The PowerShots are Canon’s compact or point & shoot camera line. The Canon PowerShots date back to July of 1996, when the PowerShot 600 was first introduced. Since then, the PowerShot line has broadened to become one of the most expansive in the industry, ranging from entry-level point & shoots to feature-rich models to delight enthusiasts.
While there’s some crossover between the lines, here’s how PowerShot model numbers relate to camera types: A series: Entry-level PowerShot models D series: Waterproof PowerShots ELPH series: Canon PowerShot ELPHs are sleek pocket cameras G series: The high end of the Canon PowerShot line; the latest of a long line of enthusiast cameras S series: Compact models packing many of the features of current G-series PowerShots SX series: Canon PowerShots with long zoom lenses SD series:
An older designation for compact models, last used in the 2010 model year IS suffix: Designates A-series PowerShots with Image Stabilization(all other models except the D series have IS by default) HS suffix: Seen across multiple lines, the HS suffix designates "High Sensitivity" PowerShots; particularly well-suited for low-light shooting