Reasons to choose PowerShot A550
Released in 2007, PowerShot A550 has about 25 mm² of sensor area, 7.1 MP effective resolution, and a 160 g body. Use these values to narrow the field, not as an overall image-quality score.
Side-by-side comparison
Canon PowerShot A550
vs Canon PowerShot S2 IS
VS
Sensor area
25 mm²
PowerShot A55025 mm²
PowerShot S2 IS- Area ratio
- 1:1
- Absolute difference
- 0 mm²
- Relative difference
- 0%
The PowerShot A550 and PowerShot S2 IS have the same sensor area. Compare pixel density, sensor architecture, and release generation to understand likely image-quality differences.
These cameras were released 2 years apart. Consider sensor generation when comparing pixel metrics.
Key specification differences
PowerShot A550MetricPowerShot S2 IS
7.1 MPEffective pixels5 MP
5.75 × 4.32Sensor5.75 × 4.32
1.87 µmPixel pitch2.23 µm
3.5 µm²Pixel area4.97 µm²
28.58 MP/cm²Pixel density20.13 MP/cm²
6.02Crop factor6.02
—Maximum video—
160 gWeight405 g
Secure DigitalStorageSecure Digital
AA (2) batteries (NiMH recommended)BatteryAA (4) batteries (NiMH recommended)
Amber marks the value that is generally preferable in this comparison context. It is not an overall camera score.
How to choose between these cameras
The PowerShot A550 and PowerShot S2 IS have the same sensor area. The PowerShot A550 has the lighter body. The PowerShot A550 has the higher effective resolution. The PowerShot A550 is the newer release. Also consider the lens system and subjects you shoot.
Reasons to choose PowerShot S2 IS
Released in 2005, PowerShot S2 IS has about 25 mm² of sensor area, 5 MP effective resolution, and a 405 g body. Use these values to narrow the field, not as an overall image-quality score.