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8
stars
Great shots, but missing a key zoom feature
by saketkhanna99
on
October 8, 2005
Pros: Zooms really far, lots of scene modes, comfortable and steady
Cons: Vibration reduction is a must for so much zoom, else pictures lack sharpness
Summary: I was just about to go in for this lovely looking camera, and it had **all** the features I wanted - included great short range shots.
Unfortunately, with so much ...
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Summary: I was just about to go in for this lovely looking camera, and it had **all** the features I wanted - included great short range shots.
Unfortunately, with so much zoom, its not possible to keep your hands steady. You'll need a tripod or a surface on which to keep the camera for the long zoom shots.
Other cool features include the fact that you can see yourself before shooting a self image... also, the large lcd screen and d-lighting (auto lighting correction) are great features to go with.
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21 out
of 22 users found this user opinion helpful.
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6
stars
poor quality for portraits with natural light
by argen2
on
October 21, 2005
Pros: very friendly controls and user interface, slim and cool design
Cons: no manual settings; shaky and blured images; no viewfinder
Summary: I bought this camera to take pictures of my newborn son. It's been impossible to get the camera to take close ups or portraits with natural light. The images ...
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Summary: I bought this camera to take pictures of my newborn son. It's been impossible to get the camera to take close ups or portraits with natural light. The images I get are always blured. You have to be totally still to get a decent one. I've tried landscapes with and without zoom, and I get sharper images with my old canon s200 (2MP). All the scene controls haven't helped and the camera has no manual settings. The zoom is useles without a tripod. The battery life is poor, and not having a viewfinder doesn't help. This is also a problem when you have a lot of light and you cannot see what's in the LCD screen. I'm returning it and I'll get a Canon sd500.
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7 out
of 7 users found this user opinion helpful.
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8
stars
Good point-n-shoot zoom camera
by bruintoo
on
October 27, 2005
Pros: 10x zoom; swivel design; scene/assist modes
Cons: No zoom stabilization; no viewfinder
Summary: I got this camera because it's the only compact camera that has the swivel lens design and the 10x zoom. It's unfortunate that only the movie mode has ...
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Summary: I got this camera because it's the only compact camera that has the swivel lens design and the 10x zoom. It's unfortunate that only the movie mode has the vibration stabilization option. Picture quality is very good but not great. THe scene modes, especially the face focus priority is great. There is wee bit more noise than the Canon powershot cameras but I'd say about par with the Sony DSC-S/P cameras.
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6 out
of 6 users found this user opinion helpful.
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9
stars
Compact camera with so much packed in
by China Dark
on
July 2, 2006
Pros: 10x zoom, multiple scene settings, small size
Cons: no image stablization, no flip away screen
Summary: This is one awesome camera for this price range. I did a lot of looking around in my area and I was down to deciding between this camera and a ...
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Summary: This is one awesome camera for this price range. I did a lot of looking around in my area and I was down to deciding between this camera and a Canon that was $100 CAD more, comparing regular prices. This one was on sale, and came with NiMH rechargeable batteries and a two battery charger, whereas the Canon came with 2 alkaline batteries. So I got this one, which I still think is a much better deal. The lack of image stabilization may be a pain, but you can still make beautiful photos without a tripod or stable surface. This camera does not have a flip away LCD screen, but the only thing that would add to this camera is protecting that screen. The swivel lens (with internal zoom) goes a full 270 degrees, allowing you to photograph in front of you, behind you, above you, or below you. This camera has settings for backlighting, close-up, a night scenes, portrait, landscape, indoor, beach/snow, sunset, dusk/dawn, fireworks, museum, and panorama. You can also record video, but if your focus is making videos, I strongly suggest looking at video cameras, some of which are surprisingly small and can also take stills.
The S4 also has a basic point-and-shoot mode, which will do most of the focusing for you, but you can also use the macro, self-timer, and flash settings on screen. This mode also allows you to choose your colour mode (standard, vivid, black and white, sepia, cyanotype), ISO, best shot selector, exposure, white balance, and file size.
You can easily delete photos or mark/unmark photos you want to be transfered to your computer. Don't like icons on your LCD screen? That's easily fixed as well. You can turn on or off a welcome screen and sound as well, so you can be greeted with a coolpix screen or your favorite shot.
It does come with a lens cap and a spot to attach it to a tripod, and takes 2AA batteries. It doesn't have a manual viewfinder or a lot of manual settings, which can be either a pro or con, depending on your personal preferences.
It comes with basic software and panorama stiching software, as well as USB and A/V cables.
It's small with plenty of settings, and if you aren't a pro and have reasonably steady hands, but want to explore photography (like me), you'll likely be quite happy with this camera.
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2 out
of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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4
stars
Been in the shop longer than I have had it
by sarah35
on
March 20, 2007
Pros: point and click good imaging
Cons: shutter on camera has broken almost everytime I have tried to use it
Summary: I have not been to impressed with this camera. I have used it a couple of times and it wokred awesome. I purchased the camera in September 2006 for off ...
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Summary: I have not been to impressed with this camera. I have used it a couple of times and it wokred awesome. I purchased the camera in September 2006 for off road racing. It worked awesome point and shooting at fast moving objects in the sports setting. THen in November the shutter broke on it I had it repaired and since then it has been in and out of warranty 6 times; each time the shutter has broken. I am ready to buy another camera and count my losses as it is now March 2007
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1 out
of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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9
stars
Excellent, hi-quality, compact, point-and-shoot camera
by drcassman
on
November 14, 2005
Pros: Big, brigh LCD; good quality 6 megapixel images, amazing macro mode, powerful zoom
Cons: Relatively short battery life
Summary: There is no doubt that the Coolpix S4 brings innovation and style. It provides an excellent mix of customizability and usability. The swiveling CDD is an excellent touch, and the ...
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Summary: There is no doubt that the Coolpix S4 brings innovation and style. It provides an excellent mix of customizability and usability. The swiveling CDD is an excellent touch, and the 10x zoom in such a small package is astounding. Image quality is great in all light settings; I usually use the camera on its default setting (normal quality 6 megapixels), however, for higher-quality images it can be bumped up to a higher-quality 6 megapixel mode. After an extensive search for a good camera in the $300-$400 range, I decided on the Coolpix S4. There are three problems that I saw consistently in reviews of this camera which I will discuss below.
1. The 10x zoom is useless without image stabilization.
- Many reviewers (often ones who haven't actually handled the camera) claim that shaking hands mean that any image taken with the 10x optical zoom will be blurred. I find that I can take images even at 10x with no blurring, even without a tripod.
2. Lack of viewfinder makes taking pictures in bright sunlight difficult.
- LCDs are actually more accurate than the cheap viewfinders on most digital cameras. I find that the LCD on the Coolpix S4 is bright enough on its default setting to be clearly visible, even in direct sunlight.
3. Short battery life
- This is the reason I give the camera a 9 (rather than a 10). Though I can't quote a figure in hours, it seems that the battery life is relatively short. However, since the Coolpix S4 is powered by 2 AA batteries, they are easy to replace. I've also read that battery life is extended significantly if you pop for the $30 rechargable batteries and charger (I haven't tried this, so I can't confirm it).
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1 out
of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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2
stars
Great camera when it works
by emoryt
on
July 2, 2009
Pros: I'm 66 yrs old, the swivel viewfinder works great for low angle shots without having to bend over or squat to get shots of the grandkids. The zoom is excellent, picture quality is satisfactory. Purchased in 1995.
Cons: Lost the viewfinder, no image to look at..the swivel mechanism must somehow electronicly disconnected from the body. Sent it to an authorized repair service in 2008. It gave up again. Same problem. No swivel viewfinders for me again.
Summary: With the exception already noted, this is an excellent camera for an amateur like me...I'm very disappointed it turned out the way it did.
Summary: With the exception already noted, this is an excellent camera for an amateur like me...I'm very disappointed it turned out the way it did.
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1
stars
Worst camera is history
by rkrowland
on
September 20, 2008
Pros: None. There is nothing I like about this camera.
Cons: No image stabilization.
Summary: I own or have owned 5 point and shoot digital cameras. Nikon should be embarrassed that they ever put this thing on the market. A 10x optical zoom and no ...
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Summary: I own or have owned 5 point and shoot digital cameras. Nikon should be embarrassed that they ever put this thing on the market. A 10x optical zoom and no image stabilization. With incredibly slow shutter speed it almost impossible to take a picture without getting a blur warning. The LCD screen is so dim you cannot see it in any day light conditions. It broke almost immediately and I had to send it in for repair. Just plain junk. I literally can't believe that Nikon did this.
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3
stars
Love the camera, but sadly, Nikon skimped on quality
by
on
September 12, 2008
Pros: Swivel lens makes quick self-photos a breeze; features are nice and easy to use; good photo quality, including night shots if you can keep it still; big LCD screen.
Cons: Cheap internal parts involving lens makes this camera an income-maker for the repair shop; lens cap apparatus is cheap and breaks easily; goes through AA batteries (would be better with a rechargeable pack); screen is hard to see in bright daylight.
Summary: You can look through the other reviews for pros and cons of this camera's various features and functions. But the bottom line is, Nikon is building these cameras (as ...
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Summary: You can look through the other reviews for pros and cons of this camera's various features and functions. But the bottom line is, Nikon is building these cameras (as well as the next generation Coolpix S10, it appears) with parts that are subpar in quality.
I bought this camera because of its ease of use, the cool swivel lens that allows me and my wife to do self-photos without having to ask a stranger to do so, and the tech specs like 6 MP and great zoom lens. And I fell in love with it after it bounced around Europe with us for two weeks, taking fantastic shots around every corner. I was heartbroken when it developed a lens problem (venetian blind effect) not long after we got back. A trip to the local camera repair store (who had to send it off to Nikon) set us back about $140 and three weeks absence. When we got it back, it worked for about another month or two, then developed ANOTHER lens problem; this time it takes nothing but black photos.
Giving up on this one but still in love with the S4, I decided to search on eBay for used ones, many of which are going for less than another repair would cost. To my dismay, about a third of the ones on eBay are being sold for "parts and repair" as they have lens problems, also! I'm also spotting many of the similarly designed S10s with the same kinds of problems.
This makes me seriously question the quality of Nikon and, in particular, their Coolpix line. I will go with a different manufacturer for my next camera.
By the way, anyone want to buy a lightly used, twice broken Coolpix S4 for "parts and repair"? ;-)
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7
stars
Decent pocketable zoomy camera
by jtolccnet
on
September 27, 2006
Pros: 10x Zoom, Swivel,
Cons: Lens cover fragile, swiveled screen stays w/ picture upside down
Summary: I've had this camera for a year now. Quite sturdy despite the heat, rain, and jostles(in my pocket) it's received.
Joystick works well after some getting used ...
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Summary: I've had this camera for a year now. Quite sturdy despite the heat, rain, and jostles(in my pocket) it's received.
Joystick works well after some getting used to.
I definitely recommend rechargeable batteries, if not always carry 4 extra AA at any given moment.
I love the 10x zoom feature, but must be held very still..., or use wtih a tripod. Same for the macro.
The screen shade I bought from Ritz Camera didn't work well under the sun, and not recommended. The shade portion broke(while pocketed) but now the screen portion serves well as an armored screen protector from the elements.
The plastic lens cover that comes with camera is also very fragile which was the first thing I was weary of upon buying. After 8 months of constant use, the flimsy ringlet finally snapped apart. Not wanting to special order a new one from Nikon, I made my own from a used plastic film container(black case with a gray cap) I got at a Walmart or Ritz Camera store. Basically, just carve out the inner ring seal off of the gray lens cap using a small box cutter and VIOLA! instant lens cap substitute for my beaten up S4. Surprisingly, it fits quite snuggly!
In all, the S4 is a fun, handy, pocket-sized, spur-of the-moment kinda camera that any average joe could get creative with.
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Nikon Coolpix S4
