There is little doubt that Canon is a market leader when it comes to digital cameras, and the IXUS range is right at the top of company's popularity tables.

Digital cameras get 'refreshed' at regular periods, and since the IXUS range started in 1996 and the first digital model appeared in 2000 there have been no fewer than 30 additions and new models, including this latest one; the IXUS 500.

Anyone who has seen an IXUS 400 or 430 won't be surprised by the hardware design of the 500. The size and shape are the same and the all-metal body that both gives the camera a stylish look and provides plenty of protection remains a key feature.

Also unchanged from those earlier models is the positioning of the various buttons and wheels. There is one new button over and above those on the IXUS 400 (which we had for comparison). This is designed for use with Canon's Print Share, used for direct printing of images stored on the camera without the need for a computer. The camera is PictBridge-compliant, making it compatible with the increasing number of printers from all manufacturers which support this standard.

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Be warned that if you want a large LCD on your camera you should look elsewhere as that on the IXUS 500 is a mere 1.5 diagonal inches. We found it adequate, but others may disagree.

The IXUS 500 captures images at a range of resolutions up to 2,592 x 1,944 pixels, which is enough to print at larger than A4 size. Images at this size take up a lot of space, but Canon provides a 32MB Compact Flash card to get you started. You'll almost certainly want to buy a higher capacity card if you intend to use the maximum resolution on a regular basis.

Movies can be captured too, with sound, and there is a 3x optical zoom which can be extended to a little over 12x if you add in the less effective digital option. Generally you're better off sticking with the optical zoom, since digital interpolation can be done using image software anyway.

One of the great plus points of the IXUS 500 is the ease with which you can make and change settings, altering things like the shutter speed and white balance without having to make more than a couple of key presses.

This is great if you want to squeeze more than point-and-shoot functionality out of your camera. We aren't so sure about the Movie Print mode, though; this prints a set of thumbnail frames from a captured movie onto a single sheet of paper.

As with other IXUS models, Canon provides membership of the Canon Image Gateway, which gives you 100MB of online picture storage and tools for personalising the start-up image and sound effects on your camera. You also get a good range of software, a USB cable and an AV lead for connection to a TV.

The IXUS 500 is a smashing little camera that does pretty much all you'd expect from something that's basically an upgrade to the already decent IXUS 400. However it rankles that for all the attention to design detail, Canon chooses not to supply a protective case for the IXUS 500.