Canon PowerShot S100 sets a new standard for compact cameras

— -- Following in the footsteps of 2010's excellent S95, Canon once again strikes gold with the PowerShot S100. It's a camera that fulfills the promise of every ultracompact: to cram an astounding level of power into a tiny, portable body. From now on, it is likely the S100 will be the point-and-shoot by which all others are judged.

Changes from the S95, where they exist, aren't too drastic; it would be fair to call the S100 a "safe" design. The new 12.1 megapixel CMOS sensor struggles with color accuracy, but excels in reduction of noise — a trade-off we would gladly make. Photographers of every ilk will also love the new ergonomic features on the body's front and rear, adding some much-needed stability to the compact frame. A few additions aren't quite as useful: the fully-motorized automatic flash hardware and GPS transceiver are nice to have, but ultimately unnecessary.

The remainder of the S100's selling points are held over from the S95: an efficient menu makes shooting speedy and comfortable, the oversized front control ring is as stylish as it is functional, and the rock-solid body construction instills a sense of confidence and (dare we say) pride in the user's hardware.

The Canon PowerShot S100 is an ideal first camera, perfect for aspiring photographers that are skilled but not yet ready to plunge into the land of interchangeable lenses. On the other hand, the S100 also makes a fine accessory for enthusiast level shooters, for situations in which SLRs or even system cameras aren't convenient. Whatever the level of user, the Canon S100 is unlikely to disappoint. The camera retails for $429.99. It has a 5x optical zoom.

To read more about the Canon PowerShot S100, read Reviewed.com's comprehensive review at DigitalCameraInfo.com. Reviewed.com is a division of USA TODAY.