Expert’s Rating
Pros
Cons
Our Verdict
If the approximation of an almost - all - touchscreen camera solicitation to you , the Canon PowerShot Elph 500 HS ( $ 300 ) is one of the best point - and - shoot options in that social class . But it ’s becoming cleared that touchscreen - maneuver cameras are a importantly unlike animal than traditional television camera with interchangeable specs . Because of its touchscreen , this tv camera acts more like a earpiece than a more - traditional camera , and that brings its mediocre contribution of pro and cons .
The touch interface is well - implemented?the car mode and scene presets operate smoothly . However , the touch user interface also has aperture- and shutter - priority fashion ( but no full manual controls ) , and adjusting setting in those modes is n’t as hitch - free as it is when using parallel controls . What ’s more , we ’ve seen better tinge - centering control and options in competing cameras .
All the fancy touch screen features also come at the disbursement of the camera ’s bombardment life , which is lacking . But beyond these shortcomings , this is a great picayune camera in terms of execution . Image and video character are both potent suits , and the model ’s F2.0 lens and creative shooting fashion make it a standout compact whole . When it comes down to it , it all depends on how much you care touchscreen .
Creative Light Effect mode
Hardware and design
The 12 - megapixel Canon PowerShot Elph 500 HS is one of a new strain of Canon full point - and - shoots announced in early 2011 : The “ HS ” designation refers to the camera ’s “ High Sensitivity System ” CMOS sensor , which the ship’s company claims enhances scummy - brightness shots and supply a few modern shooting modes .
Despite that rejiggered naming conventionalism , the Elph 500 HS is a lot like one of the beneficial Canon peak - and - shoot from the preceding year?thePowerShot SD4000 IS . Like the SD4000 IS , the Elph 500 HS has a undimmed F2.0 genus Lens , aperture- and shutter - precedence modes , creative in - camera offering , and serious image quality .
The Elph 500 HS builds on that base , add a few substantial extra to the SD4000 IS ’s list of specs : an ultra - wide - slant 24 mm electron lens , a slenderly larger optical zoom range ( 4.4X zoom ; 24 mm to 105 mm ) , a bigger 3.2 - inch LCD , and the aforementioned touchscreen controls for nearly every in - camera function .
Creative Light Effect mode
Minus the control condition wheel and buttons on the back of the SD4000 IS , the Elph 500 HS also has a very standardized organic structure design , with contoured boundary that make the Elph 500 HS a comfortable convulsion in the bridge player despite the lack of a prove handgrip , and it is slim but somewhat large for a air hole camera , with a eubstance measuring just under an in deep , 2.2 inches tall , and about 4 inches wide .
Shooting modes and features
You get plenty of shot modes in the PowerShot Elph 500 HS , which combines tried - and - lawful Canon in - tv camera options with a few brand - newfangled selections .
newfangled to the mix is a Handheld Night Scene mode , which act like Sony ’s Handheld Twilight mode : It flash several images in speedy - ardor sequence at different photograph levels , then combines them inside the camera for a well - scupper nighttime image without having to apply a flash .
The Elph 500 HS also has a newfangled Creative Light Effect modal value that mimic the burden of using different aperture - brand shapes when shooting pic . For example , you could make twinkling lights in your figure of speech appear as genius , cross patterns , heart shapes , butterfly , and other effects by select shapes from an on - covert menu . However , it also blurs the rest of the shot , and it can be used in effect only in near - dismal situations . ( Click any sample image for a close face . )
Low-light mode / Touch-focus macro
Creative Light Effect mode
Low - promiscuous manner / ghost - focus macro instruction
Monochrome mode8 - fps burst mode ( 3 megapixels )
Monochrome mode
Notable holdovers from former PowerShot models are the excellent Color Accent modality ( which lets you insulate a exclusive color in a blackened - and - white shot ) , Miniature Effect ( which mimic the effects of a tilt - shift lens ) , a Super Slow Motion motion-picture show mode ( it records 640 by 480 video at 120 frames per second or 320 by 240 video at 240 fps ) , and a few self - timer modes that let you apply your face as a remote ascendence ( nictation , smile , or even just get in the frame arouse the shutter ) .
More - traditional shooting modes include a gamey - speed fit fashion that captures up to 8 shots per second at a reduced 3 - megapixel resolution , a dedicated low - light modality for fritter in the dark without a flash , and scene selection that include Portrait , Fireworks , Kids & Pets , and Beach . The camera also record 1080p gamey - definition video recording at 24 frames per secondly ; you ’re can use the Color Accent and Miniature Effect modes when flash video , too .
Performance, image quality, and video quality
In our lab ’s subjective trial for photo and picture quality , the PowerShot Elph 500 HS turned in an telling overall performance . The camera realise a grievance of Very Good for exposure quality and lack of distortion , while vividness truth and figure of speech sharpness were both rat as Good . The Elph 500HS generated an overall imaging sexual conquest of Very Good , with an aggregate image - quality account in high spirits than that of the esteemed Canon PowerShot S95 .
come home on any of the thumbnails below to see full - size of it versions of the tryout images used for our immanent evaluations ; pressing the left and right button on your keyboard will scroll through all the image .
Battery life-time is likely the big drawback of this photographic camera , as the Canon PowerShot Elph 500 HS is rated for just 180 shots per charge of its lithium ion bombardment . Since that ’s well little of the 300 - plus shot you ’ll get out of most compact point - and - shoots , that big , beautiful touchscreen LCD appears to take a huge cost on barrage juice .
8-fps burst mode (3 megapixels)
The Elph 500 HS also fool away good - looking 1080p/24 - Federal Protective Service telecasting in .mov format , with a video recording - quality score on a par with that of theCanon PowerShot SX230 HSand the Nikon Coolpix S9100 . Overall video character was rated as Good , but the Canon PowerShot Elph 500 HS ’s video style does n’t do the good problem in low - Inner Light billet . Audio seizure through its front - climb stereo microphones also bring in a score of Good .
you could view the test clips used for our immanent video tests below . Select 1080p from the drop - down carte du jour in each actor to see the high - firmness footage .
Touchscreen interface
you’re able to tell that Canon put a lot of work into the camera ’s touchscreen interface . It ’s importantly different than the user interface found in most PowerShot cameras , which itself is much the gold standard for point - and - shoot substance abuser user interface . The touchscreen usually reacts well to finger presses , and the on - screen icons are heavy and well - label .
One slight dogfight is the five “ pages ” of icons to scroll through in the on - covert menus?needed to suit the camera ’s 26 trenchant shot mode . However , that should n’t slow you down much : What are unremarkably the most common shot mode ( Aperture Priority , Shutter Priority , Portrait , Program Auto ) are on the first page of icons , other useful modes ( Low - Light , mellow - fastness Burst , and Handheld Night Scene ) are on the second page , and Auto mode is accessible immediately via a top - mounted switch .
The feeling interface is very reactive when it comes to tapping icons , but some navigation options that want scrolling are a turn wearisome on the uptake . For example , take an aperture note value in Aperture Priority mode or choosing an option in the camera ’s vertically scroll Function computer menu want dragging your finger across the screen?just like turning a physical scrollwheel . It ’s not a liberal trouble , but it may take a duad seconds longer to access some configurations than it would with analog buttons .
You also do n’t always have access to the photographic camera ’s Menu clitoris , depending on the shooting mode you are in . An always - on “ Function ” push is in the lower odd corner of the screen , and pressing it calls up a menu that let you align image resolve , metering modes , macro / landscape painting range , and the same . But accessing the main menu for flare options , stabilization modes , autofocus setting , and other nuts - and - bolts choice need plunk a couple of levels deep in the touchscreen user interface .
The camera ’s touch - to - focus controls it does n’t go the extra step of terminate the shutter after the focal point point has been lock . In some instance , the nidus gunpoint also “ float ” away a bit from the intended subject , and the touch - focus controls are n’t available in the camera ’s movie mode . All in all , we ’ve seen comfortably - implemented and more far - turn over touch - focus capabilities onPanasonic ’s Lumix cameras , which continue to go the pack in touchscreen focusing options .
In addition to your standard touchscreen - controlled computer menu navigation , the PowerShot Elph 500 HS also boasts a few gesture controls for navigate image and video playback . For example , you could purloin in an “ L ” shape to rotate image , bulge out a slideshow , delete images , or start a customize legal action that you had previously set via the camera ’s playback menu .
Macworld buying advice
The Canon PowerShot Elph 500 HS is essentially a touchscreen - operated interlingual rendition of another very good Canon camera , the PowerShot SD4000 IS , with a few extras total . Thanks to its standout epitome quality , versatile shooting feature , well - done UI , and bright F2.0 lens , it ’s an splendid choice for anyone attempt a hint - hold in thick camera . Because the touchscreen interface is such an integral part of this photographic camera , it ’s a unspoilt thought to try on the camera out before you bribe it ; it may be the perfect fit for your pauperization , but it may also leave you thirsting for strong-arm control . And if battery life is important to you , keep in mind that the PowerShot Elph 500 HS poops out pretty quickly .
