Incoming: Canon launches PowerShot SX500 IS and SX160 IS superzoom cams, out in September

Canon has expanded its PowerShot SX range of point-and-shoot superzoom cams today, after introducing the SX160 IS and the SX500 IS. True to the SX line, both feature (relatively) compact frames that pack in a pretty powerful zoom compared to the average compact at the cost of a little added bulk.

The PowerShot SX160 IS is basically an update to the existing SX150, featuring a 16x optical zoom (28-448mm equivalent), a 16MP CCD sensor and Canon’s Digic 4 processor, and adding Canon’s ‘Intelligent IS’ (image stabilization) tech. The SX500 is an all-new model that features the same 16MP sensor and Digic 4 processor, but rocks a more powerful a 30x zoom (24-720mm  equivalent) lens inside its larger body.

Both cameras feature ‘Canon’s latest advancements in AF technology’ that promises lower lag times, Canon’s Smart AUTO mode that automatically identifies and  chooses between 32 scene settings, and a 3-inch LCD screen at the back.

The PowerShot SX160 IS will be available in red or black for $230, while the SX500 IS will cost $330. Both will be out in September.