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

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-N1

City: 3.16MB, Auto, 1/100, f5, ISO 125, 7.9-23.7mm lens at 23.7mm (114mm equivalent)

				This shot of the city of London behind a pier on The River Thames was taken with the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-N1, zoomed-in as far as it would allow. The N1 selected a relatively low sensitivity, keeping noise levels under check, although requiring a modest shutter speed with potential camera shake. Luckily the image is fine and there's a good level of detail present.

						This shot of The London Eye, was taken with the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-N1 on a sunny winter's day. Like the Pentax S6, the Sony selected its lowest sensitivity for these bright conditions. Unlike the smaller S6 though, the noise levels here are subsequently very low, even in shadow areas. Detail, as you'd expect from an 8.1 Megapixel model, is very high.

						This portrait shot was taken with the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-N1, zoomed-in as far as it would allow. As with the Pentax example, this was taken almost facing into a bright setting Sun, and here some flare can be seen in the lower right corner. With failing light conditions, the N1 selected 400 ISO sensitivity and there's some noise visible, although revealingly less than the Pentax S6 at 200 ISO.