For this group test gallery, we've presented three images from each camera. Each image was taken using the camera's Auto mode and its best quality JPEG settings. The individual exposure mode, file sizes, shutter speeds, aperture, ISO and lens focal length are listed for each image.

The crops are taken from the original files, reproduced at 100% and saved in Adobe Photoshop CS2 as JPEGs with the default Very High quality preset, while the resized images were made in Photoshop CS2 and saved with the default High quality preset. The three crops are typically taken from far left, central and far right portions of each image.

Canon PowerShot A620 / Fujifilm FinePix F11 / Pentax Optio S6 / Sony Cyber-shot DSC-N1

Pentax Optio S6

City: 2.04MB, Auto, 1/250, f5.2, ISO 200, 6.2-18.6mm lens at 18.6mm (112mm equivalent)

				This shot of the city of London behind a pier on The River Thames was taken with the Pentax Optio S6, zoomed-in as far as it would allow. Taken within moments of the other cameras, the shot here shows lower contrast in the background. There's a good level of detail resolved, but noise levels are slightly higher than the others, despite the sensitivity being 200 ISO.

						This shot of The London Eye, was taken with the Pentax Optio S6 on a sunny winter's day. Given bright conditions, the S6 selected its slowest sensitivity of 64 ISO, although revealingly there's still visible noise in the shadow areas of the crops. There is however plenty of detail in the crops.

						This portrait shot was taken with the Pentax Optio S6 with its lens fully zoomed-in. The conditions were challenging, with a bright setting Sun just to the left. The S6 coped well with the exposure, although at 200 ISO, there's visible noise throughout the image. Noise is a problem for cameras with physically small sensors like the S6, but is the price you pay for an ultra-slim model.