Nikon Coolpix S600: Review

Posted to Digital Cameras 2008-12-08

Nikon Coolpix S600 Review:

The hip Nikon Coolpix S600 is great in style and might earn you some 'oohs!' and 'aahs!' from friends, but it leaves a little to be desired when it comes to the guts of the camera. The 10 megapixel sensor is nice but unfortunately there is not a lot of options to help you utilize it leaving pictures simply looking okay.

On a positive note, its small size makes it extremely portable, there is a large 2.7 inch LCD screen with decent viewfinder accuracy and vibration reduction to help with blurriness caused by motion. Still there is more to consider before making your purchase, so read on.

Rating:

3.6 out of 5

Features

If you look at some websites, the headlines for the S600 say it is "The fastest starting camera of its kind. Well, it is no lie that it does start up quickly. Unfortunately, while it has some cool features like the quick start and a plethora of preset Scene modes, others like the face-priority auto focus and the annoying menu functions leave a lot to desire. For instance, on the menu, every command requires confirmation, slowing down menu navigation which of course slows picture taking. There is also no quick exit out of the menu without you guessed it, a confirmation. Ironically, the S600 has a scroll wheel that functions really well with the menu, allowing quick navigation, but the confirmation hampers that quick navigation and over time becomes a nuisance.

Performance

The large 2.7 inch LCD screen is viewable outside but the shiny surface can cause some difficulty viewing it. Shot to shot performance is lackluster at 2.1 seconds, movie mode is available, but you cannot zoom during filming and the exposure can fluctuate at times. There is no quick way to switch ISO modes due to the confirmation process in the menus, though with this camera, you really don't want to go above ISO400 anyways due to blurring and noise. The battery life is also shorter than most in this category. The pictures generally come out decent though with average color saturation and hue accuracy but the laundry list of cons makes it hard to give the S600 a higher score.

Ergonomics

This is one category the S600 excels in; it is sleek and definitely portable. It can easily slip into your pocket as when powered down there is really no protruding objects to catch on. The button layout is configured nicely and the large LCD screen is nice. Again, the dial on the back functions well with the menu as a turn dial or you can press the top, left, right and bottom of the dial as for arrows. The 'ok' button in the center can also easily be selected without accidentally scrolling back up or down.

Summary

I have to say that for the price, this camera is simply outclassed by the competition. This review would have been immensely different if it weren't for the price point. It's like trying to review a DVD at a Blue-Ray price, it could be a good review if it were compared to another DVD but if it's in the Blue-Ray's price bracket, it better be able to compete picture-wise, and the Nikon Coolpix S600 doesn't. If I were you, for the money, I'd look around; after all, looks really aren't everything and if they are, there are some cool looking cameras out there that can do more for the money.

Pros

10 mega pixel CCD
Ergonomics shine
2.7 inch LCD screen

Cons

too many steps for menu commands