Canon PowerShot A550 7.1MP Digital Camera with 4x Optical Zoom | 
| Brand: Canon
List Price: $249.99
Buy New: $147.81
You Save: $102.18 (41%)
New (4) Used (4) Refurbished (3) from $80.00
Rating:  186 reviews
Sales Rank: 2759
Media: Electronics
Autographed: No
Memorabilia: No
Batteries Included: Yes
Floppy Disk Drive: None
Includes Software: Digital Camera Solution
Optical Zoom: 4
Display Size: 2
Battery: 2 AA
Maximum Focal Length: 23.2
Minimum Focal Length: 5.8
Maximum Resolution: 7.1
Has Red Eye Reduction: Yes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.4
Dimensions (in): 3.6 x 2.5 x 1.7
MPN: 1775B001
Model: 1775B001
UPC: 013803078480
EAN: 0013803078480
ASIN: B000MFA1NE
Release Date: February 16, 2007
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: Expedited shipping available
Condition: Brand new. Comes with 30 day exchange and one year warranty. No shipments to PO, APO, AK, HI addresses.
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| Features:
| • | 7.1-megapixel CCD captures enough detail for photo-quality 15 x 20-inch prints | | • | 4x optical zoom; 2.0-inch LCD display | | • | 16:9 Widescreen mode for full-screen viewing on widescreen TVs and computer monitors | | • | Three movie modes including 30 fps VGA and 60 fps Fast Frame Rate | | • | Stores images on SD, SDHC, or MMC memory cards (16MB MMC card included); powered by 2 AA-size batteries (2 alkaline batteries included) |
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| Accessories:
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| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
Easy-to-useand easy-to-hold, the PowerShot A550 gives you 7.1 Megapixels, a 4x Optical Zoom Lens, an ISO 800 feature for expanded low-light shooting and a DIGIC II Image Processor with iSAPS technology for beautiful pictures and great performance. Plus, there's even a Fast Frame Rate Movie Mode. Power is never a problem, because the A550 uses standard "AA" batteries. Great features at a great price - it's what makes the A550 such an amazing camera. Three movie modes including 30 fps VGA and 60 fps Fast Frame Rate Power on the go with two AA-size batteries (for long-term value, we advise use of rechargeable AA batteries) Print/Share Button for easy direct printing and downloading, plus ID Photo Print and Movie Print with Canon CP and SELPHY Compact Photo Printers Focal Length - 5.8-23.2mm f/2.6-5.5 (35mm film equivalent - 35-140mm) Digital Zoom - 4x ISO Sensitivity - Auto, High ISO Auto, ISO 80/100/200/400/800equivalent Shooting Modes - Auto, Camera M, Portrait, Landscape, Special Scene (Night Scene, Foliage, Snow, Beach, Fireworks) Indoor, Kids&Pets, Night Snapshot, Movie Maximum Still Resolutions - 3,072 x 2,304 (Large), 3,072 x 1,728 (Widescreen) Movie resolutions - 640 x 480 / 320 x 240 (30 fps/15 fps) available up to 1GB or 60 minutes, 320 x 240 (1 min. at 60 fps), 160 x 120 (3 min. at 15 fps) Battery output capability - Still Image - approx. 140 shots (AA-size Alkaline Battery, LCD screen On), approx. 500 shots (AA-size Ni-MH Battery); we advise rechargeable NiMH battery Built-in multimode electronic-flash Unit Dimensions (W x H x D) 3.59 x 2.52 x 1.70 in./91.2 x 64.0 x 43.1mm; Weight Approx. 5.64 oz. / 160g (camera body only)
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| Customer Reviews: Read 181 more reviews...
 Love this camera! March 9, 2007
lgav0406 (Chicago, IL)
128 out of 135 found this review helpful
I really did some research on digital cameras, even tried out a Sony, but the Canon brand is by far one of the best. I don't have to do a lot of thinking when snapping a picture with this camera, it does most of the work! I like to be able to think about the compostion of my photo and not ISO, aperature, and all that jazz. The settings make it so easy and the color of the photos turn out so true. The digital zoom is great and will even alert you if the picture will come out blurry. There are so many features on this camera, too many to list. I even found a great deal at Best Buy on a 2 gig memory card, I get over 1,000 photos with a high resolution! It takes alkaline batteries, but I bought rechargeable ones and one charge lasts a long time. I am sooo happy with this camera, I take it with me everywhere, even a couple of days to work.
 Buy the A560 instead June 8, 2007
Charles Donovan (St. Louis)
92 out of 93 found this review helpful
These PowerShot "A" cameras are Canon's attempt to deliver the quality and features of its more expensive PowerShot "G" and PowerShot Pro "S" lines (such as full zoom lenses) at a budget price. The results, though, are a mixed bag. The entry-level A460 is lousy, but the rest of the line gives you a lot for the money.
Here's my opinion of the "A" series line:
Canon PowerShot A460 5.0MP Digital Camera with 4x Optical Zoom (Silver)
Yuck! This 5MP camera is like a relic from five years ago: the simple but poorly designed controls -- a little joy pad surrounded by four buttons -- make it far too easy to do things like change the zoom setting when you set the flash. I have fat fingers and I mess things up almost every time! Also, I've seen photos taken with this camera, and they often have that purple fringe around their highlights, which are typically blown out. On the plus side, the camera does have an optical viewfinder.
Canon PowerShot A540 6MP Digital Camera with 4x Optical Zoom
RECOMMENDED. Looking for a good bargain camera? Take a look at this one. It's a 2006 model, but it works just fine. You get 20 shooting modes, a full set of manual controls and can record low-res sound video at 60 frames per second. Before you buy it, however, check Amazon's price of the better, and newer, A560. It may be cheaper.
Canon PowerShot A550 7.1MP Digital Camera with 4x Optical Zoom
This basic camera isn't that bad, but there's no reason to buy it. For about $25 more you can step up to the PowerShot A560 (see below), which has the same body, sensor and lens but Canon's much better Digic III processor. Buy this one and, yes, you'll save a few bucks, but your photos won't look as good.
Canon PowerShot A560 7.1MP Digital Camera with 4x Optical Zoom
RECOMMENDED. Here is a nice camera! Featuring Canon's acclaimed Digic III processor, it includes the company's face-detection metering system and a decent red-eye removal.
Canon PowerShot A570IS 7.1MP Digital Camera with 4x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom
RECOMMENDED. Same as the A560 but with optical image stabilization and the ability to shoot manually.
Canon PowerShot A630 8MP Digital Camera with 4x Optical Zoom
RECOMMENDED. You can do a lot with this sweet little camera. It has a flip-out LCD panel and lots of manual controls. The shots I've seen from this model look great. Keep your ISO under 800 and you won't get any noise.
Canon PowerShot A640 10MP Digital Camera with 4x Optical Zoom
Same as the A630 except 10MP.
Canon PowerShot A710 IS 7.1MP Digital Camera with 6x Image-Stabilized Optical Zoom
RECOMMENDED. This fully-loaded model has all the toys, including a full-range zoom (35mm film equivalent of 35-210mm), adjustable flash power and optional second-curtain flash. This last features means you can make the flash fire at the end of a long exposure, instead of the beginning, so moving subjects streak into focus instead of out. Much more for your money than the A640.
 Had second thoughts.... March 9, 2007
T. Morgan (North Carolina)
86 out of 91 found this review helpful
I ordered a Nikon Coolpix L6 (6MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom) and then ran into a friend at a party. He had one and I gave it a try. SLOW and fair pics. I went home, jumped online and changed the order to the Canon PowerShot A550. This camera is slightly larger, but is quick, good zoom, easy enough on the batteries and takes wonderful pics. Make usre you buy additional SD cards 'cause you'll love using this camera.
Wonderful Pictures and Easy to Use. March 16, 2007
Allen Sirken (Southlake, TX USA)
50 out of 53 found this review helpful
I wanted a camera that the whole family could use - Including my 10 year old son. This camera has proven to be that and much more! What impresses me the most is the astounding battery life and the quick focus features. It is at an excellent price point as well. Our pictures no longer suffer from the dreaded 'redeye' effects. I upgraded from a 4 year old Olympus
4 megapixel camera and am blown away by the improvements over that period.
Canon rocks!
The winning "value for money" camera from Canon! May 19, 2007
Anjana Nigam (Atlanta, GA)
41 out of 46 found this review helpful
This is simply a great camera to get whether you are buying a digital camera for the first time or the fifth time. Why? Because you get all the Canon quality and features for a very good price. At this price you can afford to even gift it to a teenager who wants to learn a little more photography as it offers a little more than just point and shoot.
I've owned about 4 A series cameras in the past, along with S2/S3 series and SD series and I still recommend A series as the best value for money based on its performance. I tried this particular camera when I bought it recently for a gift. Although the size of A series cameras is bigger than SD series making them jacket-pocket cameras, the advantage is in the styling. It gives you a convenient grip on the side which helps hold the camera steady and results in less "blurry" pictures than SD. The mode selector dial on top helps you zip through selections from portrait, landscape to nightshot and special scenes. The convenience of AA batteries which are available in every corner of the world, no missing out on pictures as your battery was discharged, is a great convenience. You can buy 2NiMH batteries with a charger like I did, and never have to buy any more again. The screen is only 2 inch (up from 1.8 earlier) but it makes the camera more durable, as the design makes it more resistant to damage.
And what about the features? :
- It has an intelligent 9 point focusing system with auto red eye correction which means it can choose the focus pretty accurately, although it also gives you the flexibility to choose the focus through 3 modes. (Centered, Evaluative, Spot)
- SD card/MMC card slot - These cards are so cheap now so get the 2GB to store a whole vacation's worth of pictures.
-Pic size- You can choose from 6 sizes for the pics including a widescreen 16:9 format which can be viewed on your HDTV.
-Speed Dial: This dial on top allows fast spinning between shooting modes (night, landscape, indoors, kids, portrait, movie, auto, manual, special) so you never miss a shot. For this feature alone, I'd prefer an A series over SD as I keep missing shots on SD series while trying to change modes through the menu. With this dial even a kid becomes a pro. The SCN(special scenes) mode has Fireworks, Foliage, Beach, Snow, and Night Scene. Now even amateurs can use Canon experience to get the best shot. Fireworks is particularly amazing as it produced some great 4th of July shots. This camera does not have the Photostitch mode found on some other cameras but it does have the macro mode to take close ups.
-Special effects (B/W, Sepia, Vivid, Nuetral etc.) I've used sepia a lot when taking potraits giving them an 'old world' feel. Vivid has been helpful in special situations like a red kite against a blue sky to bring out the colors. You can do this in Photoshop later but how many of us actually get the time to do this, once a pic is taken it's over with for me! This camera does not have the color accent/color swap option which is available on some other Canons.
-You can set white balance manually on this camera or manually adjust shutter or aperture priority. It also has an optical viewfinder which is handy for very dark/very bright situations.
-You can also take videos in 3 different resolutions with this camera and edit them right on the camera.
-The zoom button shows one or many images at a time in the replay mode and you can zoom into each individual image to see parts of it closely.
- While replaying, the images auto-rotate to landscape or portrait mode to align with how you're holding the camera. It's a nice feature as otherwise you can't see the portrait shots properly in the landscape mode.
This camera makes a great first camera, with many features, and the image quality is superb. Especially if you are shooting outdoors the images are unsurpassed by any other brand, in my opinion. So go get it, at this price it's well worth getting it as a second camera for another member of your family during the vacation. You won't mind taking this one on the ride where you'd be scared to take your more expensive cameras!
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