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Nikon Coolpix SQ Review

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Nikon Coolpix SQ


First Look Posted 2/23/2003
Full review posted 7/29/2003


Click to take a QuickTime VR tour of the Nikon Coolpix SQ
Click on the Coolpix SQ to take a QuickTime VR tour


The Coolpix SQ is Nikon's newest compact, lightweight digital still camera with a high resolution imager and a swiveling Nikkor 3x zoom lens. It features an entirely new body design, unlike anything ever seen before in the Coolpix family. The Coolpix SQ is truly "pocket size" and highly durable thanks to an all-metal body. It's an easy-to-use mid- range model with superior image quality that will satisfy the needs of beginners to advanced amateurs.

Superb optical performance is achieved by the 3x optical Zoom-Nikkor lens with a focal range equivalent to 37-111mm in 35mm format. A highly accurate 5-point auto focus system keeps your subject in sharp focus from as close as 1.6 inches to infinity. To insure accurate focusing in all light conditions the SQ is the first Coolpix camera to be equipped with a focus assist illuminator. Following in the tradition of the Coolpix 9xx series and the Coolpix 4500, the Coolpix SQ's lens swivels 120° forward and can be turned 90° backwards for self-portraits.

The Coolpix SQ's 3.1-megapixel imager provides ultrahigh definition and, combined with Nikon's advanced image processing technology, ensure images of remarkable color, contrast and clarity. Shooting is simplified by the general-use AUTO mode and supplemented by 15 different Scene modes that allow you to capture great pictures in a variety of common situations. The Manual mode can be used when you want more control of the photographic process. You can also record up to 40 seconds of 320 x 240 motion video with sound. Up to 15-second voice notes can also be added to still images.


Coolpix SQ Features at a Glance:

  • 3.1-megapixel effective CCD for images up to 2016x1512 pixels
  • Swiveling Nikkor 3x optical zoom (37-111mm in 35mm equivalent)
  • 5-point auto focus with focus assist illuminator
  • Macro focus with full AF from 1.6 inches to infinity
  • 1.5-inch TFT color monitor, transreflective with 117,600 pixels
  • Program AE and 15 Scene modes (Portrait, Landscape, Sports, Sunset and more)
  • Records 320x240 motion video with sound for up to 40 seconds
  • Single, Continuous and 16-Shot Multi shooting modes
  • Automatic shutter speeds from 1/2000 sec. to 2 sec's
  • Built-in flash with auto, fill, and red-eye reduction
  • 1,005-segment Matrix, Center-weight and Spot exposure metering
  • TTL Auto White Balance, 5 presets and custom set
  • Exif 2.2 and Epson PRINT Image Matching compatible
  • CompactFlash Type I card slot, 16MB card included
  • Plug-n-Play USB 1.1 connectivity, mass storage compliant
  • One-Touch upload for easy image transfers
  • Lithium ion rechargeable EN-EL2 battery pack
  • COOL-STATION dock for image transfer and battery charging


Nikon Coolpix SQ

The Coolpix SQ is the first Nikon to come packaged with its own docking cradle. The COOL-STATION charges the EN-EL2 battery pack whenever the camera is placed on the cradle. It can even charge an EN-EL2 battery outside of the camera in a special slot located on the side. It also features a One-Touch button that easily transfers your still images and movie clips to your PC via the USB port.

The Coolpix SQ includes NikonView 6, a complete image editing and processing package, EN-EL2 rechargeable lithium ion battery pack, COOL-STATION docking/charging cradle, lens cap, hand strap, Audio-Video cable, 16MB CF card, USB cable and User manuals.


Nikon Coolpix SQ
Best Product Design in Europe 2003-2004




Physical Views

Nikon Coolpix SQ

Nikon Coolpix SQ

Nikon Coolpix SQ

Nikon Coolpix SQ Nikon Coolpix SQ

Nikon Coolpix SQ

Nikon Coolpix SQ



Nikon Coolpix SQ

The Coolpix SQ compared to a standard CD disc.


Nikon Coolpix SQ

The 3-Megapixel Sony DSC-P72 and the Coolpix SQ





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Coolpix SQ Specifications

CCD 1/2.7-in. high-density CCD
3.1 million effective pixels
Image sizes 2,016 x 1,512
1,600 x 1,200
1,024 x 768
640 x 480
Lens 3x Zoom-Nikkor; f = 5.6-16.8mm (equivalent to 37-111mm) F2.8-5.6 with macro; all glass, Nikon Super Integrated Coating (SIC) applied; glass-molded aspherical lens elements included
Digital Zoom 4x stepless digital zoom
Autofocus Contrast AF; Multi Area (Auto: 5 points, Manual: 9 point) Autofocus, AF Lock, AF assisting light with green LED (working range is 1 - 7.2 ft [W], 1 - 4.3 ft [T] and does not fire in Landscape, Dusk/Dawn, Night Landscape or Fireworks scene modes)
Focus Modes Continuous AF, Single Mode AF
Focus range 12 in. to infinity in normal,
1.6 in. to infinity in Macro mode (wide angle)
Optical viewfinder none
LCD monitor 1.5-in., 117,600-dot, low-temp. polysilicon TFT Transreflective LCD
brightness (5 levels) adjustment
frame coverage: approx. 97% (record and playback)
Auto OFF mode 30 sec.; can be set manually (1/5/30 min.)
Image Storage EXIF 2.2 compressed JPEG compliant with design rule for camera file system (DFC)
QuickTime Motion JPEG (Movie, no audio)
Media CompactFlash (CF) Card Type I
16MB card included
Shooting modes AUTO
Scene 15 modes (Portrait, Party/Indoor, Night Portrait, Beach/Snow, Landscape, Sunset, Night Landscape, Museum, Fireworks Show, Close Up, Copy, Back Light, Panorama Assist, Sport, Dawn/Dusk)
Manual
Movie
Exposure metering 1,005-segment Matrix linked to AF area, center-weighted and spot options
Shutter Mechanical and charge-coupled electronic shutter
2 sec. to 1/2000 sec.
Aperture Electronically controlled preset aperture
Exposure control Programmed auto Exposure Compensation -2 ~ +2EV, in 1/3EV Steps
Exposure range EV-2~+16 ft. (Wide), EV3.8~+17.8 ft.(Tele) *measured at ISO100 equivalent
Shooting Modes Fully automatic mode (main settings controlled by camera)Shutter control: Single, Continuous (2frames/sec) Movie Mode: Normal, QVGA, 40 sec, 15fps, with audioVoice memo, Multi-shot 16, BSS.Digital Zoom: Variable, Max 4X.Self Timer-3s, 10s
ISO Sensitivity 80 equivalent, Auto gain-up function (max 200)
White balance 1) Matrix Auto White Balance with TTL control
2) Manual or preset for Daylight/Incandescent/Fluorescent/ Cloudy/Speedlight)
Self-timer 10 sec. duration
Built-in Speedlight Shooting range approx 0.5 - 16.4 ft. (W)
0.5 - 12.1 ft. (T)
Flash control Flash modes:
Auto, Flash Cancel (off), Red-Eye Reduction, Anytime Flash
Playback menu Single frame, Thumbnail (4, 9 segments), Slide Show, Shooting information display, Quick Review, Movie(with Sound), Zoom playback (Up to 4x, Position can be set), Voice Memo
Delete function Deletes all frames or selected frames
Interface USB 1.1 interface, mass storage or PTP
Video output NTSC or PAL (selectable)
I/O terminal DC input, Audio/Video (A/V) output, digital output on COOL-STATION cradle
COOL-STATION MV-10 Compatible Camera; Coolpix SQ, Charging time; approx 2 hours, Compatible battery; EN-EL2 lithium-ion rechargeable battery, I/O Terminals; DC input, Data output (USB), interface camera connector, rechargeable Nikon EN-EL2 lithium-ion battery charging terminal, Dimensions; 3.5 x 2.0 x 3.0 in. or 89 x 51 x 75mm, Weight; 3.3 oz or 93 grams.
Power requirements Li-ion rechargeable battery (EN-EL2)
Battery life Approx. 65 minutes
Dimensions
(W x H x D)		 Approx. 3.2 x 3.2 x 1.0 in.
Weight Approx 6.3 oz or 180g. (without Battery, CF card)
Nikon View 6 PC System Requirements OS: Windows®98SE (pre-installed model), Windows®Me, (pre-installed model), Windows®2000 (pre-installed model), Windows®XP (Home & Professional), Models: Only models with built-in USB ports supported, CPU: 300MMX®Pentium® or later, RAM: 64MB (128MB or more recommended), Hard Disk: 25MB required for installation, with additional free disk space of 10MB plus double the capacity of camera memory card available on start-up disk when NikonView is running, Display: 800x600 or better with High Color (True Color recommended), Others: CD-ROM drive required for installation
Nikon View 6 Macintosh System Requirements OS: Mac® OS 9.0-9.2 (only built-in USB ports supported), Mac®OS X (10.1.2 or later), Models: iMac(TM), Power Macintosh®G3 (Blue and White), Power Mac®G4 or later, iBook(TM), PowerBook®G3 or later (only built-in USB ports supported), RAM: 32MB (64MB or more recommended), Hard Disk: 25MB required for installation, with additional free disk space of 10MB plus double the capacity of camera memory card available on start-up disk when NikonView is running, Display: 800x600 or better with thousands of colors (millions of colors recommended), Others: CD-ROM drive required for installation
Specifications are as represented by the manufacturer


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High Capacity Battery For NIKON Coolpix SQ Li-ion 1050Mah
Description Replace your original battery or keep an extra battery on hand as a backup for your NIKON Coolpix SQ device.
$12
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