The Canon PowerShot S500 is the spick-and-span force the very down pat métier of "Digital ELPH cameras from Canon. Canon's present is one of the few needing no introduction significance the cosmos of photography: Ask a photographer, be they professional or amateur, to name the first couple of camera manufacturers that they can think of, and chances are that Canon would be at or near the top of the list. In the digital arena, Canon has continued their history of innovation, with a broad line of products ranging from entry-level models all the way to no-holds-barred digital SLRs for professional photographers.

In the consumer arena, their products are distinguished by superb design, sharp lenses, and excellent color. In both the film also digital worlds, Canon has turn out received since their high-style, junior "ELPH" cameras. Long a plain designation whereas  APS film cameras, Canon brought the ELPH size also styling to the digital cosmos with the original S100. The PowerShot S500 breaks new ground with a larger, 5.0-megapixel CCD. The S500 carries over other improvements that first appeared in the PowerShot S400, including a Center-Weighted metering mode option, faster maximum shutter speed (1/2,000 second), and improved macro capabilities, adding a print share button. With the same great user interface common to Canon cameras and point-and-shoot operation driven by their dedicated image processors, the S500 is sure to please a host of consumers.

Near-Identical Twins: The Canon PowerShot S410 besides S500 If you've begun pragmatic my talk about of the Canon PowerShot S410, you liability keep yourself some declaiming here, whereas the two cameras are virtually identical, down from the easily done finding difference (4 mega pixels for the S410, 5 mega pixels for the S500).

Other than resolution, here are the main differences I found between the two models. Compared with the S410, the S500 has: Slightly wide resolution. (No reverence there, 4 mega pixels vs. 5.) Slightly more separateness underneath sharp lighting. (Not good, but the idiosyncrasy is radiant minor.) Somewhat poorer doctrine color balance underneath flashing lighting. (A beauteous noticeable difference.) Slightly supplementary theory noise. (A simple difference.) A fairly longer pattern range. (A symmetrical transparent difference.) Slightly slower trajectory time. (A strikingly lesser difference.) A 640x480 benchmark movie mode. (Nice if you go high-rest movie clips, but utmost record instant per agglutinate is separate 30 seconds.) A retail amount (at introduction) that's about $100 deeper (making the S410 a noticeably preferred deal.)

Basic Points

• 5.0-megapixel CCD.
• Real-image optical viewfinder.
• 1.5-inch color TFT LCD monitor.
• Glass, 3x, 7.4-22.2mm lens, equivalent to a 35-105mm lens on a 35mm camera.
• Maximum 4.1x digital zoom.
• Automatic exposure control, with Long Shutter mode for longer exposures.
• Shutter speeds from 1/2,000 to 15 seconds.
• Maximum aperture f/2.8 to f/4.9, depending on lens zoom position.
• Built-in flash with five modes.
• Compact Flash Type I memory card storage, 32MB card included.
• Power supplied by a rechargeable lithium-ion battery pack (charger included) or optional AC adapter.
• Arc Soft Camera Suite 1.3, Canon Digital Camera software, and USB drivers included for both Windows and Mac platforms.


Special Points

• Movie mode with sound.
• Standard and High Speed Continuous Shooting modes.
• Stitch-Assist panorama mode.
• Infinity and Macro focus modes.
• Customizable "My Camera" settings.
• Two- or 10-second Self-Timer for delayed shutter release.
• Sound Memo option for recording captions.
• Spot, Center-Weighted, and Evaluative exposure metering.
• White balance (color) adjustment with seven modes, including a Custom setting.
• Photo Effect menu for color adjustment.
• Adjustable ISO setting.
• DPOF (Digital Print Order Format) compatibility.
• USB cable for connection to a computer (driver software included).
• A/V cable for connection to a television set.