Canon PowerShot SD500 Digital Camera {7.1MP}

Canon PowerShot SD500: a pocketable 3x zoom with a f/2.8 lens

The PowerShot SD500 packs a 7-megapixel CCD sensor and a 37-111mm equivalent 3x zoom into a metal body that weighs 200g and slips into a jacket pocket without a second thought. The f/2.8 maximum aperture at the wide end gives it a real edge in dim rooms and evening street scenes where slower ultracompacts start to struggle, and the 9-point autofocus system keeps framing flexible for off-center subjects.

Exposure control stays simple by design. There's no aperture or shutter priority mode, but exposure compensation runs a full ±2 EV in 1/3-stop steps, and five white balance presets plus a custom setting let you dial in color for mixed lighting on the fly. Shutter speeds span 15 seconds to 1/2000 sec, wide enough to handle both a long exposure trick and a bright midday snapshot. The built-in flash reaches 5 meters, and macro focusing down to 5cm makes tabletop and detail shots straightforward.

The 2-inch screen with 118,000 dots is a product of its era, small by today's standards, and there's an optical tunnel viewfinder to fall back on when sunlight washes out the LCD. Continuous shooting tops out at 2 fps, enough for casual sequences than sports work. This is a camera built around a simple premise: put a fast lens and real handling controls into something that disappears into a pocket.

Who It's For

Street photographers get real use out of the f/2.8 wide aperture and 3x zoom range, letting them work quickly in low light without drawing attention with a larger body. Travel shooters benefit from the 200g weight and compact 90 x 57 x 27mm dimensions, plus the SD/MMC storage format that keeps media swaps simple on the road. Anyone shooting casual portraits or close-up subjects can lean on the 5cm macro focus range and 9-point autofocus for reliable framing. Photographers who like manual color control despite a point-and-shoot body will appreciate the five white balance presets and custom white balance option, along with ±2 EV exposure compensation for fine-tuning tricky lighting.

Key Features

• 7.0MP 1/1.8" CCD sensor with 4:3 aspect ratio
• 37-111mm f/2.8 3x optical zoom lens
• 9-point autofocus system with illuminator
• 2.0 fps continuous shooting
• ±2 EV exposure compensation with 1/3-stop steps
• 5cm macro focus range
• 15-second to 1/2000-second shutter speed range
• 640 x 480, 30 fps video recording
• 2-inch 118,000-dot LCD screen with optical viewfinder
• SD/MMC card storage with included 32MB card
• Lithium-Ion NB-3L battery
• 200g ultracompact metal body

FAQ

What lens does the SD500 have?

A 37-111mm equivalent 3x zoom with f/2.8 at the wide end. The fast maximum aperture handles low-light work without pushing ISO into grain territory.

How does autofocus work on this camera?

A 9-point AF system with an autofocus illuminator for dim conditions. It's not zone-selectable - you compose, focus, and shoot - but the nine points give enough flexibility for off-center framing.

Can you manually control exposure?

No aperture or shutter priority modes, but exposure compensation runs ±2 EV in 1/3-stop increments. Five white balance presets plus custom white balance handle mixed lighting on location.

What are the video specs?

640 x 480 at 30 fps. It's usable for clips, but this is fundamentally a stills camera with video as an afterthought.

Does the SD500 have image stabilization?

No optical or digital stabilization. The f/2.8 lens and fast shutter speeds down to 1/2000 sec keep handheld shooting clean in good light; slower speeds demand steady hands or a tripod.

How fast can it shoot in bursts?

2 fps continuous drive. Fine for casual sequences of moving subjects, not for sports or fast action.

What's the macro capability?

Autofocus focuses down to 5cm, making tabletop and detail work straightforward without switching modes.

How does the screen compare to modern compacts?

The 2-inch LCD with 118,000 dots is small and dim by today's standards. There's an optical tunnel viewfinder for sunlight, which is actually useful here.