Canon EOS 500D

Canon EOS 500D
Canon EOS Rebel T1i
Canon EOS Kiss X3

Overview
Maker	Canon Inc.
Type	Digital single-lens reflex camera
Lens
Lens mount	Canon EF-S
Lens	Interchangeable
Sensor/medium
Sensor	CMOS APS-C 22.3 x 14.9 mm (1.6x conversion factor)
Maximum resolution	15.1 effective megapixels, 4,752 x 3,168
Film speed	ISO 100 to 3200 (expandable to 12800)
Storage media	Secure Digital Card Secure Digital High Capacity
Focusing
Focus modes	AI Focus, One-Shot, AI Servo, Live View
Focus areas	9 AF points
Exposure/metering
Exposure modes	Full Auto, Portrait, Landscape, Close-up, Sports, Night Portrait, No Flash, Program AE, Shutter-priority, Aperture-priority, Manual, Auto Depth-of-field
Exposure metering	Full aperture TTL, 35-zone SPC
Metering modes	Spot, Evaluative, Partial (approx. 9% at center of viewfinder), Center-weighted average
Flash
Flash	E-TTL II automatic built-in pop-up
Flash bracketing	Yes
Shutter
Shutter	focal-plane
Shutter speed range	1/4000 to 30 sec and Bulb, 1/200 s X-sync
Continuous shooting	3.4 frame/s for 170 JPEGs or 9 raw files
Viewfinder
Viewfinder	Eye-level pentamirror SLR, 95% coverage, 0.87x magnification
Image processing
White balance	Auto, Daylight, Shade, Cloudy, Tungsten Light, White Fluorescent Light, Flash, Manual, user-set
WB bracketing	+/- 3 stops in 1-stop increments;
General
LCD screen	3 in color TFT LCD, 920,000 dots
Battery	LP-E5 Lithium-Ion rechargeable battery (7.4 V, 1080 mAh)
Optional battery packs	BG-E5 grip
Dimensions	129 x 98 x 62 mm
Weight	480 g (body only, no battery)
Made in	Japan, Taiwan
Chronology
Predecessor	Canon EOS 450D
Successor	Canon EOS 550D

The Canon EOS 500D is a 15-megapixel entry-level digital single-lens reflex camera, announced by Canon on 25 March 2009. ^[1] It was released in April 2009. ^[2] It is known as the EOS Kiss X3 in Japan, and as the EOS Rebel T1i in North America. It continues the Rebel line of mid-range DSLR cameras, is placed by Canon as the next model up from the EOS 450D, and has been superseded by the EOS 550D (T2i).

It is the third digital single-lens reflex camera to feature a movie mode and the second to feature full 1080p video recording, ^[3] albeit at the rate of 20 frames/sec. The camera shares a few features with the high-end Canon EOS 5D Mark II, including movie mode, Live preview, and DiGIC 4. Like the EOS 450D and EOS 1000D, it uses SDHC media storage, and is the third EOS model to use that medium instead of CompactFlash. Like the EOS 5D Mark II, video clips are recorded as MOV (QuickTime) files with H.264/MPEG-4 compressed video and linear PCM audio. ^[4]

Features

• 15.1-megapixel CMOS sensor Type APS-C, 22.3 mm × 14.9 mm CMOS
• Type – TTL-CT-SIR with a CMOS sensor
• DIGIC 4 image processor
• 14-bit analog to digital signal conversion
• 3.0-inch (76 mm) LCD monitor (non-touchscreen)
• Live view mode and built-in flash
• Wide, selectable, nine-point AF with centre cross-type sensors
• Four metering modes, using 35-zones: spot, partial, center-weighted average, and evaluative metering. ^[5]
• Auto lighting optimizer
• Highlight tone priority
• EOS integrated cleaning system
• sRGB and AdobeRGB colour spaces
• ISO 100–12,800
• ISO Sensitivity (8) – AUTO (100–1600), 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200; expandable to 6400 + H (approx. 12800) in 1-stop increments
• Continuous drive up to 3.4 frame/s (170 images (JPEG), 9 images (raw))
• Canon EF and EF-S lenses
• Support for PAL and NTSC video output
• SD and SDHC memory card file storage
• Raw and large JPEG simultaneous recording
• USB 2.0 and HDMI interfaces.
• LP-E5 battery
• Approximate weight 0.475 kg (1.05 lbs)
• Metering Range – EV 1–20 (at 23 °C with 50 mm f/1.4 lens ISO100)
• Low-Pass Filter – Built-in (fixed) with self-cleaning sensor unit
• AWB, Daylight, Shade, Cloudy, Tungsten, White, Fluorescent light, Flash, Custom. White balance compensation: Blue–Amber ±9, Magenta–Green ±9
• WB Bracketing – ±3 levels in single level increments, 3 bracketed images per shutter release. Selectable Blue/Amber bias or Magenta/ Green bias
• Viewfinder Information – AF information: AF points, focus confirmation light.
• Exposure information: Shutter speed, aperture value, ISO speed (always displayed), AE lock, exposure level/compensation, spot metering circle, exposure warning, AEB.
• Flash information: Flash ready, high-speed sync, FE lock, flash exposure compensation, red-eye reduction light. Image information: White balance correction, SD card information, monochrome shooting, maximum burst (1 digit display), Highlight tone priority (D+)

Alternative firmware

Though not endorsed by Canon, the firmware of the camera allows for the installation of third-party custom firmware, altering the features of the camera. One example of such firmware is Magic Lantern.

Reception

The Canon EOS 500D received favorable reviews on its release.

IT Reviews gave the camera a Recommended Award, and concluded: "Canon's DSLR range continues to go from strength to strength with this considerably enhanced upgrade of the EOS 450D, which manages to keep almost all of the previous physical features while improving the processor and the ISO range and adding a new Full HD video facility". ^[6]

Digital Photography Review said: "For anybody buying their first DSLR the 500D is an easy recommendation but you might want to have a look at the Nikon D5000 as well. It comes with a similar feature set to the 500D ('only' 720P video though) and performs slightly better in low light". ^[7]

Alternatives and comparisons

Alternative cameras to the Canon EOS 500D:

• Sony Alpha 380 Digital SLR Camera
• Sony Alpha 35 Digital SLT Camera
• Olympus E-420 Digital SLR Camera
• Nikon D90 12.3 MP Digital SLR Camera
• Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1 Micro Four-Thirds Camera
• Pentax K-x Digital SLR Camera

Next level upgrade cameras from the Canon EOS 500D:

• Canon EOS Rebel T2i (550D) Digital SLR Camera
• Panasonic DMC-GH1 Digital SLR Camera

Economical alternatives to the Canon EOS 500D:

• Canon Rebel XSi (450D) Digital SLR Camera
• Nikon D5000 Digital SLR Camera

References

1. "Canon unveils EOS 500D / Rebel T1i DSLR: Digital Photography Review". 25 March 2009. Retrieved 21 January 2025.
2. "EOS Rebel T1i - Canon Camera Museum". August 2015. Retrieved 21 January 2025.
3. Kelly, Gordon (25 March 2009). "Canon Launches 15MP, 1080p Capable 500D DSLR". Trusted Reviews. Retrieved 14 December 2018.
4. "Canon EOS Digital Rebel T1i". Archived from the original on 6 January 2017. Retrieved 30 June 2009.
5. "Canon 500D specs from Canon Camera Museum". Archived from the original on 1 April 2010. Retrieved 14 December 2018.
6. "IT Reviews Recommended Award". Archived from the original on 19 June 2009. Retrieved 14 December 2018.
7. "Canon EOS 500D (Digital Rebel T1i / Kiss X3 Digital) Review". DPReview. Retrieved 14 December 2018.

Sources

• Canon EOS Rebel T1i (500D) Digital SLR Kit w/EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens & Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS Autofocus Lens Reviews

External links

• Product Page Archived 6 January 2017 at the Wayback Machine
• EOS 500D in the UK