Canon PowerShot SD550 Review

The Canon PowerShot SD550, introduced in August 2005 (only six months after its predecessor), is the most recent model in a long line of ultra-compact ‘ELPH’ or ‘IXUS’ cameras that date back to the early 2000s.

In Europe, the Canon PowerShot SD550 is known as the Digital Ixus 750; in Japan, it is known as the IXY DIGITAL 700. (and much farther back than that in the film camera world).

The Canon SD550 is a relatively minor upgrade to the SD500 (Ixus 700) that it replaces; aside from a larger screen (2.5 inches as opposed to 2.0 inches) and a slight redesign of the body and controls, the majority of the changes consist of tweaks to the user interface. The SD550 is compatible with all the same lenses as the SD500 (Ixus 700).

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Canon PowerShot SD550 7.1 MP Digital Camera - Silver

Last update was on: January 18, 2024 9:58 pm

Key Specs

  • 7.1 megapixel CCD
  • monitor with a broad viewing angle and 2.5 inches of color TFT
  • 37-111mm (Equiv.) F2.8 – 4.9, 3x optical zoom
  • 640 × 480 videos at 30 frames per second
  • Fast frame rate videos (320×240 pixels At 60fps)
  • Click here to print and share.
  • Individualized white balance
  • Metering methods include spot, center-weighted, and evaluative.
  • DIGIC II, in addition to iSAPS
  • 9-point AiAF
  • Nine scene modes

Canon PowerShot SD550 Design

The Canon marketing staff dubbed the SD500’s design a “Perpetual Curve,” which departed from the boxy aesthetic of earlier IXUS and Elph models. This design was introduced on the SD500 (no straight lines on the body).

The SD550 is nearly identical to its predecessor; however, some of the controls on the back have been rearranged somewhat to accommodate the bigger screen. In addition, the color is now a slightly warmer version of champagne, which you probably can’t see from the screen. Still, the color is the other significant outward alteration.

Its smooth stainless steel surface is almost indulgently tactile. It is superbly crafted with admirable attention to detail, as it befits a camera at the top of the ultra-compact price range. The SD550’s appearance and feel the radiate quality, much like the SD500 did before.

The drawback of the selected finish is that it appears prone to scuffs and blemishes (so keep it in a case when not in use). I also found the camera to be a touch on the “slippy” side, which meant I felt much safer with the wrist strap in place than without it. But, again, Again, I think this is because of how the camera is designed.

Although the control arrangement has been significantly modified (there is now a mode dial rather than a switch, and most buttons have shifted), the fundamentals remain the same as in most of the other models in the series.

This ensures you can access external controls for metering, flash, focus (macro or infinity), and self-timer/drive mode. On the other hand, the excellent FUNC menu is used to access the rest of the camera’s features.

Within your grasp

The pebble-smooth shell, along with the lack of any visible ‘grip,’ means that it can seem a bit scary handled in one hand but is, in reality, completely useable. The SD550 weighs around 194 grams when filled, which is just substantial enough to feel solid and sturdy in hand.

The placement of the shutter release and the zoom rocker makes operation with one hand simple; nevertheless, you should still ensure that the strap is wrapped around your wrist if the camera escapes your grasp and begins to move in the wrong direction.

The workings and the controls

There is virtually total uniformity in the controls and menus throughout Canon’s tiny camera ranges, making it one of the most enjoyable aspects of reviewing a Canon compact camera. Each new generation is an evolution rather than a complete reinvention of the wheel.

And this is not without good reason; the combination of great external controls and the superb ‘FUNC’ menu, which offers single-screen access to virtually every other aspect of the camera’s operation, makes mastering a PowerShot simple and using it remarkably fluid. In other words, the PowerShot is a very user-friendly camera. But, of course, it is a straightforward camera; it is a “point-and-shoot” type that offers little control over the manual settings.

What you do get, however, is control over the majority of the critical settings, including metering, flash, ISO, white balance, file size and quality, and so on. What you do not receive, however, is any significant control over the apertures and shutter speeds of the camera, except a small selection of subject modes.

Canon PowerShot SD550 Performance

Performance and timing of events

The SD550 gives the impression of being highly quick and responsive in regular usage, which is supported by the results of our testing (note the performance appears to be identical to the SD500).

The SD550 operates well in all aspects, including turning on, zooming, navigating the menus, shooting images, and utilizing the flash. It will very seldom, if ever, make you wait for anything. Unusually for a Canon, the processing speed (thanks to the DIGIC II processor) is almost matched by the focus speed, which is very respectable. It rarely hunts and rarely takes more than half a second to find its mark, even in low light at the long end of the zoom. This is true even when shooting at the most extended end of the zoom.

This is the quickest time we’ve ever seen a Canon small camera focus in our experience. The continuous shooting performance is also quite good for a 7-megapixel ultra-compact camera, as long as you use a fast SD card. The shutter lag, especially when using the optical viewfinder, seems immediate. This is an impressive feature for a camera with such a small sensor size. Excellent.

Timing notes

The timings listed are the averages of the results of three separate procedures. Unless otherwise specified, all timings were performed on a picture with a resolution of 3072 by 2304 pixels using the SuperFine JPEG format (approx. 2,650 KB per image). A one-gigabyte SanDisk Extreme III SD card was used as the testing medium for these procedures.

ActionDetailsTime, secs
Power: Off to Record 1.0
Power: Off to PlayImage displayed1.1
Power: Record to OffAll activity ceased1.7
Power: Play to OffWhen the buffer is empty~0.0
one
Record ReviewImage displayed~0.5
Mode: Record to Play 1.6
Mode: Play to RecordLens already extended~1.3
one
Play: MagnifyTo total magnification (~10x)~0.8
Play: Image to ImageTime to display each saved image (no transition)~0.2
Play: Image to ImageTime to display each saved image (with transition effect)~0.5
Play: Thumbnail view3 x 3 thumbnails~0.4
ActionDetailsTime, seconds
Zoom from Wide to Tele37 to 111 mm (3 x)1.3
Half-press Lag (0->S1)Wide angle~0.35
Half-press Lag (0->S1)Telephoto~0.45
Half to Full-press Lag (S1->S2)LCD live view< 0.1
Half to Full-press Lag (S1->S2)Viewfinder< 0.1
Full-press Lag (0->S2)LCD live view, wide angle~0.5
Off to Shot TakenLCD live view~1.4
Shot to ShotFlash off1.4
Shot to ShotFlash on (red eye reduction off)1.8
Shot to ShotFlash on (red eye reduction off)2.7

Continuous Mode

The findings of our continuous shooting test include the actual frame rate, the maximum number of frames that can be taken, and the amount of time that must pass before another shot may be taken after the maximum number of frames has been taken. A one-gigabyte SanDisk Extreme III SD card was used as the testing medium for these procedures. The shutter speed was maintained throughout these experiments at a value greater than 1/200 of a second.

Continuous drive mode

The SD550 only has a single continuous shooting mode, and after each frame it captures, it displays a small review image for you to look at. The quoted speed of 2.0 frames per second was found to be utterly accurate by our testing; however, the rate decreases slightly at some lower resolutions for unknown reasons; this may be due to the additional processing overhead incurred when shrinking the file size before creating the JPEG.

Image TypeModeAvg. frames
per sec
Frames in a burst *1After
burst 
*2
3072 x 2304 JPEG Super FineContinuous2.1 fpsUnlimitedn/a 
3072 x 2304 JPEG FineContinuous2.0 fpsUnlimitedn/a 
3072 x 2304 JPEG NormalContinuous2.0 fpsUnlimitedn/a 
2592 x 1944 JPEG SuperFineContinuous1.7 fpsUnlimitedn/a 
2048 x 1536 JPEG SuperFineContinuous2.0 fpsUnlimitedn/a 
1600 x 1200 JPEG SuperFineContinuous1.9 fpsUnlimitedn/a 

There is nothing wrong with this camera; not only does it maintain a suitable 2.0 frames per second at most file sizes and quality settings, but the buffering is so fast that you can pretty much shoot indefinitely, even at the highest 7MP/Super Fine setting, as long as you have an SD card that is fast enough.

When using a fast card, filling the buffer does not appear feasible, which means that you may continue taking pictures for as long as you have the capacity on your card and the power in your battery.

Canon PowerShot SD550 Image Quality

A Perfect White Balance

In addition to the camera’s built-in auto white balance, the SD550 features five different white balance settings. These are sunny, cloudy, incandescent, fluorescent, and fluorescent H. You may also set the white balance manually by pointing the camera at a white or gray object and using the ‘custom’ white balance setting. This setting is available as an additional white balance option.

Even if you switch the camera off, it will keep the custom white balance setting that you have previously selected. When usually shooting outside, the auto white balance serves its purpose admirably (as confirmed by our studio tests). Fluorescent illumination doesn’t pose much of an issue indoors, but incandescent (tungsten) lighting produces a relatively strong orange color cast. This is something that we’ve experienced with the majority of Canon PowerShots.

When we asked Canon about its method of determining the white balance, we were told that the warm colors that appear on the camera’s display when it is being used to capture images in incandescent light are deliberate and are done so to “try to keep some of the warm atmospheres of this kind of shot.”

Performance in a Flash

The built-in flash on the SD550 reportedly has a working range of 0.5 meters to 4.8 meters (1.6 feet to 16.4 feet) at the wide end of the zoom and 0.5 meters to 2.8 meters (1.6 feet to 9.8 feet) at the telephoto end, making it slightly more powerful than the majority of the other models in the range. In macro mode, it can focus as close as around 30 centimeters (about 12 inches) (in all cases assuming the ISO is set to auto).

In the tests we ran in the real world, the flash performed adequately with a minimal warm tone (which is excellent). Even with the red-eye reduction feature activated, the moment has a very short recycle time, ensuring you won’t miss any spontaneous photo opportunities. At the same time, you wait for it to fire. We discovered that the autofocus (AF) illuminator would enable focus in total darkness (or as close to it as possible) at distances of up to approximately one meter.

Macro Focus

The macro mode of the SD550 is most effective at the broad end of the zoom, as is the case with most tiny digital cameras. You can get as near as 5 centimeters at this end of the zoom range, which is not terrible for an “ultra-compact” camera. Even if the performance is less outstanding at the long end of the zoom (with a subject distance of 30 centimeters), it is still rather handy.

ISO Sensitivity / Noise levels

The ability to raise the sensitivity of the sensor of a digital camera is referred to as the ISO equivalent setting. The function is achieved by increasing the “volume” (gain) of the signal amplifiers contained within the sensor (remember, the sensor is an analog device).

When you magnify the signal, you also boost the noise, and the noise becomes more apparent as the ISO value increases. At greater sensitivities, many of today’s cameras also reduce noise and sometimes even decrease sharpness.

We take pictures of a GretagMacBeth ColorChecker chart to determine the amount of background noise (controlled artificial daylight lighting). The exposure is balanced with the ISO (for example, ISO 200 and 1/200 of a second to maintain exposure uniformity between cameras).

Canon PowerShot SD550 Movie mode

It would take a bold manufacturer in this day and age to make even a cheap model without a fundamental movie mode, and the ability to record movies is becoming an increasingly significant component of the purchasing decision for cameras of this sort.

The SD550 features a maximum movie size of 640 by 480 pixels, sufficient to fit most television screens when played back at 30 frames per second. This feature has become standard for cameras of this type. Additionally, it allows shooting at a lower frame rate and smaller size. The high frame rate mode can record videos with a 320 by 240 pixels resolution at 60 frames per second.

The videos are pretty smooth and show very few compression artifacts; the only significant issue is that the exposure system is occasionally unable to keep up with the quick changes in scene brightness. The overall quality is good. Unfortunately, the AVI files are enormous; while using the highest quality level (640×480 at 30 frames per second), you will burn around 1.7 MB of data every second. Because of this, if you plan on shooting many movies, you will need to invest in some large and quick SD cards.

Canon PowerShot SD550 Concerns Regarding the Specific Image’s Quality

Regarding picture quality, an ultra-compact camera like this would inevitably involve some sacrifice on the user’s part.

The question that needs to be answered is how much of a sacrifice we are willing to make regarding image quality to obtain a genuinely pocket-sized camera. Additionally, the question that needs to be answered is whether or not there is any real advantage to the large 7-megapixel files (over, say, the 4-megapixel SD300) in real terms for everyday use.

First, the good news: this is a Canon, and it has all of the typical Canon hallmarks, including unique color that is both bright and natural, exact exposure and focus, and a very high level of detail (see resolution tests).

The photographs, particularly those containing delicate low-contrast detail such as foliage, sometimes appear soft or muddy (they are very smooth, almost too ‘polished’). Still, they react well to sharpening and print nicely when they are.

Higher contrast information is displayed cleanly, but bright and contrasty images might create metering issues. Additionally, the relatively high contrast can generate some highlight clipping; still, there is not much to complain about overall with this camera.

Finally, just like with all of Canon’s other compact cameras, we discovered that the so-called “intelligent” AiAF system was the source of so many focus errors (and slow focusing in general) that we would recommend turning it off unless you absolutely cannot use the pre-focus (half-press) lock for off-center subjects. In that case, we would recommend leaving it on.

We noticed that corner softness was a minor issue at the wide end of the zoom range and maximum aperture. Still, it is much better than in prior generations, and it isn’t particularly noticeable in images taken in real-world environments. Purple fringing, a common issue with Canon cameras, presented itself as a challenge in many high-contrast photographs.

Ultimately, the SD550 produces results that very few people in the target market would find anything to complain about. On the contrary, it would make the ideal ‘always carry’ camera for anyone accustomed to using a larger, more sophisticated camera who doesn’t want to sacrifice too much image quality for portability.

In addition, I’d like to point out that the issues described below do not account for more than approximately 5 percent of the about 400 photographs that I took during this test. They are restricted to a relatively narrow range of shooting scenarios except purple fringing.

Canon PowerShot SD550 Coloring along the edges

Almost all photographs featuring highly bright (particularly overexposed) sections have a traceable amount of purple fringing. However, in some of the pictures, it is pretty prominent.

In most situations, it is not enough to ruin photographs, but when shooting with a wide-angle lens outside on a sunny day, you may end up with extreme fringes at the edges of the frame where bright and dark areas meet.

Problems with the exposure and clipped highlights

Clipped or blown-out highlights were not unusual when we used the SD550, just as they were with the SD500 that came before it. These issues occurred most frequently in extremely bright and highly contrasty shooting conditions.

The issue, which is by no means exclusive to this camera, seems to be caused in part by the camera having a reasonably high default contrast setting (which is common in cameras in the ‘lifestyle’ sector of the market because it produces ‘punchy’ prints), and in part because the metering can sometimes be fooled by scenes that have an extensive range of brightness levels. Neither of these factors is unique to this camera.

Canon PowerShot SD550 Specifications

Body MaterialMetal
Also known as• European name: Canon IXUS 750
• Japanese name: Canon IXY Digital 700
Sensor• 1/1.8″ CCD, 7.4 million total pixels
• 7.1 million effective pixels
Image sizes• 3072 x 2304
• 2592 x 1944
• 2048 x 1536
• 1600 x 1200
• 640 x 480
Movie clips• 640 x 480 @ 30 / 15 fps
• 320 x 240 @ 60 / 30 / 15 fps
• 160 x 120 @ 15 fps
• Up to 1GB (640×480, 320×240, 30/15fps) (depending on memory card speed and capacity)
• Up to 3 mins (160×120) (depending on memory card speed and capacity)
• Up to 1 min (320×240, 60fps) (depending on memory card speed and capacity)
• AVI (Motion JPEG/mono soundly)
Lens• 37 – 111 mm (35 mm equiv) 3x optical zoom
• F 2.8 – 4.9
Shutter speeds15 – 1/2000 sec
Focus• TTL autofocus
• 9 point AiAF
• 1-point AF (fixed to center)
• 5cm macro mode (Wide), 30cm (Tele)
Shooting mode• Auto
• Manual
• Digital Macro
• Portrait
• Foliage
• Snow
• Beach
• Fireworks
• Underwater
• Indoor
• Kids and pets
• Night snapshot
• Stitch Assist
• AE compensation -2.0EV to +2.0 EV in 1/3EV steps
Sensitivity• Auto
• ISO50,100,200,400
White Balance• Auto
• Daylight
• Cloudy
• Tungsten
• Fluorescent
• Fluorescent H
• Custom (manual)
Image parameters• Vivid
• Neutral
• Low sharpening
• Black and white
• My colors (9 settings)
ContinuousTwo fps until the memory card is full
Flash• Built-in
• Modes: Auto, on, off, red-eye reduction, slow sync, flash exposure lock
• Range: 0.5 m – 5.0 m (W) / 3.0 m (T)
Storage• SD Memory Card
• 32MB SD supplied*
ViewfinderReal Image Optical
LCD monitor• 2.5″ TFT LCD
• 115,000 pixels
Connectivity• USB 2.0 Hi-Speed
• A/V out
Power• Rechargeable lithium-ion NB-3L battery
• Charger included
• (Optional AC adapter KIT ACK900)
In the box*• Canon PowerShot SD550 Digital ELPH (IXUS 750, IXY DIGITAL 700)
• Wrist strap
• Lithium Ion battery
• AV cable
• USB cable
• 32MB SD card
• Software CD ROM (Canon Digital Camera Solutions & ArcSoft PhotoStudio)
Other features• Spot (center), Center-weighted & Evaluative metering
• PictBridge, Exif Print, and DPOF compatible
• Playback Histogram
• Orientation Sensor
• Autofocus Illuminator
• Optional High Power Flash HF-DC1 (slave)
• Optional Waterproof Case
Weight (inc batt)192 g (6.8 oz)
Dimensions90 x 57 x 27 mm (3.5 x 2.2 x 1.1in) Excluding protrusions

Final Verdict

  • Product
  • Features
  • Photos

Canon PowerShot SD550 7.1 MP Digital Camera - Silver

Last update was on: January 18, 2024 9:58 pm

The SD550 does not significantly advance state of the art, and given that it was released only six or seven months after its predecessor, the SD500, I would have been shocked if it had done so. However, the SD500 was a small gem of a camera (and the most excellent IXUS / ELPH model to date), and the SD550 is just that little bit better than its predecessor. This is generally positive news. It is one of the few cameras available on the market today that has a true ‘luxury’ feel to it, such as the quality of its build and materials, and the image quality is excellent (for a camera in this class); it is fast, responsive, and reliable, and it is one of the few cameras that can shoot 4K video.

There are still a few image quality issues that pixel peepers will be dissatisfied with, such as the slight corner softness, the purple fringing, and the slightly muddy low contrast detail; however, the smooth, clean, bright, and punchy images will delight the typical user who is more interested in printing their pictures than zooming into them on the screen and looking for problems. The battery life (when using the screen) could still be improved, but other than that, this camera is hard not to like and encourages you to take it everywhere and use the thing. I was disappointed with the new 2.5-inch screen because it has a woefully low resolution (though it’s still lovely to use for those who like to hold the camera at arm’s length), and the battery life (when using the screen) could still be improved.

The SanDisk SD550 is, in a nutshell, the same as the SanDisk SD500 but with a few extra bells and whistles. It is still fairly pricey, and the absence of absolute control is unusual for a product at this level; however, there is certainly enough to put it near the top of the list for anyone looking for a luxury point-and-shooter. Maybe not enough for a Highly Recommended rating, but certainly enough to put it there.

Canon PowerShot SD550 FAQs

When did the Canon PowerShot SD550 come out?

The Canon PowerShot SD550 is a high-end compact digital camera first made public in 2005. It was intended for more experienced hobbyist photographers. It is not a camera that professionals would use.

Is a Canon PowerShot SD550 camera a DSLR?

The Canon PowerShot SD550 is not a DSLR camera like some of Canon’s other models. Instead, it is a digital camera that is relatively small in size.

Is A Canon PowerShot SD550 better than a DSLR?

Because they are designed to accomplish distinct tasks, the Canon PowerShot SD550 and a DSLR are not necessarily superior to one another.

Compact digital cameras, such as the Canon PowerShot SD550, are more portable and straightforward for day-to-day photography. In contrast, DSLR cameras are generally more versatile and have superior picture quality and performance, particularly in low-light situations.

Is Canon PowerShot SD550 suitable for wildlife photography?

The Canon PowerShot SD550 may not be the best option for wildlife photography due to its restricted zoom range and slower autofocus compared to more advanced cameras.

While the Canon PowerShot SD550 has advanced features, such as image stabilization and manual settings, it may not be the best choice for wildlife photography. It may perform well when photographing wildlife at close range, but it may have trouble recording subjects that are further away.

How long does Canon PowerShot SD550 last?

The length of time a Canon PowerShot SD550 can be used before needing to be replaced is determined by several variables, including how well it is maintained, how frequently it is used, and the circumstances to which it is exposed.

It can last many years if correctly cared for and maintained. On the other hand, given that it is an earlier model, there is a greater possibility that it will malfunction or become obsolete sooner than newer versions.

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