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Average rating:
3.27
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Compact, stylish Coolpix with a big 7x optical zoom (though the 37-260mm range is a bit lacking in real wide angle for our liking) and CCD shift image stabilization. Big selling point is, apparently, the 'Sure Grip' (a larger than normal indentation for your thumb) - it might not be deserving of its own brand name but it should help keep the small body a little steadier at longer zoom settings.
| Quick links: | Announcement | Forum |
| Announced: | Feb 3, 2009 |
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Average rating:
3.27
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Opinion: I first tested my new Coolpix S630 indoors. The results were impressive.
Today I took the Coolpix S630 to Jones Beach to continue testing. I am no longer favorably impressed.
Problems: After about 10 minutes I put the S630 back in my pocket and gave up trying to compose photographs on the monitor screen. I swore never to part with my six year old Canon S400.
The monitor screen is close to 100% invisible in bright daylight. If you wear sunglasses, the monitor screen IS 100% invisible.
I am curious to know why optical viewfinders are eliminated today in most digital cameras? The Coolpix S630 is an excellent camera, but you cannot use it in bright daylight. What's the point of that?
Does the monitor screen have to take up most of the space on the back of the camera? Is it worth the extra profit margin to eliminate the optical viewfinder, thereby rendering the camera practically useless in bright daylight?
I am thinking about taking advantage of the 90 day return policy offered by Costco on digital cameras.
Postscript: I returned the Coolpix S360 to Costco.
Opinion: small & black, sleek & stylish, lovely curves, easy to use... very sexy camera baby, yeah!
HOWEVER, it shoots rather mediocre pictures. my webcam has taken better shots than this S630. i was quite let down actually, especially considering it's a Nikon.
btw, all pics were taken on a bright sunny day, but they still look like crap.
Problems: a significant number of shots are out-of-focus, even though the AF-assist locked-on to the subject, and despite the fact that vibration reduction and motion detection are both enabled.
also, what you SEE is NOT always what you GET. that is, frame composition does not match-up precisely with what is shown on the LCD preview screen; the resultant image (file) is often askew - from what was originally displayed on the preview screen. so framing a 'perfect' shot is hit'n miss with this camera. more like, point 'n shoot... and hope for the best, i guess.
white balance is not always correct, especially when the flash is activated; there is often a slight greenish hue to flash pictures, looks kinda like the shot was taken under fluorescent lighting, without WB correction.
image quality (resolution) of the LCD preview screen is nothing to rave about either... but hey, i'm picky about those kinda things. since there's no viewfinder, a hi-res screen becomes important. besides, a nice looking camera like this deserves a much higher quality lcd panel/preview screen.
BUT most important though - picture quality is not exactly stunning or anything, definitely doesn't live up to Nikon's otherwise high standard for great looking pics. the S630 is absolutely not what i was expecting from a Nikon camera... this Coolpix S630 is pretty, but its beauty is only skin-deep. i find it hard to believe that it's got all those megapixels and a Nikkor lens... yet, it takes merely 'OK' pictures - they certainly do not look great, i can tell you that... even when the camera is at its best image quality setting.
i give this camera an overall rating of 2, maybe 3... and i'm being generous, really. Nikon shouldn't be putting their name on junk like this. hey, i'm just sayin...
btw, i recently bought this camera from Newegg.ca (not for myself, but as a gift for my mom)... but guess what? i now notice that the S630 has just been 'deactivated' from Newegg's product lineup. oh ghee, i wonder why, hmmm?? probably because the darn thing takes crappy pictures, that's WHY!
OH, and did i mention... i'm disappointed.
Opinion: I have had 6 or 7 Nikon cameras, including my D200. The S630 is without a doubt the worst Nikon I have ever used. The picture quality is terrible for most shots. I took the camera on a trip to New Orleans, shot maybe 250-300 pictures over the week-end, and have probably dumped all but 20-30 pictures. I could go on and on about what I dislike about the S630, but suffice it to say that I returned it as soon as I got home.
Problems: Difficult to use.
Multifunction wheel is too small for my big fingers, and the rotation + directional click often had me picking the wrong option.
Scene settings are basically worthless, and auto results are mediocre at best.
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 | 22.3 megapixels 3.2" screen Full frame sensor |
