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Nikon Coolpix S10

Nikon Coolpix S10Nikon Coolpix S10 Concise Review,Simon Joinson, February 2007

Review based on a production Coolpix S10. Firmware Version 1.0 Announced in August, the Coolpix S10 is the latest incarnation of Nikons twisting body camera design that can be traced all the way back to the original Coolpix 900 in 1998, though - like the S4 before it - this one manages to squeeze in a big 10x optical zoom. Design tweaks aside, the S10s biggest enhancement over its predecessor is the inclusion of CCD-shift image stabilization (or Vibration Reduction, VR as Nikon calls it), pretty much an essential for a camera with a zoom this big. The maximum ISO has also been boosted to 800 and there are a couple of interesting new features. The big zoom market is a crowded one, and truly compact models such as this have rarely impressed when compared to their bulkier SLR-like cousins. Lets find out if the Coolpix S10 has what it takes to offer the ultimate pocket super zoom, starting as ever with the headline features:Headline features6.0million effective pixels10x optical zoom (38-380mm equiv.)Swivel lens designImage-sensor shift VRWide viewing angle 2.5" TFT screenTwo-mode VR (Vibration Reduction) system (lens-shift)BSS (Best Shot Selector) identifies and saves the sharpest image automatically from up to ten sequential shotsExposure BSS mode4cm macroFace-priority AFIn-camera red-eye removal & D-Lighting15 Scene modesPictmotion function16MB internal memory + SD card storageKey specifications Street PriceBody MaterialSensorImage sizesMovie clipsLensImage stabilizationConversion lensesDigital zoomFocusAF assist lampFocus distanceMeteringISO sensitivityExposure compensationShutter speedApertureModesScene modesWhite balanceSelf timerContinuous shootingImage parametersFlashViewfinderLCD monitorConnectivityPrint complianceStoragePowerOther featuresWeight (no batt)Dimensions

• US: $350• UK: £240

Metal

• 2816 x 2112 • 2048 x 1536• 1024 x 768 • 640 x 480

• 640 x 480@ 30fps • 320 x 240 @ 15/30fps• 160 x 120 @ 15fps• 320 x 240 @ 30fps (PictMotion) • with sound

• 38-380mm (35mm equiv)• F3.5• 10x zoom

Image-sensor shift VR (Electronic VR when shooting movie)

up to 4x

Auto

Yes

• 30cm-infinity• Macro: 4cm-infinity

n/a

up to ISO 800

n/a

F3.5

• Auto• 4 modes with Scene Assist• 11 Scene modes• BSS (Best Shot Selector)• Exposure BSS• Single• Continuous• Multi-shot 16 (approx 1.9fps)

• Portrait• Landscape• Sports• Night Portrait• Party/indoor • Beach/snow• Sunset• Dusk/dawn• Night landscape• Close up• Museum• Fireworks show • Copy• Panorama assist

• Auto with TTL control • 7-mode manual (Direct sunlight, Incandescent, Fluorescent, Cloudy, Shade, Flash and White bal. preset)

3 or 10 sec

approx 1.6fps

Color options

• Auto• Auto with red-eye reduction• Flash cancel• Anytime flash• Slow sync• Range: 0.3-5.4m (wide) / 1.0- 5.4m (tele)

• 2.5-inch TFT• 230,000 pixels

• USB• AV out

PictBridge

• 16MB internal memory • SD card compatible

• Rechargeable Li-ion battery EN-EL5• AC adapter EH-62A

• Best Shot Selector• BSS AE• Interval timer• In-camera red-eye removal (automatic)• Face detection AF• D-Lighting (shadow lightening)

220 g (7.8 oz)

112.5 x 74.5 x 40.5 mm (4.4 x 2.9 x 1.6 in)

Conclusion / Recommendation / Ratings are based on the opinion of the reviewer, you should read the ENTIRE review before coming to your own conclusions.Images which can be viewed at a larger size have a small magnifying glass icon in the bottom right corner of the image, clicking on the image will display a larger (typically VGA) image in a new window.To navigate the review simply use the next / previous page buttons, to jump to a particular section either pick the section from the drop down or select it from the navigation bar at the top.DPReview calibrate their monitors using Color Vision OptiCal at the (fairly well accepted) PC normal gamma 2.2, this means that on our monitors we can make out the difference between all of the (computer generated) grayscale blocks below. We recommend to make the most of this review you should be able to see the difference (at least) between X,Y and Z and ideally A,B and C.