Full Review
Canon EOS 500D Rebel T1i
A Full Review covers everything, including operation. (more)
EOS 500D / Rebel T1i vs Other Canon SLRs
The chart below compares the Rebel T1i with other current Canon cameras. What we've done below is presented something of a hybrid comparison between these three models. A red cell means that a given camera performs below the other two, a green cell means that it performs better than the other two, and a yellow cell means it falls between the other two. In cases where two cameras share a superior capability, both cells will be colored green.
| EOS 500D / Rebel T1i vs other Canon SLRs | ||||
|
Manufacturer
|
Canon
|
Canon
|
Canon | |
|
Model
|
EOS 400D
Digital Rebel XTi |
EOS 450D
Digital Rebel XSi |
EOS 500D Digital Rebel T1i |
|
| Imaging System |
Sensor
Manufacturer |
Canon | Canon | Canon |
| Sensor Type |
CMOS | CMOS | CMOS | |
| Color Filter
Array |
RGB | RGB | RGB | |
|
Total Megapixels
|
10.5
|
12.4
|
15.5 | |
Effective
Megapixels |
10.1 | 12.2 | 15.1 | |
|
Effective Sensor Size (mm)
|
22.2 x 14.8
|
22.2 x 14.8
|
22.3 x 14.9 | |
|
Focal Length Multiplier (approx.)
|
1.6x
|
1.6x
|
1.6x | |
|
Image Processor
|
DIGIC II
|
DIGIC III
|
DIGIC 4 | |
|
A/D Resolution
|
12-bit
|
14-bit
|
14-bit | |
| Viewfinder |
Type
|
Eye-level pentamirror
|
Eye-level pentamirror
|
Eye-level pentamirror |
|
Coverage
|
95%
|
95%
|
95% | |
|
Magnification (-1 diopter with 50mm lens at
infinity)
|
0.83x
|
0.87x
|
0.87x | |
|
Eyepoint (mm)
|
21
|
19
|
19 | |
|
Dioptric Adjustment Range (diopters)
|
-3.0 to +1.0
|
-3.0 to +1.0
|
-3.0 to +1.0 | |
|
Focusing Screen
|
Fixed, precision matte screen
|
Fixed, precision matte screen
|
Fixed, precision matte screen | |
|
Viewfinder
Info Display |
AF information (AF points, focus confirmation light), Exposure (shutter speed, aperture, exposure level, AE lock, exposure compensation, AEB level, bulb), Flash (flash ready, red-eye reduction lamp on, high-speed sync, FE lock, FEB shooting, flash exposure compensation, insufficient flash warning during FE lock), White balance correction, Maximum burst, CF card information
|
AF information (AF points, focus confirmation light), exposure information (shutter speed, aperture, AE lock, exposure level, ISO speed, exposure warning), flash information (flash ready, high-speed sync, FE lock, flash exposure compensation), monochrome shooting, white balance correction, maximum burst, SD memory card information
|
AF information (AF points, focus confirmation light), exposure information (shutter speed, aperture, AE lock, exposure level, ISO speed, exposure warning), flash information (flash ready, high-speed sync, FE lock, flash exposure compensation), monochrome shooting, white balance correction, Highlight Tone Priority (D+), maximum burst, SD memory card information | |
|
Depth of Field Preview
|
Enabled with depth-of-field preview button
|
Enabled with depth-of-field preview button
|
Enabled with depth-of-field preview button | |
| Recording System |
Recording Media / Quantity / Slot Type
|
Type I or II CF card / Microdrive
|
SD / SDHC
|
SD / SDHC including Eye-Fi |
|
Compatible File System
|
FAT 16 / FAT 32
|
FAT 16 / FAT 32
|
FAT 16 / FAT 32 | |
|
Recording Formats
|
RAW (12-bit CR2), JPEG
|
RAW (14-bit CR2), JPEG
|
RAW (14-bit CR2), JPEG | |
|
Maximum Resolution
|
3,888 x 2,592
|
4,272 x 2,848
|
4,768 x 3,174 | |
|
Reduced Resolutions (JPEG only)
|
2,816 x 1,880;
1,936 x 1,288 |
3,088 x 2,056;
2,256 x 1,504 |
3,456 x 2,304; 2,352 x 1,568 |
|
|
RAW + JPEG Recording
|
Yes,
JPEG large/fine only |
Yes,
JPEG large/fine only |
Yes, JPEG large/fine only |
|
| Color
Space & White Balance |
User-Selectable Color Space
|
Yes
sRGB + Adobe RGB |
Yes
sRGB + Adobe RGB |
Yes sRGB + Adobe RGB |
|
Processing Parameters
(Contrast, Sharpness, Saturation, Color Tone) / # of Increments |
8 options for sharpness, 9 options for contrast, saturation, and color tone.
6 Picture styles (Standard, Portrait, Landscape, Neutral, Faithful, Monochrome), plus 3 user defined |
8 options for sharpness, 9 options for
contrast, saturation, and color tone.
6 Picture styles (Standard, Portrait, Landscape, Neutral, Faithful, Monochrome), plus 3 user defined |
8 options for sharpness, 9 options for
contrast, saturation, and color tone. 6 Picture styles (Standard, Portrait, Landscape, Neutral, Faithful, Monochrome), plus 3 user defined |
|
|
Preset WB settings
|
6 (Daylight, Cloudy, Shade, Tungsten, White Fluorescent, Flash)
|
6 (Daylight, Cloudy, Shade, Incandescent,
Fluorescent, Flash)
|
6 (Daylight, Cloudy, Shade, Incandescent, Fluorescent, Flash) | |
|
Manual Color Temperature Setting Range
|
Not available
|
Not available
|
Not available | |
|
WB Adjustment Range
|
±9 steps in 1-step increments
5 mireds per step |
±9 steps in 1-step increments
5 mireds per step |
±9 steps in 1-step increments 5 mireds per step |
|
| Autofocus System |
Type
|
TTL-CT-SIR with a CMOS sensor
(TTL secondary image registration, phase detection) |
TTL-CT-SIR with a CMOS sensor
(TTL secondary image registration, phase detection) |
TTL-CT-SIR with a CMOS sensor (TTL secondary image registration, phase detection) |
|
# of Focusing Points (Focusing Point Type)
|
9 points
(1 cross-type, 8 single-axis) |
9 points
(1 enhanced cross-type, 8 single-axis) |
9 points (1 enhanced cross-type, 8 single-axis) |
|
| Superimposed
Focus Point Display |
Yes | Yes | Yes | |
|
AF Working Range
|
EV -0.5 ~ 18
|
EV -0.5 ~ 18
|
EV -0.5 ~ 18 | |
|
AF-assist Beam
|
Yes, stroboscopic flash (Range: Approx. 4.0m / 13.1ft. at center, approx. 3.5m/11.5ft. off-center)
|
Yes, stroboscopic flash (Range: Approx. 4.0m
/ 13.1ft. at center, approx. 3.5m/11.5ft. off-center)
|
Yes, stroboscopic flash (Range: Approx. 4.0m / 13.1ft. at center, approx. 3.5m/11.5ft. off-center) | |
|
One-shot AF
|
Enabled in Portrait, Landscape, Close-up (Macro), Night Portrait, and A-DEP modes.
Selectable in Program, Shutter Priority, Aperture Priority and Manual modes. |
Enabled in Portrait, Landscape, Close-up (Macro), Night Portrait, and A-DEP modes.
Selectable in Program, Shutter Priority, Aperture Priority and Manual modes. |
Enabled in Portrait, Landscape, Close-up (Macro), Night Portrait, and A-DEP modes. Selectable in Program, Shutter Priority, Aperture Priority and Manual modes. |
|
|
AI Servo (Tracking) AF
|
Enabled in Sports mode.
Selectable in Program, Shutter Priority, Aperture Priority and Manual modes. |
Enabled in Sports mode.
Selectable in Program, Shutter Priority, Aperture Priority and Manual modes. |
Enabled in Sports mode. Selectable in Program, Shutter Priority, Aperture Priority and Manual modes. |
|
|
AI Focus AF
|
Enabled in Full Auto and Flash Off modes.
Selectable in Program, Shutter Priority, Aperture Priority, and Manual modes. |
Enabled in Full Auto, CA, and Flash Off modes.
Selectable in Program, Shutter Priority, Aperture Priority, and Manual modes. |
Enabled in Full Auto, CA, and Flash Off modes. Selectable in Program, Shutter Priority, Aperture Priority, and Manual modes. |
|
| Exposure Control |
Shooting Modes
|
12 - Program AE (Full Auto, Portrait, Landscape, Close-up, Sports, Night Portrait, Flash Off, Program), Shutter-priority AE, Aperture-priority AE, Depth-of-field AE, Manual exposure, ETTL-II autoflash
|
12 - Program AE (Full Auto, Portrait, Landscape, Close-up, Sports, Night Portrait, Flash Off, Program), Shutter-priority AE, Aperture-priority AE, Depth-of-field AE, Manual exposure, ETTL-II autoflash
|
14 - Program AE (Creative Auto, Full Auto, Portrait, Landscape, Close-up, Sports, Night Portrait, Flash Off, Program), Shutter-priority AE, Aperture-priority AE, Depth-of-field AE, Manual exposure, ETTL-II autoflash, Movie |
|
Metering Zones
|
35
|
35
|
35 | |
|
Metering Modes
|
Evaluative (linked to any AF point), center weighted average,
9% partial |
Evaluative (linked to any AF point), center
weighted average,
9% partial, 4% center spot |
Evaluative (linked to any AF point), center
weighted average, 8% partial, 3.5% center spot |
|
|
Metering System Working Range
|
EV 1 ~ 20
|
EV 1 ~ 20
|
EV 1 ~ 20 | |
|
ISO Range / Extended
|
100 ~ 1600 / --
|
100 ~ 1600 / --
|
100 ~ 3200 / 6400, 12800 | |
|
Exposure Compensation
|
±2 EV in 1/2 or 1/3 EV increments
|
±2 EV in 1/2 or 1/3 EV increments
|
±2 EV in 1/2 or 1/3 EV increments | |
|
Automatic Exposure Bracketing
|
±2 EV in 1/2 or 1/3 EV steps
|
±2 EV in 1/2 or 1/3 EV steps, ±4 EV offset, 3 shots
|
±2 EV in 1/2 or 1/3 EV steps, ±4 EV offset, 3 shots | |
|
Auto Lighting Optimization
|
No
|
Yes
|
Yes (4 levels) | |
|
Highlight Tone Priority
|
No
|
Yes
|
Yes | |
| Shutter
Speeds, Frame Rate, Shutter Lag |
Shutter Type
|
Mechanical, all speeds electronically controlled
|
Mechanical, all speeds electronically
controlled
|
Mechanical, all speeds electronically controlled |
|
Shutter Speed Range
|
1/4000 ~ 30 sec. (1/2 or 1/3EV increments) and bulb
|
1/4000 ~ 30 sec. (1/2 or 1/3EV increments) and bulb
|
1/4000 ~ 30 sec. (1/2 or 1/3EV increments) and bulb | |
|
Maximum Frames Per Second / Buffer depth
|
3 fps / 8 large/fine
JPEG frames |
3.5 fps / 13 large/fine JPEG frames
|
3.4 fps / 170 large/fine JPEG frames | |
|
Shutter lag, full AF (sec.)
|
0.20
|
0.16
|
0.16 | |
|
Shutter lag, prefocus (sec.)
|
0.105
|
0.089
|
0.089 | |
|
Startup time (sec.)
|
0.4
(2.5 including sensor cleaning) |
0.4
|
0.3 | |
| Flash |
Built-in Flash / Guide Number at ISO 100.
|
Yes (13 meters / 43 feet)
|
Yes (13 meters / 43 feet)
|
Yes (13 meters / 43 feet) |
|
Max flash x-sync speed. (sec.)
|
1/200
|
1/200
|
1/200 | |
|
Flash Exposure Compensation
|
±2 EV in 1/2 or 1/3 EV steps
|
±2 EV in 1/2 or 1/3 EV increments
|
±2 EV in 1/2 or 1/3 EV increments | |
|
Slow-sync flash
|
1st or 2nd curtain
|
1st or 2nd curtain
|
1st or 2nd curtain | |
|
PC Sync Terminal
|
Hot shoe only
|
Hot shoe only
|
Hot shoe only | |
| Playback System |
LCD Size / Pixel Count
|
2.5 in. LCD / 230,000 pixels
|
3.0 in. LCD / 230,000 pixels
|
3.0 in. LCD / 920,000 pixels |
|
Enlarged Playback / Scroll
|
1.5~10x / Yes
|
1.5~10x / Yes
|
1.5~10x / Yes | |
|
LCD Monitor Brightness Adjustment Range
|
7 steps
|
7 steps
|
7 steps | |
|
Automatic Rotation for Vertical Shots
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes | |
| Other Features |
Computer Connection
|
USB 2.0 High-Speed, PTP-compliant
|
USB 2.0 High-Speed, PTP-compliant
|
USB 2.0 High-Speed, PTP-compliant |
|
Direct Printing (PictBridge-compliant printers)
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes | |
|
Menu Languages
|
15 (English, German, French, Dutch, Danish, Finnish, Italian, Norwegian, Swedish, Spanish, Simplified Chinese, Russian, Traditional Chinese, Korean,and Japanese.)
|
20 (English, German, French, Dutch, Danish, Portuguese, Finnish, Italian, Norwegian, Swedish, Spanish, Greek, Russian, Polish, Hungarian, Czech, Simplified / Traditional Chinese, Korean and Japanese.)
|
20 (English, German, French, Dutch, Danish, Portuguese, Finnish, Italian, Norwegian, Swedish, Spanish, Greek, Russian, Polish, Hungarian, Czech, Simplified / Traditional Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Arabic, Romanian, Turkish, Ukrainian, Thai | |
|
Camera Default Reset
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes | |
|
Custom Functions (Quantity)
|
Yes (11)
|
Yes (13)
|
Yes (13) | |
|
Remote Control
|
Compatible with Remote Switch RS-60E3, Wireless Remote Controllers RC-5 / RC-1
|
Compatible with Remote Switch RS-60E3, Remote Controller RC-5 / RC-1
|
Compatible with Remote Switch RS-60E3, Remote Controller RC-5 / RC-1 | |
|
Info LCD Panel / Illumination
|
No / n/a
|
No / n/a
|
No / n/a | |
|
Ultrasonic CCD dust-removal function
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes | |
|
Anti-Shake
(CCD shift) |
No
|
No
|
No | |
|
Live View
|
No
|
Yes
|
Yes | |
|
Movie Mode
|
No | No | Yes (MPEG4) 1920x1080@20fps, 1280x720@30fps, 640x480@30fps |
|
|
HDMI Output
|
No
|
No
|
Yes | |
|
Peripheral Illumination Correction
|
No
|
No
|
Yes | |
| Body Structure |
Body Cover/Chassis
|
Largely plastic / stainless steel frame
|
Largely plastic / stainless steel frame
|
Largely plastic / stainless steel frame |
| Power System |
Battery Compatibility
|
Main: NB-2LH
Backup: CR2016 |
Main: LP-E5
Backup: Built-in |
Main: LP-E5 Backup: Built-in |
|
Rated Shooting Capacity at 20°C/68°F
|
100% AE: 500
50% Flash: 370 |
100% AE: 600
50% Flash: 500 |
100% AE: 500 50% Flash: 400 |
|
| Dimensions & Weight |
Dimensions (WxHxD, mm)
|
126.5 x 94.2 x 65
|
128.8 x 97.5 x 61.9
|
128.8 x 97.5 x 61.9 |
|
Weight (body only)
|
510 g / 18 oz.
|
475 g / 16.8 oz.
|
480 g / 16.9 oz. | |
| Operational Environment |
Operating Temperature Range
|
0 ~ 40°C / 32 ~ 104°F
|
0 ~ 40°C / 32 ~ 104°F
|
0 ~ 40°C / 32 ~ 104°F |
|
Operating Humidity Range
|
< 85%
|
< 85%
|
< 85% | |
| Kit Lens |
Focal length/aperture
|
EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6
|
EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS
|
EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS |
| Lens Compatibility |
Lens Mount / Compatibility
|
EF / All EOS lenses, plus EF-S lenses
|
EF / All EOS lenses, plus EF-S lenses
|
EF / All EOS lenses, plus EF-S lenses |
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Note: For details, test results, and analysis of the many tests done with this camera, please click on the tabs at the beginning of the review or below.
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Also Consider...
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Nikon D5000 12.3 megapixels, 3.00x zoom |
$737.12 Check Prices! |
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Excellent image quality and greater versatility than any other Nikon digital SLR
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||
 |
Canon EOS 1000D Rebel XS 10.1 megapixels, 3.00x zoom |
$519.49 Check Prices! |
|
A pretty good SLR at a pretty astonishingly low price!
|
||
 |
Olympus E-520 10.0 megapixels, 3.00x zoom |
$524.49 Check Prices! |
|
Small and capable, it's a great choice for the enthusiast photographer
|
||
Shopping for someone else? Try some other Dave's Picks categories:
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