A Photographic Saga: Photography and Lifestyle

Canon EOS 500D / Canon Rebel T1i DSLR, Canon 270EX Speedlite

March 25, 2009 | Gadgets & Reviews, News | 31 Comments | 24,596 views

The New Canon EOS 500D

Canon has unveiled a new upper entry level camera, the Canon EOS 500D also known as the Canon Digital Rebel T1i, replacing the older Canon 450D model. It has a whooping 15.1 megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor. Just like the Canon 5D mark 2 it is capable of shooting videos with 1080p HD recording at 20fps. The display preview offers a 920,000 dot resolution with a large 3.0 inch LCD. This is great for viewing details on the photo, especially for sharpness.

The Canon EOS 500D is now integrated with a Digic 4 processor offering better noise reduction and a higher ISO sensitivity reaching up to 12,800. The low-pass filter vibration is still a very useful feature. It helps reduce those pesky sensor dust.

Introductory price for body only is around $799 and $899 with a Canon EF 18-55 IS kit lens.

UPDATE (April 20, 2009) Canon 500D Kit intro price in the Philippines is around Php 47k+

UPDATE (May 10, 2009 – from Steven) Canon 500D priced at Php 52k – 6 months, 0 interest

UPDATE (May 17, 2009) Here’s an ISO test of the Canon 500D at Cameralabs

UPDATE (May 19, 2009 – from Joey) Canon 500D – Singapore price equivalent at PhP 42k

Canon 500D (Rebel T1i)

Canon EOS 500D DSLR Specifications:

Image Processor	Digic 4
Image Sizes /Image Formats	• 4752 x 3168 • 3456 x 2304 • 2353 x 156• RAW (.CR2 14-bit ) • RAW (.CR2 14-bit ) + JPEG Large/Fine • JPEG (EXIF 2.21) – Fine, Normal
Video Formats / Audio	• 1920 x 1080 (1080P, 16:9) @ 20 fps • 1280 x 720 (720P, 16:9) @ 30 fps • 640 x 480 (4:3) @ 30 fps • Quicktime MOV format (H.264 video,linear PCM audio) • Up to 29 min 59 sec (or max file size 4 GB) • Mono microphone on front • Mono speaker on rear
Lens Mount	Compatible with EF-S and EF mount lenses1.6 Crop FOV (APS-C)
Shutter	• 30 – 1/4000 sec (0.5 or 0.3 EV steps) • Bulb
Sensitivity / ISO	• Auto (100 – 1600 ) • ISO 100 • ISO 200 • ISO 400 • ISO 800 • ISO 1600 • ISO 3200 • H1 expansion (ISO 6400 equiv.) • H2 expansion (ISO 12800 equiv.) • Highlight tone priority
Metering / Metering Modes	• TTL 35-zone SPC • Metering range: EV 1.0 – 20 EV • Evaluative 35-zone • Partial 9% at center • Spot 4% at center • Center-weighted average
Shooting Modes	• Auto • Portrait • Landscape • Close-up • Sports • Night portrait • Flash off • Movie • Program AE (P) • Shutter priority AE (Tv) • Aperture priority AE (Av) • Manual (M) • Auto depth-of-field
White Balance / Fine Tuning	• Auto • Daylight • Shade • Cloudy • Tungsten • Fluorescent • Flash • Custom• Blue (-9) to Amber (+9) • Magenta (-9) to Green (+9)
Picture Styles	• Standard • Portrait • Landscape • Neutral • Faithful • Monochrome • User 1 • User 2 • User 3
Mirror Lockup	Via custom function
Drive Modes	• Single • Continuous: 3.4 fps up to 170 JPEG / 9 RAW • Self-timer 10 secs (2 sec with mirror lock-up) • Self-timer continuous
Viewfinder / Viewfinder Info	• Pentamirror • 95% frame coverage • Magnification: 0.87x • Eyepoint: 19 mm • Dioptric adjustment: -3.0 to +1.0 diopter • Fixed precision matte • Proximity sensor disables LCD shooting mode information • AF information • Shutter speed • Aperture value • ISO speed (always displayed) • AE lock • Exposure level/compensation • Spot metering circle • Exposure warning • AEB • Flash ready • High-speed sync • FE lock • Flash exposure compensation • Red-eye reduction light • White balance correction • SD card information • Monochrome shooting • Maximum burst • Highlight tone priority
LCD Display	• 920,000 pixels • Wide viewing angle (170° horizontal and vertical) • Dual anti-reflection, anti-smudge • 7 brightness levels • Up to 10x zoom playback
LCD Live View	• Live TTL display of scene from CMOS image sensor • 100% frame coverage (30 fps display rate) • Real-time evaluative metering using CMOS image sensor • Best view or exposure simulation • Grid optional (thirds) • Magnify optional (5x or 10x at AF point) • Optional Auto-focus with mirror-down / mirror-up sequence • Optional Face Detect * • Two modes; normal and quieter • Remote live view using EOS Utility (via USB or WiFi/Ethernet using WFT) • Manual focus only
Flash / X-Sync / External Flash	• Auto pop-up E-TTL II auto flash • GN ~ 13 • Auto, Manual Flash On/ Off, Red-Eye Reduction Modes • Flash exposure compensation: +/-2.0 EV (0.3 or 0.5 EV steps) • Coverage up to 17 mm focal length (27 mm FOV equiv.) • X-Sync: 1/200 sec• External Hot-shoe compatible with E-TTL II EX-series Speedlites
Storage	SD / SDHC
Battery / Battery Grip	• Lithium-Ion LP-E5 rechargeable battery (7.4 V, 1050 mAh) • Optional ACK-E5 AC adapter kit / car battery charger CBC-E5 • Canon BG-E5
Dimensions	129 x 98 x 62 mm (5.1 x 3.9 x 2.4 in)
Weight	480 g (1.1 lb)

Canon Rebel Series line-up / comparision:

2003 - Canon EOS 300D / Digital Rebel, 6 mp
2005 – Canon EOS 350D / Digital Rebel XT, 8 mp
2006 – Canon EOS 400D / Digital Rebel XTi , 10 mp
2008 – Canon EOS 450D / Digital Rebel XSi, 12 mp
2008 – Canon EOS 1000D / Digital Rebel XS, 10 mp
2009 – Canon EOS 500D / Digital Rebel T1i, 15.1 mp (latest)

A New Canon Speedlite

Canon also introduced the Speedlite 270EX, features a two-position manual zoom head with 28mm and 50mm lens coverage, a metal mounting foot and quick-lock mechanism, bounce capability and support for both E-TTL II and manually-controlled flash output. I personally like bouncing the flash on a white ceiling rather than blasting the light straight to the subject. With the 270EX’s tilt feature, harsh shadows can be reduced.

Canon Speedlite 270EX

Although the Canon Speedlite 270 EX lacks a test fire button, like the 220EX, the 270EX is powered by two AA batteries. The Canon Speedlite 270EX is compatible with all Canon EOS cameras, PowerShot G-series cameras and some SX-series cameras. Introductory price will be around $230 and will be available in the market by May of this year.

Canon Speedlite 270EX Flash Specifications:

Flash Type / Modes	E-TTL II, E-TTL
Guide Number (GN)	72 ft./22m (at ISO 100); flash head at 28mm zoom setting 89 ft./27m (at ISO 100); flash head at 50mm zoom setting
Recycling Time	Normal flash: Approx. 0.1 to 3.9 secondsQuick flash: 0.1 to 2.6 seconds (AA-size Alkaline Batteries
Flash Range	(At ISO 100, with EF 50mm f/1.4) For normal (28mm): 2.3-51.5 ft./0.7-15.7m For tele end (50mm): 2.3-63.3 ft./0.7-19.3m For high sync speed (at 1/250 second): Approx. 2.3-24.9 ft./0.7-7.6m
AF Assist Beam	Intermittent flash firing system Effective range: At center, Approx. 13.1 ft./4m Periphery: Approx. 11.5 ft./3.5m (in total darkness)
Bounce / Swivel	Up: 60°, 75°, 90°
Batteries	Two AA-size / LR6 Alkaline
Dimensions	2.5 x 2.6 x 3.0 in./64 x 65 x 76.5mm
Weight(without Batteries)	5.1 oz./145g

Canon Speedlite 270EX

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