Amazon.com Review
Although it may look like a compact digital camera, the Canon PowerShot S50 delivers is actually a 5 Megapixel camera with features and options normally only reserved for high-end digital cameras.

Housed in a mostly metal casing, the Canon PowerShot S50 is turned on via a sliding lens protector that in turn allows the 3x optical zoom to pop out and the large and clear 1.5 LCD monitor to fire into action. There are over 10 buttons on the back of the camera alone, allowing you to easily change everything from white balance to reviewing images.

The jog wheel on top gives access to the many options including Night Scene, Fast Shutter, Slow Sync and Program and shows how serious this camera is when it comes to taking pictures. Better still is the quick access function button on the rear of the camera that allows you to access White Balance, Drive Mode, ISO, Effect, Flash and image size settings all at the press of a button.

Power is delivered via a Li-ion Canon rechargeable battery pack and the camera is shipped with a 32Mb CompactFlash Card enabling you to store images. A 3x optical zoom offers 38 - 105mm equivalent for a 35mm camera and this added to the 4x digital zoom gives you plenty of scope. F range is F2.8 - F4.9, and focusing is managed via a whole host of options: 9-point AiAF, 1-point AF (any position), AF lock, Focus bracketing, AF assist beam (on/off) and Manual Focus.

Picture quality, as with all Canon cameras, is very strong, detailed and well balanced. You would expect this from a 5 Megapixel model, but everything here seems to gel. Colors are crisp, white's well defined and skin tones very clear. The host of focusing options only help in creating better pictures. While the pre-programmed settings get you out of trouble if you're not sure what to manually set up.

Overall this is a very good camera that is only let down by the positioning of the review button. The picture quality is very good and the functions that the camera offers are extensive. For this too really be treated as a high end camera it should have a hot shoe function, but then that's what the G3 and new G5 are there for. If you are looking for a good field camera and are at that stage where you want all the functionality of a high camera without the size, then this certainly does the job. --Jason Denwood, Amazon.co.uk

What's in the Box
PowerShot S50 digital camera, 32 MB CompactFlash card, battery and battery charger (CB-2LT), USB and AV cables, wrist strap, and ArcSoft Camera Suite CD-ROM and USB drivers for Windows and Mac.

Amazon.com Product Description
With the PowerShot S50, Canon updates the compact yet powerful S45 with a 5-megapixel sensor. Nestled between the ultratiny Elph models and the feature-packed PowerShot G models, the PowerShot S50 combines most of the portability of the former with nearly every advanced feature of the latter. In addition to its high-resolution imagery, the PowerShot S50 also features a 3x optical zoom, movie mode with audio, and nine-point Artificial intelligence Auto Focus (AiAF).

Optics and Resolution
The PowerShot S50 has a 5-megapixel sensor with a maximum resolution of 2,592 x 1,944 pixels, enough detail for 4-by-6-inch to 20-by-30-inch (poster size) photos. It also features a 3x optical zoom and 4.1x digital zoom for a total 12.3x zoom.

Canon's powerful DIGIC image processor provides a huge capacity for complex assessment of the scene to be captured. The PowerShot S50 uses information from the zoom position, scene brightness, and other systems to determine what sort of subject is being photographed in order to optimize AF speed, exposure accuracy, and white balance performance.

For beginners, the camera is point-and-shoot simple. Just twist the dial to Auto and start snapping pictures. The PowerShot S50 offers a myriad of setting options, including three light metering modes, white balance presets with two positions for custom settings, exposure and focus bracketing, manual focus and AF lock, aperture and shutter-speed priority, and adjustable ISO-equivalent sensitivity.

Storage and Transfer
Images are stored on CompactFlash memory cards and the memory slot is compatible with CompactFlash Type II cards as well as Microdrives. The included 32 MB card holds approximately 21 images at the Large/Fine setting.

Movie Mode
Shoot up to three minutes of MPEG video with sound, editing controls, and VCR-like playback. The movies aren't camcorder quality, but they're fun and convenient, and they're perfect as e-mail attachments. The camera can also attach voice memos or sound files of up to 60 seconds to each image.

More Features
The PowerShot S50 features 13 shooting modes, including subject-based modes and semi-auto modes such as aperture priority. A fast sequence mode allows a maximum frame rate of 2 frames per second, maintained for up to eight images.

The nine-point AiAF lets you focus your subject no matter where it appears in the viewfinder. For more freedom, FlexiZone AF/AE let you select which part of the frame you wish to focus on without moving your camera.

Other features include:

• Large 1.8-inch LCD monitor.
• Built-in flash with auto, on, off, manual, slow-synch, and red-eye reduction modes.
• Ability to save an image in RAW format even when it was shot in a JPEG mode.
• The Intelligent Orientation Sensor displays your images properly rotated during playback on the LCD screen and your computer screen.
• To print your photos at home, the PowerShot S45 connects directly to Canon's bubble jet direct printers S830D and S530D, and card photo printer CP-100.

Power, Size, and Contents
The camera is powered by Canon's proprietary rechargeable lithium-ion battery pack NB-2L (included). It measures 4.4 x 2.3 x 1.7 inches and weighs 9.2 ounces. This package includes the PowerShot S50 digital camera, 32 MB CompactFlash card, battery and battery charger (CB-2LT), USB and AV cables, wrist strap, and ArcSoft Camera Suite CD-ROM and USB drivers for Windows and Mac.

From the Manufacturer
The PowerShot S50 is Canon’s first 5.0 Megapixel 1/1.8-inch CCD digital camera. Capable of recording a still image of 2592 x 1944 pixels, this digital camera combines a number of powerful features with proven ergonomics and a lens design garnered from years of making the most advanced cameras on the market. The S50 is equipped with a 35-105mm 3x optical zoom which combines with digital for a 12x zoom. This provides you with the shot you're after in crystal clarity whether near or far. The exclusive Canon DIGIC Imaging Processor and iSAPS (Intelligent Scene Analysis based on Photographic Space) technology delivers fast performance, improved color accuracy and less noise with enhanced battery life. Take advantage of 12 shooting modes from fully automatic to fully manual, plus manual overrides for focus, exposure, white balance, flash and more. The Powershot S50 also features a 9-Point Wide-Area AiAF system plus FlexiZone AF/AE to ensure sharp photographs - even when th! e subject is off-center. Shoot and print your photos instantly by connecting to a Card Photo Printer or Bubble Jet Direct Photo Printer.

Superb Detail and Vivid ColorThe PowerShot S50 produces exquisitely detailed images thanks to a high-resolution 1/1.8" 5.0 megapixel CCD. Primary color filters incorporated in the S50 also provide vivid and realistic color without the noise associated with other color filters.

Compact High Resolution Lens with Powerful Zoom

Close in on all the action with the S50's powerful zoom. The high resolution 3x optical lens takes you in close and then you can zoom up to 12x using the 4.1x digital zoom.

Two Methods to Keep You in Focus

The PowerShot S50's 9-point AiAF lets you focus your subject no matter where it appears in the viewfinder. For more freedom, FlexiZone AF/AE let you select which part of the frame you wish to focus on, without moving your camera.

DIGIC and iSAPS Technology

The S50's DIGIC Imaging Processor revolutionizes how you shoot digital by allowing the camera to process images faster and improving the accuracy of the autofocus. DIGIC also reduces the effects on noise in your images.

iSAPS technology is an entirely new scene-recognition technology developed for digital cameras by Canon. Using an internal database of thousands of different photos, iSAPS works with the fast DIGIC Imaging Processor to improve focus speed and accuracy, as well as exposure and white balance.

Enhanced Movie Mode

The S50's movie mode allows you to take movies up to 3 minutes long! Movie quality has also been greatly improved over previous models. You can even edit the length of movies or cut out scenes right on the camera.

Product Description
The new PowerShot S50 is Canon's first 5 megapixel digital camera and features a high-resolution 3x f/2.8 optical zoom lens together with a compact, black brushed aluminum alloy exterior. In addition, the S50 includes Canon's exclusive DIGIC Imaging Processor with iSAPS technology to provide enhanced image quality, increased processing speed and improved camera features including a 9-Point AiAF autofocus system for faster and easier focusing; 9-position White Balance; selectable metering modes for precise exposure in almost any shooting condition; selectable Second-Curtain sync flash; an improved Movie Mode that captures clips up to 3 minutes apiece with sound; and Direct Print capabilities with Canon's Card Printer CP-100 dye-sublimation printer and several Canon Bubble Jet Direct printers. Superb detail and Vivid Color - 5.0 Megapixel CCDThe PowerShot S50 produces exquisitely detailed images thanks to a high-resolution 5.0 Megapixel CCD. Primary color filters incorporated in the S50 also provides vivid and realistic color without the noise associated with other color filters. Compact high resolution Lens with powerfulZoom - 12x Combined ZoomClose in on all the action with the S50's powerful zoom. The high resolution 3x optical lens takes you in close and then you can zoom up to 11x using the 3.6x digital zoom.