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Canon EOS 500D reviews
You can find here the most interesting reviews / ratings from the well-known expert sites about the Canon EOS 500D Camera. Here are the reviewers:
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- 05 October 2009 - |
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- 0 |
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- 23 August 2009 - |
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- 4.5 |
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- 06 July 2009 - |
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- 0 |
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- 29 June 2009 - |
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- 0 |
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- 19 June 2009 - |
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- 0 |
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- 08 June 2009 - |
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- 4 |
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- 25 May 2009 - |
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- 4.5 |
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- 13 May 2009 - |
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- 4.5 |
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- 10 May 2009 - |
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- 0 |
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- 24 March 2009 - |
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- 0 |
Imaging-resource 's conclusion / rating - 05 October 2009 |
“ So it's pretty clear, if the Beta unit's quality holds up, that the Canon Rebel T1i's image quality is at least as good as the Canon 50D, delivering more detail than most of the 12-megapixel cameras on the market for less money. Noise suppression is a bigger factor, but you can also turn that noise reduction down or off completely, or shoot 14-bit RAW, something we'll explore in greater depth when we get a shipping version of the Canon T1i.
Our experience with the Canon T1i was a good one, and shows that Canon is taking its digital SLR challengers quite seriously. Though the Canon T1i doesn't challenge the Nikon D90 on all fronts, it does take them on in the still resolution and movie mode department, and beats them in the price war, coming in $100 to $200 cheaper (depending on how soon and where you buy) in the body-only category.
More than ever, the Rebel T1i will serve as a consumer's first camera, or a pro's secondary body in a pinch. It's well built, smartly designed, and easy to use, and even though T1i sounds odd at first, we're sure people will get used to it and it will be extremely popular.
See our other tabs that go into greater detail about the Design, Optics, Exposure, and Image Quality of the Canon T1i... ”
Imaging-resource's rating: |
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- 0 |
Complete review here
LetsGoDigital 's conclusion / rating - 23 August 2009 |
“ It should not come as a surprise; the Canon EOS 500D will certainly offer you a positive shooting experience. The Canon 500D is backed up by a wealth of experience, thanks to the many generations that came before it, at which various innovative image solutions have passed by. It all sounds a bit boring, and from a tester's viewpoint it may be just that, but for the consumer, the Canon EOS 500D is an extremely full digital SLR camera providing many options to the amateur as well as the enhanced photographer... ”
LetsGoDigital's rating: |
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- 4.5 |
Complete review here
DCResource 's conclusion / rating - 06 July 2009 |
“ While it's not perfect, the Canon EOS Rebel T1i (also known as the EOS-500D) is a well-designed, compact digital SLR that takes good quality photos and videos. Whether you're just starting out or upgrading from an older Canon D-SLR, it's well worth a look. However, do check out the competition closely, as there are many great cameras in the entry-level category... ”
Complete review here
PhotographyBay 's conclusion / rating - 29 June 2009 |
“ Overall, I highly recommend the Canon Rebel T1i to anyone looking for a feature-rich and very capable DSLR on an entry-level budget. There are plenty of great DSLRs on the market - some offer more features and some may be cheaper. However, this is the best Rebel yet. Image quality rivals cameras much more expensive than it and, if you buy something cheaper, you’re going to miss out on some cutting edge stuff that only the Rebel T1i offers.
If you are comparing the Rebel T1i to the Nikon D5000, you are going to have a tough time deciding between the two. These cameras are so closely matched in terms of quality and features that it may boil down to which one feels better in your hands. Either way though, you won’t go wrong.
Finally, if you’ve never used a DSLR before (or even if you have and you don’t fully “get it”), I recommend that you pick up a copy of Bryan Peterson’s Understanding Exposure with your new camera. It is a priceless guide to learning and growing with any DSLR. At around $15, it’ll be the best bang for your buck that you ever spend on photography... ”
PhotographyBay's rating: |
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- 0 |
Complete review here
DigitalCameraReview 's conclusion / rating - 19 June 2009 |
“ The Canon Rebel T1i is both a great camera for the photographer looking to move up from compacts and advanced amateurs who want total control and excellent image quality. Most Canon Rebel generations only slightly evolve in terms of features – and mostly in subtle areas like resolution and more automatic control. The T1i has evolved much farther, making it the first Rebel with HD video. With a lot of pro and semi-pro features borrowed from the rest of Canon's line, the T1i is a good second entry into the DSLR/HD video camera hybrid category shared with the pro EOS 5D Mark II.
Not only do you get some of the trickle down technology from the mid-level 50D, you get it for less than its sticker price. Like most Canons that come off the assembly line, the T1i is great in low-light, has a respectable AF system, shoots great video and show impressive dynamic and tonal range in the images it produces. Best of all, you get the whole kit for $899. This is one of the better DSLRs I have shot with in the past few years, and by far the best Rebel yet to hit the market... ”
DigitalCameraReview's rating: |
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- 0 |
Complete review here
DPReview 's conclusion / rating - 08 June 2009 |
“ The EOS 500D is the latest incarnation of a highly successful line of cameras and although the 'entry level' market segment is these days much more crowded than it used to be, we would be very surprised if the new model would not sell like hotcakes.
All the major manufacturers cram more and more new features into their 'budget' offerings but the EOS 500D is arguably the currently best specced camera in the segment, which lifts it some distance above pure 'entry level' territory. It comes with the highest resolution sensor (15.1 effective megapixels) in its class, an excellent 3.0 inch high resolution screen, extended sensitivity up to ISO 12800 and the arguably for many users most attractive new feature, a movie mode that records 1080P/20fps or 720P/30fps High Definition video footage.
It combines all this with decent image quality and while its appearance might be a little plasticy and the handling can be difficult with larger hands the 500D's main problem could be that it's a little pricier than most of its direct competitors which, in these times of economic turmoil, might render it less attractive to some potential buyers... ”
Complete review here
CameraLabs 's conclusion / rating - 25 May 2009 |
“ Canon’s EOS 500D / Rebel T1i is a feature-packed DSLR which boasts a wide variety of improvements over its predecessor, the best-selling EOS 450D / Rebel XSi. Like many new DSLRs, the 500D / T1i inherits a number of features from a higher-end model in the range, but packages them into a smaller lighter and more affordable form factor with at least one key advantage.
In this case, the semi-pro EOS 50D provides much of the inspiration, with the same sensor resolution, ISO range, screen, HDMI port, Creative Auto mode, DIGIC 4 processor, highlight protection and peripheral correction just for starters. While there are technical differences between their sensors, both bodies shared essentially the same resolving power in our tests along with similar noise levels throughout most of the sensitivity range; the 50D’s gapless micro-lenses give it a slight advantage above 800 ISO, but the 500D / T1i wasn’t far behind.
Like the EOS 50D though, the fine pixel-pitch of a 15 Megapixel APS-C sensor demands decent optics to fully exploit it. In areas of the frame where the kit lens performs well, you’ll enjoy plenty of fine detail, but in other areas, you’d be hard pushed to notice much difference with a 12 Megapixel model. Even when fitted with a decent lens, the differences can be subtle, so our advice wouldn’t be to choose the 500D / T1i over a rival model based on resolution alone... ”
CameraLabs's rating: |
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- 4.5 |
Complete review here
PhotographyBLOG 's conclusion / rating - 13 May 2009 |
“ With the addition of full HD video, a greatly-expanded ISO range and a fantastically high-res LCD screen, the new Canon EOS 500D / Digital Rebel T1i has graduated to the ranks of mid-range, prosumer DSLR. Add an increased price-tag of $799.99 / £869.99, and this can no longer be considered an entry-level model, with a feature set and cost that in many ways equals and even surpasses the higher-in-the-range EOS 50D model. The 500D's handling certainly isn't as good, with a body that's still a little too small for average to large-sized hands, but for many people the inclusion of full HD video will more than compensate for that.
Trickling all the way down from the professional 5D Mark II, the inclusion of HD video is sure to guarantee lots additional sales for the 500D, although how many of those people will still be regularly using it after the initial excitement has died down remains to be seen. Just like the 5D Mark II, video recording on the EOS 500D is not the most user-friendly experience, with no handy one-touch recording, painfully slow autofocus that can't keep up with the action, inability to change the aperture or shutter speed, and the inherent handling quirks of the DSLR format. It also loses the external microphone socket of the 5D Mark II, relying on the under-powered built-in microphone instead. If you want to regularly capture successful home movies, you'd be better off with a dedicated video camera instead.
Improvements to the Canon EOS 500D / Digital Rebel T1i still image quality are much more successful, offering an amazing combination of high-resolution images with low-light performance. The new 15 megapixel CMOS sensor and expanded ISO range thankfully haven't compromised image quality in any way, quite the opposite in fact. There's virtually no visible noise at all from ISO 100 all the way up to ISO 1600, with even the three faster settings of 3200-12800 producing perfectly usable images. Quite amazing for this class of camera. Equally worth of praise is the new 920,000 dot LCD screen, which really brings your images alive and is great for showing them off to friends and family.
So in summary, the new Canon EOS 500D / Digital Rebel T1i is a much-improved DSLR camera that's easily worthy of our Highly Recommended award. It doesn't quite merit our full 5-star rating due to the combination of its high recommended retail price and quirky video mode, but the 500D is still one of the best mid-range DSLRs around... ”
PhotographyBLOG's rating: |
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- 4.5 |
Complete review here
DPInterface 's conclusion / rating - 10 May 2009 |
“ The new Canon EOS Rebel T1i aka EOS 500D is a relatively small digital SLR camera with 15 megapixels, a nice and large 3 inch LCD (which is as sharp as tacks), 3.4 FPS burst mode and it delivers good image quality. Perhaps someone got too focused on “keeping things small” and forgot about ergonomics – the Rebel T1i’s grip is too narrow and cramped for most people; this, of course, is subjective but don’t say I didn’t warn you.
As you’d expect from a digital SLR camera, the Rebel T1i can be souped up with an array of lenses, flashes and accessories (including wired and wireless remote control support). The bundled software is good too – Digital Photo Professional has an intuitive RAW image development interface and there’s even a piece of software which allows you to control the camera from your computer.
Though the Canon Rebel T1i doesn’t provide as many stepping stones as its competitors (the Rebel T1i doesn’t have as many scene modes and has a very simple playback mode) for compact camera users to step up to the digital SLR world, it still is an easy-to-use camera with clearly labeled buttons, 5 preset scene modes and a Creative Auto mode which allows you to test the waters of manual exposure/depth of field control.
Battery life here is about average – the camera can take up to 500 shots per charge, or double that if you’re using a battery grip. The Rebel T1i performed well in terms of speed with responsive operation, quick focusing (especially with USM drive lenses) and very good shot-to-shot times with low viewfinder blackout times. What can be improved here? RAW burst buffer depth – while you can take a whole lot of JPEG photos in a row at 3.4 FPS, you’re limited to just 9 RAW photos (roughly 2.6 seconds of action) in a single burst before things slow down and frame rate becomes erratic.
The Rebel T1i has LCD live view functionality, which allows you to compose shots via the LCD like you would on a compact camera. Face detection, compositional gridlines and a live histogram are all available on-screen as you shoot. Do note, however, that the competition (Nikon D5000, Olympus E620, Sony A380) are more flexible in a way, since they have either tilt-able or flip-out and rotate LCD screens for high/low angle shots. Autofocus in live-view mode was very sluggish too, making live view shooting suited mostly for studio and still life picture taking, NOT action shots. This issue isn’t specific to the Rebel T1i though - slow live view AF is a problem that currently plagues all digital SLRs except Panasonic’s mirror-less G1/GH1 interchangeable lens cameras.
The Rebel T1i features a movie mode too, which allows you to shoot high-definition (Your choice of 1080p, 720p or regular VGA) movies with sound and start/stop recording via a dedicated button. For those thinking “wow this is the best thing since sliced bread!”, I hate to break it to you but… the 1080p setting has a crippled frame rate of just 20 FPS (The norm is 24 or 30 FPS), and you can’t attach an external microphone to the camera for better sound recording. On the positive note, you can operate zoom and manual/auto focus while recording (albeit in a clumsy manner), video quality is impressive (but not the frame rate at the highest setting) and you can take a still photo in the middle of a recording session (the catch being there’ll be a brief pause in video). Hopefully Canon will up the 1080p setting frame rate to 24 or 30 FPS via a firmware update, please?
Low noise has always been Canon’s advantage in the digital SLR arena and the Rebel T1i carries forward this heritage. Image quality produced by the Canon Rebel T1i aka EOS 500D was very good with low noise and very usable pictures up till ISO 3200. And those who know their way or have the time to make use of post-processing and noise reduction software can scavenge ISO 6400 and 12800 shots for small to midsize prints/display too. A particular problem that seems to be growing as digital SLR image sensors increase in resolution is lens flaws and sharpness. The Rebel T1i performs best when you stop down lens aperture (bigger F-numbers) and/or use higher grade (and thus, pricier) lenses. As demonstrated in my foliage test shot, using the kit lens versus a higher-end lens (and stopping down) can make a big difference.
If you’re looking to step up from using compacts, the Canon EOS Rebel T1i aka EOS 500D is worth a look (though it isn’t heads and shoulders above other brands’ offerings in terms of feature set). The entry-level digital SLR arena is pretty competitive, so be sure to consider and compare various brands and their options too. For current Canon digital SLR owners, the Rebel T1i/500D is a decent choice if you want a smaller/lighter backup camera body to carry around... ”
DPInterface's rating: |
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- 0 |
Complete review here
DigitalCameraInfo 's conclusion / rating - 24 March 2009 |
“ It's impossible to draw valid conclusions about the quality of a new model working with a pre-production sample, of course. However, we're very familiar with the Rebel family, and when it comes to size, handling and feature set, the Canon Rebel T1i. That's a good thing: both the Rebel XSi and Rebel XS were winners of our 2008 Select awards. This is a very different camera, though, with a new sensor and movie capability that's far removed from the $2700 Canon 5D Mark II that scored highly in our video testing. Based on our initial shooting experience, we have high image quality expectations for stills, and a wait-and-see atittude about the video mode. As for a buy/don't buy recommendation, that will wait for a final camera and lab-tested analysis... ”
DigitalCameraInfo's rating: |
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- 0 |
Complete review here
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