Cameras: Nikon CoolPix S600 Digital Camera – Review – 75

There is a plethora of digital compact cameras in the market, many of which claim to be the smallest in some particular class. The COOLPIX S600 from Nikon is another of these, advertised as having the “world’s most compact design”. While there are certainly smaller cameras in existence, I believe the S600 is currently the most compact that features a 10 megapixel image sensor and a 4x optical zoom lens.

Despite being rather diminutive, the S600 actually has a reasonably sized lens for a compact camera. This has more of an impact on image quality than the megapixel count, especially with today’s megapixel numbers being so far above print quality, even at the lower end of the scale. The camera performs well compared with similar models, though a 
little noise does creep into the darkest portions of highly contrasted images.

The S600 features Nikon’s vibration reduction technology, a form of optical-shift image stabilisation. This is where the lens physically shifts to compensate for movement of the camera during shooting. It performs significantly better than the purely electronic stabilisation often found on lower end models – the difference is clear when compared with Nikon’s S550 model which features the latter.

A 2.7-inch LCD dominates the rear of the S600, offering a high-resolution preview with good visibility in bright outdoor conditions. However, it leaves little room for the controls, which are clustered up against the edge of the camera to the right of the monitor. This makes it difficult to change settings one-handed without dropping the camera, especially using the main control dial to navigate menus.

The dial itself is quite nifty, though it does seem a little superfluous – it can also be used as a four-way button pad, often performing the same functions as the dial.

I found the user interface a little confusing, with the same button often opening completely different menus depending on the current mode; it took me longer than usual to get completely comfortable. I expect this would be quite user-specific: I’ve come across many reviewers who feel the exact opposite, and others who had the same troubles as I did.

Ultimately, Nikon’s COOLPIX S600 packs a decent zoom lens, a sharp LCD monitor and a good range of features into a particularly compact camera. On the downside, the S600 is priced well above most similar models. Still, it remains a good choice for any digital compact camera buyer for whom price isn’t a major consideration.

HARLEY OGIER

TECH SPECS

COOLPIX S600
Digital Camera
$449

RESOLUTION: 10 megapixels
VIEWFINDER: None
MONITOR: 2.7-inch TFT LCD, ~230,000 dots
SHUTTER: 1/1500 to 1 second
APERTURE: f2.7-f5.4
ISO: 100-800 (Auto ISO mode), 1600, 3200 (manual only)
EXPOSURE METERING: 
Multiple (224 segments), centre-weighted
FOCUS MODES: Auto, 
Centre, Manual (spot focus), Face Priority
INTERNAL MEMORY: ~45MB
MEDIA: SD
FILE FORMATS: JPEG, AVI (video), WAV (audio)
INTERFACE: USB, 
composite video out
BATTERIES: Rechargeable Lithium-ion, approx 190 images
DIMENSIONS: 
88.5 x 53 x 22.5mm
WEIGHT: 130g 
(without battery or card)

Contact

www.nikon.co.nz

Pros

• Particularly small design

• Great multiple face detection

Cons

• Awkward controls

• High price compared to similar models

Verdict

• A good compact camera with a few minor annoyances.

This Review is from Tone Issue 75.