Labs

The 1020's wedge-shaped design hasn't changed much since previous models, but the 1020 has a 7.1x zoom range. This is a remarkable achievement for such a slim camera and is great for shooting subjects with more intimacy and detail.

The controls are fairly typical, with a Function button providing quick access to key options. The buttons are backlit, which helps in low light. We also like

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the exposure compensation control, which shows four simultaneous preview images with varying brightness so you can choose the best. There's a dedicated button for Shadow Adjustment Technology, which boosts the brightness of shady areas. These areas become noisier, but it's still useful, particularly because it's so easy to switch on and off.

Performance was OK, taking 2.2 seconds to switch on and shoot and the same time between subsequent shots, with quick focusing times. However, flash and continuous photography could be better at four seconds between shots and 0.8fps respectively.

Image quality was disappointing. Outdoor shots were smooth, but corner focus was poor. Face detection failed to give pleasing portraits against a dark background. Image stabilisation was poor, and automatic exposure settings were overly long. After upping the ISO speed manually, noise-reduction processing made shots look hazy. Because of these problems, we can't recommend the 1020.