Plain-vanilla camera with a reasonable price tag to boot

Category: Review on Canon Powershot A550 Digital Camera

Posted by: 7-Apr-2007

Strengths: Good images, camera is very affordable

Weaknesses: Fringing and spotting exists and there are no major user friendly features in the camera

The PowerShot range mostly builds traction in the digital camera world with its combination of price and function and the A550 is pretty much the same alley. One of the first things which strike you as unusual is the small-sized LCD screen which actually does not really matter over a period of time. Other than that, the price tag of the A550 is attractive and makes it a no-brainer for most camera buyers.

The pixel strength of the camera is the standard seven which is one of the most common resolution types in use these days ( circa March 2007) for recreational photography and I don’t mind it since it prints decently well. The camera is also quite light to hold and can be used as a point and shoot solution when on holidays. The camera however, does not have any fancy features which can make it an interesting purchase. The USP continues to be the price tag and the performance when it comes to regular images.

Canon cameras are built in a rugged structure and the A550 feels substantial when you hold it. The zoom feature at 4x is also good (but not spectacular) and the images are respectable even though you can notice some fringes on the images and on maximum zoom, the images just might have a spotty look. The final verdict on the camera is that it is a standard camera which comes with an attractive price tag which can attract users who are looking for a simple photography solution.