Nikon Coolpix S4 Review

Click on the Coolpix S4 to take a QuickTime VR tour

Nikon revives the swiveling lens design that made the early year Coolpix cameras famous for ease of use. We had been told late in 2002 that the Coolpix 4500 would be the last of the "swivelers," but thankfully Nikon has decided to do it again.

The Coolpix S4 features a powerful 10x optical zoom, six megapixels of resolution and a large 2.5-inch LCD, all housed in a compact body that fits into a shirt pocket. The powerful optical zoom combined with the swiveling body design of the camera gives digital photographers unprecedented freedom and creativity with the ability to take pictures from a wide range of angles such as from the hip, self-portraits and even from overhead.

The 10x Zoom Nikkor lens delivers 38-380mm (35mm equivalent) focal length coverage to capture extreme close-ups, expansive landscapes and zoom into distant action. The body design allows the lens and the 2.5-inch LCD to move independently so users can view their shot from any angle. For comfortable shooting, the S4 features a newly-designed hand grip as well as conveniently placed buttons and controls.

The S4 is packed with innovative and advanced features for beginning through advanced photographers. Using exclusive technology, Nikon has narrowed the picture-taking process down to three simple steps - turn on the camera, frame the shot and snap the picture. Face Priority AF automatically senses the presence of a human face within the frame and adjusts the focus accordingly. The In-Camera Red-Eye Fix™ technology detects and corrects red eyes in most typical situations without the need to press buttons or select and highlight the eyes in playback.

To help ensure a balanced exposure and sharpness, Nikon's exclusive D-Lighting function automatically compensates for insufficient flash or excessive back lighting in order to obtain balanced exposure throughout the frame. Blur Warning, another feature unique to Nikon, alerts the user when a shot is compromised by camera or hand shake, allowing another shot to be taken before leaving the scene.

The S4 features 16 Scene Modes with four of them offering Scene Assist to simplify shooting in common situations. To capture moving memories the S4 features four Movie Modes at up to 640×480 @ 15fps with three of the modes offering sound recording and electronic vibration reduction. The Time-Lapse movie function can capture action taking place over extended periods of time such as the opening of a new flower.

Additionally, the S4 includes helpful functions such as: Best Shot Selector (BSS), Macro mode, 4x Digital Zoom, Single AF and Continuous AF focusing, user settable White Balance, Color saturation, ISO sensitivity and Color effects. For further convenience the S4 includes 13.5 MB of internal memory and operates on two AA-size alkaline or rechargeable batteries that deliver as many as 290 shots per charge.

PictBridge compatibility makes it possible to print directly to a printer, without the need for a PC. For those who enjoy organizing and sharing their photographs on a computer, Coolpix cameras ship with Nikon's PictureProject software, a user-friendly photo management software designed expressly for use by Coolpix photographers, that offers a broad selection of cataloging, editing and sharing functions. This software package is aimed at providing a central location that is simple, intuitive and seamless for Coolpix digital photographers.

Coolpix S4 Features:

• 6-megapixel effective CCD for prints up to 13x19 inches
• Swiveling 10x optical zoom (38-380mm in 35mm equivalent)
• 5-area AF with focus assist lamp and 6cm Macro mode
• Large 2.5-inch TFT color monitor
• Program AE and 16 pre-programmed Scene modes
• Face Priority AF for perfect portrait shots
• Single, Continuous, Multi-Shot 16 and Time-lapse shooting modes
• QuickTime movies with audio, up to 640x480 @ 15fps with vibration reduction - length limited only by available memory
• Built-in flash with auto, fill, slow sync, and red-eye reduction
• Nikon's exclusive D-Lighting and In-Camera Red-Eye Fix technology
• TTL Auto White Balance, 5 presets and custom set
• Adjustable color modes and saturation
• Graphical User Interface, icon-based or text menus
• Built-in Help guide displays explanation of menu items
• Exif 2.2 and PictBridge compatible
• SD memory card slot and 13.5MB internal memory
• Plug-n-Play USB connectivity
• PictBridge direct-print compliant
• One-Touch upload for easy image transfers
• Powered by two AA type batteries, long life up to 290 images

The Coolpix S4 includes PictureProject a complete image editing and processing package for Windows XP, 2000, Me or 98SE, Macintosh Mac OS X 10.1.5 or later, two AA Alkaline batteries, hand strap, lens cap, AV cable, and USB cable. The S4 is available now with an MSRP of US$399.95.

Coolpix S4 Specifications