IXUS 700 / IXY 600 / SD500 - Differences?

[jonbanfield]

I'm thinking of buying and IXUS 700. I have an EOS20D which I love but I want a point-and-shoot to carry with me all the time.

Some questions:
Are the IXUS 700 / IXY 600 and SD500 effectively identical?
Are all models made in Japan?
If models are made elsewhere, does anybody have direct experience of their relative quality?

Cheers :)

[gary_hendricks]

I believe the IXUS700 is the model released in Europe and its identical to the SD500 in the US.

Here's a shot of the contents of the SD500 if you're interested (I recently got a test unit to review on my website). Lovely thing about the camera is a improved battery charger that doesn't need messy cables (second picture).

http://gallery.greatestjournal.com/albums/up3/873/891873/Image001%7E0.jpg

http://gallery.greatestjournal.com/albums/up3/873/891873/Image002%7E0.jpg