| I had been planning to upgrade my Olympus | | | | using Live View, there does not seem to be any |
| SP-510 to a newer point-and-shoot, but when | | | | way to lock the exposure when using Live View. |
| prodded by my wife to get a "really good" | | | | Canon's suggestion is to use the fully manual |
| camera I upgraded to the Camera 500D instead. | | | | mode and set the shutter speed and exposure |
| It was, of course, a considerable increase in price | | | | that way. However since there is a way to lock |
| ($350 to $700, body only), but seems well worth | | | | the exposure when using the viewfinder it seems |
| the cost. Along with the camera I also bought the | | | | reasonable to expect there to be a way to do |
| Canon 18-200mm lens because I did not want to | | | | the same when using Live View. And there is not, |
| be constantly changing lenses. | | | | 2) The camera seems small to host the |
| My overall impression in the last 6 weeks has | | | | 18-200mm lens. The lens is so heavy that the |
| been very positive. The photos are full of deep, | | | | camera ends up facing toward the ground all of |
| rich colors, the images are clear and do not seem | | | | the time when carrying it around. The lens has a |
| to have much distortion. I find I can take pictures | | | | lock on it to prevent it from "creeping" out to its |
| at ISO 800 without any really noticeable noise | | | | full length and I use that all the time, but the |
| and, when needed, even at 1600. The camera has | | | | weight of the lens for the camera seems high. |
| a rich feature set and, in general, I have not been | | | | Again, I know this is a lens issue, but it seems |
| disappointed by much. | | | | hard to separate from the camera, |
| On the positive side I found the following: | | | | 3) Auto-focus seems to not work as well when |
| 1) The camera fits in my hands well and the | | | | using Live View as when using the optical |
| buttons are all easy to reach and use when taking | | | | viewfinder. In low light situations when I have no |
| pictures, | | | | trouble getting a focus lock with the optical |
| 2) The auto-focus using the viewfinder works well | | | | viewfinder I often cannot get a lock when using |
| (OK, this is a function of the lens, not the camera, | | | | Live View, |
| but when taking pictures I tend to group both | | | | 4) As much as I like the videos that this camera |
| together), | | | | produces, it uses the LCD screen when taking |
| 3) As I stated above I find the pictures up | | | | videos and I often find that the LCD to be almost |
| through ISO 800 to be clear and 1600 more than | | | | useless in daylight because the LCD is so washed |
| just usable, | | | | out by sunlight. Thus unless I am in some shade I |
| 4) There seems to be much less shutter lag with | | | | cannot see the scene I am supposed to be taking |
| this camera compared to my previous | | | | making a movie of. And I have to trust that it will |
| point-and-shoot, | | | | come out OK, |
| 5) Write time to the memory is much shorter | | | | 5) The 15 MP picture size on disk is typically |
| than with my Olympus, | | | | greater than 5 MB by default. This seemed a little |
| 6) I love the ability to bracket my exposures so I | | | | large and I wanted to set the size slightly smaller. |
| can be reasonably sure I will actually get a decent | | | | However the next smaller picture size is 8 MP. 8 |
| picture, | | | | MP seems small and 15 MP seemed large. I was |
| 7) I have had a chance to use the continuous | | | | hoping for something in between (perhaps 10 or |
| picture setting and it works very well, | | | | 12 MP), but there is no intermediate size. I |
| 8) The HD movie mode (1280 x 720) takes | | | | currently have the picture size set for 8 MP but I |
| excellent movies. This was important to me and | | | | would like something a little larger than half the full |
| was the reason I bought the Camera 500D | | | | size. |
| instead of the Olympus E-620, | | | | While these items are somewhat of a |
| 9) I like the ability to create and use my own set | | | | disappointment for me I have to say that overall |
| of menu items for most of the functionality I | | | | this is a great camera. It takes great pictures that |
| usually need, | | | | are sharp and full of color, it handles well, focuses |
| 10) The battery life for the included battery is | | | | quickly and takes and writes pictures very quickly. |
| very good. I can usually take 600+ pictures | | | | I am glad to have bought it and recommend it to |
| without having to change the battery. | | | | anyone who, like me, is moving up to their first |
| There are, however, some things about this | | | | DSLR. And, as large and heavy as it is, I also |
| camera that I find disappointing: | | | | recommend the 18-200mm lens. Its size is more |
| 1) When taking panoramas using the optical | | | | than made up for by the convenience of not |
| viewfinder Canon provides a way to lock the | | | | having to change lenses all the time. |
| exposure setting so subsequent pictures will be | | | | I would have liked to give this camera about 4 1 |
| taken using the same setting. The manual tells | | | | 2 stars, but since I cannot give partial stars I am |
| you to push the * button and use it for | | | | giving it 4 stars because of the items I listed |
| subsequent pictures. This works well, but since | | | | above. But I find I really like this camera and think |
| the * button is co-opted as auto-focus when | | | | others like me would also. |