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

City: 3.14MB, Auto, 1/125, f4.1, ISO 100, 7.3-29.2mm lens at 29mm (140mm equivalent)

City: 2.94MB, Auto, 1/200, f4, ISO 100, 7.3-29.2mm lens at 15mm (72mm equivalent)

						This shot of The London Eye, was taken with the Canon PowerShot A620 on a sunny winter’s day.The A620’s flip out screen makes photos like these easy to take without crooning your neck. Again, there’s plenty of detail, while Canon’s image processing has maintained low noise levels.

Macro: 1.93MB, Auto, 1/636, f4, ISO 200, 7.3-29.2mm lens at 7.3mm (35mm equivalent)

						This close-up shot of a leaf demonstrates the excellent macro capabilities of the Canon PowerShot A620.The A620 is capable of focusing as close as 1cm from a subject. We were actually positioned about 8cm from this particular leaf, which therefore posed no problem for the camera.

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.

Fujifilm FinePix F11

City: 2.89MB, Auto, 1/260, f4.9, ISO 200, 8-24mm lens at at 24mm (108mm equivalent)

City: 2.84MB, Auto, 1/300, f4.3, ISO 200, 8-24mm lens at at 18mm (81mm equivalent)

						This shot of The London Eye, was taken with the Fujifilm FinePix F11 on a sunny winter’s day.As before, the F11 has opted to open the aperture and set the ISO to 200 to allow a faster shutter speed and avoid potential camera shake. Again this has been done with little compromise to quality. The crops are detailed and there’s only a little noise visible in shadow areas.

Portrait: 2.81MB, Auto, 1/4, f4.9, ISO 800, 8-24mm lens at at 24mm (108mm equivalent)

				This portrait shot was taken using the Fujifilm FinePix F11.It demonstrates the F11’s ability to take photos in dim conditions without the need for a flash. The F11 has increased its sensitivity to 800 ISO for this shot, although it could have gone to 1600 ISO and given us a quicker shutter speed. Either way, noise levels are surprisingly low for 800 ISO and it’s very useful to have this flexibility.

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.

Pentax Optio S6

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

City: 1.99MB, Auto, 1/200, f3.6, ISO 64, 6.2-18.6mm lens at 11mm (66mm equivalent)

						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.

Portrait: 1.63MB, Auto, 1/40, f5.2, ISO 200, 6.2-18.6mm lens at 18.6mm (112mm equivalent)

						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.

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.

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-N1

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

City: 3.07MB, Auto, 1/160, f4.5, ISO 64, 7.9-23.7mm lens at 10mm (48mm equivalent)

						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.

Portrait: 3.29MB, Auto, 1/100, f4.5, ISO 400, 7.9-23.7mm lens at 23.7mm (114mm equivalent)

						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.