What’s Hot.
Design and size; 5x zoom; Easy to set-up and use
What’s Not.
Loss of detail at photo edges and at higher ISO settings
The bottom line.
The Coolpix is a nice addition to the sub-$200 pocket-sized digital camera category. Although not problem-free, the Coolpix S550 will appeal to those who are on the go and looking for an easy-to-use camera.
Armed with 10 mega-pixels and a powerful 5x optical zoom, the Coolpix S550 is Nikon’s latest addition to the brigade of teeny-tiny point-and-shoot digital cameras. Nikon has tailored its EXPEED image processor technology for the Coolpix to product brighter colors and sharper details. The 2.5-inch high resolution LCD display features an anti-reflection screen so that you can view your photos in bright sunlight. The Coolpix also includes a large amount of memory, 50 MB, and supports SD and SDHC memory cards.
To minimize blur and compensate for low-light conditions, the Coolpix includes electronic VR image stabilization technology. Some users complain that this less sophisticated image stabilization technology makes for soft pictures and detail loss at photo edges. These sorts of issues matter more when you want to print large-format pictures.
To further manage with low-light situations, the Coolpix auto adjusts up to ISO 2000, which is higher than other cameras in its category. However, if you’re a hopeless night owl or a vampire looking to take a lot of pictures in dark places, the Coolpix might not be the best camera out there for you. Users report that the Coolpix creates more noise than other cameras, especially at the higher ISO settings, and causes noticeable detail loss.
The Coolpix does come with a wide range of cool (no pun intended) features. The In-Camera Red-eye Fix detects and corrects red-eye before you even download your photos. Nikon’s Face Priority AF recognizes and focuses on up to 12 faces. The D-Lighting feature enhances underexposed areas to make for better printing. Blink Warning alerts you when the camera thinks that Uncle Mel blinked again in the family portrait. To capture those pearly whites, the Coolpix includes a Smile Shutter mode that waits until your subject smiles to take the picture. Something about this feature creeps me out a little. I’d feel better knowing that I could trick it with a string of white Chiclets.
The Coolpix includes a whopping 15 scene modes. Some are standard like Portrait, Landscape and Sports. Others like Beach/Snow, Sunset and Fireworks Show will make you long for a vacation. Additionally, the Coolpix records high-quality video and audio. The lag time between shots is about 3 seconds, which may frustrate some users, although it isn’t an atypical lag for this range of cameras.
The Coolpix’s candy-like colors (cool blue, plum and graphite black) enhance the camera’s compact metal design. Overall, it is a good buy for novice users looking to take good-quality photos without much fuss or for more experienced photographers interested in a small and aesthetically pleasing second camera.
