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Compact cameras that shine in the dark

Lori Grunin Lori Grunin, Senior Editor November 19, 2009

I'll begin with a caveat: snapshot cameras simply don't perform well in low light. Read through the user opinions of any model and you'll see complaints referring to graininess, poor color, colored dots, fuzzy photos, and so on--all different ways of describing how noise manifests itself in digital images.

That said, some cameras are better than others, especially if you understand their limitations. Rule No. 1: don't use Auto ISO in dim light. The camera will automatically crank it up to one of the highest sensitivity settings (so that you can use a relatively fast shutter speed) and the photos will likely look awful. I mean really bad. You're far better off raising the ISO sensitivity setting to its highest usable level, turning on hardware image stabilization where available, and remembering to stand very, very still because the shutter speed will likely be very, very slow.

Of all the snapshot cameras we've tested recently, these are the models that fare best at ISO 400. A few of them employ special technologies to attain better low-light performance. The Canon PowerShot S90 takes the simple approach: a relatively large, comparatively low-resolution sensor coupled with a fast lens. Then there's the Fujifilm FinePix F200EXR, which allows the sensor to switch between a high-resolution mode and a lower-resolution, lower noise mode. In the Cyber-shot DSC-WX1, Sony combines a lower-noise, back-illuminated sensor with a feature that combines multiple shots for improved noise, higher dynamic range photos in dim light.

That said, while these are the best of the lot, their low-light photos still frequently look smeary from the noise suppression algorithms, especially if you view or print them larger than 4x6; below that, you may be OK. But if you're still not happy with your nightclub or school play photos, then your only recourse is to spring for a digital SLR. Unfortunately, as your low-light demands increase, so does the price of the camera.

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Review date September 30, 2009 November 12, 2009 July 16, 2009 September 16, 2009
The Bottom Line The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX1 is a great, fast-performing snapshot camera that falters on photo quality. As long as you're not expecting dSLR speed in a tiny body, the Canon PowerShot S90 is an excellent compact camera for advanced amateurs. Don't let its new sensor technology scare you off: the Fujifilm FinePix F200EXR is an excellent compact camera with shooting features for just about every type of user. One of the best ultracompacts available, the Canon PowerShot SD940 IS nonetheless falls short of greatness in performance and photo quality.
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Features
Lens apertureF/2.4-5.9
F/2.0-4.9
F/3.3-5.1
F/2.8-5.9
Equivalent 35mm focal length24 - 120 mm
28 - 105 mm
28 - 140 mm
28 - 112 mm
Optical zoom5 x
3.8 x
5 x
4 x
Light sensitivityISO 160
ISO 200
ISO 400
ISO 800
ISO 1600
ISO 3200
ISO auto
ISO 80
ISO 100
ISO 125
ISO 160
ISO 200
ISO 250
ISO 320
ISO 400
ISO 500
ISO 640
ISO 800
ISO 1000
ISO 1250
ISO 1600
ISO 2000
ISO 2500
ISO 3200
ISO auto
ISO 100
ISO 200
ISO 400
ISO 800
ISO 1600
ISO 3200
ISO auto
ISO 6400 (6Mpix)
ISO 12800 (3Mpix)
ISO 80
ISO 100
ISO 200
ISO 400
ISO 800
ISO 1600
ISO auto
ISO 3200 (2Mpix)
Display (projector) technologyTFT active matrix
TFT active matrix
TFT active matrix
TFT active matrix
Video input typeDigital camera
Digital camera
Digital camera
Digital camera
Digital zoom2 x
4 x
4.4 x
4 x
Weight4.2 oz
6.2 oz
6.2 oz
4.2 oz
Effective sensor resolution10,200,000 pixels
10,000,000 pixels
12,000,000 pixels
12,100,000 pixels
Still image formatJPEG
RAW
JPEG
RAW + JPEG
JPEG
JPEG
Display (projector) diagonal size2.7 in
3 in
3 in
2.7 in
Manual focusAutomatic
Manual
Automatic
Automatic
Automatic
Full specifications Full specifications Full specifications Full specifications Full specifications
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