One of the best-selling digital cameras of the past year was Canon's PowerShot G1, a popular camera with professionals and amateurs alike. Now Canon has made some significant enhancements, not least a 4 megapixel CCD, to produce its latest model, the PowerShot G2.

Very similar in design to the G1, the plastic and magnesium body of the PowerShot G2 has been improved to provided a more ergonomic grip and although the dimensions are almost identical, the PowerShot G2 has a more substantial look and feel. The control layout remains very much the same with the controls and dials positioned so that you'll rarely need to take your finger off the shutter. That said, the combination of buttons used for manual focusing is awkward and could be easier to use, but for more experienced users a wide range of manual adjustments are possible including shutter modes.

The LCD information panel on top of the camera displays a wide range of information including mode and flash settings and the main viewfinder is clear enough to be used even in strong daylight. For low light operation, there is an illuminator lamp to aid auto focusing.

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Also retained from the G1 is the 1.8-inch, flip-out-and-twist LCD display. When not in use, the display can be inverted and folded back against the rear of the camera body, protecting the screen from fingerprints and damage from bumps and scrapes. In use, this display lets you frame a shot accurately, even when the camera itself is held at an awkward angle. The monitor itself is an improvement over the one in the G1, since previews are not blown out as before and the matt coating provides crisp previews when taking outdoor shots.

The PowerShot G2 features improvements in the digital signal processor and has a new image sensor. The latter uses a more conventional GRGB filter than its predecessor and the improved signal processor offers better low light and higher signal-to-noise ratio performance. The 4.1-megapixel CCD gives the PowerShot G2 a maximum output resolution of 2,272 x 1,704 pixels.

Canon uses one of its own lenses on the PowerShot G2. Centrally mounted it offers a maximum aperture of f2.5, plus a 3x optical zoom with shutter speeds selectable up to 1/1000s and ISO 50 to 400. Usefully the lens is threaded, allowing for optional macro, telephoto and wide-angle adaptors.

People who use tripods will be pleased with the PowerShot G2's design as access to the memory card and the rechargeable Li-Ion battery are possible with out un-mounting the camera. A 32MB CompactFlash card is supplied for storage although Type II PC Cards are also supported.

Awkward manual focus aside, the Canon PowerShot G2 provides a good range of manual controls, has a decent, fast lens and is a very capable camera at a price level that will appeal across a wide range of users. It's suitable for anyone from professionals to beginners who want a high-quality camera they can grow into.