I purchased this camera as an all-around point-and-shoot for my family’s use, and plan to return it and pick another – probably a Canon SD850 or similar.
First, the good.Photos are very good overall, with the exceptions noted below, and much better than my previous camera, a Nikon 4300.The camera is small, nice looking, and has a huge LCD.I also appreciated the integrated (and internal) lens cover and non-protruding optical zoom.The image stabilization was another selling point for me.
Then I got the camera home…The slick look is slick (as in slippery) to hold, too.The tiny buttons are not well differentiated, and like other reviewers I found myself accidentally hitting the power switch frequently.The big LCD always looks grainy, making me think my photos weren’t very good until I viewed them on my PC monitor.I also found the interface confusing (and I’m no electronics newbie).
But the real killer is the camera’s speed.Although it snaps open and lights up extremely quickly, it refuses to take a photo for about two seconds.Press the shutter button again, and you’re waiting 1 or 2 more seconds while it focuses and processes – by then the kids have turned away and are on to something else.In short, it’s just unbearably slow in everyday use.
Back in the box, then.
UPDATE: I returned this camera and purchased a Canon SD850 IS as a replacement.I am much happier – the Canon is SUPER quick so I no longer get photos of the backs of the kids heads, their ears and hair, or the background when I was setting up the shot…Other quirks with the Nikon that I noticed in a week of use: The battery/card door is VERY hard to open and feels flimsy; the charger requires a big bulky power cord; the slim design fit very nicely in a pocket.
Product Description
Seize the day, moment by photogenic moment, with the Nikon Coolpix S51. With the 3x zoom NIKKOR lens, you’ve got the quality optics to capture a great image, while the 8.1 megapixels ensure a fine high resolution for large prints and images. This model also has VR Optical Image Stabilization built in, eliminating motion blur from even the shakiest photographer’s work. You can use the One Touch Portrait Button to focus on faces and instantly fix red-eye, and the Auto adjusts up to ISO 1600, so you can even shoot in low light. When you’re done, you can review and show off your pictures on the 3.0 inch high definition LCD monitor. Finally, itsslim, compact design lets it find a home in any pocket or bag until the next memorable moment comes along. 3.0-inch high-level contrast LCD monitor with anti-reflection coatingHigh sensitivity of up to ISO1600, High-Sensitivity modeThree Unique Nikon Image Innovations for high performance – Face-priority AF, In-Camera Red-Eye Fix and D-LightingFace-priority AF can be selected outside of Scene ModesSophisticated wave-surface design characteristic of COOLPIX S seriesStores images on SD and SDHC memory cards (13MB memory built-in, additional 1GB memory card or higher recommended) Slim and compact, stylish black exterior Aluminum front panel exuding a sense of high quality, metal-plated side panel AV out for viewing images on TV screenUSB for data transfer to Windows PC or Macintosh computer Unit Dimensions (W x H x D) -Approx. 3.6 x 2.3 x 0.8 in. (92.5 x 59 x 21 mm) excluding projections; Weight -Approx. 4.4 oz.(125 g) without battery and SD memory card
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