Canon 500D
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Discussion

Original Poster

Original Poster:

5,429 posts

205 months

Friday 7th January 2011
quotequote all
What are peoples opinion of the Canon 500D?

I am planning on getting one along with various accessories in the next couple of weeks but would like to hear from people that used/have used them.

Fire away smile

RobDickinson

31,343 posts

283 months

Friday 7th January 2011
quotequote all
Not used one but its an all round decent little starter SLR.

Video is a bit ropey on it compared to the 550D but thats the only real downside

XG332

3,927 posts

217 months

Friday 7th January 2011
quotequote all
The best entry level (XXXD) canon on the market.

Original Poster

Original Poster:

5,429 posts

205 months

Friday 7th January 2011
quotequote all
Glad to hear it!

Any recommendations on where to buy new?

Original Poster

Original Poster:

5,429 posts

205 months

Friday 7th January 2011
quotequote all
Glad to hear it!

Any recommendations on where to buy new?

Original Poster

Original Poster:

5,429 posts

205 months

Friday 7th January 2011
quotequote all
Glad to hear it!

Any recommendations on where to buy new?

Zad

13,007 posts

265 months

Friday 7th January 2011
quotequote all
Keep an eye on Amazon and (strangely) PC World / Currys. They sometimes have pretty unbeatable deals on 500Ds.

Original Poster

Original Poster:

5,429 posts

205 months

Friday 7th January 2011
quotequote all
Excellent, thanks thumbup

Dogsey

4,301 posts

259 months

Friday 7th January 2011
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Also worth keeping an eye here:

http://www.camerapricebuster.com/index.html

LongQ

13,864 posts

262 months

Saturday 8th January 2011
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Where to buy .....

Depending on what the various accessories are and if you intend to get most of the stuff at the same time as the camera you may want to consider the more specialised photographic retailers since they are more likely to have the bits and pieces - maybe. Depends what the bits and pieces are of course.

However for things like very low cost spare batteries and memory cards it is usually difficult to beat in-line retailers typically based in the Channel Islands.

There do seem to be asome interesting pricing strategies around and there seems to be a cash back deal running from some vendors but ending on 13th Jan. Also the 'kit' offerings with a 'standard' lens for the 500D seem to be offering 2 different versions of an 18-55mm lens. One has IS the other seemingly not.

XG332

3,927 posts

217 months

Saturday 8th January 2011
quotequote all
LongQ said:
However for things like very low cost spare batteries and memory cards it is usually difficult to beat in-line retailers typically based in the Channel Islands.
Cheaper memory cards are not always better. The slowest speed i would go for on this camera would be 6, due to the HD video and high frame rate burst modes.

LongQ

13,864 posts

262 months

Saturday 8th January 2011
quotequote all
XG332 said:
LongQ said:
However for things like very low cost spare batteries and memory cards it is usually difficult to beat in-line retailers typically based in the Channel Islands.
Cheaper memory cards are not always better. The slowest speed i would go for on this camera would be 6, due to the HD video and high frame rate burst modes.
Very true but that was not what I really meant. The higher the spec. of the card (and the better the reputation, deserved or not, of the brand) the greater the savings to be made - providing some care is applied during selection and a reputable vendor used.

(And of course 'in-line' should read 'on-lie'. Fingers, brain (if there is one) and eyes not working too well together it seems!)

rasputin

1,449 posts

235 months

Saturday 8th January 2011
quotequote all
XG332 said:
The best entry level (XXXD) canon on the market.
I dunno... I found the sensor in the 550D to be pretty decent! High ISO shots have slightly less noise than the (lower resolution) 500D, but more importantly the noise "patterns" are far less annoying. IMO ISO 3200 is just about usable on the 550D but it's a step too far for the 500D.

XG332

3,927 posts

217 months

Saturday 8th January 2011
quotequote all
rasputin said:
XG332 said:
The best entry level (XXXD) canon on the market.
I dunno... I found the sensor in the 550D to be pretty decent! High ISO shots have slightly less noise than the (lower resolution) 500D, but more importantly the noise "patterns" are far less annoying. IMO ISO 3200 is just about usable on the 550D but it's a step too far for the 500D.
I just find it a tad over priced at the moment.

Speed addicted

6,329 posts

256 months

Saturday 8th January 2011
quotequote all
I got a 500D as a first SLR and while there are better cameras out there (for more money) I'm more than happy with my choice. The step up in performance from the Fuji bridge camera I had before is huge.
I chose this over the equivelent Nikon because I preferred the way it felt in my hand and the menu systems seemed more straight forward.
The kit lens (mine is 18-55 IS) is pretty decent too.

I got mine from MPB Photographic as an ex-display model for a good saving. You can now get them new in the shops for what I paid.

The video mode is OK, but you can hear it focussing on the video. I've used this three times and set the focus before switching to video to stop the noise.
Higher Iso does give you more noise on the picture but I've only had a problem with this when I've forgotten the gorrilapod and couln't just use a longer exposure.

Overall I can't fault it for the money. You could spend more and get a better camera but that's true for just about everything!

Hairy Cornflake

644 posts

280 months

Saturday 8th January 2011
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I have had a 500D for about a year now, more than happy with it for what I need it for. Pick up some decent lenses and enjoy. There are some of my pics on the Ramdom photos thread or on Flickr for you to judge.

Look at pricerunner.co.uk and see what the market is doing now with regard to prices.


Original Poster

Original Poster:

5,429 posts

205 months

Saturday 8th January 2011
quotequote all
Thanks for your help guys.

Jessops sell the 500d with the 18-55 non IS lens and Amazon sell the same but with the IS lens for £490 so they're winning at the moment!

Zaxxon

4,057 posts

189 months

Saturday 8th January 2011
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I've got a 550d, excellent camera and well worth the money.

The camera body is not the expensive bit, it's the lenses. I've only had the camera 6 mths and both my new lenses cost more than the body.

Dogsey

4,301 posts

259 months

Saturday 8th January 2011
quotequote all
Original Poster said:
Thanks for your help guys.

Jessops sell the 500d with the 18-55 non IS lens and Amazon sell the same but with the IS lens for £490 so they're winning at the moment!
The IS verion is meant to be a lot better quality than the older non-IS version as well.

XG332

3,927 posts

217 months

Saturday 8th January 2011
quotequote all
The 18-55mm kit lens is a bit crap anyhow.