2. Canon Point and Shoot Digital Cameras

Canon debuted a total of four new PowerShot point and shoot models at PMA 08, three in its extremely successful “A” series, and one in its “Digital Elph” series of fashionably thin cameras. All of Canon’s point and shoot cameras feature red-eye correction, face detection technology (which automatically sets focus, exposure, flash, and white balance), a 2.5 inch color LCD screen, PictBridge “direct to printer” printing, Windows XP / Vista and Mac OS X compatibility, and they all use typical, easy to find “AA” batteries instead of more expensive, harder to find “camera batteries”.

• Canon PowerShot A470

The Canon PowerShot A470 breaks from the somewhat square shape of most digital cameras and instead uses a slightly longer, sleeker rectangular design. In keeping with the new look, the A470 is available as a silver base with four different highlight color options: blue, red, orange and gray. A model with green highlights is featured on Canon’s Japanese site, but that model apparently isn’t available in the U.S.

The A470 shoots an impressive 7.1 megapixels and features a 3.4x optical zoom. It will be available in March at an estimated price of $129.99. This camera lacks many of the extra features of more expensive point and shoot models, but it’s still a quality entry level camera, with features appropriate for its very affordable price.

• Canon PowerShot A580

The PowerShot A580 uses the more traditional rectangular camera shape and is available in metallic silver. The A580 has slightly improved specs versus the A470: the A580 has a resolution of 8 Megapixels and a 4x optical zoom.

The PowerShot A580 also features the option of fully automatic or semi-automatic settings and 16 easily selectable shooting modes, which take the guesswork out of setting controls. The A580 will be available in March at an estimated price of $149.99. As with the previous model, I feel this is a nice set of options at an affordable price.

• Canon PowerShot A590 IS

The PowerShot A590 IS is similar in shape and size to the A580, but with a deep gray finish. Like the A580, the A590 IS has a resolution of 8 Megapixels and a 4x optical zoom.

The A590 IS is the power model of Canon’s three new “A” series point and shoot cameras. It includes Canon’s advanced Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) technology, which significantly reduces the effects of camera shake (and the blurry pictures they cause) by actually allowing the lens to shift to compensate for camera movement. Unlike electronic image stabilization systems that essentially mask the movement rather than compensating for it, Canon’s Optical "lens shift" system preserves the quality of the image without covering up for errors.

The A590 IS also features the option of 19 shooting modes, from fully automatic to fully manual operation. The camera’s capabilities can be further expanded with the use of any one of three optional converter lenses, which attach over the camera’s lens via an optional adapter.

The A590 IS will be available in March at an estimated price of $179.00. As with the A580, the A590 IS offers an additional set of features that (if its within your budget), are well worth the price.

• Canon PowerShot SD1100 IS Digital ELPH

Every camera manufacturer seems to have a fashion series in their product line, Canon’s is the Digital ELPH. I originally set out not to cover any “fashion cameras”, since you tend to pay for the fashion and not the camera. But, given the proliferation of them at this year’s PMA, covering just one seems appropriate.

Canon’s sleek Digital ELPH series adds a new style feature with the release of the SD1100 IS: five different colors. To keep things stylish (or to make life more difficult for tech writers, I haven’t decided which just yet), Canon decided to go with designer color names for the SD1100 IS: Rhythm & Blue, Swing Silver, Melody Pink, Bohemian Brown and Golden Tone.

Canon’s Swing Silver, Golden Tone, Melody Pink, Bohemian Brown, and Rhythm & Blue SD1100 IS Cameras.

The SD1100 IS Digital ELPH has an 8 megapixel resolution, 3x optical zoom, and includes Canon’s “Optical Image Stabilizer” technology. It also features 18 shooting modes (including Auto, Beach, Sunset, Fireworks, Aquarium, Indoor, Kids & Pets, and Night Snapshot) to help you take the perfect picture.

The SD1100 IS Digital ELPH will be available in March at an estimated price of $249.00.

A Quick Analysis of Canon’s New Cameras

My feeling on the new Canon “A” series cameras is that they each offer the best feature set available for a camera in their price range, which is why I decided to write about all three.

The SD1100 IS Digital ELPH sells for $70 more than the PowerShot A590 IS, while the A590 IS has the slightly better feature set (such as the ability to use additional lenses). Yes, you are paying extra for the thin stylish design and trendy colors.