Like the S95 and G12, the S100 has a 1/1.7in (5.58x7.44mm) sensor, which though smaller than the sensor in an SLR, is bigger than the sensors in most compact cameras. This is good news for image quality. It has also enabled Canon to boost the maximum sensitivity setting to ISO 6400.

Canon has developed a completely new sensor for the S100, which has been designed and made in-house. Although the sensor isn't back illuminated, by reducing the amount of circuitry around each photo diode Canon has been able to increase the pixel pitch from 1.7x1.7um on the S95 sensor to 1.86x1.86um for the S100, even though the effective pixel count has been increased to 12.1 million.

Canon has also used larger, more translucent micro lenses and deepened the photo diodes, thus increasing the sensors ability to capture light. This, Canon claims, has extended the S100's dynamic range so that more shadow and highlight detail is recorded with the S95. It should also have a beneficial effect on image noise levels.

As well as the noise reduction system in the processor, the S100 has on-chip noise reduction to tackle both fixed pattern and random noise. For the first time in this level of camera, Canon has given the user control over the level of noise reduction applied at the processing stage.

We weren't able to examine the images we shot with the S100, but Canon is claiming that images taken at ISO 1600 with the S100 are on a par with those taken at ISO 400 with the S95. It's a bold claim and one that we look forward to investigating when we get a full production sample in for testing.

Summary

Canon's new PowerShot S100 looks a very worthy successor to the popular S95. The manufacturer has used technology from across its whole imaging business (video, SLR, lens and compact camera) to produce what appears to be an exciting pocket-sized camera.