Canon PowerShot Elph 500 HS Review

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If the idea of an almost-all-touchscreen camera appeals to you, the Canon PowerShot Elph 500 HS ($299 as of May 25, 2011) is one of the best point-and-shoot options in that class. But it's becoming clear that touchscreen-operated cameras are a significantly different beast than traditional cameras with similar specs. Because of its touchscreen, this camera acts more like a phone than a more-traditional camera, and that brings its fair share of pros and cons.

The touch interface is well-implemented--the Auto mode and scene presets operate smoothly. However, the touch interface also has aperture- and shutter-priority modes (but no full manual controls), and adjusting settings in those modes isn't as hitch-free as it is when using analog controls. What's more, we've seen better touch-focus controls and options in competing cameras.

All the fancy touchscreen features also come at the expense of the camera's battery such as canon NB-1L battery, canon NB-2L battery, canon BP-511 battery, canon NB-5L battery, canon NB-4L battery, canon NB-5H battery life, which is lacking. But beyond these shortcomings, this is a great little camera in terms of performance. Image and video quality are both strong suits, and the model's F2.0 lens and creative shooting modes make it a standout compact unit. When it comes down to it, it all depends on how much you like touchscreens.

Hardware and Design

The 12-megapixel Canon PowerShot Elph 500 HS is one of a new breed of Canon point-and-shoots announced in early 2011: The "HS" designation refers to the camera's "High Sensitivity System" CMOS sensor, which the company claims enhances low-light shots and adds a few innovative shooting modes.

Despite that rejiggered naming convention, the Elph 500 HS is a lot like one of the better Canon point-and-shoots from the past year--the PowerShot SD4000 IS. Like the SD4000 IS, the Elph 500 HS has a bright F2.0 lens, aperture- and shutter-priority modes, creative in-camera offerings, and good image quality.

The Elph 500 HS builds on that foundation, adding a few significant extras to the SD4000 IS's list of specs: an ultra-wide-angle 24mm lens, a slightly larger optical zoom range (4.4X zoom; 24mm to 105mm), a bigger 3.2-inch LCD, and the aforementioned touchscreen controls for nearly every in-camera function.

Minus the control wheel and buttons on the back of the SD4000 IS, the Elph 500 HS also has a very similar body design, with contoured edges that make the Elph 500 HS a comfortable fit in the hand despite the lack of a raised handgrip, and it is slim but slightly large for a pocket camera, with a body measuring just under an inch deep, 2.2 inches tall, and about 4 inches wide.