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To compare real-life performance we shot this scene with the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W270 / W290, Canon PowerShot A2100 IS, and the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS25 wthin a few moments of each other using their best quality jpeg settings, lowest ISO sensitivities and default processing options. The lenses on each camera were set to aproximate the same field of view and each was set to Program or Auto mode with manual ISO override.

The above image was taken with the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W270 / W290 set to 80 ISO. The lens was set to 6.9mm and the metering set the exposure to 1/160th of a second at f9. The original 4000x3000 pixel image had a file size of 4.7MB.

The four crops are taken from the upper left, the centre right edge, the lower right and the centre of the image

When viewed at smaller sizes, the Cybershot's images look sharp, well detailed and contrasty, but our 100 percent crops below reveal a different story. None of the sampled areas could be described as crisp with all showing evidence of smearing and lack of detail. The 4.7MB file size would suggest that JPEG compression is unlikely to be the cause - the limitations of the Cyber-shot lens and sensor is a more likely explanation.

By comparison with the Canon Powershot A2100 IS, the Cybershot images lacks clarity and contrast across the frame. Though there's less of a margin in quality terms between the Cyber-shot DSC-W270/290 and the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS25 in our judgement, the Panasonic produces superior results.

Now head over to our Sony Cybershot DSC-W270 / W290 Noise results to see how it compares in terms of high sensitivities.