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Nikon Coolpix S1 Review
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Review Summary
Reader Score: 5.33 (out of 10)
The 5.1MP Coolpix S1 is one of Nikon's sleekest and sexiest digital cameras. Unfortunately, that great design does not translate into great picture-taking ability.
The camera has a nonprotruding 3x optical zoom that zooms from 5.8 mm to 17.4 mm (a 35-mm equivalent of 35 mm to 105 mm) and a bright 2.5-inch LCD. It comes with 12MB of on-board memory, good for several shots if your SD card is full. Users can access a variety of shooting modes, including Auto, Movie (640 by 480 pixels at 15 frames per second with no zoom capabilities), and 17 scene modes. Face Priority AF, a portrait-focusing feature introduced at this year's PMA, is included and worked reasonably well. (Go to our PMA report to read more about Face Priority AF.) There are four flash modes available, including a slow sync mode that keeps the shutter open after the flash fires. The result is interior shots that don't have overly dark backgrounds. This flash setting worked very well on the S1.
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Other Reviews For This Model
| Review Site |
Review Score |
Date |
Link |
| Imaging-Resource |
8.60 |
06-13-05 |
Read Full Review
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| Slim and light, the Nikon Coolpix S1 ranks among the smallest digital cameras currently on the market. A camera that can nearly be eclipsed by an ordinary credit card, the Nikon S1 is designed to fit nicely into shirt pockets, pants pockets, and small purses, perfect for anyone as a take-everywhere camera. It's so tiny (weighing just 4.9 ounces or 138 grams with the battery and memory card loaded), I'd highly recommend keeping the included wrist strap securely around your wrist when shooting. The automatic lens cover makes it quick on the draw, and eliminates any worry about keeping track of a lens cap. The camera's silver body is smooth, attractive and simple. Built into the Nikon Coolpix S1 is a 3x optical zoom lens with ED glass (which stands for Extra-low Dispersion glass, used in Nikon's finer lens elements to improve optical performance) and a 5.1-megapixel CCD for capturing high quality images, a macro mode capable of focusing as close 1.6 inches, and no fewer than 16 preset shooting modes. Since the camera operates mainly under automatic control, its control layout and menu display are very user friendly. |
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| Review Site |
Review Score |
Date |
Link |
| DCResource |
8.00 |
06-16-05 |
Read Full Review
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| The Coolpix S1 ($379) is Nikon's entry into the ultra-thin camera market. The S1's specs are just like the other cameras in this class: 5 Megapixel CCD, 3X zoom lens, large LCD, and point-and-shoot operation. Nikon has a few interesting features thrown in for good measure, and I'll cover those in the review.
The Coolpix S1 is one of many cameras in this class. How does it compare? Find out now!
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| Review Site |
Review Score |
Date |
Link |
| Megapixel |
8.00 |
07-08-05 |
Read Full Review
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| Very thin, very smooth, and yet equipped with a 3X optical zoom and a 5.1 megapixel image size, the Nikon Coolpix S1 is yet another camera for the market place segment that attaches great value to the portability of their camera.
The body of the Coolpix S1 is entirely metal-clad, its finishing mostly satin with a few bright highlights. The front has the lens, protected by an automatic vertical shutter, the flash and the AF assist lamp, which doubles as a self-timer lamp. |
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| Review Site |
Review Score |
Date |
Link |
| LetsGoDigital |
7.33 |
05-16-05 |
Read Full Review
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| When you see the Nikon Coolpix S1 for the first time, it is inevitable that you will watch the beautiful design in admiration. It's a must to have held the camera in your hands for a while. If you are completely indifferent as far as design is concerned, you might fall for the efficient way of operating the camera and the well-organized menu. I must admit that I am very much impressed by the design, the user friendliness and the ease of use of the Coolpix S1. The stylish design is neatly finished and the material used gives the Nikon Coolpix S1 a solid feeling. The compact size enables carrying the camera with you always and anywhere. The camera hasn't got a handgrip or whatsoever, but still the Nikon S1 lies very comfortable in your hand, or better: within your fingers.
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| Review Site |
Review Score |
Date |
Link |
| Pocket-Lint |
7.03 |
05-09-05 |
Read Full Review
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| With the Coolpix S1, Nikon finally adds the missing link from its compact digital camera range, a truly compact digital camera. Once again Nikon has proved being last to market, can be an advantageous, learning from competitors' expensive mistakes. The slim-line body places the S1 in direct competition with ultra-compact 5 Megapixel modes such as the Canon Ixus i5, the Pentax Optio WP, the Casio ExSlim EX-257 and the Olympus Mju-mini, all of whom boast similar dimension and weights. The S1 has opted for a non-protruding zoom lens like models from Pentax, letting the optics work internally to operate the 3x optical Nikkor ED lens, although an improved feature is the 'flick-over' lens cover that protects the front element when the camera is not in use, a feature the Pentax sadly lacks. |
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| Review Site |
Review Score |
Date |
Link |
| CNET Reviews |
----- |
06-16-05 |
Read Full Review
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| Tiny size, image quality that's acceptable but not outstanding, and a lack of manual controls make the ultracompact Nikon Coolpix S1 a good choice for snapshot photographers who want a good selection of fun features but don't want to make many decisions on their own.
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