Digital compact cameras are getting amazingly comparable to SLRs. Especially with the introduction of Canon’s new PowerShot S5 IS.

With the previous PowerShot S2/S3 IS, Canon did a great job in combining great image quality with a 12x zoom lens. But what they are lacking is a flash hotshoe. Which in my opinion is a great loss, as flash photography is really rewarding when you can put on a flash with a tiltable head. It is also one of the key difference between them and a Canon DSLR. But the PowerShot S5 IS just closed this gap between compacts and SLRs by having a flash hotshoe, which supports Canon Speedlites (220EX, 430EX, 580EX) with E-TTL.

The PowerShot S5 IS also features:

• 8-megapixel
• Stereo sound recording
• DIGIC III processor
• Optical Image Stabilizer
• 2.5-inch LCD
• Face Detection for auto-focus
• Support for SDCH/SD and MMC memory cards

From my experience with the Canon PowerShot S2 IS before I upgraded to a DSLR, I have no reservations in recommending this latest successor in the PowerShot S range of cameras.

Availability: Early July 2007
Pricing: US$499.99