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The new 450D boasts a 12.2 megapixel sensor - up 2 million from its predecessor, the 400D - and a burst rate of 3.5 frames per second, an increase of just half a frame per second.

The LCD screen has been increased by half an inch to 3in, and now includes the live view mode that made its debut on the 40D and allows owners to use the screen as a viewfinder. However, there's once again no secondary LCD settings display, meaning that all but the most basic camera settings have to be adjusted from the main display, to the detriment of battery life and sheer convenience.

With Canon's head of European marketing, Alessandro Stanzani, admitting that 2008 will be "a tough year" in "which we need to sell more units, and preferably in higher value areas of the market," anyone expecting a price cut for Canon's entry-level DSLR will be sorely disappointed.

The 450D will cost £600

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for the body only when it launches in March, while the standard 18-55mm lens kit raises the price to £680 - about £150 more expensive than the 400D, which will remain on sale.

New compacts

Despite Canon's insistence that it remains focused on the high-end market, the much-anticipated upgrade to the 5D didn't arrive.

However, the company has refreshed its compact range. The new Ixus 80 IS has an 8-megapixel sensor, 3x optical zoom and comes in a range of four, case colours deisgned to appeal to women.

The camera includes a new Motion Detection Technology that aims to eliminate blur by automatically tweaking the ISO and shutter speed settings to compensate for the movement of the subject - the obvious danger being that high ISO settings could result in noisy, speckly images. The 80 IS will cost £219 and will be available from March.

The company has also revamped its PowerShot range. The most interesting newcomer is the Powershot A590 IS, which offers an 8-megapixel sensor with 4x optical zoom, as well as full manual control and a range of lens accessories. It will cost £159.

At the budget end of the compact market, the PowerShot A470 offers 7.1-megapixels and a 3.4x optical zoom, with face detection technology for £109.