Canon ELPH 500 HS
- 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
- 3.2" Fixed Screen
- ISO 100 - 3200
- Optical Image Stabilization
- 1920 x 1080 video
- 24-105mm (F2.0-5.8) lens
- 185g - 101 x 56 x 25mm
- Announced February 2011
- Alternate Name is IXUS 310 HS / IXY 31S
- Read full specs
- Alternatives
- Size Comparison
- FAQ
94 Imaging
35 Features
40 Overall
37
Canon ELPH 500 HS overview
Canon ELPH 500 HS is Canon's Small Sensor Compact digital camera originally introduced on February of 2011. It features a 12 MegaPixel, BSI-CMOS 1/2.3" size sensor with a peak resolution of 4000 x 3000. The camera is referred to as "IXUS 310 HS / IXY 31S" in certain regions.
The ELPH 500 HS ranks at #70 out of 261 in Small Sensor Compact cameras and all-around #844 out of 1465 for cameras in our list. You can try our Smart camera filter to see camera listings based on your personal requirements.
Here is a chart of specific criteria used in the scoring system.
Canon ELPH 500 HS history
The Canon ELPH 500 HS comes with a history of related cameras. Listed below, you can view all older and the latest models alongside main specifications.
F2.0-5.812MP1/2.3"2011
Canon ELPH 500 HS Gallery
You can look at the ELPH 500 HS from several angles in the gallery below.
Canon ELPH 500 HS Pros and Cons
Here is a collection of pluses and minuses of the Canon ELPH 500 HS based on factors that are usually seen as essential in a digital camera.
Canon ELPH 500 HS Sensor specs
The Canon ELPH 500 HS is run by the DIGIC 4 with iSAPS technology processor. The size of the sensor in the Canon ELPH 500 HS is 6.17mm x 4.55mm (1/2.3"). The 28 mm² sensor is able to resolve 4000 x 3000 pixels using aspect ratios of 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9. The camera has got Image Stabilization (Optical). Sensor stabilization is superior than digital stabilization as the latter can easily cause cropping.
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firmsThe BSI-CMOS sensor boasts 12 megapixels and includes a standard ISO range of 100 - 3200. Sadly, RAW files are not supported therefore you have less margin for error.
The image below illustrates the ELPH 500 HS's sensor size when compared to other popular sizes. The ELPH 500 HS sensor comes with a crop factor of 5.8 and is showcased in green.
Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a LandslideTo get an idea of specific aspect ratios, you should refer to the graphic below.
Canon ELPH 500 HS dimensions
Canon ELPH 500 HS has a weight of 0.41 lbs (185 gr or 6.53 ounces) and features external measurements of 101mm x 56mm x 25mm (4.0" x 2.2" x 1.0"). The weight of general Small Sensor Compact camera is 174 gr so the Canon ELPH 500 HS is very similar as compared with various rivals.
Photography GlossaryListed below is a photo of the Canon ELPH 500 HS beside a softdrink so you can have a feel for its size.
The top view below will show the button design on the ELPH 500 HS.
Canon ELPH 500 HS Lens details
The ELPH 500 HS comes with a built-in lens offering a focal range of 24-105mm giving it a 4.4 x zoom which is definitely not perfect nevertheless it might be useful in certain situations.
At it's widest 24mm, the lens provides an aperture of f2.0 making it fantastic in low light occasions and capturing good bokeh. It will also let you use a much lower ISO to produce better photos. On the long end, 105mm comes at f5.8 making it really sluggish and you may have to use slower shutter speeds.
Canon ELPH 500 HS Connectivity
The ELPH 500 HS has the following connectivity:
- USB Yes
- HDMI Yes
Cameras that contain NFC or Bluetooth support are able to be used wirelessly by smartphones. You can copy images and sometimes change settings without connecting directly with the camera.
Certain apps also enable a Liveview and press the shutter whenever you aren't close to the camera. If the camera has a HDMI out, it can easily be attached to an external screen. Virtually all cameras will allow you to charge the battery through the USB port.
Canon ELPH 500 HS Video details
The highest video resolution in the Canon ELPH 500 HS is 1920 x 1080 and it can record in H.264 file format. 1080p resolution gives a great balance between video quality vs file size but FULL HD won't give you much room to downsample. The body doesn't include a mic or headphone socket which means that you have got absolutely no control over your sound. It is probably a better idea to get an alternative camera if you want decent sound in your videos.
Canon ELPH 500 HS Weather Sealing
Canon ELPH 500 HS doesn't have weather proofing so rainy conditions might ruin the camera.
Canon ELPH 500 HS Screen and Viewfinder
The Canon ELPH 500 HS features a 3.2" fixed screen having a resolution of 461k dots.
Moreover the screen is touch friendly which means you can easily change focus point plus change settings using your fingers.
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next monthThe View Finder specifications regarding Canon ELPH 500 HS are below:
- ViewFinder None
In those bright outdoor situations that make the camera screens washed out and hard to view, viewfinders can be pretty useful.
Canon ELPH 500 HS Shutter details
Canon ELPH 500 HS is able to shoot continuously at 3.0 frames per second. The highest shutter speed is 1/1600s.
Canon ELPH 500 HS Flash and Hot shoe details
Canon ELPH 500 HS has got just in-built flash without external flash ability.
Canon ELPH 500 HS Autofocusing details
Canon ELPH 500 HS has got only Contrast Based AF and lacks Phase Detect AF. Phase Detection autofocusing is a lot faster and precise as compared to Contrast Based autofocusing. The camera features Face detection which can be valuable for taking portraits of people.
The AF system features 9 focus points to pick from. Canon ELPH 500 HS has touch to focus. You are able to use your fingers in order to change where you focus. Canon ELPH 500 HS does not have manual focusing. Manual focusing ability is good during low light or you want more exact depth of field control.
Canon ELPH 500 HS Battery life
The battery power (NB-6L) for the Canon ELPH 500 HS is fashioned to last for 180 pictures based on the CIPA benchmarks making it lesser in comparison with its rivals. The typical Small Sensor Compact camera battery life is 241. Fujifilm X30 comes with the highest (470) battery life within this group of cameras.
Listed below is a list of Small Sensor Compact cameras having the best battery life:
Canon ELPH 500 HS for varying categories of photography
The following chart indicates a analysis of the Canon ELPH 500 HS for varying categories of photography. To understand more, go to the specific paragraph below.
Canon ELPH 500 HS as a Portrait photography camera
The Canon ELPH 500 HS has a points total of 26 which is lousy, meaning that it is not really appropriate to use for portraits. Taking portrait photos leans heavily to sensor specs, support for RAW photos and ability to use external lighting.
Canon ELPH 500 HS Street photography highlights
Getting a very good score of 62, the Canon ELPH 500 HS is a very decent choice for street photography. A good street photography camera comes with a good balance of image quality and portability.
Sports photography with Canon ELPH 500 HS
A lousy sports photography rating of 25 suggests the Canon ELPH 500 HS is not really appropriate for taking photos of sports. A camera must have fantastic focusing and shutter speeds for sports photography.
Travel photography with Canon ELPH 500 HS
Portability is very critical in choosing a camera for travel. Over-all, the Canon ELPH 500 HS gets a very good 64 for a travelling camera which makes it a very decent pick to buy for your journeys.
Canon ELPH 500 HS Landscape photography information
When you're looking to buy a digital camera for landscape photography, the most important factor is going to be image quality. The Canon ELPH 500 HS and it's lousy score of 40 for a landscape camera is not really appropriate within the current marketplace.
Canon ELPH 500 HS Vlogging advice
A vlogging camera should offer a articulating display, microphone input and ideally image stabilization. Taking all things in to account, the Canon ELPH 500 HS is not really appropriate as a vlog camera as it gets a lousy score of 37.
Canon ELPH 500 HS Alternatives
If you are trying to find replacements to the ELPH 500 HS, below is a range of the top ranked cameras that fall in to the category of Small Sensor Compact.
The graph below provides you an overview of the ELPH 500 HS compared to it's top scored rivals listed earlier.
These are some more cameras you may regard as alternatives. To review a complete comparison, visit the "compare" link.