Today Canon revealed their EOS-500D . One initial reaction was - why wasn't this launched at PMA just three weeks ago?

The two main features that the EOS-500D brings to the table are a 15 megapixel sensor and HD video recording. I think many of us here are in general agreement that offering 15 megapixels in what is a camera aimed at family and friends users is simply down to marketing.

[URL="http://www.dxomark.com/index.php/eng/Image-Quality-Database/Compare-cameras/(appareil1)/180%7C0/(appareil2)/267%7C0/(onglet)/0/(brand)/Canon/(brand2)/Canon"][IMG]http://media.dxomark.com/design/ezwebin/images/logo/logo_click.jpg[/IMG][/URL]
The [URL="http://www.dxomark.com/index.php/eng/Image-Quality-Database/Compare-cameras/(appareil1)/180%7C0/(appareil2)/267%7C0/(onglet)/0/(brand)/Canon/(brand2)/Canon"]DxOMark rating[/URL] of the EOS-50D's 15MP sensor is lower than that of its predecessor, the EOS-40D's 10MP sensor, for example.

And so what about HD recording? I have to confess I am a fan of video in cameras, though DSLRs, in general, are far from ideal for video recording. Why? Just try to achieve smooth zooming and focus on a DSLR when video recording. In anything busier than a simple, mainly static, scene, it's impossible. But a lot of Nikon D90s are being sold on the strength of HD video recording.

And the guide price for the EOS-500D, body only, is �869, a �270 hike over the [URL="http://dpnow.com/articles/4619.html"]EOS-450D[/URL]'s price when it was launched 14 months ago.

I know which I'd recommend, and it's not the 500D.