Nikon Coolpix S2

Front (7.5)
The front of the Nikon Coolpix S2 largely so featureless, losing the impression of a that it doesn’t look like a digital camera – until you slide its lens cover open. The Coolpix S2 logo is engraved in the mirror-like metal door, which protects the flash, lens, and AF assist illuminator. Those three features are horizontally oriented, with the rectangular flash sitting to the left and the AF illuminator all the way to the right. The 3x optical zoom lens sits between the two, although it hardly has the appearance of a traditional lens. The tiny opening remains flush with the camera’s surface even when it is zoomed all the way in. Information about the lens surrounds the flash (yep, I think it’s strange too): "Zoom Nikkor ED, 5.8-17.4 mm 1:3.0-5.4." The metallic lens cover slides downward to reveal those features. On the left side of the silver-bodied Coolpix S2 is an embossed Nikon logo.

Back (6.5)
All of the camera’s controls are located on the back except for the shutter release button. The 2.5-inch LCD monitor takes up about two-thirds of the back’s surface, all to the left side. Beneath the monitor is a Nikon logo, printed in black. To its right at the top is the tiny zoom control within a depression in the camera body. Below the divot is a cluster of icons and controls – and they initially look intimidating. Below the zoom control and just on the right side of the LCD is the clearly labeled Menu button. To its right is a small LED indicator. Directly below the Menu button and LED is the multi selector, which has icons in all directions from it. At the top is a flash icon; the right has a copy icon; the bottom shows a flower icon representing the macro function; the left shows the self-timer function. In the middle of the multi selector is the OK button to make selections. Surrounding this button is a donut with four dots, one in each of the four navigational directions – this is how you scroll through menus. There are two small circular buttons below the multi selector: the one on the left activates the playback mode and the one on the right is the delete function. At the bottom of this convoluted mess is a black shiny panel with three icons and a button in it. This is the button that selects the modes. The icons light up across the top of the button when they are selected. A camera icon shows green; the scene and movie mode icons show orange.

Left Side (6.0)
This side is even more featureless than the front. There is nothing to even slide and reveal any mysteries. Nothing at all.

Right Side (6.0)
The right side does have a cover that slides slightly to the right and then flips open with hinges on the left. Beneath the door is the slot for the SD card and the skinny lithium-ion battery.

Top (7.5)
The top of this Nikon Coolpix has a sleek look and feel to it, with a shiny band running down its center and a matching shiny shutter release button. To the left of the button is an indicator light. The far right corner of the top is hollowed out with a bar; this serves as a wrist strap loop. Above and below the shiny strip are a few holes that serve as the built-in speaker. Just to the right of the strip is the built-in microphone.