"The ⅔” EXR 12MP CMOS sensor and the EXR processor in this machine work together brilliantly! A bit larger than sensors in other compacts (except for those like the Fujifilm X100, Sigma DP line and Leica X1 that feature APS-C sized sensors), but a fair amount smaller than m4/3 sensors, I am amazed at its ability to handle low light, high ISO situations. Part of that success comes from the processor’s ability to combine pixels, which can be used to either

increase the dynamic range (allowing greater detail in shadows and highlights), or to decrease noise in high ISO shots (for producing cleaner pictures in low light situations). The upside is that this really seems to work! Fujifilm has included this technology in cameras with smaller sensors and the general consensus seemed to be that the technology worked better at increasing dynamic range than decreasing noise, but it seemed to me to work well for both purposes with this larger sensor. But there is no free lunch, right? Everything is a trade off in photography. The trade off here is that you end up with a 6MP image instead of a 12MP image. I have a 12x18 picture from my old 6MP Digital Rebel hanging in my living room, so I can live with that trade-off."