Canon PowerShot S500 Digital Camera Review

by Nathaniel Hansen
Published on July 18, 2004

Navigation
Intro	Testing / Performance
Physical Tour	Components
Design / Layout	Modes
Control Options	Image Parameters
Connectivity / Extras	Overall Impressions
Conclusion	Specs

Front (8.0)
The front of the Canon PowerShot S500 is home to the 7.4-22.2mm lens, which is positioned left of center (right of center if looking directly at the front). Above the lens is the viewfinder window, and to the left of the viewfinder window is a multi-function LED (AF-Assist beam, Red-eye Reduction Lamp, and Self-timer Lamp). To the left of the LED is the rectangular flash. On the far right side of the Canon PowerShot S500 is the wrist strap mount. The voided space to the right of the lens (left, if looking directly at the front) contains the manufacturer’s name and logo and the camera’s model number. Surrounding the lens is a reflective metal circle, about half an inch wide, with no function other than enhancing design and attracting fingerprints. The front of the PowerShot S500 is attractive, and any carrier should expect some extra attention from passerby.

 

Back

Back (7.5)
The back of the Canon PowerShot S500 is laid out intelligently, with buttons, dials, and switches each in their respective places. The shooting mode dial in the upper left corner of the back has four accompanying mode icons: automatic (a red SLR camera), manual (a red SLR camera with an M to the right), panoramic with stitch assist (three rectangles), and movie mode (a movie camera). Next to the shooting mode dial are two function LEDs; to the right of them is the circular viewfinder.

 

Below the viewfinder is the 1.5-inch LCD screen. Below the screen are four buttons; from left to right, they read SET, MENU, DISPLAY, and FUNCTION/TRASH (single image erase). Overlapping onto the LCD screen border (not the screen itself) is the circular navigation/function four-button pad. The button on top will allow access to light metering, the button on the right is for engaging the flash modes, and the button on the bottom is for continuous picture or burst mode and doubles as a self-timer button. The last of the four buttons, on the left, is the macro/infinity button. Next to this circular keypad, on the bottom right of the back of the camera’s body, is the print / share button.  

On the top right of the Canon PowerShot S500 is the mode switch. A blue “rectangle with triangle” icon to the left marks the “play” mode, and a red SLR camera indicates shooting mode. This switch is easily shifted back and forth. It’s positioned out of the way, so that it’s not accidentally accessed during shooting modes while the user is making adjustments to the image.

On the right side of the back is the CF card slot open switch. Sliding the switch up will open the CF card slot, located on the right side of the Canon PowerShot S500.

Overall, I very much like the layout of the back of the Canon PowerShot S500. The design is intuitive, and the buttons are intelligently and conveniently placed.  

Left Side (8.0)
The left side of the Canon PowerShot S500 is home to the soft, gray rubber port cover concealing the A/V out (for television viewing) and USB terminals (used to connect your digital camera to a printer or computer).  

Right Side (8.0)
The right side of the Canon PowerShot S500 has two features: the wrist strap attachment mount and the CF card slot cover. The CF card slot cover is opened by engaging the black “CF OPEN” switch, on the back right side of the camera.  

Top (8.0)
The top of the Canon PowerShot S500 has several important features. On the far right, users can access the shutter button and wide-angle/telephoto zoom toggle. The shutter button is set within the zoom toggle, which has a grip/lip that points out to the front of the Canon PowerShot S500.