Canon Powershot S50 Digital Camera - 5.0 Megapixels

Leading the PowerShot range, the new PowerShot S50 features many of the same facilities as the popular PowerShot S45, such as the 9-point AiAF (Artificial intelligence Auto Focus) system, the flexizone focus selector and Canon's unique DIGIC (DIGital Imaging Core) processor.

"The PowerShot S50 is well equipped to head-up the S series of cameras," says Hiroshi Komatsuzaki, Head of Canon Consumer Imaging Europe. "The level of control it offers the user is quite exceptional for any camera, let alone a pocket-sized model like this, and the quality of image it produces enables users to comfortably print right up to A3."

Canon's powerful DIGIC processor is used in this camera to provide 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 optimise AF speed, exposure accuracy and white balance performance.

For maximum image quality, the PowerShot S50 provides RAW file capture as well as various JPEG settings. It is also possible to save an image in the RAW format even when it was shot in a JPEG mode, should the user choose to do so when viewing the image in Record mode. Further user control comes in the form of three metering modes, ISO settings from ISO 50-400 and a shutter speed range of 15-1/1500sec. The camera allows 2 custom white balance settings, in addition to the 6 pre-set programs, for perfect colours every time.

The camera's built-in flash is both powerful and flexible, offering a range of features including second curtain synchronisation, manual output control, plus a maximum range of 4m at ISO 100.

Combining automatic functions and manual selections 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 8 images, while Photo Effect modes give users access to sharpening, contrast and colour saturation controls.

A movie mode permits movie clips of up to a full 3 minutes each, complete with sound and the option to cut and edit them on the camera's own screen. The camera can also attach voice memos or sound files of up to 60 seconds to each image.

As with all the latest Canon digital cameras the PowerShot S50 supports Canon's Direct Print system, for printing with the camera linked straight to a Bubble Jet Direct Printer or Card Photo type printer. In-camera controls allow users to select the number of prints to be made, image cropping and print size. In addition users will gain access to the CANON iMAGE GATEWAY online service where users may share and store their images and the 'My Camera' function allows sound and image files may be downloaded to the camera.