Canon EOS 500D (EOS Kiss Digital X3 / EOS Rebel T1i) review

Good, but expensive.

I've been using this camera for a month with the Canon 18-200 IS. Don't buy the 18-55 kit its toooo lilte. Spent some more (kit costs 1200€) for the 18-200 so you'll never (or rarely) need to change the lens.

About image quality i can say nothing new.It very good.. Read the reviews, and see some samples.

Robust contraction, and ease of use are two advantages of this camera. I prefer Canon user interface than Nikon's. It is a quick responsive camera, with good ergonomics.

Although canon uses a lot of useful shortcuts (ISO, Compensation, AE-Lock, spot) , i would prefer more customization, especially on the four 'cross' buttons from which i only like the two (WB, Shoot mode). I would like to change the other two, and also the almost-useless (for me) button of choosing focus points (who uses the "second uper left" focus point anyway?).

Anyway.. Menus is well organized for most options, but some useful settings are 'lost' (bared) in what is called "custom functions". It takes some time to find.. lets say "2nd curter slow sync setting". It took me 5 minutes, and now i don't remember where i found it :))

I would also prefer some MORE options on image saving format. I can choose only Jpeg (15mp Large-BIG, Large-Small, 8mp Medium-Big, Medium-Small, and a 3,7mp Small), and only RAW. Also there is an option for RAW+L (raw+large Jpeg). I would expect a RAW+S (Small jpeg just for fast review and RAW for all the rest). 5d has this option, why not the 500d?

Excellent 3'', 920000pixels LCD (A LOT better than nikon's 5000d). Screens helps alot to spot faults on your pictures, and also makes reviewing them in your camera enjoyable.

Movie Mode
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I find 720p Video (did not try 1080, as it is MB consuming!) very useful and actually cool to have. It captures excellent quality, but forget about AF on video. It is practically (almost) useless, as it does stupid things, which are recorded to your video. it opens and closes aperture (to find more contrast), it goes from 0 to infinity and finally focuses nothing

Ok, sometimes contrast-AF works, but let's say its better to focus before shotting, or use MF
Use it on low light as it cannot open any further the aperture Also remember you need to press * (AF button on Video-mode), for few time, and only at really contrasty spots on your compositions (place the focus-square on something with contrast).

Hopefully a firmware will fix this useless contrast-based AF of canon... Why Lumix GH-1, can really focus fast, with Contrast detect, and canon cannot >:(

Price
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About price.. It is a 'new' Canon (time of writing June 09) with a 'new' video capability. For this reason you spent about 150-200€ more than it worths But then again, maybe Video mode, worths 200€ more.

Problems:

so far so good..

HD Video needs, FAST memory SDHC cards (class 6 and above). Some buffering problems have been reported with specific SDHC class 6 memory cards (Sorry I will not say the brand). Read some user's reviews on amazon before you buy one.

PS. I use a Transent 8g class 6, and it works fine!