Nikon Coolpix S710: Review

Posted to Digital Cameras 2009-08-17

Nikon Coolpix S710 Review:

If you are looking for an easy to use, go anywhere point-and-shoot camera, then you may want to check out the Nikon Coolpix S710. With a small footprint and a high resolution that can rival the ones that can be found on its much larger DSLR competitors, the Coolpix S710 may be considered anything but just another point-and-shoot. With a budget friendly price and options galore, the Coolpix S710 may just be the perfect camera for aspiring photographers of any skill level.

Weighing only 5.5 ounces, and measuring only 2.3 in x 3.6 in x 1 in, the Coolpix S710 is small and light enough to fit in a pocket or purse making it literally one of the few go anywhere cameras. Unlike most digital point-and-shoot cameras on the market today, the Coolpix S710 offers users a 14.5 Megapixel resolution, which is almost unheard of on the high end professional DSLR's and is a rare find on a budget friendly point-and-shoot. The Coolpix S710 also offers users a 3.6x wide angle optical zoom that utilizes premium Nikkor glass which could once only be found in Nikon's SLR lenses. This lens can handle anywhere from a 28mm to a 101mm shot, which provides users of all skill levels with the ability to capture those close-ups while still being able to capture those landscape shot, all without ever having to change a lens or utilize a different camera. Combine this with a bright, high resolution 3.0 inch LCD screen complete with anti-reflection coating and you have the ability to review all your images, even in direct sunlight.

Rating:

4.2 out of 5

Features

If you are all thumbs when it comes to choosing the right scene mode for the given memory capturing situation, Nikon's Scene Auto Selector may just be the answer to your photo taking prayers. With this feature the Coolpix S710 will analyze the scene and choose the best option from 16 pre-programmed scene modes. It will choose from Food, Portrait, Landscape, Sports, Night Portrait, Party/Indoor, Beach/Snow, Sunset, Dusk/Dawn, Night Landscape, Close-up, Panorama Assist, Museum, Fireworks Show, Copy, or Back light so as to optimize the camera settings to provide you with the best image possible. If, on the other hand, you feel you are more photo savvy, you also have the option to choose the scene mode instead of making the camera do the work for you. The Coolpix S710 also offers the shaky handed photographer a solution to blurry pictures. No matter how hard you try, there can be times when you just can't prevent your hand from moving, even the slightest bit, when taking a photo. Nikon's solution to this problem is their VR Image Stabilization which can most commonly be found in some of their high end SLR lenses. This feature works by compensating for the effects of camera shake by moving the cameras image sensor which results in a clearer, sharper image. In addition to the image stabilization, the Coolpix S710 also offers a high ISO that can manually be adjusted up to 6400 or even 12800 if truly required. Another unique feature to the Coolpix S710 is its Expeed image processing. This feature ensures high-quality photos with sharpness and stunning color. This processor is custom-tuned for the Coolpix camera, allowing it to utilize optimized technologies that render natural looking pictures so you will never miss another special moment. This camera also offers users the ability to take the best possible picture with the assistance of a variety of Nikon Image Innovations. It combines in-camera Red Eye fix, Face priority AF, Smile Mode, and d-lighting. The in camera red eye fix will automatically look for and fix red eye whenever it detects it, nearly eliminating the need for the user to manually fix red eye in photos. Face priority AF allows the camera to focus on up to 12 faces at any given time making it perfect for capturing those group photos. Smile mode will automatically trigger the shutter when your subjects smile and the D-light option will improve the quality of dark or backlit images by improving brightness in underexposed areas while not touching the properly exposed areas, delivering the best possible photo no matter what the lighting situation. The best feature of the Coolpix S710 is its ability to offer users digital SLR functions in a point-and-shoot camera. This camera offers program, shutter, aperture, and manual exposure modes which allow the user to make adjustments to any of these settings. This makes it particularly handy for the advanced user who usually dislikes the average point-and-shoot due to its auto only functionality.

Performance

The Coolpix S710 performs quite well for a point-and-shoot camera. Photos come out sharp, but photos taken with such a high resolution may fall victim to some form of image noise, no matter how little. The Coolpix S710 also takes somewhat longer to boot up than other cameras in its price range. While a boot time of a few seconds may not seem like much, this functionality can hinder you greatly in capturing once in a lifetime shots.

Summary

In conclusion, the Coolpix S710 may just be the perfect go anywhere point-and-shoot camera that both the amateur and advanced photographer will enjoy. Being simple enough for the novice user while offering advanced users the ability to tweak their photo settings, this camera truly provides a wealth of handy features in a small package. If you are looking for the portability of a feature packed point-and-shoot, then the Nikon Coolpix S710 may be the way to go.

Pros

14.5 Megapixel resolution
3.6x wide angle optical zoom
VR Image Stabilization
Manual setting functionality

Cons

takes somewhat longer to boot up than other cameras in its price range