The A5509 replaces the A530 incorporating several new features for improved ease of use. It’s a blocky looking beastie but actually 
quite small and although the predominantly plastic build helps keep the price down, it feels remarkably tough in the hand with a caveat on the battery/memory card flap on the base. This is fiddly to open and feels very weak in comparison, so care should be used getting batteries and cards in and out.
The key factor for the A550 is its target audience, the no-fuss family snapper brigade, and it seems to suit that well with little touches such as a large shutter release, even larger mode dial that incorporates all the main shooting options including the scene mode access point (rather than within a menu for example) but more importantly, the oft-used scene modes are directly accessed via the mode dial; even quicker to use. The options include the usual stuff such as portrait, landscape and a more unusual kids and pets setting.
The scene modes you’re likely to use less often are got at via the “SCN” setting on the mode dial and by pressing the ubiquitous “FUNC”(tion) button the camera’s back. Modes on offer here include a fireworks mode, snow, beach and foliage modes.
Canon PowerShot A550 digital camera Review - Pocket-lint