I'll admit it. Before I started researching vacuums online, I had never heard of Miele or used any of their products. After using the S5980 Capricorn, however, I am singing the praises of this German made canister vacuum. With finger tip controls for the six-levels of power and HEPA filtration to make vacuuming easier for allergy and asthma sufferers, this Miele is a pleasure to use.

The Capricorn comes with all the things you would expect of a canister: integrated rubber PVC bumpers guards to protect your furniture and walls from scuffing, larger capacity dust bags that require fewer changes, and a foot switch for the power on/off to keep you from doing too much bending. If that was all this Miele had going for it, it would still be a decent vacuum. Luckily, Miele doesn't settle for decent. They've included a Parquet floor brush with horsehair bristles and a rotating head (it rotates 90?) to provide a gentle cleaning solution for your highly polished floors. It's lightweight and sleek design makes the S5980 a great choice for the elderly or anyone tired of pushing a heavy upright.

Miele offers this canister vacuum with your choice of power brushes to better meet your carpet cleaning needs. Choose from either the 10?? (SEB 217) or the 13⅜? (SEB 236) power brush, both of which have swivel necks for improved maneuverability. The SEB 217 is great for deep cleaning on low to medium pile carpets, while the SEB 236 has 5 different height adjustments for use on any type of carpet. An LED on the finger controls tells you what suction power you've selected, and a bag change LED lets you know when to replace the 4.76qt bag. Under the main body of the vacuum, you'll find a Crevice Tool for hard-to-clean corners, a Dust Brush (with natural bristles,) and even an Upholstery Tool for mattresses, couch cushions, drapes and other upholstered items. It has a 29.5? cord. Its sealed system reduces noise.

Pros: The Miele S5980 Capricorn is a marvel of German engineering with great suction and a pleasing design. The choice of brush heads means the Capricorn can be adapted to your specific carpet conditions. While some vacuums are designed to be bagless, this uses a bag as part of its sealed system, ensuring better air quality and improved suction. Six levels of power give you precise control over suction power with the finger controls conveniently located on the handle.

Cons: Some folks don't like canister vacuums. If you are one of those, the design of the Miele S5980 may be a con. That being said, this is one of the most maneuverable canister vacuums on the market, light enough for even the elderly to use with no difficulty. Bags may be an issue for some, but I've found the Miele bags to last longer than the standard canister vacuums.

Once I got to use the Miele S5980 Capricorn, I was convinced. With its German engineering and its sleek European design, it's the perfect choice for me. Don't be fooled by cheap imitations or overpriced uprights. The Miele S5980 Capricorn is a quality choice.