Nikon Coolpix S220 Digital Camera Review

Nikon Coolpix S220 10MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom and 2.5 inch LCD (Graphite Black)

nikon-coolpix-s220-digital-camera

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION

Nikon’s ultra slim, stylish Coolpix S220 combines 10.0 effective megapixels with a 3x optical Zoom-Nikkor glass lens for stunning prints as large as 16x20 inches. The sleek, all-metal design slips right in your shirt pocket or purse, and the incredible, bright 2.5-inch LCD makes it easy to compose and share pictures even in bright sunlight. The Coolpix S220, with Nikon’s EXPEED image processor and new 4-Way Image Stabilization, enables you to take incredible pictures, and Nikon’s new Smart Portrait System combines automatic in-camera features that enable users to get great portraits of smiling faces without red-eye and blink.

Coolpix S220 Highlights

10.0-megapixel resolution - for stunning prints as large as 16 x 20 inches.
3x optical Zoom-Nikkor glass lens - provides exceptional pictures and gets you close to the action.
New EXPEED image processor - ensures high-quality pictures with stunning color and sharpness.
Bright 2.5-inch high-resolution LCD - makes it easy to compose and share your pictures.
Scene Auto Selector - automatically recognizes the scene in your picture and adjusts camera setting.

4-Way VR Image stabilization

Nikon’s Electronic VR image stabilization compensates for the effects of camera shake by adjusting the shutter speed and the ISO to get the optimal results
Motion Detection automatically detects moving subjects and adjusts shutter speed and the ISO setting to compensate for cameras hake and subject movement
High ISO up to 2000 capability helps give you sharper results when shooting in low light or capturing fast-moving subjects.
Nikon’s original Best Shot Selector (BSS) automatically takes up to 10 shots while the shutter is pressed and saves the sharpest image

Nikon’s Smart Portrait System:

Smile Mode The camera automatically takes the shot when the subject smiles
Blink proof camera automatically takes two shots and saves the one in which the subject’s eye are open
In-Camera Red-Eye Fix automatically fixes most instances of red-eye in the camera. You may never see red-eye again.
Improved Face-Priority AF - Nikon’s face-finding technology that automatically focuses on faces faster than ever. Up to 12 faces can be detected and Face priority AE adjusts brightness of the subject’s face
D-Lighting rescues dark or backlit images by improving brightness and detail where needed

Technical Details

10.0-megapixel resolution for photo-quality prints up to 16 x 20 inches
3x optical Zoom-Nikkor glass lens; 4-way VR image stabilization
2.5-inch high-resolution LCD screen
Nikon's Smart Portrait System; Red-eye Fix, Face Priority AE and more
Capture images to SD/SDHC memory cards (not included)

Product Details

Product Dimensions: 3.8 x 2.5 x 0.8 inches ; 3.5 ounces
Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
Item model number: S220 Graphite Black
Date first available at Amazon.com: February 2, 2009

CUSTOMER REVIEWS

By Bryan Carey "Bryan Carey" (Houston, TX) - Cool Digital Camera for Beginners, July 29, 2009

Nikon Coolpix S220 Digital Camera is a compact digital camera that makes a good camera choice for the first- time digital camera owner who is ready to get started in the world of digital photography but wants something that isn't priced too high or requires too much tech savvy. It is one of the smaller cameras available and it is offered at a price level that makes it ideal for the budget- minded consumer.

Digital cameras are offered in many sizes and with many features and the Nikon Coolpix S220 Digital Camera is easily the smallest digital camera I have ever used. There are some cameras that are even smaller, but most are inadequate for my needs, due to their often tiny LCD viewing screen. This camera offers an LCD screen that is large enough to easily see what you need to see so that picture taking is optimized. The size is sufficient enough that it doesn't hinder the taking of quality pictures.

Picture quality is the most important feature of any digital camera and the Nikon Coolpix S220 Digital Camera does, indeed, take good pictures for a simpler camera. It also includes helpful features that produce better photographs, such as its image stabilization system. I also like the color options. Standard color is the option most photographers will use, but there is also a setting called Vivid Color. This option brightens the colors and in many ways, it reminds me of the colors common to a videotaped television program. However, one needs to be careful with this feature because I have found that it sometimes distorts the colors in certain situations. For example, outdoor pictures should not be taken using the Vivid Color option because it can result in a level of color that is a little unrealistic.

Another picture taking aid with this camera is its Smart Portrait system. This includes features such as Smile Mode, which automatically snaps the picture when the subject is smiling; Built- in blink proofing, which snaps two pictures and deletes one of them if eyes are blinking; Face- Priority technology, which focuses quickly on faces and adjusts brightness so that faces look more natural; etc. These features are nice, but not always reliable. I have found, for example, that the blink- prevention feature doesn't always work. Sometimes, pictures get snapped anyway with the eyes of the subject shut. Of course, one can easily delete the picture and try again, but it would be nice if this technology was more predictable.

The Nikon Coolpix S220 Digital Camera is a small digital camera, so it fits easily into one's shirt pocket or other small space. This is generally good, but it can also prove to be a problem. Because it is so small, it is easy to lose this camera. A camera this small and thin can fit into many places where other cameras will not fit, so you need to be careful where you leave it.

Nikon makes some very good digital cameras and they also make a few average cameras. Nikon Coolpix S220 Digital Camera fits into the latter category. It is a good point and shoot digital camera, but it lacks the sophistication of other cameras and some of its features are inconsistent. Still, it's a decent beginner's camera and its small size and 10 megapixels make it a good choice for those new to the world of digital.

*****

By Jared L. Hardy (Fresno, CA) - Overall Just Okay, June 8, 2009

I don't have much to say because I didn't have high expectations. I was looking for a coolpix to replace the one I previously had. However, I definitely liked my older model better, despite the new one's sleek, modern look. It's less user friendly making the various settings harder to switch. Also the camera's lcd screen has poor quality. When the pictures are loaded onto your computer they look okay, but when you're taking the picture there are green spots and people are a bit washed out. It works fine for me because I only wanted to cheap point and shoot to carry around with me wherever I go, but I wouldn't recommend it.

*****

By Maria Jose Gutierrez "Majos photo" (Managua, Nic.) - It doesn't fullfill my expectations!!!, June 25, 2009

When I bought this point and shoot, I tought I was getting the best for the price, since it's a nikon, but after using it and surf trough all the picture settings I'm a little dissapointed because when using any of the preset scine settings, mostly portrait setting, I get really yellow pictures, I don't mean a little sun tan sort of yellow, I mean really chicken yellow images, faces, background, wites, blacks, everything gets yellow tainted, just horrible... To be honest that did not happend with my previos point and shoot, Kodak Z670, indcredible but true, I don't regreat having buying it.

In the bright sight it's really simple to use, the menu and the settings are really friendly, easy access for the iso settings, great wite balances. The body is slick and beutifull, stylish and light wighted, really ergonomic, I bought it because I have a Nikon D40X, wich I love, but my only problem is that is too big and some times is unconfurtable to take it to parties or places where you won't have a lot of room to work with it, so I find my new S220 convinient to solve this problem, as long as I shoot in auto is just perfect.

So if someone can give me a hint to solve my yellowish problem, please let me know... I do recomend it, the battery life is great.

*****