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Reviews: Point-and-shoot Cameras
Nikon Coolpix S51
Max. Megapixels: 8.1 • Optical Zoom: 3X • Zoom Range Min. (mm): 38 • Zoom Range Max. (mm): 114 • Weight (ounces): 5 • Media Slots: SD Card • Price When Reviewed: $280
Nikon S51 (Front)
Nikon S51 (Front)
Nikon S51
Nikon S51
Nikon S51
73.6 Good
Last updated
April 11, 2008
Test Center Reviewed by
Tracey Capen
Pros
  • Very thin
  • Large LCD
Cons
  • Tiny buttons for zoom and other controls
  • Slow to lock focus in low light
Pricing: Average: $280 (10/19/2007)
Performance: Good: 72
Features: Good: 73
Design: Good: 78
Pricing
Average: $280  
Performance
Good: 72  
Battery
Battery Life Score Fair 
Number of Batteries
Number of Shots 190 
Battery Life 103 
Image Quality Tests (Max. points = 100)
Image Quality Score Good 
Image Quality, Color 48.3 
Image Quality, Exposure 54.3 
Image Quality, Exposure--Flash 57.9 
Image Quality, Exposure--Normal 52.7 
Image Quality, Sharpness 44.9 
Image Quality, Distortion 63.1 
Image Quality, Overall 48.7 
Features
Good: 73  
Imaging
Max. Megapixels 8.1 
Maximum Resolution 3264 by 2448 
Optical Zoom 3X 
Zoom Range Min. (mm) 38 
Zoom Range Max. (mm) 114 
Highest Shutter Speed 2000 
Lowest Shutter Speed
Wide-Angle Aperture Maximum 3.3 
Telephoto Aperture Maximum 4.2 
Manual Focus No 
Interchangeable Lens No 
Lens Model 3x Zoom Nikkor 
Accessory Lens No 
Hardware
LCD Screen Size (inches)
Dimensions 3.6 by 2.3 by 0.8 
Weight (ounces)
Viewfinder None 
Image Stabilization Hardware 
Media Slots SD Card 
Starter Media or Internal RAM Yes 
Battery Type Rechargeable lithium ion 
Charging Dock No 
Remote Control No 
Flash Shoe No 
Controls
Scene Modes 10 
Aperture Priority No 
Shutter Priority No 
Full Manual Exposure Control No 
White-Balance Calibration No 
White-Balance Bracketing No 
Exposure Bracketing No 
ISO Range ISO 100 to ISO 1600 
Flash Slow Sync Yes 
File & Printing Formats
Digital Print Order Format (DPOF) Yes 
PictBridge Yes 
File Formats JPEG 
Warranty & Support
Labor Warranty (years) One 
Parts Warranty (years) One 
Weekday Support Hours 24 
Saturday Support Hours 24 
Sunday Support Hours 24 
Toll-Free Support Yes 
Reliability & Service
Summary of results for all of brand's products in this category A roller-coaster ride for this camera maker: Top-notch support, readers say, and above-average overall reliability coexist with subpar grades for severe problems and ease of use. 
Reliability of brand's products in this category
Reports of product arriving with problems Average 
Reports of products with any significant problems Average 
Reports of problems that render a product unusable Worse than Average 
Buyers' rating of product's Worse than Average 
Overall satisfaction with reliability of brand's products in category Better than Average 
Service & Support Quality
Time spent holding for phone support Average 
Overall quality of vendor's phone support Better than Average 
Reports of problems unresolved after contacting service Better than Average 
Overall quality of service Better than Average 
Design
Good: 78  

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