Anyone own a Canon SD550

[Vivsmom]

I am trying to decide if I would like to buy this camera. Right now, Costco has this packaged with a photo printer and I thought it might be a good deal. What I want to know is if anyone has this camera and how they like it. I don't want a camera shop review just personal opinions of other DISers.

 

[allyn]

i saw the package tonight at costco also and i was blown away by the price ($279 including printer).

my mom has an sd550. they are great little cameras. you should know that they are being blown out because they are two generations old, but that doesn't mean there is anything wrong with them.

i'd go for it, if my wife didn't already have an sd700.

 

[ndelaware]

Steve's Digicams loved it: http://www.steves-digicams.com/2005_reviews/sd550_pg6.html

DPReview liked it: http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canonsd550/page11.asp

Cnet said it was very ggod: http://reviews.cnet.com/Canon_PowerShot_SD550/4505-6501_7-31475442.html

Seems like a great deal.

 

[Cap'n Keel]

My wife has used one for a year or two. Works great for a pocket sized point & shoot digital. My son used one as well for a year. Worked great - until it took a shrappnel hit. For some odd reason it didn't hold up to that. Canon wouldn't warranty it, but for $50 they gave him a refurb'd upgrade. Actually they would have donated a new one (the rep secretly told me) given the circumstances if I'd wrote them explaining. Good folks at Canon selling good products. We were going to get one for my daugter as well, but Casio came out with the Exslim. Same-ish price, but skinnier and more modern design. Free / included photo printer? Ya get what ya pay for. They can hardly give away most printers. They make it up in ink & paper sales. Check out refill cost. Me - I'd rather drop a few more coins and get a printer that allows for individually replaced colors. Sell the other on Ebay. Good luck.

 

[paper1225]

what is the optical zoom for this camera? I am looking for a new camera and it seems that this is a very important factor....

 

[Vivsmom]

I do not know the optical zoom of this camera. But can you tell me why it is important. Obviously, I am blindly going about this purchase.

 

[ndelaware]

The optical zoom for this camera is 3X giving an effictive zoom range of 37-111mm.

Optical zoom is important for bringing an image closer to the sensor using the glass in the lens. The more zoom you have, the closer you can get to your subject when necesssary. Many cameras have a digital zoom which only makes the image bigger after the picture is taken, which can be done on the computer afterward anyway. The problem is digital zoom causes the image to degrade just as blowing it up on your computer does. So don't even consider what the digital zoom is on a still camera.