Nikon Coolpix S510 Review

Considered as the world’s smallest and highly-efficient digital camera, the Nikon Coolpix S510 is one stylish technology that offers new features for photography enthusiasts. Aside from looking stylishly cool, the Nikon Coolpix S510 features a vertical lens cover and a rotating navigation pad.

The Nikon Coolpix S510 absolutely conforms to aesthetically-enhanced digital cameras that still provide what is expected to perform as one state-of-the-art digital camera. The front portion of this camera is strikingly good looking. Its lens cover easily slides vertically, another new approach that makes the camera stylish all the more. A power LED sits in between the shutter release and the power button, skillfully adorning the top part of this camera. And because the Coolpix S510 camera is designed to remain small, the buttons are flushed on the camera’s body so that it appears flat.

A small zoom rocker is located at the camera’s back that can easily be accessed by the thumb. Through a small expanse of metal, you are then taken to the Playback and the mode buttons. Its mode buttons provide the user with six quick access options that include the set-up, the shooting mode, the microphone, scene, Hi ISO, and the Set up.

But this camera is not just about looks. Its functions are absolutely way beyond compare. The shooting mode takes the photographer back to shooting pictures. Additionally, its Hi ISO provides varied ISO ratings for low-light shooting conditions. Users are also provided with 16 varied modes, typical in any Nikon fashion. These modes include Panorama, backlight, copy, fireworks, museum, close up, night landscape, dusk/dawn, sunset, beach/snow, party/indoor, night portrait, sports, landscape, and portrait.

The menu option of the Coolpix S510 lets the user configure their personal preference, either to use icons or texts. This particular feature can also be used to configure the welcome screen, the date, and the monitor setting so the photo details can be displayed, the brightness, altered.

Furthermore, the user can choose to either turn the date imprint on or off. The sound settings, AF assist, vibration reduction, and the power down settings can also be changed. Also in the menu option is the formatting of the memory. Users can choose to use the memory card or the built-in memory. Moreover, selections of languages are available also, alongside changes of the video mode.

The shooting mode options allow the user to choose six different options of resolution changes. The white balance can also be altered, so are the ISO ratings, the continuous shooting and the color options that range from standard to vivid, to black and white and sepia and the Cyanotype, giving a bit of a cyan cast from the images done in black and white settings.

Another thing about the Coolpix S510 is the rotary wheel. This feature actually brings a more fresh approach in digital compacts. The wheel has three different functions, two of which are purely for navigational purposes, and the other for fast access options for the self- timer, the flash, and the exposure and macro compensation.

The Nikon Coolpix S510 also features five varied flash options namely night scene portrait, flash on, flash off, red-eye reduction, and Auto flash. The night scene portrait basically flashes to provide light to the subject and it makes use of a slower shutter speed to provide light on dark backgrounds. For this particular setting, users can make use of a tripod.

The Coolpix S510 offers a 0.7-second start-up time. However, the camera will actually take shots roughly about a few seconds later. Also, its shutter lag is only for the response priority mode. This digital camera also underwent a continuous shooting test that surprisingly managed seven images in just ten seconds. This feature is quite above average, compared with other compact digital cameras. To completely save the images, couple of seconds is needed to fully obtain quality pictures.

As for the noise, the Coolpix S510 is equipped with an ISO range of 64 to 2000. Shots taken with the ISO64 provided detailed and well-define lines, along with the ISO100. However, noise is quite evident with the ISO200, especially when used in low key areas, thus making the image slightly softened. ISO400 had noise sharpening and distinctly showed, which means that the ISO800 offer more purple and white noise on the subject.

Pros: Because of its attractive design, great flash range, and metal build, the Nikon Coolpix S510 is great for day to day photography with high-quality performance.

Cons: The Coolpix S510 has poor macro, a flimsy battery door, and sometimes its landscape mode uses the wrong aperture.

Overall: The Nikon Coolpix S510 is simply a decent digital camera for daily shooting that can somehow satisfy user who just needs a digital camera to bring along with.

Attached Images

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