Canon IXUS 500 HS Review | 108 Data compared

The Canon IXUS 500 HS is an ultra-compact, metal-bodied camera featuring a 10.1-megapixel sensor, 12x optical zoom, and 1080p HD video. Key strengths include excellent color reproduction, a close 1cm minimum focusing distance, and impressive zoom range for its size. However, the design results in small, fiddly buttons and a limited battery life that restricts extended shooting. Performance downsides include visible purple fringing in high-contrast scenes and image quality that, while good, is best suited for web sharing rather than large prints.

The Canon IXUS 500 HS is a highly fashionable, playing card-sized compact camera that stands out for squeezing a broad 12x optical zoom (28-336mm equivalent focal range) into a slim 19.2mm chassis. It features a back-illuminated 10.1MP CMOS sensor optimised for better than average low-light snapshot performance, alongside Full HD 1080p video capture at 24fps. Composition is handled by a 3-inch, 460k-dot LCD screen, though the display can become noticeably grainy when shooting in lower light. Additional features include an HDMI output and Canon's Movie Digest mode, which automatically compiles four-second clips before each photo into a video diary. The camera's primary advantages lie in its exceptionally stylish boxy design, solid construction, and impressive zoom range for its compact dimensions, complemented by crisp Full HD video with stereo sound. However, it comes with a high premium price tag (£305 in the UK or $300 in the US) when compared to similarly specified rivals from Nikon, Sony, and Samsung. Notable disadvantages include tiny, hard-to-use backplate controls, an unimpressive battery life, and an overall lack of image definition—particularly when pushing the lens...

The Expert Reviews write-up of the Canon Ixus 500 HS (marketed as the PowerShot ELPH 520 HS in North America) highlights its ultra-slim 19mm metal design and impressive 12x optical zoom lens as its main triumphs. The camera features a vibrant 3-inch screen and utilizes an HS back-illuminated CMOS chip, which delivers solid automatic exposures, excellent 1080p video quality, and flattering colours. Performance remains stable with an average interval of 2.1 seconds between shots and a 2.3fps continuous shooting mode. Low-light capabilities are praised for standing up well to scrutiny at ISO 400 and providing acceptable images at ISO 1600 due to superior noise reduction. However, the review details critical compromises made to achieve this extreme level of miniaturisation. The camera only utilizes the central 10-megapixel crop of its 16-megapixel sensor, resulting in higher image noise even in bright conditions without adding extra detail. Furthermore, lens sharpness deteriorates significantly across the frame at full telephoto extension. Other major design drawbacks include a poor battery life limited to just 190 shots, an inconvenient microSDXC card slot instead of standard SD, and...

Summary of the Canon ELPH 520 HS / IXUS 500 HS The Canon ELPH 520 HS / IXUS 500 HS is a highly compact, stylish, metal-bodied pocket super-zoom camera featuring an impressive 12x optical range (28-336mm equivalent) and a 3-inch screen. Powered by the Digic 5 processor, it offers excellent consumer-friendly features such as Intelligent Image Stabilisation (IS) with seven automated modes, a 1080p24 HD movie mode with optical zoom functionality, and unique shooting modes like Movie Digest. Its sleek, squared-off "box" design marks a return to classic styling and makes it small enough to comfortably fit into a shirt pocket. However, its physical downsizing introduces several design and performance trade-offs. Most notably, the camera uses a 16.8-megapixel sensor but crops it down to a central 10.1-megapixel area to achieve its focal range, which inherently reduces ultimate image quality for large prints. Pros and Cons Pro: Outstanding 12x optical zoom packed into the smallest, slimmest ELPH/IXUS metal body. Pro: Highly effective Intelligent Image Stabilisation that provides 3.5 stops of stabilization, excelling even at slow shutter speeds. Pro: Full 1080p24 HD...

The Canon PowerShot ELPH 520 HS is a highly compact and visually appealing digital camera that stands out for squeezing a powerful 12x optical zoom lens (28--336mm equivalent) into a remarkably slim, pocket-sized body. It features a high-resolution 3-inch LCD screen, snappy performance with a low shutter lag of 0.3 seconds in bright light, and an upgraded Smart Auto mode capable of recognizing 58 distinct shooting scenarios, including a Face ID feature. The camera also boasts good color consistency up to ISO 800 and includes fun creative effects alongside miniature and slow-motion video modes. It serves as a decent step up for individuals seeking a faster performance and a longer zoom than their smartphones can provide. However, the camera requires several compromises due to its petite dimensions, starting with an unintuitive and cramped button layout that separates the selection button from the navigation keys, making manual settings adjustments frustrating. Furthermore, its photo and video quality are disappointing for its $300 price tag; images suffer from softness and digital noise even at low ISO settings, which worsens significantly at ISO 400...

The PCMag Review of the Canon PowerShot Elph 520 HS rates the camera as a 2.5 Fair due to major trade-offs between its beautiful, pocket-sized design and its lackluster image performance. On the positive side (pros), the camera stands out for being incredibly slim, stylish, and highly responsive with a snappy 0.2-second shutter lag and continuous shooting speeds exceeding 2 frames per second. It successfully packs a respectable 12x optical zoom lens (28-336mm equivalent) into a tiny, lightweight body, and it features an intuitive menu system alongside a bright 3-inch rear LCD screen. However, the camera suffers from several significant flaws (cons) stemming from its physical design compromises. Because the lens cannot project light across the entire 16.8-megapixel sensor, the camera crops the image in-camera to 10 megapixels, creating an effectively tiny 1/3-inch sensor that yields very noisy, grainy images anywhere above ISO 200. This design results in poor low-light performance, a slightly soft lens that falls short of standard sharpness benchmarks, and an aggressive noise reduction system that leaves indoor or dim photos looking waxy. Additionally, the reviewer criticises...

The Canon IXUS 500 HS features a 10.1MP backlit CMOS sensor and 12x optical zoom housed in a 19.2mm ultra-compact body. Rated 89%, the camera delivers fast autofocus, good dynamic range, and strong image quality with usable ISO up to 3200. Pros include the premium, minimalist design and the 3-inch LCD, though the DIGIC 5-powered device is hindered by its high cost and lack of advanced manual controls. Some edge softness exists, but optical issues are minimal.

The Pocket-lint review of the Canon IXUS 500 HS highlights it as a highly pocketable, ultra-slim snapshot camera that prioritises premium fashion and a retro, boxy aesthetic. A major selling point is its impressive 12x optical zoom shoehorned into a body just 19.2mm deep, alongside an effective 10.1-megapixel sensor and a sharp 3-inch LCD screen. It scores points for solid metal build quality, Full HD video recording with zoom access, and an HDMI output. Performance-wise, the Digic 5 processor ensures quick operation, while the low-light high-sensitivity ("HS") setup manages to deliver clean, noise-free images up to ISO1600. However, the review criticises the camera for being overpriced, noting that consumers pay a steep £100 premium just for its glossy appearance while getting performance comparable to average £100 compacts. Its small proportions lead to several design compromises, including a confusing backplate button layout, tiny controls requiring fingertip activation, and an awkwardly placed flash bulb that is easily blocked by fingers. Additionally, image quality can look flat and soft on overcast days, and the camera is held back by a modest battery life...