As part of a worldwide announcement of new digital camera products Canon today revealed the smallest, lightest 2.1 megapixel digital camera yet - Digital Ixus (known as the Powershot S100 Digital Elph in the USA). Clad in a strong steel case with a completely flat face (switched off) it measures a minuscule 87 x 57 x 26.9mm (3.4 x 2.2 x 1") - front on that's about the same size as a credit card, weighs in at just 190 g (6.7 oz).

To get a better idea of just how small the Ixus / Powershot S100 Elph Digital is here's a comparison with the (looking disturbingly large) Powershot S20:

Click for larger image (apologies for poorly staged photos)

Canon Digital Ixus / S100 Elph Digital Specifications

Here's the official press release:

CANON ANNOUNCES THE 'DIGITAL IXUS', THE WORLD'S SMALLEST ZOOM LENS DIGITAL CAMERA

Canon today launched the remarkable credit card-sized DIGITAL IXUS, the smallest zoom lens digital camera in the world. The DIGITAL IXUS brings the ultimate in style and portability combined with exceptional picture quality; destined to become an icon for the digital generation.

The DIGITAL IXUS blends Canon's award-winning IXUS design with PowerShot digital technology. The result is a stylish, lightweight and ultra-compact camera in a beautiful stainless steel body, that makes picture taking effortless and produces excellent quality shots; hallmarks of the DIGITAL IXUS experience.

Featuring advanced photographic technologies, the DIGITAL IXUS ensures that users will obtain great results every time. Its 2.11 mega pixel sensor gives good image resolution and large printouts, so whether it's for emails to friends, for the family album or mementos for grandparents, the image will be bright and clear no matter what the format. The 35-70mm 2x zoom lens, with wide angle to telephoto coverage, brings a professional feel to composing and shooting with the DIGITAL IXUS.

The DIGITAL IXUS is the first Canon digital camera to feature the Ai AF multi point focus system. This system ensures that pictures are always sharply focused because the camera works out the best focus from three places in the shot, rather than one. This gives much better results if the subject is off-centre. As a result, the DIGITAL IXUS automatically improves results, and will raise the bar on user expectations of camera capability. Having captured the moment, the shot can be shared in an instant on the camera's high-resolution colour LCD monitor.

Choosing and using pictures taken by the DIGITAL IXUS is easy, a USB interface makes image transfer to a PC or Mac quick and simple. Canon's software allows easy image selection and complete control over the finished images, optimising them for printing, attaching to emails and use in other applications. The DIGITAL IXUS software package includes Canon's PC and Mac compatible image databases, ZoomBrowser and ImageBrowser respectively. Canon's PhotoStitch and Adobe's PhotoDeluxe widen your digital imaging horizons. The camera includes drivers compatible with Windows 95, 98, NT 4.0 and 2000, Mac OS8.5 and above.

The DIGITAL IXUS features Industry-standard Digital Print Order Format (DPOF) which simplifies the selection of images for processing and printing by photo printing services and direct digital printers such as the Canon CD-300. Image storage within the DIGITAL IXUS has been maximised through the use of rugged, high-capacity industry-standard CompactFlash^TM memory cards.

Brian Worley, product manager, commented: "Everyone who sees it has the same reaction - 'I want one - now!' It delivers quality and style in equal measure, and deserves to become the standard by which others are judged. Nothing else comes near it in terms of good looks, desirability and in-your-pocket convenience. It's a product with a world class pedigree that breaks new ground in photography."

The DIGITAL IXUS is available in Europe from the beginning of June, 2000 costing approximately 815€.

Regional differences