Canon PowerShot Cameras: SD550, SD450, SD30

Canon will be releasing these PowerShot SD series this October.  The SD550 is for the more serious picture taker at 7.1MP. Retailing at $550 here are its details:

7.1 Megapixel, 1/1.8 inch type Charge Coupled Device (CCD)
Focal Length Lens - 7.7 - 23.1mm f/2.8-4.9 (35mm film equivalent: 37-111mm)
4x Digital Zoom
Focusing Range
Normal AF: 1.6 ft./50cm-infinity
Macro AF: 2.0 in.-1.6 ft./5-50cm (WIDE), 1.0-1.6 ft./30-50cm (TELE)
Digital Macro: 2.0 in. - 1.6 ft./5-50cm (WIDE)
Autofocus System
TTL Autofocus (continuous/single)
Viewfinders
Optical Viewfinder
Real-image optical zoom viewfinder
2.5 inch low-temperature polycrystalline silicon TFT color LCD - Approx. 115,000 pixels
Maximum Aperture - f/2.8 (W) - f/4.9 (T)
Shutter Speed - 15-1/2000 sec.; Slow shutter operates with noise reduction when manually set at 1.3-15 sec.
Built-in Flash
SD Memory Card, MultiMediaCard
Still Image: 3,072 x 2,304 (Large), 2,592 x 1,944 (Medium 1), 2,048 x 1,536 (Medium 2), 1,600 x 1,200 (Medium 3), 640 x 480 (Small)
Movie: 640 x 480/320 x 240 (30 fps/15 fps) available up to 1GB, 320 x 240 (1 min. at 60 fps), 160 x 120 (3 min. at 15 fps)

For those of you looking for quality on a smaller budget may consider the SD450 which will retail at $450:

5.0 Megapixel, 1/2.5 inch type Charge Coupled Device (CCD)
Focal Length Lens
5.8-17.4mm f/2.8-4.9 zoom lens (equivalent to 35-105mm in 35mm format)
4x Digital Zoom
Optical Viewfinder
Real-image optical zoom viewfinder
2.5 inch low-temperature polycrystalline silicon TFT color LCD - Approx. 115,000 pixels
Maximum Aperture - f/2.8 (W) - f/4.9 (T)
Shutter Speed - 15-1/1500 sec.; Slow shutter operates with noise reduction when manually set at 1.3-15 sec.
Built-in Flash
SD Memory Card, MultiMediaCard
Still Image: 2,592 x 1,944 (Large), 2,048 x 1,536 (Medium 1), 1,600 x 1,200 (Medium 2), 640 x 480 (Small)
Movie: 640 x 480/320 x 240 (30 fps/15 fps), 320 x 240 (1 min. at 60 fps), 160 x 1
20 (3 min. at 15 fps)

Finally, there’s the ultra sleek SD30 also at $450 for its 5MP Quality.  It is available in a variety of colors as well.

5.0 Megapixel, 1/2.5 inch charge coupled device (CCD)
Focal Length Lens - 6.3-14.9mm f/3.2-5.4 zoom lens (equivalent to 38-90mm in 35mm format)
4x Digital Zoom
1.8 inch low-temperature polycrystalline silicon TFT color LCD. - Approx. 118,000 pixels
Maximum Aperture - f/3.2 (W) - f/5.4 (T)
Shutter Speed - 15-1/1600 sec.; Slow shutter operates with noise reduction when manually set at 1.3-15 sec. is only available in select modes
Built-in Flash
Activates shutter after an approx. 2 sec./10 sec. delay, Custom
Wireless Control - Available for playback and printing via Camera Station CS-DC1
SD Memory Card, MultiMediaCard