Canon SD4500 IS (Ixus 1000HS) is the first 10X Elph camera (w/backlit CMOS)

The "blade zoom" bug has finally bit the Canon Elph/Ixus/Ixy cameras, and Canon has announced its first Elph camera with a 10X optical zoom lens, a big jump over the previous models in terms of zoom ratio.

This is the second Elph to use the 10mp 1/2.3" backlit CMOS sensor, after the SD4000 IS (aka Ixus 300HS). Canon is using the backlit sensor to tout its "HS system" which claims (like other backlit CMOS cameras) improvements in low light performance. The jury is still out on these claims...

Other features include DIGIC 4 processor, 8.8fps, 24fps 1920x1080 video with HDMI output, SDXC support, scene-modes galore including Super Slow Motion movie, NB-9L LiIon battery, and things like that.

The camera is available for pre-order at Amazon for $400, currently only in the brown body color for whatever reason.

This marks ten years of "digital Elphs" and Canon Europe has a 90-second video celebrating the Elphs - a quick trip down digicam memory lane...

Read more about it
+ dpreview
+ Photoscala
+ DC Resource
+ sample comparison SD4500 vs S95 vs Fuji F300exr in dpreview forums
+ one full-size sample picture from Canon itself
+ one-minute video recap by Purely Gadgets (YouTube)