Features
Inputs and Outputs Notes
Supplied Software
Specifications

Features

LCD Monitor: The Canon PowerShot S500 has a 1.5" low temperature polycrystalline silicon TFT color LCD monitor featuring approximately 118,000 pixels.

Optical Viewfinder: In addition to the LCD monitor, the camera has a "real-image" optical zoom viewfinder. 

Recording Media: The camera records still images, or moving images with mono audio, on CompactFlash cards. Still images are recorded in JPEG, and the movies are recorded in AVI format (Image data: Motion JPEG, Audio data: WAVE (monaural)).

DIGIC Imaging Processor and iSAPS Technology: The PowerShot S500 features DIGIC Imaging Processor, for even greater picture quality and faster processing speed. The iSAPS (Intelligent Scene Analysis based on Photographic Space) technology produces more accurate autofocus, auto exposure, and auto white balance.

Image Sensor: For optimal image quality, the camera uses a 1/1.8" CCD image sensor with approximately 5.3-million total pixels and 5.0-million effective pixels.

Image Resolution/Compression: You can change the resolution and compression settings to suit the purpose of the image you're about to shoot. You can choose from the following resolutions: Large (2592 x 1944 pixels), Medium 1 (2048 x 1536 pixels), Medium 2 (1600 x 1200 pixels), and Small (640 x 480 pixels). For each resolution, you can set the compression to Superfine, Fine or Normal. Movies can be shot with the following resolution: 640 (640 x 480), 320 (320 x 240 pixels) or 160 (160 x 120 pixels). Maximum clip length is approximately 3 minutes (30 seconds for 640 resolution).

Optics: The camera features a 3x optical zoom lens. The 4.1x digital zoom extends the telephoto capabilities to a total zoom of approximately 12x.

Auto Focusing: The PowerShot S500 utilizes a TTL (through-the-lens) 9-point AiAF auto focus or a 1-point center auto-focus method. Artificial Intelligence autofocus (AiAF) uses a broad metering field to calculate the focal distance with high precision. It delivers a crisp focus even when the photographic subject is slightly off-center. You can turn off the AiAF and use the center AF frame for focusing on a specific part of a subject.

AF-assist Beam: The AF-assist beam will sometimes emit when the shutter button is pressed halfway to assist focusing in certain conditions, i.e. dark conditions. The AF-assist beam can be turned off. If animals are your subject, turn off the beam when shooting in the dark to avoid startling them.

Focusing Range: The camera features the following focus ranges:

• Normal AF: 1.5' to infinity
• Macro Mode AF: 2" to 1.5' (wide angle), 1' to 1.5' (tele)

Auto Rotate Function: The PowerShot S500's Auto Rotate function uses an Intelligent Orientation Sensor to sense whether your images were shot horizontally or vertically. It then adjusts AF, AE, and white balance accordingly and your images will be automatically rotated to the right position for viewing during playback.

Auto Power Down Function: In Shooting Mode, the power will automatically shut off approximately 3 minutes after the last function is accessed. In Replay Mode, the power will automatically shut off approximately 5 minutes after the last function is accessed. While connected to an optional printer, the power will automatically shut off approximately 5 minutes after the last camera function is accessed or printer ceases to print an image. 

Flash Modes: You can choose from the following flash modes:

• Auto: the flash fires automatically as required by the light level
• Red-eye Reduction, Auto: the flash may fire automatically as required by the light level. The red-eye reduction lamp fires with each shot.
• Flash On: the flash fires with every shot
• Flash Off: the flash will not fire
• Slow-Synchro: the flash timing is adjusted to slow shutter speeds

Locking the Flash Exposure Setting (FE Lock): You can lock the flash exposure so the exposure settings are correctly adjusted for a particular portion of the subject.

Photo Effect Modes: You can choose from the following Photo Effect Modes:

• Vivid: emphasizes the contrast and color saturation to record in bold colors

• Neutral: tones down the contrast and color saturation to record neutral hues

• Low Sharpening: records subjects with softened outlines

• Sepia: records images in sepia tones

• B/W: records images in black and white

• Off: records with no effect

Continuous Shooting: There are two continuous shooting modes: Standard and High Speed. The interval between shots is shorter at the High Speed setting. The actual interval depends upon shooting conditions and settings. (Example: Shooting interval is approximately 1.5 frames per second at Standard Speed and 2.2 frames per second at High Speed with camera resolution and compression set at Large/Fine and the LCD Monitor off.)

Metering Modes: You can select from the following metering modes:

• Evaluative Light Metering: used for standard conditions. The area within the frame is divided into several zones and light is measured based on subject position, brightness, direct light and backlighting.

• Center-Weighted Averaging: averages the exposure from the entire image, but places more weight on the subject at the center

• Spot: meters the area within the spot AE point at the center of the LCD monitor

Exposure Compensation: If you are shooting against a bright background or strong backlight, you may need to correct the exposure so that the subject doesn't come out too dark. You can set the adjustments from -2 to +2 in 1/3-step increments.

Locking the Exposure Setting (AE Lock): You can set the exposure and focus separately. This is effective when the contrast is too strong between the subject and background, or when a subject is backlit.

White Balance: You can choose from the following white balance settings:

• Auto: the camera sets the white balance automatically according to shooting conditions

• Daylight: for recording outdoors on a bright day

• Cloudy: for recording under overcast, shady or twilight skies

• Tungsten: for recording under tungsten and bulb-type 3-wavelength fluorescent lighting

• Fluorescent: for recording under warm-white, cool-white or warm-white (3-wavelength) fluorescent lighting

• Fluorescent H: for recording under daylight fluorescent, or daylight fluorescent-type (3-wavelength) fluorescent lighting

• Custom: allows you to manually set the white balance and store the settings

ISO Speed: The ISO speed can be set to 50, 100, 200, 400, or Auto.

Long Shutter Mode: You can set the shutter speed to a slower setting to make dark subjects appear brighter. You can choose from the following long shutter speeds (in seconds): 1, 1.3, 1.6, 2, 2.5, 3.2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 13, and 15.

Instant Review: After an image is recorded, it will appear in the LCD monitor for a preset number of seconds for reviewing. You can select the review time from 2-10 seconds in 1-second intervals. You can also turn off the review function. 

Self-Timer: The self-timer starts when the shutter button is pressed. The delay time can be set to 10 seconds or 2 seconds.

Editing Movies: The Edit function in the movie control panel enables you to cut unwanted portions at the start or the end of a movie clip.

Sound Memos: You can attach sound memos (up to 60 seconds) to an image while in the replay mode.

Slide Show: Images stored on an CompactFlash card can automatically be displayed one-by-one using the Slide Show function. You can display all the stored images or you can customize up to 3 separate slide shows. Up to 998 images can be marked per custom slide show. You can also set the amount of time each image is displayed in a slide show. You can choose 3-10 seconds, 15 seconds, 30 seconds, or Manual. In addition, the repeat function allows you to repeat a slide show after it has finished.

Index Replay: This feature allows you to view nine images at once on the LCD monitor so that you can search for an image quickly.

Image Magnification: When viewing a still picture in Single Image Replay mode, you can magnify the image 2.5x, 5x, or 10x.

Rotating Images: You can rotate an image by 90 or 270 degrees clockwise in the LCD monitor.

Protecting Images: The protect feature allows you to protect important images from accidental erasure.

Power Requirements: The Canon PowerShot S500 is powered by the supplied NB-1LH Lithium Ion rechargeable battery pack. For long periods of continuous use, or when connected to a computer, it is recommended that the camera be connected to the optional ACK500 AC Adapter kit (available from the manufacturer). The battery can be recharged in the supplied CB-2LS battery charger. It takes approximately 130 minutes to charge a fully discharged battery pack. See below for Battery Performance section.

Direct Print Function: Using the supplied USB cable, you can connect this camera directly to a CP-series printer that supports the Direct Print function. You can also connect the camera directly to certain Canon Bubble Jet printers. In this way, you can make prints directly from the camera without ever having to hook it up to a computer.

Print & Share Button: A new dedicated Print & Share button right on the camera makes direct printing from a Canon Card Photo or Direct Photo Printer easier than ever. Enjoy a full range of print features, including ID Photo Print in 28 sizes, and a Movie Print function that lets you print multiple stills from a recorded movie on a single sheet.

PictBridge Printing Capability: Using the supplied USB cable, you can connect this camera directly to a PictBridge compliant printer. PictBridge is a new standard that allows you to connect a PictBridge compliant camera directly to a PictBridge compliant printer and make prints, regardless of brand.

Exif Print (Exif 2.2): The Canon PowerShot S500 conforms to "Exif Print", a worldwide standard. Vital camera settings (such as: exposure mode, white balance, exposure time) and scene data are recorded to the image file when it is captured. Printers compatible with "Exif Print" are able to use this information to produce high quality photographs, exactly the way they were intended at the time of capture. This intelligent communication process also allows the printer to correct for poor lighting or mistakes, resulting in photos that can be even better than the originals.

DPOF Print Settings: On your CompactFlash card, you can select which image or images you want to print and how many copies you want. This is convenient for printing images all at once, on optional Canon direct print function compliant printers or at participating photo labs.

DPOF Transfer Order: You can use the camera to specify settings for images that you wish to send by e-mail. The settings used on the camera comply with the Digital Print Order Format (DPOF) standards. Once images are selected for transfer, you can use the supplied software to actually transfer the images to an e-mail program. A maximum of 998 images can be selected per CompactFlash card, and are transferred in order from oldest to newest by shooting date.

Inputs and Outputs Notes

Digital Terminal: The PowerShot S500 has a USB 1.1 terminal to allow you to connect the camera to a compatible computer or compatible Canon printer via the supplied USB cable.

AV Output: The camera's mini-jack output allows you to connect the camera to a TV or video monitor with RCA audio and composite video input jacks using the supplied audio/video cable. You can set the video output to NTSC or PAL.

Supplied Software

Minimum System Requirements:

Specifications

Estimated Image Capacity of CompactFlash cards:

Battery Performance: