While the recently announced Ricoh GRD III has a F1.9 lens, the fixed focal length optics and high price tag are probably more suited for serious users and the GRD III doesn't compete in the same category with the Lumix. But the US$429 S90's specifications indicate that Canon has a trump card and Panasonic will probably have to update its LX lineup soon to stay on top of the game.

Canon set out to pack the tiny S90 with the same features pros and advanced amateur shooters look for. And they've succeeded in nearly every aspect. The laundry list of cool tech includes a 14.94mm sensor, the latest DIGIC 4 processor (which is lightning fast), optical image stabilizer, face detection, the ability to shoot RAW images and HDMI output. All that is crammed into a body that can slip into the front pocket of your jeans.

My first real camera was a Canon S50. I loved it. Canon let the pro compact S line die a few years later. It's back with the S90, though the only thing that's the same is that it's still awesome.

If you already own a DSLR, and possibly also a bridge camera, ownership of the S90 - more portable and with nearly as much on-board sophistication - starts to make a little more sense. Or perhaps if you view the S90 as the one and only compact you're ever going to buy or need. Financial concerns aside, offering advanced features and yet compact dimensions, the Canon PowerShot S90 can count itself among the rare number of cameras we feel sad (and slightly aggrieved) to have to return to the manufacturer at the end of our review period. Impressive stuff.

If you're contemplating between the S90 and LX3, we highly suggest making serious comparisons between these two models. Users who want something lighter and more compact can look to the PowerShot, but the LX3 has merits that will attract other shutterbugs.