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Photograph: Rick Rizner
Nikon CoolPix S1 Digital Camera (5.1MP, 2592x1944, 3x Opt, 12MB Internal Memory)
- Spec Navigator
- Digital Format
- Display
- Exposure
- Image Processor
- Included Software
- Lens
- Shutter
- Storage
- LCD Screen
- Exposure Controls
- Dimensions
- Power
- Flash
- Lens Features
- Connectivity
- Other Features
Image Processor
| Number of image sensor pixels | 5.1 megapixels |
| Image sensor | CCD |
| Maximum horizontal image resolution | 2592 |
| Maximum vertical image resolution | 1944 |
| Image sensor quantity | 1 |
| Image format | JPEG |
| White balance | 0 |
Exposure Controls
| Maximum shutter speed | 350 |
| Minimum shutter speed | 2 |
| Bulb setting | 0 |
| ISO equivalencies |
|
| Exposure settings | 0 |
| Exposure compensation range | 0 |
| Number of scene modes | 17 |
2
5 User Reviews Add your own »
$198.00 - $255.54
From 2 Vendors
Buy at Dell.com »
- Lab Tested
- How We Test Cameras »
Pros
Simple to use
Fits easily in shirt or pants pocket
Cons
Battery life is very short
Bottom Line
Nikon's Coolpix S1 is a neat and simple snapshot camera that slides easily into a shirt or pants pocket.
Nikon Coolpix S1
CoolPix S1 Digital Camera (5.1MP, 2592x1944, 3x Opt, 12MB Internal Memory) Review, by Paul Jasper August 29, 2005
Nikon's $380, 5.1-megapixel Coolpix S1 is no bigger than a deck of cards, even when you're snapping shots. At all times, the 3X optical zoom lens remains entirely within the S1's stylish, brushed aluminum case, so you can put the S1 away without ever having to wait for the lens to retract. This arrangement also enables the S1 to start up very fast. Dominating the back of this ultrathin camera is a 2.5-inch LCD; there's no room for an optical viewfinder. If you're a sometime-photographer, the S1's 15 scene modes will help you get the most from your shots. Several modes can also display guide lines on the screen, permitting better compositions.
Like most cameras of this size, the S1 is somewhat difficult to use one-handed. Your thumb ends up either on the LCD or atop one or more of the controls, which are densely packed to the right of the LCD. Tight as that space is, the control buttons and four-way cursor control are sensibly arranged and easy to operate, even by someone with large digits. The only exception: The small, recessed On/Off button on the model I tested responded only to a hard press of my finger. Several buttons have multiple functions, but you'll soon learn their use in each mode. The telephoto side of the zoom control, for example, doubles as a help button when you're navigating the straightforward on-screen menus. Even setting and releasing the exposure value (EV) control means going into the menus, however. This is not the camera for you if you like advanced settings such as white-balance calibration or exposure bracketing, which are now common on point-and-shoots.
The S1 comes with 12MB of internal memory--good for about five shots at the camera's highest-resolution setting--and a slot for an SD Card (you have to purchase the card separately). You also get a docking cradle, which the S1 uses for recharging its lithium-ion battery, uploading images to your PC, and displaying your photos on a TV via the included AV cable. You don't need to take the cradle with you when traveling, though, because the power adapter cable also plugs directly into the camera's single connector. In our battery life tests, we took 205 shots from a single charge--below the average number for point-and-shoot cameras we review.
Our tests photos had good image quality with accurate exposure in most lighting conditions. The exception was an underexposed flash portrait of Gloria, our mannequin model. We saw low levels of distortion in our resolution test, and shots reproduced colors faithfully. Image sharpness was about average for a 5.1-megapixel camera. Though I was generally pleased with the results of my informal testing, the shutter speed maxes out at only 1/350 second, making it hard to get sharp shots of active subjects such as pets and small children.
Upshot: Nikon's Coolpix S1 is a neat and simple snapshot camera that slides easily in a shirt or pants pocket.
Nikon Coolpix S1
5.1 megapixels, 2592 by 1944 maximum resolution, 35mm to 105mm focal range (35mm equivalent), f3.0 to f5.4 aperture range, shutter speeds from 2 seconds to 1/350 second, LCD viewfinder, docking cradle with USB and video connections, 12MB internal memory and SD Card slot, rechargeable lithium ion battery, 4.2 ounces with battery; Picture Project software. One-year parts and labor warranty; 24-hour daily toll-free support.
$380
800/645-6689
www.nikonusa.com
Paul Jasper
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PCWorld Lab Results
- Rating Breakdown
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73
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60
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60
- See Complete Lab Results »
Performance Comparison with Similar Cameras
73
80
75
78
Performance
| Battery Life (minutes) | 111.75 |
| Battery Life Score | Fair |
| Image Quality Score | Good |
| Image Quality, Color | 58.5 |
| Image Quality, Distortion | 54 |
| Image Quality, Exposure | 60.6 |
| Image Quality, Exposure--Flash | 48 |
| Image Quality, Exposure--Normal | 66 |
| Image Quality, Overall | 53 |
| Image Quality, Sharpness | 29.9 |
| Number of Batteries | 1 |
| Number of Shots | 205 |
User Reviews
Review Now! Already own it? Tell us What You Think
User Reviews From Around the Web
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Reviewed by: QuangVo
Strengths: - Clear and Good Pictures- Beautiful Model
Weaknesses: - No known weaknesses
Overall: This Nikon Coolpix S1 Digital Camera works very nicely for me. I like it's model because it can fit nicely into my pocket and I can pull it out anytime to take clear and nice pictures. I highly recommend this camera for almost everyone.
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Reviewed by: lasleek
Strengths: Image Quality, Image Compression, Menu Design, Camear
Weaknesses: Battery indicator should be improved more, button and lens layout
Overall: Camera ProsImage Quality: Very good (Even better than DSC T1)Image Compression: Very good (Even better than DSC T1)Camera Price: GoodMenu Design: GoodBattery life: GoodShutter lag: GoodCamera ConsMovie mode: The quality should be improved and should be recorded at 640x4800(30fps) w/mpeg4 .avi formatConnection Interface: The camera should has a builtin mini-USB interface to connect directly to the PC.Battery: The camera should should take either AA x 2 or CRV3/RCRV3 battery and more details on the battery indicator status.Flash: The range of the flash should be increased.Lens position: could be better if positioned on the middle of the camera and has a viewfinder as well.Button layout: Could have been become more organized.
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Reviewed by: Trottsie
Strengths: Small size, great design.
Weaknesses: Very poor photo quality without a flash.
Overall: While photo quality in strong light is good, I am very disappointed in low light photography without a flash. The camera has a "blur warning" which you have to turn off since basically anytime you take a picture without the flash it says "Photo is blurred, discard?". And indeed, the photos you take will be blurred. Also the flash is quite weak and is good only for close-up pictures.
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Reviewed by: hsiuwen
Strengths: It is small and esay to use.
Weaknesses: None
Overall: I think that it has great design with large LCD. Actually, it is very suitable for lady, and can operate very quickly and easily. I am very satisfied with it.
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Reviewed by: Gene_in_Alabama
Strengths: Small size, smooth contours, large LCD
Weaknesses: LCD not great in bright light, especially since there is no optical viewfinder
Overall: A pocket camera is not a pocket camera when it will not tolerate the pocket environment. In four months, my Coolpix S1 has twice suffered the disabling "Lens Cover Error", the first time after only one month of use. The diagnosis from Nikon's warranty repair service was sand and corrosion in the mechanism. My last pocket camera never failed during four years of continuous pocket carriage, and it is in backup use again. I am in the market now for a new pocket camera.
Shop for the Nikon CoolPix S1 Digital Camera (5.1MP, 2592x1944, 3x Opt, 12MB Internal Memory)
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