In fact, at the moment there’s only one compact on the market that has a CMOS sensor – Canon’s own PowerShot SX1 IS, which retails for a whopping £530. Our tipster reckons that a whole rash of CMOS compacts will be unveiled at the forthcoming PMA ’09 in March. He also proposes this as a possible CMOS Ixus spec.

• 10-megapixel CMOS sensor (most likely 1/2.33 or 1/2.5 inch in size)
• HD Movie Mode
• 5x Zoom (28mm wide)
• 3″ LCD
• Li-Ion battery
• ISO 50-3200
• RRP of £250-£280, on the shop floor at £220 or so

It’s that massive ISO range which is the most promising. If this new Ixus exists, can cope with low light as promised, and doesn’t cost the earth, then this could bring the tools for some fantastic photography into the hands of amateurs. Or, at very least, your photos of ‘Debbie an the gals dahn at the club’ will look sublime.

Related posts: REVIEW: Canon IXUS 870 IS | Canon engineers held back by marketing department’s “megapixel race”