The Canon PowerShot SD1100 IS, also known as the Ixus 80 IS, is an 8 Megapixel compact with a 3x optically-stabilised zoom and 2.5in screen. It can focus as close as 3cm, offers shutter speeds from 15 seconds to 1/1500, and sensitivity from 80 to 1600 ISO. There’s also VGA movies at 30fps and a time-lapse option. The SD1100 IS / 80 IS comes with a 32MB SD card and is available in five colours.

Canon’s PowerShot A590 IS has 8 Megapixel resolution, a 4x optically-stabilised zoom and a 2.5in screen. It can focus as close as 5cm, offers shutter speeds from 15 seconds to 1/2000, sensitivity from 80 to 1600 ISO and VGA movie recording at 20fps. The cheaper A580 is identical apart from the lack of stabilisation and some of the A590 IS’s creative options. Both come with 32MB SD cards.

Canon’s PowerShot A470 features 7.1 Megapixel resolution, a 3.4x optical zoom and a 2.5in screen. Designed to be fast and affordable, the A470 claims quick startup, AF and image processing for a responsive experience. It also features sensitivity up to 1600 ISO and VGA video recording at 20fps. The PowerShot A470 comes with a 32MB SD memory card and is available in red, blue or silver.

Canon’s PowerShot G9 replaces the recent G7 with an increase in resolution to 12.1 Megapixels, a bigger 3in screen, and the thankful reinstatement of RAW recording. The lens remains the same 6x 35-210mm equivalent though, so there’s no wide angle and fans of classic PowerShot G-series models will still miss a flip-out screen. But it remains one of the most powerful compacts around, and there’s nothing its size with a flash hotshoe and RAW. See our complete G9 review.

Canon’s PowerShot SD950 / Ixus 960 IS features 12.1 Megapixel resolution, a 3.7x optical zoom with image stabilisation and a 2.5in screen housed in a titanium body. It can take 5cm close-ups, offers shutter speeds from 15 seconds to 1/1600, and sensitivity from 80 to 3200 ISO (in preset mode). There's 10 scene presets, direct printing capability and a 30 fps VGA movie mode.

Canon’s PowerShot SD870 / Ixus 860 IS offers 8 Megapixel resolution, a 3.8x optical zoom with image stablisation and a decent-sized 3in screen. Available in black and silver, it has built-in red-eye and face detection technology along with direct printing. It can focus as close as 3cm, has shutter speeds from 15 seconds to 1/1600, and sensitivity from 80 to 1600 ISO. There's also 10 scene presets and a 30 fps VGA movie mode.

Canon’s PowerShot SX100 IS is the first in a new 'SX series' of PowerShot cameras offering a super-zoom package at a budget price. It features 8 Megapixel resolution, a 10x optical zoom with image stabilisation and plenty of creative controls. It can focus as close as 1 cm, offers shutter speeds from 15 seconds to 1/2500, and sensitivity from 80 to 1600 ISO. There's also Aperture and Shutter Priority, along with full Manual control over exposure, eight scene presets and a 30fps VGA movie mode.

Canon’s PowerShot A720 IS features 8 Megapixel resolution and a 6x optical zoom with image stabilisation. It can take 1cm close-ups, offers shutter speeds from 15 seconds to 1/2000, and sensitivity from 80 to 1600 ISO.
With Canon's optional WP-DC 16 waterproof case, you can take underwater photos to a depth of 130ft. There's also nine scene presets, built in red eye and face detection technology and a 30fps VGA video mode.

Canon’s PowerShot A650 IS is the successor the popular A640, featuring 12.1 Megapixel resolution, a 6x optical zoom with image stabilisation and a 2.5in flip-out screen. It can focus as close as 1cm, has shutter speeds from 15 seconds to 1/2000 and sensitivity from 80 to 3200 ISO (in preset mode). With Canon's optional WP-DC 18 waterproof case, you can take underwater photos to a depth of 130ft. There's also Manual, Aperture and Shutter Priority along with nine scene presets and a 30fps VGA mode.