Canon announced a handful of new PowerShot cameras, with an emphasis on Wi-Fi connectivity and improved image quality. Two enthusiast-oriented models, the G16 and S120, will appeal to demanding shooters. There’s also a connected superzoom, the SX510 HS, and a budget model without any bells and whistles, the SX170 IS.

The PowerShot G16 replaces the G15, and packs the same 28-140mm f/1.8-2.8 zoom lens, optical viewfinder, and satisfying control layout. Its 12-megapixel 1/1.7-inch CMOS image sensor is married to a Digic 6 image processor. Canon promises that this will improve low-light image quality. It also bumps video to 1080p60; the G15 was limited to 24fps video acquisition. Wi-Fi, a first for a G-series camera, is now built-in. The rear display is 3 inches in size and quite sharp at 922k dots. It is priced at $549.99.

The S120 looks a lot like the S110 that it replaces. It also packs a Digic 6-powered 12-megapixel 1/1.7-inch CMOS image sensor, and benefits from the same performance improvements as the G16. The 24-120mm f/1.8-5.7 zoom lens covers the same field of view as the S110, but has a slightly wider aperture for improved light-gathering capability. It also sports Wi-Fi, and is set to sell for $449.99. Both it and the G16 will be available for purchase in October.

The Wi-Fi implementation on both models  is a bit more streamlined than previous efforts from Canon. There’s no need to install the Canon Image Gateway software on your computer in order to configure Web services, and direct upload support has been added for Flickr. You’ll still be able to push photos to Facebook and Twitter. Transferring photos to your iOS or Android device has also been made easier; you’ll no longer be required to enter a WEP password on your device to pair the devices.

Both cameras offer in-camera High Dynamic Range (HDR) filters; this controls highlights and brings out details in the shadows in photos with mixed lighting. There are also new starlight capture modes for photographing the night sky, and a background defocus mode that emulates the bokeh effect produced by cameras with larger image sensors and wide-aperture lenses.

There’s also a new 30x zoom compact with the same improved Wi-Fi experience. The SX510 HS packs a 24-720mm lens and a 1/2.3-inch 12-megapixel CMOS image sensor. It still uses a Digic 4 processor, so video is limited to 1080p24. The rear display is 3 inches in size and packs 421k dots into that space. The camera does offer a Zoom Framing Assist function. It racks the zoom of the lens and uses face detection to frame a subject, which is helpful for capturing portraits at longer focal lengths. It’s priced at $249.99.

For shooters on a budget, there’s the SX170 IS. The long zoom camera doesn’t offer Wi-Fi, and opts for a 1/2.3-inch, 16-megapixel CCD image sensor. CCD sensors don’t do as well in dimmer light as those built on CMOS tech. It also limits video capture to 720p. Despite being a budget model, the SX170 does offer a 3-inch display, albeit with an anemic 230k-dot resolution. It is smaller than its predecessor, the SX160 IS, due to its use of a rechargeable lithium ion battery; the SX160 is powered by AA cells. The SX170 IS is priced at $179.99. Both long zoom cameras will ship in September.

There’s also a new version of the Canon PowerShot N($299.00 at Amazon)(Opens in a new window), but don’t look for it at your local store. This version of the camera is dubbed Facebook Ready, and will only be sold through Canon’s website. It has slightly different firmware than the standard N, which will allow you to more easily post photos to Facebook. It’s priced identically to the standard version of the camera, $299.99, and will be available for purchase in September. Current N owners who love Facebook will just have to keep on posting photos via the Canon Image Gateway software; there won’t be a firmware update to bring the new direct posting features to the old camera.

The STM lens family has gained a new member. The EF-S 55-250mm F4-5.6 IS  STM is compatible with APS-C Canon D-SLRs. It covers a field of view that is equivalent to 88-400mm on a full-frame camera and offers image stabilization. The STM motor delivers smooth, quiet autofocus when shooting stills or video in live view mode with the EOS Rebel T4i, T5i($899.00 at Amazon)(Opens in a new window), SL1, and 70D. It’s price at just $349.99 and will ship in late September.

Rounding out the announcements are a pair of Pixma inkjet printers. Both offer Wi-Fi and support for Canon’s new cloud printing app for iOS and Android. The Pixma MG7120 and MG5520 are both equipped with Wi-Fi, and support Apple’s AirPrint system. Both offer all-in-one printing, scanning, and copying support. The MG7120 offers a 3.5-inch LCD touch panel for control; the display on the MG5520 is only 2.5 inches in size and doesn’t support touch input. The MG7120 will be available in black, white, red, or brown for $199, while the MG5520 will sell for only $149 in black or white.