Canon reintroduces PowerShot SX500 IS as PowerShot SX400 IS

The 16-megapixel PowerShot SX500 IS was a good camera for what it was: A reasonably priced very small and lightweight ultrawide-angle 30x zoom camera that offered more shooting options — including semimanual and manual controls — than most in its class with very good optical image stabilization.

Judging by the specs, the new PowerShot SX400 IS is basically the same as the SX500 IS, but without the semimanual and manual shooting modes and a lower-resolution 3-inch LCD.

It does have an updated image processor, though, which could potentially improve picture and video quality. At the very least it seems to have enabled Canon to add its ZoomPlus feature that digitally doubles the 720mm maximum focal length to 1,440mm.

Look for it in August for $250 (£259).