colourful”. The S6300 features a 10x optical zoom lens, 16 megapixel back-illuminated CMOS sensor, Full 1080p HD and 3D recording, 2.7 inch LCD screen, 6fps burst shooting, plus Auto HDR and Easy Panorama modes.

All of the sample images in this Review were taken using the 12 megapixel High JPEG setting, which gives an average image size of around 5.5Mb.

The reason being the image sensor on my D5100 is about three times the size.

At ISO 800 it's beginning to creep into the darker portions of the image, more noticeable across the whole shot at ISO 1600, so that by ISO 3200 detail is noticeably softened overall, albeit with an effect that is marginally les painterly than usual.

The zoom lense is easy to use and close up pictures are very clear.

The wide-angle 28mm equivalent lens is also a useful tool, in extending framing possibilities for landscapes in particular.

The lens quality is good, it produces sharp enough images and although chroma is present, it's quite low.

The top plate continues the S5100's elegant appearance, on/off button inset into the body and like the larger shutter release button, which is encircled by a lever for operating the zoom, set into a thin 'go faster' chrome strip.

Resolution is amazing, 10x Zooming?

It offers a 5x optical zoom with a range equivalent to 28-140mm in 35mm terms.

While the S6300 looks chunkier than the Sony and Panasonic models mentioned earlier, it's still easy to pocket and very lightweight.

Luckily the weight and diminutive proportions ensure it's very easy to shoot one-handed with the S5100, in spite the lack of any handgrip, otherwise the camera edge location of the flash would fall prey to stray fingertips if holding steady with both.