Photography News - The latest digital photography hardware and software news, reviews, articles, tips, techniques and more!

The SD900’s biggest selling-point for us is simple; it offers some of the best (perhaps the best) image quality in this category, but if we’re being honest we’re not talking quantum leaps here, and the typical user of this type of camera, producing small prints, is unlikely to really see a significant advantage. If you like a touch of luxury (which the build and finish definitely give you) and want a ‘point and shoot’ camera that offers reliably high quality output suitable for decent enlargements, the SD900 is certainly a worthy competitor.

The A710 IS offers something of a middle ground in terms of functionality. The 6x optical zoom is nice, but it’s not a really telling feature, just good to have, and the image stabilisation works well with it. The resolution is good, but other in this kind of price range are now offering slightly more at 8Mp. Then again, for a compact, 7Mp is plenty and more is just overkill. The camera does offer a good deal of photographic control, even though the image quality is little better than average, and it only shoots sRGB as well.

Building on a solid track record of quality and performance, Canon today announced two new entry-level PowerShot A-Series models, the 7.1 megapixel PowerShot A550 and the 5.0 megapixel PowerShot A460 digital cameras. These new models are feature-packed and offer consumers the latest technological advancements in easy-to-use designs.

The SD900’s performance is generally above average. Startup and shutdown speeds are above average. Shutter response is a bit faster than average but not dramatically so. Shot-to-shot cycle times and continuous-mode speeds are above average, too. The flash, which can light up an average-sized room, takes six seconds to recharge after a full-power shot, which is average for any digicam and better than average for such a powerful flash.

Canon U.S.A., Inc. is extending its popular “Cash In With Canon” rebate program that offers consumers the chance to build or expand their EOS camera system. With this extension, consumers who purchase qualified products between now and February 19, 2007 are eligible to receive rebates of up to $300 on select Canon Digital SLR Cameras, such as the Full Frame EOS 5D Digital SLR.

The Canon Powershot G7 is a great-looking camera with cool styling, a great build, and good menu navigation. We were expecting big things from this camera, but its performance in the lab is a disappointment, especially at the higher ISOs… Is this the must-have pocket-cam for the pros? Probably not. There are just too many cut corners and sacrifices that many hardcore shooters may not be willing to take.