Canon's new SD550, SD450, and SD30 cameras
By Ryan Block 
posted August 22nd 2005 9:30AM
posted August 22nd 2005 9:30AM
Canon's going all out today, also releasing revisions to their popular SD500 and SD400 series cameras, as well as a slightly bumping their SD20 line. The new SD550 and SD450 kick it up to 7.1 and 5.0 megapixels, but also up that screen size a half inch to 2.5-inches. The SD30 devices won't see much of a boon in specs, but they will feature the DIGIC II image processor, a larger 1.8-inch screen, as well as a dock option. Expect these to drop in September for $500, $400, and $400, respectively.
Look's like Canon is pumping out the press releases! 7 megapixel but only 3x optical zoom?
Difficult to fit more zoom into a tiny body... but with these increases in resolution, I don't see why other companies don't copy Sony's smart zoom feature. On my P200, it allows me to choose a lower resolution (for most purposes, 3/4mp is enough) and 'convert' that into more zoom by (presumably) using the full sensor resolution. That way you get more zoom, but still at full quality, no digital zoom/upsampling involved.
I believe adding an optical zoom to the SD30 is a pretty big bump in specs compared to the SD20.
(...ctd, sorry) - it's exactly the same end result you would get if you were to take the pic at full resolution and then crop it on the computer, but having it as an option on the camera makes it much more intuitive.
Actually they do have digital zoom which is essentially what you guys are talking about. It is turned off by default but easy enough to turn on.
Wow, what a joke! The only changes they made to the SD500/SD400 line are larger screens (current ones are plenty big) and different colors. All of the other stuff they mention are already in the current cameras.
I want the SD30 sooo bad...
SD550 seems to have gotten the short shrift in upgrades...lots of software updates that could have been shipped as a firmware download. Hopefully us SD500 owners aren't "3G iPod"-ed.
Then there's the rumours that the SD500's LCD screen will crack very easily - I wonder what this will mean for the SD550's larger screen.
SD550 seems to have gotten the short shrift in upgrades...lots of software updates that could have been shipped as a firmware download. Hopefully us SD500 owners aren't "3G iPod"-ed.
Then there's the rumours that the SD500's LCD screen will crack very easily - I wonder what this will mean for the SD550's larger screen.
I've been VERY happy with my SD400 and would recommend it to anyone looking for an ultracompact. Very small yet very solid. Takes great pictures.
Dell has great coupons on these things every now and then. I got mine for about $300 back in April.
re: SD550
THAT UGLY CURVE AGAIN!! Did people actually *like* that?
*sob*
Sweet addition to the already popular Canon line! I fear that image quality will suffer as these lenses get smaller and smaller. SD400 is plenty small and already there is softness in the corners. The SD450 looks a tiny bit bigger than the SD400. I wonder what the images from the 550 look like.
#5, the feature on Sony cams isn't the same as digital zoom (which they also have). Digital zoom is just upsampling the image as you might do in photoshop, so you don't really get any more detail. Sony's 'Smart Zoom' is only available when you are using a lower resolution that the sensor has - it converts the extra res into more 'zoom', withough the loss in quality. Given that most folk don't really need 7mp, it's handy. I could be mistaken (I often am) but I'm not sure if other brands have this...
Guys, this upgrade is TOO early for Canon. They were just reviewing the SD400 in April of this year (DPReview.com). An upgraded in less than 1 year???
They upgraded these thing mid cycle because they f'd up with the SD500 and SD400. I purchased one and promptly returned it because of the loud whine that is recorded in movie mode. It happened on both models. Apparently a ton of people complained about it, and many of them returned their cameras like I did. A quick google search will confirm this.
I can't wait to see the reviews on the new models, but I bet it is fixed.
-CoolBeans
Matthew: the Panasonic LX1 also has this type of zoom that uses unused resolution to crop and zoom.
RE #14-
Not too long ago, digital cameras were released every 6 months.
#15 Shubho - Thanks! I thought it was only Sony. I can't beleive that all the folk that buy 7mp cameras need 7mp, it was the least important factor in choosing mine - so it's good to be able to transparently put it to some use.
The only significant change is the LCD screen, and that can be considered a DOWNGRADE. The SD400, for example, has a 2.0" LCD with 118k pixels. The SD450 has a 2.5" LCD with 115k pixels. The larger LCD on the SD450 will show less detail and appear more grainy as a result of the increase in real-estate and decrease in pixelage.
So you're really going to notice a 3K pixel change when it's from 118-115? Most likely not. I think Canon made some improvements on the prior 400/500 and added a larger screen to attract more buyers and make it look like it's a large improvement when it's just them fixing some hidden problems.
Its not just a larger screen, but a wider viewing angle.
I would have loved to have had a larger viewing angle at an event where I needed to hold my SD200 above my head, over the crowds, to take pics of the band on stage. A wider angle would have allowed me to see what I was shooting at, rather than blinding clicking away.
It'll also help when a TV or computer is not available and multiple people need to see the pic.
They also added a world clock which is great for those who travel. When I was visiting the east coast this would have been a convenient and quick way to change time. My cell phone didn't get reception in certain areas so I couldn't rely on it to keep time.
I love how Canon is consistently striving for perfection every 6 months.
They aren't rumors (regarding screen cracks) for the whole SD line. I had my SD400 for just a week and the screen cracked. It was in my pocket with nothing else in my pocket with it, pulled it out to take a picture and as shocked at when I turned it on, I’ve also encountered a SD500 owner at a wedding reception with a cracked screen as well. Lot’s of horror stories out there (do a quick google search for Canon SD LCD crack; 215,000 results returned). I just wish this problem would have gotten as much TLC from Canon as Apple gave to the iPod nano screen problem.
Canon refuses to acknowledge and claims user incompetence and mishandling of the product. There is a replacement screen that they will want to sell you and charge you labor for.
I would say stay away from the whole Canon line until they acknowledge the problem with the previous models and state that the new models have LCDs from a different manufacturer or something along those lines.
I just bought an SD 30 and returned it the next day. While a zoom is nice, picture quality suffers here. The pictures are much less sharp then those taken with the SD20! Also, now you have to carry an ugly egg-shaped loading dock with you when you travel because you cannot plug in the USB cable into the camera directly. All this plus the gimmicky plastic body - definitely not a change for the better.
to # 21.
I think the 2 inch LCD's on the Canon SD 300-500 models are made by Sony.
It's possible that Canon may not, legally, be able to admit the LCD is flawed, since it is not their product.
Has any one been successful in downloading pictures directly from your SD550 to your Ipod. Using apple small USB addaptor.
anyone know the product number for said screen? (the one metioned in post #21?
To post #23. I opened my SD 200 to see how easy it would be to repair the cracked LCD. The LCD has a metal boarder and at the bottom it has the brand Sony etched in the thin metal.