Canon's first video-capable Rebel DSLR — 15.1MP APS-C with Full HD recording, a milestone for Canon.
The Canon EOS 500D (Rebel T1i) launched in 2009 as the first Canon Rebel/xxxD to record Full HD 1080p video. This was a watershed moment for the DSLR video revolution, making cinematic video accessible to consumer camera buyers for the first time at this price point.
The 15.1MP APS-C CMOS sensor delivers good image quality with clean results to ISO 1600. 9-point AF system with cross-type centre point. 3.4fps burst rate. Full HD 1080p 20fps and 720p 30fps video — groundbreaking at launch though primitive by today's standards.
Compact plastic body at 480g. 3-inch fixed LCD at 920k dots — a big upgrade over the 450D's 230k. SD card slot. Built-in flash. Live View with contrast-detect AF. DIGIC 4 processor. EF and EF-S mount compatibility.
Very cheap used. The video capability was revolutionary but feels dated — no continuous AF during video, no 1080p 30fps. The 550D improved significantly with 1080p at all frame rates. Still a solid starter DSLR for stills. Check shutter count — rated 100,000 actuations.