Most digital cameras today have megapixels galore, a large LCD, and fairly long battery life, and take fine pictures in good light. Still, there are significant performance differences among models in our tests.

To stand out, new models are adding features and style and are trying to improve performance in more difficult photography. These cameras claim to conquer such challenges as shooting that birthday cake with only the light from its candles, capturing the detail in a face photographed in front of a bright window, and freezing the winning swing in the baseball game.

We've upgraded our tests to address those more ambitious claims and higher expectations. The results reveal a wider range of performance than in past reports, with some models that rise to the challenges and a number that fall short.

Our tests also reveal a blurring in performance between point-and-shoots—comprising subcompact, compact, and superzoom cameras—and SLRs, the bigger and pricier cameras that use interchangeable lenses (available to subscribers).

Some point-and-shoots excelled at producing images free of graininess in dim conditions, traditionally an SLR strength, while a few SLRs faltered. Many of the new point-and-shoots responded fairly quickly when their shutter was pressed, though none had the almost instantaneous response of most SLRs. (See Questions and answers.) More SLRs are borrowing niceties from point-and-shoots, such as "live view" on their LCD.