Nikon Coolpix S10 Concise Review

February 2007 | Simon Joinson

Review based on a production Coolpix S10. Firmware Version 1.0

Announced in August, the Coolpix S10 is the latest incarnation of Nikon's 'twisting body' camera design that can be traced all the way back to the original Coolpix 900 in 1998, though - like the S4 before it - this one manages to squeeze in a big 10x optical zoom. Design tweaks aside, the S10's biggest enhancement over its predecessor is the inclusion of CCD-shift image stabilization (or Vibration Reduction, 'VR' as Nikon calls it), pretty much an essential for a camera with a zoom this big. The maximum ISO has also been boosted to 800 and there are a couple of interesting new features. The big zoom market is a crowded one, and truly compact models such as this have rarely impressed when compared to their bulkier 'SLR-like' cousins. Let's find out if the Coolpix S10 has what it takes to offer the ultimate 'pocket' super zoom, starting as ever with the headline features:

Headline features

6.0million effective pixels
10x optical zoom (38-380mm equiv.)
Swivel lens design
Image-sensor shift VR
Wide viewing angle 2.5" TFT screen
Two-mode VR (Vibration Reduction) system (lens-shift)
BSS (Best Shot Selector) identifies and saves the sharpest image automatically from up to ten sequential shots
Exposure BSS mode
4cm macro
Face-priority AF
In-camera red-eye removal & 'D-Lighting'
15 Scene modes
Pictmotion function
16MB internal memory + SD card storage

Key specifications

Street Price	• US: $350 • UK: £240
Body Material	Metal
Sensor	• 1/2.5 " Type CCD • 6.18 million pixels total • 6.0 million effective pixels
Image sizes	• 2816 x 2112 • 2048 x 1536 • 1024 x 768 • 640 x 480
Movie clips	• 640 x 480@ 30fps • 320 x 240 @ 15/30fps • 160 x 120 @ 15fps • 320 x 240 @ 30fps (PictMotion) • with sound
Lens	• 38-380mm (35mm equiv) • F3.5 • 10x zoom
Image stabilization	Image-sensor shift VR (Electronic VR when shooting movie)
Conversion lenses	No
Digital zoom	up to 4x
Focus	Auto
AF assist lamp	Yes
Focus distance	• 30cm-infinity • Macro: 4cm-infinity
Metering	n/a
ISO sensitivity	up to ISO 800
Exposure compensation	n/a
Shutter speed	n/a
Aperture	F3.5
Modes	• Auto • 4 modes with Scene Assist • 11 Scene modes • BSS (Best Shot Selector) • Exposure BSS • Single • Continuous • Multi-shot 16 (approx 1.9fps)
Scene modes	• Portrait • Landscape • Sports • Night Portrait • Party/indoor • Beach/snow • Sunset • Dusk/dawn • Night landscape • Close up • Museum • Fireworks show • Copy • Panorama assist
White balance	• Auto with TTL control • 7-mode manual (Direct sunlight, Incandescent, Fluorescent, Cloudy, Shade, Flash and White bal. preset)
Self timer	3 or 10 sec
Continuous shooting	approx 1.6fps
Image parameters	Color options
Flash	• Auto • Auto with red-eye reduction • Flash cancel • Anytime flash • Slow sync • Range: 0.3-5.4m (wide) / 1.0- 5.4m (tele)
Viewfinder	No
LCD monitor	• 2.5-inch TFT • 230,000 pixels
Connectivity	• USB • AV out
Print compliance	PictBridge
Storage	• 16MB internal memory • SD card compatible
Power	• Rechargeable Li-ion battery EN-EL5 • AC adapter EH-62A
Other features	• Best Shot Selector • BSS AE • Interval timer • In-camera red-eye removal (automatic) • Face detection AF • D-Lighting (shadow lightening)
Weight (no batt)	220 g (7.8 oz)
Dimensions	112.5 x 74.5 x 40.5 mm (4.4 x 2.9 x 1.6 in)

* Supplied accessories may differ in each country or area

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