Nikon Coolpix S550 10-megapixel digital camera with 5X optical zoom (Black)

Recording Features
Play, Edit and Print Functions
Battery Information
Inputs and Outputs Notes
Supplied Software

Recording Features

LCD Monitor: The Nikon Coolpix S550 has a 2.5"  TFT LCD monitor featuring approximately 230,000 pixels, an anti-reflective coating and a five-level brightness adjustment. The LCD monitor's 170-degree wide viewing angle makes it easy to see and use. The LCD monitor has approximately 100% horizontal and vertical coverage in the shooting mode and playback mode.

10.0 Megapixels CCD With EXPEED Engine: The Coolpix S550 features a 1/2.3-inch, high-density CCD imager with a total pixel count of approximately 10.34-million pixels. The effective pixel count is 10.0-million. Optimizing performance and color reproduction is an advanced new image-processing engine, EXPEED.

Optics: The Coolpix S550 digital camera uses a Zoom-Nikkor glass lens for superb image quality. Every aspect of the lens manufacturing process is controlled by Nikon. The Zoom-Nikkor lens is designed for the specific camera and CCD combination. The Coolpix S550 uses a 5x optical zoom, 4x digital zoom lens (20x total zoom) that is equivalent to a 36-720mm lens in 35mm photography. 

Maximum Zoom Without Interpolation: The Coolpix S550 offers maximum zoom settings based on your current Image Mode which allow for the maximum zoom rate with digital degradation.

Electronic VR (Vibration Reduction) Image Stabilization: The Coolpix S550's Electronic VR Image Stabilizer allows you to shoot sharper and clearer images without blurring. The Electronic VR Image Stabilization system detects and corrects for camera movement to give you rock-steady results each time you shoot.

Built-in Memory: The camera has a built-in 50 MB internal memory for storing still images and movies with sound.

Optional Recording Media: In addition to the built-in memory, images can be recorded onto SD (Secure Digital) or SDHC Memory cards. When an SD Memory card is inserted in the camera, the images are automatically recorded onto the card. When no card is inserted, the images automatically record to the internal memory. The camera can support SD cards from 128MB up to 2 GB; and 4GB SDHC cards.

Image Size: The Coolpix S550 records still images in JPEG format, and movies in AVI video format with WAV sound. You have a choice of five still image size options and five movie options:

Shooting Modes: You can choose one of the following shooting modes:

• Single: The camera records one picture each time the shutter release button is pressed.
• Continuous: While the shutter-release button is held down, up to 8 pictures are taken at a rate of about 1.0 frames per second (fps) when image mode is set to 10m Normal 3648.
• Multi-Shot 16: Each time the shutter release button is pressed, the camera takes 16 consecutive "thumbnail" images at a rate of about 1.0 frames per second, and arranges them into 4 rows of 4 images in a single frame measuring 2592 x 1944 pixels.
• Interval Timer Shooting: Camera take pictures (up to 1,800 frames) automatically at specific intervals between 30 seconds and 60 minutes.
• Best Shot Selector: The BSS is recommended for situations in which inadvertent camera movement can produce blurred pictures, or when parts of the image are prone to under- or over-exposure. When BSS is on, the camera takes shots while the shutter-release button is pressed, to a maximum of ten. The images are compared and the sharpest picture is saved to the memory or memory card.
• Self-timer: The camera is equipped with a ten second and two second timer for self-portraits.

AF Area Mode: You can select between the following AF Area Modes to determine where the camera focuses.

• Auto: The camera automatically selects the focus area (1 of 5) containing the subject closest to the camera.
• Manual: You can manually select from 99 focus areas in the frame. Pictures can be taken while focus area selection screen is displayed.
• Center: The camera focuses on the subject in the center of the frame.
• Face Priority: When the camera recognizes a face (front view only), the camera will focus on the face automatically.

Macro Mode: Macro mode is used for taking pictures of objects as close as 3.9-inches. The flash may be unable to light entire subject at distances less than 11.8-inches.

Focus Lock: The Focus Lock feature is used to focus on off-centered subjects in the frame while shooting in Center AF mode.

AF-Assist Illuminator: If lighting is poor, the AF-assist illuminator may light to assist the focus operation when the shutter-release button is pressed halfway. The illuminator has a range of about 6 feet at the maximum wide-angle position and 3 feet-7 inches at the maximum telescopic position. You can turn this function on or off.

Smile And Blink Recognition: Smile and blink recognition notification functions both help capture precious smiles in the brief instants they appear. Smile recognition displays a gauge that detects when your subject smiles. Images recorded in Smile Mode can be played back independently of images recorded without Smile mode. Blink recognition notifies you when it detects that subject has blinked, and allows you to immediately retake the shot.

Exposure Modes: You can set the camera to suit your level and style of photography. The mode choices include:

• Auto Mode: The Auto Mode is a simple point-and-shoot mode in which the majority of camera settings are controlled by the camera. This mode is recommended for first-time users of digital cameras.
• High Sensitivity Shooting Mode: In high-sensitivity shooting mode, sensitivity is increased with shooting under low lighting to reduce blurring caused by camera shake or subject movement, allowing you to capture the atmosphere of the scene. ISO sensitivity will be automatically increased to a maximum 1600 depending upon the brightness of the subject.
• Scene Modes: The camera gives you the option of 15 Scene Modes. The camera settings are automatically adjusted to suit the selected scene. The Scene Modes include:
  • Portrait: Useful for photographs where you want the main subject to stand out clearly from the background.
  • Landscape: For vivid landscape shots that enhance outlines, colors, and contrast in such subjects as forests and skyscrapers.
  • Sports: A fast shutter speed freezes motion for dynamic sports shots.
  • Night Portrait: For shots that provide natural balance between the main subject and the background when shooting portraits under low lighting.
  • Party/Indoor: Shots include details of the background behind the main subject, or to capture the effects of candlelight and other indoor background lighting
  • Beach/Snow: Vividly captures the brightness of subjects such as snow fields, beaches or sunlit expanses of water
  • Sunset: Preserves deep hues seen in sunsets and sunrises
  • Dusk/Dawn: Preserves the colors seen in the weak natural light before sunrise and after sunset
  • Night Landscape: A slow shutter speed is used to produce stunning night landscapes.
  • Close Up: Used to capture vivid colors in close-up shots of flowers, insects and other small objects, with the background artistically blurred
  • Museum: Use indoors where flash photography is prohibited or in other settings in which you do not want to use flash
  • Fireworks Show: Slow shutter speeds are used to capture the expanding burst of light from fireworks
  • Copy: Provides clear pictures of text or drawings on a white board, business card or in other printed matter
  • Back Light: Use when light is coming from behind your subject or when your subject is in the shade but the background is brightly lit
  • Panorama Assist: Use to take a series of photographs that you will later join to form a single panoramic scene

Exposure Compensation: You can alter the exposure from the value suggested by the camera, making pictures brighter or darker. You can adjust the exposure from -2.0 to +2.0 EV in 1/3 steps.

ISO Settings: Sensitivity is the measure of how quickly the camera reacts to light. The higher the sensitivity, the less light needed to make an exposure. The camera features the following ISO settings - ISO 64, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600 or Auto (auto gain from ISO 64 to 800).

White Balance: You can set the White Balance to Auto, Daylight, Incandescent, Fluorescent, Cloudy, or Flash. You can also choose Preset White Balance and use a neutral-colored object as a reference to set the white balance under unusual lighting conditions.

Color Options: When you are shooting your images, you can make certain colors more vivid, or record the images in monochrome. You have the following choices:

• Standard Color: The images will be recorded in their natural colors
• Vivid Color: You can use this to give your images a vivid, "photoprint" colors
• Black and White: The image will be recorded in black and white
• Sepia: The image will be recorded in sepia tones
• Cyanotype: The image will be recorded in cyan-blue monochrome color

• Auto: flash fires automatically when lighting is poor
• Auto with Red-eye Reduction: pre-flash fires before main flash to reduce red-eye effect
• Flash Off: flash will not fire, even when lighting is poor
• Fill Flash: flash will fire whenever a picture is taken
• Slow Sync: auto flash combined with slow shutter speeds

In-Camera Red-Eye Fix: If the camera detects red-eye after the pre-flash has fired, advanced red-eye reduction processing is used to further reduce red-eye, slightly increasing the time required before the next picture can be taken.

Noise Reduction: The camera uses a noise reduction system to minimize digital artifacts in long exposures.

Voice Recording: You can record up to 75 minutes of vocals on the internal memory of the Nikon Coolpix S550 camera and up to 5 hours on a 256MB SD card

Movie Mode: You can make movies with or without sound. You can select TV Movie 640 (640 x 480) at 30 frames per second (fps), Small Size 320 (320 x 240) at 30 fps or 15fps and Time Lapse Movie (640 x 480) at 30 frames per second.  There are two auto-focus modes that you can choose when you are in the movie mode: The Time Lapse feature allows the camera to automatically take pictures at intervals and join the images into one silent movie. This mode is great for recording flowers opening or butterflies emerging from cocoons.

• Single AF: The camera focuses when the shutter-release button is pressed halfway and locks at this position during recording.
• Full-time AF: The camera constantly adjusts focus, even when the shutter-release button is not pressed.

Play, Edit and Print Functions

Auto Record Orientation: Recorded pictures will automatically rotate when played back on the camera's LCD screen no matter if you took the photo with the camera in a horizontal or vertical position.

Copy: You can internally copy images and voice recordings between the camera's internal memory and an inserted SD-card.

Slide Show Playback: View pictures in the internal memory or on the memory card in an automatic slide show with about three seconds between pictures. Maximum slide show duration is 30 minutes without operation.

Thumbnail Playback: During playback, you can view multiple thumbnail images (4, 9, or16) at a time. While these "contact sheets" are displayed, you can use the multi-selector to highlight individual pictures. Highlighted pictures can be deleted, if desired.

Playback Zoom: During playback, you can enlarge a still image up to 10x. Once the image is zoomed, you can use the multi-selector to scroll around to non-visible portions of the image. You can record a new picture of the cropped image by pressing the shutter button.

Rotate Image: Recorded pictures can be rotated 90-degrees clockwise or counter-clockwise on the unit's LCD screen.

Editing Picture: You can use the Coolpix S550 to edit recorded pictures in-camera and store them as separate files. You can choose from the following editing functions.

• D-Lighting: D-Lighting can be used to brighten dark or backlit subjects. While playing back an image, you can select the D-Lighting function, apply it, and save the corrected image without harming the properly exposed areas of the image.
• In-Camera Cropping: This feature allows you to crop out the part of the image you don't want and keep the part you do.
• Electronic VR: Use this feature to compensate blurring, caused by slight hand movement during shooting, after pictures are shot.
• Resizing Pictures (Small Picture): You can create a small copy of a recorded image. The copy will be stored as a JPEG file with a compression ratio of 1:16. You can choose from the following sizes:
  • 640 x 480: Suited to television playback
  • 320 x 240: Suited to display on web pages
  • 160 x 120: Suitable for email attachments

Calendar Mode: In calendar mode, images are grouped by date so pictures taken on a specified date can be displayed or printed separately.

Voice Memos: Using the camera's microphone, you can record a voice memo during full-screen playback to be associated with a particular picture. Voice memos are recorded as long as the shutter release is held down, to a maximum length of 20 seconds.

Protect: The camera allows you to protect selected pictures from accidental deletion.

Multi-Language Menu: You can choose from 20 different menu display languages including English, Spanish or French.

Printing Pictures: You can print pictures stored in the internal memory or on the memory card by using the Print Set option in the playback menu. Using DPOF (Digital Print Order Form), you can designate which images to print, and how many copies to print. Pictures can be printed as followed:

• Printer or Photo Lab: insert the memory card into a printer, or take the memory card to a digital photo lab.
  • Note: images stored in the internal memory need to be transferred to a memory card prior to printing
• PictBridge-compatible Printer: connect the camera to a PictBridge-compatible printer via USB cable
• Transferring to Computer: transfer the images to a computer before printing them via USB

Battery Information

Power Requirements: The Coolpix S550 is powered by a supplied rechargeable Lithium-Ion battery (EN-EL11). A battery charger (MH-64) is also supplied. The supplied rechargeable battery will last up to approximately 200 shots on one charge. For longer periods of use, it is recommended to power the camera using the optional AC adapter (EH-62E, sold separately). 

Auto Off: When the camera is operated on battery power, the Auto Off mode will automatically turn off the monitor to reduce the drain on the batteries if no operations are performed for the length of time specified in the Auto Off menu. The time limit for the Auto Off mode can be set to 30 seconds, 1 minute, 5 minutes or 30 minutes.

Inputs and Outputs Notes

USB/Audio-Video Output: The Coolpix S550 features a single proprietary jack on the bottom of the camera for connecting the supplied AV/USB cable. This one output allows you to download your photos to your computer or printer via USB, or view your photos on a TV. The USB interface is USB 2.0 High Speed compatible. The video output is NTSC or PAL compatible.

Supplied Software

Software Suite CD-ROM:  The supplied Software Suite CD-ROM contains Nikon Transfer, Panorama Maker and related software. Nikon Transfer is used to copy (transfer) pictures from the camera to the computer and to perform such other transfer-related functions as making backups and embedding information in pictures as they are transferred. Panorama Maker is used for creating panorama images from the camera's recorded still images.

System Requirements: The supplied software will work with Windows and Macintosh. You computer will need to meet the following system requirements.