You might want to try a Nikon if you want bright output. Their auto white-balance and auto-exposure option default levels are a little brighter than Canon.
But a lot of times the brightness/whiteness goes overboard.
I like my Canon more because the color is sharper and "truer". But the S45 model is somewhat heavy in weight, and the design is not as stylish as some other models.
Of course, whether your output is too dim or too bright, you can always change settings in most digital cameras.