Nikon Coolpix S2

Model Design / Appearance (7.5)
The "S" in Nikon’s S-series stands for "style," and this is where the line really sets itself apart. The Coolpix S2 is a stylish digital camera, as it is thin and sleek. At first glance, this model reminded me of the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T1 with its sliding cover (perhaps, this was intended). The sliding lens cover definitely has the appearance of a mirror.

Another big selling point of this digital camera is the splash-proof design. The S2 cannot be immersed in water; however, it’s nice to know that a little mist from the ocean won’t damage the camera. The body is built with plastic and metal components and even has a rubber gasket in the battery and memory card cover. The design is surprisingly functional while still remaining sleek and stylish.

Size / Portability (7.0)
For a 3.6 x 2.3 x 0.9-inch camera body, the sleek Coolpix S2 weighs a little more than you’d think. Its 5 ounces (without the memory card or battery) give the digital camera some heft. Of course, it really does not weigh that much – your wrists won’t hurt from holding it for awhile, but it is slightly heavier than its sleek look gives away. But the S2 is still built for portability. The sliding door covers the lens, which never extends from the camera body. The flatness of this model makes it extremely attractive to point-and-shooters who just want to whip a camera out of their pocket for a quick shot. There is a wrist strap included, but I would probably put the camera in my pocket before I dangled it from my wrist.

Handling Ability (5.5)
The downside of having a completely flat surface is that it can sometimes be difficult to grip. To Nikon’s credit, there is a tiny thumb divot on the back side of the Coolpix S2. But other than that, there’s not much. This camera is made for occasional photographs, not six-hour photo shoots. The buttons on the back are quite small, so if you’re handling this camera, I hope you’ve got feminine fingers.

Control Button / Dial Positioning / Size (5.0)
As mentioned above, the control buttons are much too small for the average fingers. The zoom control is narrow, the mode button is skinny and almost flush with the camera body, and the multi selector is constructed of a single panel – making it easier to press the wrong direction. I realize there is limited real estate on the Nikon Coolpix S2, but cramming tiny buttons together doesn’t result in a very functional layout.

Menu (7.0)
Some of the controls – such as flash and macro shooting – are located on the multi selector, but most can only be accessed in the menus. The shooting menu is available in the Auto mode and has the following options: Image Mode, White Balance, Exposure Compensation, Continuous, BSS (best shot selector), Sensitivity, and Color Options. When the Scene modes are activated, the shooting menu consists of a huge grid of other scene modes. Users can scroll through all of the scene modes, as well as a few random modes such as the Voice Recording mode and Panorama Assist. The Setup menu is available from the scene and shooting menus. The Setup menu has the following options: Welcome Screen, Date, Monitor Settings, Date Imprint, Sound Settings, Blur Warning, Auto Off, Format Card, Language, Interface, AF Assist, Reset All, Menus, and Firmware Version. The menu options can be selected to appear as text or icons, which is nice. However, live views are few.

As mentioned above, the control buttons are much too small for the average fingers. The zoom control is narrow, the mode button is skinny and almost flush with the camera body, and the multi selector is constructed of a single panel – making it easier to press the wrong direction. I realize there is limited real estate on the Nikon Coolpix S2, but cramming tiny buttons together doesn’t result in a very functional layout. Some of the controls – such as flash and macro shooting – are located on the multi selector, but most can only be accessed in the menus. The shooting menu is available in the Auto mode and has the following options: Image Mode, White Balance, Exposure Compensation, Continuous, BSS (best shot selector), Sensitivity, and Color Options. When the Scene modes are activated, the shooting menu consists of a huge grid of other scene modes. Users can scroll through all of the scene modes, as well as a few random modes such as the Voice Recording mode and Panorama Assist. The Setup menu is available from the scene and shooting menus. The Setup menu has the following options: Welcome Screen, Date, Monitor Settings, Date Imprint, Sound Settings, Blur Warning, Auto Off, Format Card, Language, Interface, AF Assist, Reset All, Menus, and Firmware Version. The menu options can be selected to appear as text or icons, which is nice. However, live views are few.

Ease of Use (6.5)
It’s quite easy to take a picture with the Coolpix S2; it’s a point-and-shoot. However, if you’re interested in doing more than just pointing or shooting – such as accessing the exposure compensation or changing the USB mode to print – then this probably isn’t the digital camera you’re looking for. Nikon tried to make the S2 a simple camera to use by including help menus and a COOLSTATION dock. Once all the wires are configured, it’s not so confusing either. However, this is not an all-around easy to use digital camera system.