Canon PowerShot A550

Picture Quality / Size Options (7.5)
The Canon A550 has a host of image sizes and compressions available from the Func./Set menu. SuperFine, Fine, and Normal compression JPEGs can be made from these sizes: Large (3072 x 2304), Widescreen (3072 x 1728), Medium 1 (2592 x 1944), Medium 2 (2048 x 1536), Medium 3 (1600 x 1200), Postcard (1600 x 1200), and Small (640 x 480). There are a few interesting facts about this list. The Postcard size is a quick referral to the Normal compression of the Medium 3 image size. The Widescreen size is new on this model; it wasn’t included on the A530. Perhaps most importantly, there is no 3:2-formatted image size. There is a “3:2 Guide” that can be turned on and off in the recording menu, but this only shadows parts of the frame and doesn’t record files as that size. This may not bother too many consumers, but those who print 4 x 6-inch prints regularly and appreciate nicely cropped images will be annoyed by having to crop every picture in a photo editing program.

Picture Effects Mode (7.75)
Most other Canon digital cameras have a My Colors mode that accessible through both the recording and playback modes. The A550, however, has a shortened My Colors list, and they can only be activated in the recording mode. From the Func./Set menu, users can get a live view of the following options: Off, Vivid, Neutral, Sepia, Black & White, and Custom Color. Most other Canons have more color filters, but this model provides only the basics. Still, it has a “custom color” mode that allows users to adjust contrast, saturation, and sharpness on +/- 2 full-step scales. This feature is quite advanced for an entry-level point-and-shoot.

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