Canon's mid-level power-packed compacts are back this year, but one of them looks a little different. The Canon PowerShot SX200 IS has been attacked by the consumer monsters, sporting entirely new compact architecture and a few alluring color options. On the other end of the spectrum, the Canon PowerShot SX1 IS has remained relatively unchanged on the outside, but Canon has stuffed some goodies inside its large, prosumer-esque chassis that should satisfy video freaks and image quality seekers.
Big Daddy
 When we reviewed the Canon PowerShot SX10 IS, we were impressed for the most part, thanks to its swivel LCD, plethora of features and awesome interface. This year Canon decided not to mess with the design of the SX1 IS, but rather pumped its LCD size up to a 2.8-inch, which was a very good idea. We loved the functionality of the swivel LCD on the PowerShot SX10 IS, but it was difficult to attain a good handle on detail with such a small screen. Hopefully the added real estate will make peculiar angle shots a lot more bearable.
Canon also swapped the 10-megapixel CCD with a 10-megapixel CMOS for 2009, so we can expect a different image performance compared to the SX10 IS's. We struggled with dynamic range while shooting with the SX10 IS, and we hope the new CMOS chip will provide a broader range for highlights and shadows. The SX1 IS is capable of capturing 1080P HD video and has a mini HDMI terminal, features that are beginning to surface within this class of compacts in '09. We're certainly going to put the Canon PowerShot SX1 IS's 1080P to the test when we get our hands on one soon.
Aside from a CMOS chip and 1080P HD video, the SX1 IS can now shoot in RAW, which allows more creative freedom for the dynamic photographer in post. It may not seem like much, but Canon has really poured a smattering of quality upgrades into this camera. Quality that costs an additional 200 smackers compared to the SX10 IS. This is a serious hike, and we expect the SX1 IS's performance to rise with the price. The 28mm wide-angle lens and 20x optical zoom lens are carried over from the SX10 IS, but the SX1 IS flaunts an all-black body instead of a two-tone grey.
The Canon PowerShot SX1 IS will ship in April for $600.
A Formidable Underdog
 We're guessing that the Canon PowerShot SX110 IS didn't pull enough weight in 2008, so 2009 marks the year of change for the AA battery-powered fixed lens compact. The Canon PowerShot SX200 IS is a major departure from an architectural standpoint, featuring a more portable, rectangular body with an angled grip. The interface also mimics certain members of the new Digital Elph brigade, composed of recessed buttons and a miniature spinning Control dial. Canon claims this camera resembles a miniature PowerShot G10, though we can't see any resemblance.
However, the SX200 IS recieves a nice big 3-inch LCD, 28mm wide-angle lens and 720P HD video capability. Canon also switched to a rechargeable Lithium Ion battery rather than AAs and added a few manual controls to the arsenal. The camera also gets a 12-megapixel boost, compared to the SX110 IS's 9-megapixel count. But that's not all folks. Canon upped the optical zoom to a 12x instead of a 10x optical. The camera may not seem promising from the outside, but this compact received a serious overhaul on the inside.
The Canon PowerShot SX200 IS will ship at the end of March for $350 and is available in Royal Blue, Burgundy and Black colors.
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