I am delighted and mildly amazed by this review. The interface, including ample image details with roll-overs, is simple and elegant. I am unaware of any site currently producing reviews that are more helpful in getting an accurate glimpse of the "heart and soul" of a given camera. In short: a superb review.


The camera? Oh, yeah, mustn't forget that! [] As a long-time street photographer, I have favored small and discreet cameras. I have used many (most?) of the medium-tier 35mm compacts over the years, starting with the Rollei 35. Naturally, the advent of digital capture has given me opportunity to extend my smaller-is-better philosophy into the pixel realm. The quest for image quality stalled, for me, with the Canon G9.


Biting the bullet, I acquired a Canon XS a few months ago, and the G9 has seen little service since. For every reason given by Brian in his review, this is a surprisingly good photographic tool. The current sensible (low) price makes it a standout. Low light performance--critical for candid and street work--is right in there with DSLR's costing much, much more. Live view is important for me, and the XS is adequate in this regard. Live view implementation will surely improve with subsequent models, but the XS version is okay for my uses.


The other aspect of the camera that gave me pause was lack of spot metering. However, when needed, the exposure compensation capabilities (easily accessed by a dedicated button) offer an effective alternative for dealing with tricky lighting. Shooting raw helps in this regard, too.


In short, I totally concur with Brian. This camera is enthusiastically recommended first for capability, and additionally for value.