| I consider myself to be more of a technophile | | | | would always recomending getting either image |
| then photographer. Every year I seem to pick up | | | | stabilized camera body such as the Olympus or |
| a new camera as the manufacturers add | | | | make sure you are getting the Canon IS lenses |
| megapixels, more zoom, video, HD video, etc... to | | | | and not the ones without. It really does make a |
| what I bought the year before at the same price | | | | big difference in what you can do with the |
| point. I've picked up enough photography skills | | | | camera as a novice or amateur photographer.) |
| through out the years just playing with my new | | | | As a still camera the Camera 500D is an excellent |
| toys every year to have a moderate | | | | choice especially if you are getting your first |
| understanding of photography by now. Cameras | | | | DSLR. If still pics alone are your primary concern |
| are also utilized for part of my job where | | | | though I would say you can get a less expensive |
| resoulution, zoom, and ability to get quickly on | | | | DSLR such as the Xsi or E-620 and spend |
| target is important. The advances in technology | | | | difference in price on better lenses. The Camera |
| just in the last 3-4 years are amazing in what you | | | | 500D is the same price as I paid for my E-510, |
| can do with a small camera and the price you pay | | | | the two kits lenses it came with, and the |
| to do it. | | | | 70-300mm zoom lens. I know that some of the |
| That being said the Camera 500D was my choice | | | | differences I mentioned above are due in part to |
| this year for my upgrade. (Last year was the | | | | the 2 model year difference in cameras and that |
| Olympus E-510 which I got a great deal on as a | | | | those differences would be lessened in the less |
| year old model and the year before that a | | | | expensive current model year cameras. |
| panasonic FZ18). Having the option to shoot both | | | | Video however was one of the biggest reasons I |
| pics and video has been a big benefit for me at | | | | went with the Camera 500D. There are just |
| work and when shooting at home. The FZ18 is still | | | | some moments that are nice to capture with |
| my work staple although the now two years | | | | video and audio rather then just still pics alone. |
| newer FZ35 is looking tempting. As far as what | | | | That you can now have the ability to do that in a |
| the panasonic bridge cameras can do in good | | | | limited way, while getting DSLR quality stills is |
| outdoor lighting, it is very similar to what either of | | | | great. Carrying one camera is better then carrying |
| my DSLR's can do, and I would say the same | | | | two to do the same thing. I would rate the |
| thing for zooming outdoors. If you are looking for | | | | Camera 500D's video as OK for what it is. |
| a great walk around outdoor camera to take | | | | Indoors it does shoot with lower noise then a |
| daylight pics and video with I would recommend | | | | smaller sensored camera would, but the lack of |
| the panasonic series handsdown and you will | | | | lighting indoors still hurts it as it does all video |
| come out several hundreds of dollars ahead. The | | | | cameras. I am not sure if a Canon camcorder hot |
| upper level superzoom bridge cameras now have | | | | shoe light would work on the Camera 500D or |
| many of the manual functions the DSLR's do and | | | | not. If it did I would give Canon props. Outdoors in |
| do some nice burst shooting as well. Panasonic | | | | good light it does better. Where the DSLR gives |
| video is decent. | | | | you a lot of variety in how you shoot still pics it is |
| What a DSLR will give you is much better indoor, | | | | limited in being able to do the same thing right |
| portrait, and lowlight shooting. It also allows you to | | | | now with video. |
| better implement and use advanced skills. The | | | | A dedicated HD camcorder will still serve you |
| trade off being the higher price of the body, | | | | better for taking shots of scenes in which the |
| larger size of the body/lens, high priced lens, | | | | focus and range rapidly change and where you |
| flashes, etc.... No DSLR accessory is cheap. The | | | | need to shoot long sessions at one time. The |
| DSLR will also require you to better understand | | | | Camera 500D is not designed to shoot video for |
| photography and especially depth of field, shutter | | | | extended periods due to the generation of heat |
| speeds, etc... | | | | which degrades image quality and per the manual |
| The Camera 500D is a nice camera with a | | | | will likely give you an overheating warning after |
| beautiful screen and easy to understand menu. | | | | about an hour or so of extended use and I think |
| The kit lens I would say is just OK. The build | | | | may shut the camera down. (I think the same |
| quality of the camera body (based on feel in the | | | | thing would happen if you set up the camera in |
| hand, heft, and visual inspection) seems better | | | | live view mode for that long as well). So setting it |
| then the entry level Nikons and Canon XS, but | | | | up on a tripod to record say your kids basketball |
| my E-510 seems to be a more solidly built unit. | | | | game is not what it is capable of doing. If you are |
| Ditto for the kit lenses with neither brand of kit | | | | like me though and find that most video you |
| lens being all that great, but I think the Olympus | | | | shoot of everyday events is only a few minutes |
| lenses take better pictures. However more lens | | | | long at most, this will work. I have been using the |
| options exist for the Canon both from Canon and | | | | 720p video most of the time as the 1080 doesn't |
| third party sources. As Amazon had a good | | | | handle motion well. I also found that a class 6 card |
| package price at the time I purchased the | | | | or better (again as the manual states) is a |
| Camera 500D, I also picked up the 55-250mm IS | | | | requirement for good 720p video. (a class 4 will |
| lens, which I prefer over the kit offering. (I also | | | | work, but you will notice dropped frames and |
| have the basic 70-300mm Olympus lens which is | | | | artifacts from its inabilty to keep up with the flow |
| similar in price to the Canon 55-250mm, and again | | | | of data. The class 4 works for still shooting just |
| appears to have a better build in the same price | | | | fine although it may lessen some lengthy burst |
| range.) | | | | shooting). |
| Indoors the Canon has a better ISO range then | | | | I gave this camera 5 stars because you really do |
| the E-510, but both take pictures that look very | | | | get a lot for what you pay. Yes it has limitations |
| detailed and there is little if any noticeable | | | | in the video mode but when you think about what |
| difference betwen them quality wise in good | | | | you get for around $750 in this unit vs. what the |
| indoor lighting or using the flash. Outdoors in low | | | | same amount of money would have gotten you |
| lighting the Canon beats the Oly. The Canon also | | | | just 2-3 years ago I think it is a great camera. It |
| has a better autofocus system and focuses | | | | takes excellent still pics, and OK HD video. If you |
| better in low light. At zoom ranges I think the 5 | | | | have a DSLR that is 2-3 years old and are |
| megapixel difference is noticeable as the Canon | | | | primarily interested in still pics, I won't say I would |
| with lens at 250mm resolves the same level of | | | | upgrade. And like I said above, even if this is your |
| detail when fully zoomed as the Olympus does | | | | first camera and don't care about video there are |
| with the fully zoomed 300mm (basically a 400mm | | | | less expensive choices for getting great still pics. |
| equivalent zoom vs. a 600mm, so I think that is | | | | If it is your first DSLR and you do want the |
| impressive.) Both give you a better picture then | | | | option to do some videos (same with upgraders) |
| the FZ18 when you hit the shot, but I think the | | | | there isn't anything better out there right now and |
| auto mode for the bridge camera gives novice | | | | this is definetly the way to go. Torn between this |
| shooters more consistent results then the DSLR's. | | | | and an HD camcorder that will take still pics I |
| Part of that may be when you get a good DSLR | | | | would say that the video the Camera 500D |
| pic you really know it, and when you are just a | | | | shoots (with-in its limits) is a much better |
| little off it is easy to see it is missing that DSLR | | | | secondary option then the still photos a |
| "pop". Those up close or zoomed "potraits" is | | | | camcorder takes. I have taken a nice HD |
| where even a very new photographer will realy | | | | camcorder on a trip before and relied on its still |
| notice the difference when stepping up to a | | | | pics and would have liked to have had what the |
| DSLR. That and the lack of picture noise due to | | | | Camera 500D offers over that, even when |
| the larger sensor. (If this is a family camera | | | | considering the larger size of Camera 500D. |
| purchase and you plan on rarely using a tripod, I | | | | |