PowerShot S500 at DVinfo.net

Shawn Mielke · February 13th, 2005, 01:28 PM

Hi all.

Couldn't find anything here on the Canon Powershot S500 Elph. I'm just wanting a compact yet powerful digicam. Does this one fit the bill? For web and computer purposes?

Thanks,

Shawn

Dylan Couper · February 13th, 2005, 07:14 PM

Powerful.... how do you define that in a digicam?

I love my S100 Elph, I use my buddies S400 from time to time (he's got the underwater case), and I plan on getting an SD300 next. The Elph series rules. I know a lot more guys on here have them too. I'd happily buy another over and over again.

Chris Hurd · February 13th, 2005, 09:42 PM

The S500 is a fine little digicam. Nothing wrong with it at all.

However, I would suggest the SD300 over the S500. Now the SD300 is four megapixels as opposed to five megapixels on the S500, however you really can't see the difference between four and five megapixels in an 8x10 print. Plus, the SD300 is thinner and lighter than the S500, and has a larger LCD display than the S500. Also, the SD300's processor is newer and therefore superior to the S500 and it also has a better movie mode... VGA size with no time limit compared to QVGA up to three minutes on the S500.

If you already have Compact Flash cards, then you might want to consider the S500. If you already have Secure Digital cards or have not yet invested in any flash media yet, then go for the SD300. Hope this helps,

Shawn Mielke · February 14th, 2005, 01:44 AM

Thanks for your input! Will definitely look into the SD300. I guess my mentioning that it would be used for web and computer purposes was definition enough for "powerful", but maybe not. Maybe it would be helpful to know that I'm also wanting to mix stills from a digicam with some of my video, to be seen on average sized tv.s. That may be why I'm tempted to stay with the higher pixel count. Not sure.

Shawn

Dylan Couper · February 14th, 2005, 01:49 AM

I wasn't sure if you mean resolution-powerful, versus function and control type powerful.

Chris Hurd · February 14th, 2005, 07:52 AM

A higher pixel count will not help you with web or video applications. In a digicam, resolution (megapixel rating) governs print size. On the web you'll be downsizing the image anyway, and standard-def video is only a tad larger than VGA. All PowerShot camers include a VGA setting, for 3x5 prints, and even the most basic two-megapixel camera is perfectly adequate for web and video applications (although you can't even buy a 2mp camera anymore -- the starting point is 3mp these days). There is a less expensive PowerShot SD200 which is a three-megapixel camera, and if you're not printing any larger than 8x10, and if you're using the images for web and video apps, that might be a less expensive way to go. But the SD300 looks cooler, though.

Shawn Mielke · February 14th, 2005, 04:35 PM

Looking cool counts too! Thanks! $400 is not a problem for this purchase, so I'll keep with whatever's best at that price point. Still photography is next on my horizon, but I'm considering the field in terms of a couple different cameras: a fully manual SLR by which I can learn, and a breast pocketable, yet SHARP and with the very basic manual controls, digicam. So, tv size does NOT at all correspond to print size (20"= N" x N" ...)?

Shawn

February 13th, 2005, 01:28 PM	#1
Shawn Mielke Major Player Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Santa Rosa, California Posts: 745	S500 Hi all. Couldn't find anything here on the Canon Powershot S500 Elph. I'm just wanting a compact yet powerful digicam. Does this one fit the bill? For web and computer purposes? Thanks, Shawn __________________ Breakthrough In Grey Room

February 13th, 2005, 07:14 PM	#2
Dylan Couper Wrangler Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Vancouver, British Columbia Posts: 8,314	Powerful.... how do you define that in a digicam? I love my S100 Elph, I use my buddies S400 from time to time (he's got the underwater case), and I plan on getting an SD300 next. The Elph series rules. I know a lot more guys on here have them too. I'd happily buy another over and over again. __________________ Need to rent camera gear in Vancouver BC? Check me out at camerarentalsvancouver.com

February 13th, 2005, 09:42 PM	#3
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,366 Images: 513	The S500 is a fine little digicam. Nothing wrong with it at all. However, I would suggest the SD300 over the S500. Now the SD300 is four megapixels as opposed to five megapixels on the S500, however you really can't see the difference between four and five megapixels in an 8x10 print. Plus, the SD300 is thinner and lighter than the S500, and has a larger LCD display than the S500. Also, the SD300's processor is newer and therefore superior to the S500 and it also has a better movie mode... VGA size with no time limit compared to QVGA up to three minutes on the S500. If you already have Compact Flash cards, then you might want to consider the S500. If you already have Secure Digital cards or have not yet invested in any flash media yet, then go for the SD300. Hope this helps, __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

February 14th, 2005, 01:44 AM	#4
Shawn Mielke Major Player Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Santa Rosa, California Posts: 745	Thanks for your input! Will definitely look into the SD300. I guess my mentioning that it would be used for web and computer purposes was definition enough for "powerful", but maybe not. Maybe it would be helpful to know that I'm also wanting to mix stills from a digicam with some of my video, to be seen on average sized tv.s. That may be why I'm tempted to stay with the higher pixel count. Not sure. Shawn __________________ Breakthrough In Grey Room

February 14th, 2005, 01:49 AM	#5
Dylan Couper Wrangler Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Vancouver, British Columbia Posts: 8,314	I wasn't sure if you mean resolution-powerful, versus function and control type powerful. __________________ Need to rent camera gear in Vancouver BC? Check me out at camerarentalsvancouver.com

February 14th, 2005, 07:52 AM	#6
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,366 Images: 513	A higher pixel count will not help you with web or video applications. In a digicam, resolution (megapixel rating) governs print size. On the web you'll be downsizing the image anyway, and standard-def video is only a tad larger than VGA. All PowerShot camers include a VGA setting, for 3x5 prints, and even the most basic two-megapixel camera is perfectly adequate for web and video applications (although you can't even buy a 2mp camera anymore -- the starting point is 3mp these days). There is a less expensive PowerShot SD200 which is a three-megapixel camera, and if you're not printing any larger than 8x10, and if you're using the images for web and video apps, that might be a less expensive way to go. But the SD300 looks cooler, though. __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

February 14th, 2005, 04:35 PM	#7
Shawn Mielke Major Player Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Santa Rosa, California Posts: 745	Looking cool counts too! Thanks! $400 is not a problem for this purchase, so I'll keep with whatever's best at that price point. Still photography is next on my horizon, but I'm considering the field in terms of a couple different cameras: a fully manual SLR by which I can learn, and a breast pocketable, yet SHARP and with the very basic manual controls, digicam. So, tv size does NOT at all correspond to print size (20"= N" x N" ...)? Shawn __________________ Breakthrough In Grey Room