Canon just announced a bunch of new digital cameras today: a new entry-level digital SLR and a couple of new compact cameras. The new Canon EOS Rebel T2i, also known as the EOS 550D, is the successor to last year’s popular Rebel T1i/500D model and features a new image sensor, more external controls and improved movie mode. Seems like Canon’s Rebel T-line is getting more and more sophisticated, which makes me wonder if they’ll introduce an even more basic model (ie 1000D class) to fill in the gap below.

Next up is the new PowerShot SX210 compact super-zoom camera. My, what a change, the camera looks nothing like it’s predecessor, the SX200 – it’s now smaller, slimmer and more stylish. Then we start with the Digital ELPH models: the SD3500 and SD1400 pair, which come to quickly replace the SD980 and SD940 (IXUS 200 and IXUS 120) models introduced barely 6 months ago. The SD1300 fills in the 2009 SD1200’s shoes as Canon’s affordable stylish ultra-compact camera.

Canon EOS Rebel T2i
AKA Digital EOS 550D
(Entry-level SLR camera)

• 18 megapixel CMOS sensor (APS-C, 1.6X crop factor); apparently derived from EOS 7D’s sensor
• Canon EF/EF-S lens mount
• DIGIC IV processors
• Dust reduction
• 3 inch super-high resolution LCD (1,040k pixels)
• 9 point AF
• Live view with contrast detection autofocus
• Larger exposure compensation range (up to +/-5 EV); additional controls on the back
• ISO range of 100 – 6400 (expandable to ISO 12800)
• Full manual controls with RAW mode and flash hotshoe
• 3.7 FPS burst mode up to 34 JPEG or 6 RAW photos
• 1080p (1920 x 1080) movie mode with sound; dedicated movie button and optional external microphone
  Seletable frame rate and resolution settings: 1080p at 24, 25, 30 FPS; 720p/VGA at 50 or 60 FPS
• Takes SD, SDHC and SDXC memory cards
• Uses a lithium-ion battery (new LP-E8 battery)
• Available in March for $800 (body only) or $900 (with the EF-S 18-55 mm kit lens)

Canon PowerShot SX210
(Compact super-zoom camera)

• 14 effective megapixels
• 28 – 392 mm (f3.1 – f5.9) 14X optical zoom lens
• Optical image stabilization
• 3.0 inch widescreen LCD (230,000 pixels)
• Full manual controls
• Automatic and scene modes; with a couple of new scene modes
• New “wink” detection/self-timer; in addition to existing face, smile and blink detection
• 720p (1280 x 720) 30 FPS movie mode with stereo sound and optical zoom
• Takes SD, SDHC and SDXC memory cards
• Uses a lithium-ion battery
• Available in March for $350

Canon PowerShot SD3500 IS Digital ELPH
AKA Digital IXUS 210 IS
(Stylish compact camera)

• 14 effective megapixels
• 24 – 120 mm (f2.8 – f5.9) 5X optical zoom lens
• Optical image stabilization
• 3.5 inch full widescreen LCD (460,000 pixels); touchscreen operation and no physical controls/buttons
• No manual controls; only automatic/scene modes
• New “wink” detection/self-timer; in addition to existing face, smile and blink detection
• 720p (1280 x 720) 30 FPS movie mode with sound
• Takes SD, SDHC and SDXC memory cards
• Uses a lithium-ion battery
• Available in February for $330
• Comes in your choice of silver, black or pink

Canon PowerShot SD1400 IS Digital ELPH
AKA Digital IXUS 130 IS
(Ultra-compact camera)

• 14 effective megapixels
• 28 – 112 mm (f2.8 – f5.9) 4X optical zoom lens (New design!)
• Optical image stabilization
• 2.7 inch LCD (230,000 pixels)
• No manual controls; only automatic/scene modes
• New “wink” detection/self-timer; in addition to existing face, smile and blink detection
• 720p (1280 x 720) 30 FPS movie mode with sound
• Takes SD, SDHC and SDXC memory cards
• Uses a lithium-ion battery
• Available in February for $250
• Comes in your choice of silver, black, pink or orange

Canon PowerShot SD1300 IS Digital ELPH
AKA Digital IXUS 105 IS
(Ultra-compact camera)

• 12 effective megapixels
• 28 – 112 mm (f2.8 – f5.9) 4X optical zoom lens (Old design)
• Optical image stabilization
• 2.7 inch LCD (230,000 pixels)
• No manual controls; only automatic/scene modes
• VGA (640 x 480) 30 FPS movie mode with sound
• Takes SD, SDHC and SDXC memory cards
• Uses a lithium-ion battery
• Available in February for $200
• Comes in your choice of silver, blue, pink, green or brown

Related articles:

• New Canon cameras released
• Canon unveils new digital cameras for fall 2009!
• Canon PowerShot SD970 IS Digital ELPH Photo Gallery
• Canon PowerShot SD780 IS Digital ELPH Photo Gallery
• Canon PowerShot SD940 IS Digital ELPH Photo Gallery