bundle 32GB Deluxe Accessory Kit | $979.00 |
Canon EOS Rebel T3i 18 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS II Zoom Lens & EF-S 55-250mm f/4.0-5.6 IS Telephoto Zoom Lens + 10pc Bundle 16GB Deluxe Accessory Kit | $749.00 |
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