Cameras: Nikon Coolpix S640 Digital Camera – Review – 80
Nikon’s COOLPIX S640 is a truly pocket-sized digital compact camera, optimised for the quick-draw shooting most compacts just can’t manage.
The S640 boasts the fastest start-up time in its class, just 0.7 seconds. In the automatic shooting mode, you really can take a shot less than a second after pressing the power button, with reasonable results. The key to this is leaving the camera in the Auto mode – if you turned it off in another mode that’s not so quick to focus, the result won’t be as speedy.
To complement the quick start-up, the S640 also features extremely fast autofocus. I found it comparable in speed to a digital SLR camera’s phase-detect autofocus, definitely much faster than the average digital compact. A subject-tracking mode further enhances the autofocus, allowing you to lock-on to a moving subject. Results vary depending on the situation, but I had consistent success tracking human faces and small animals – for photographing kids and pets as they run wildly about the place, the S640 is a clear winner.
Despite its impressive shooting performance, the S640 suffers from a slightly clunky user interface that can sully the overall experience. Zoom controls are particularly troublesome – they can take a second or two to respond, especially when the camera has just been powered on or has changed modes. It also seems impossible to zoom while the camera is storing images to the card, which can take a couple of seconds after each shot. If you’re trying to track subjects moving rapidly toward or away from you, this can be a real problem.
Image quality is above average, with minimal noise under bright lighting. I found that images could be a bit noisy when moving between bright and dark backgrounds, but this seems to be due to some lag in the light metering more than anything else. Giving the camera a second or two to adjust to the new light level before shooting resolves this issue and keeps noise to a minimum.
Dynamic range is good, though high-contrast shots tend to come out a little dark overall. Such images still contain detail in both light and dark areas, and a simple brightness adjustment is enough to sort this out.
Low-light performance is reasonable for a compact. I had the good fortune to shoot with the S640 over Guy Fawkes, and the Fireworks scene mode works brilliantly with the camera’s quick autofocus and optical image stabilisation.
Though limited to 640×480 (VGA) resolution, video recording is well supported. Sound is particularly clear, even outdoors over quite a distance. Digital zoom is allowed while recording, though not optical zoom. Still, this is better than many compact cameras where the zoom level during video recording is absolutely fixed.
Overall, Nikon’s S640 is a simple digital compact with high performance for its size. The lack of advanced manual settings may limit its use for some, but the average user will find the range of automatic and scene modes makes it easy to get great results.
HARLEY OGIER
Nikon Coolpix S640 Digital Camera – Tech Specs
Effective Pixels: 12.2 million
Lens: 5-25mm (5x zoom)
Monitor: 2.7-inch TFT LCD, 230,000 dots
ISO: 100-1600 auto (100 – 6400 manually selectable)
Shooting Modes: Auto, scene modes,scene auto selector, smart portrait, movie, subject tracking
Exposure Metering: 224-segment matrix, centre weighted
Internal Memory: ~45MB
Media: SD
File Format: JPEG, AVI, WAV
Flash: Built-in
Interface: USB, composite video out
Batteries: Rechargeable lithium-ion, approx 270 images
Dimensions: 91 x 55 x 20.5mm
Weight: 110g without battery or card
Pros
- Fast start-up and autofocus
- Compact and lightweight
Cons
- Unresponsive zoom controls
Verdict
A simple but effective pocket camera for everyday use
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This article is from Tone issue 80. Click here to check it out.
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