Model Design / Appearance (6.0)
The Coolpix S4 reminds digital camera veterans of Nikon's earlier pivot cameras in the Coolpix 900 series, but visually, there are some significant upgrades. By going with metal and metallic finishes, Nikon has made the Coolpix S4 more elegant than its predecessors. The 900's were gray and black plastic, and frankly, pretty gawky.
The Coolpix S4 has a simple basic shape. When it's configured for storage, it's more or less a block with a slot down the middle. Nikon added curves and indentations to give it some interest and a finished look.
Size / Portability (7.0)
The Coolpix S4 is 4.4 x 2.7 x 1.4 inches, and weighs a bit more than 7 ounces without batteries or memory card. It's bigger than typical compact cameras, but among cameras with 10x zooms, it's remarkably small. It could fit in a coat pocket, backpack, or purse. But given its poor seals against dirt and moisture, the Coolpix S4 probably needs a carrying case.
The Coolpix S4's odd lens cap seems flimsy. It looks like a typical plastic lens cap hinged with a thin ring that snaps very firmly onto the lens barrel.
Handling Ability (7.0)
The Nikon Coolpix S4 is fun to hold. Pivoting the lens is a novelty for most, and it may incline users to hold the camera with two hands, which will lead to steadier shots. The lens assembly has a nice divot for the user’s left hand fingers and there's no way to pivot it without holding it. Unfortunately, with the LCD consuming so much space on the non-pivoting part of the back, there's very little room for the user's right thumb (unless the user doesn't mind covering up part of the LCD). Given the precarious position of that thumb rest, using the wrist strap is pretty much a mandatory safety precaution.
The Coolpix S4 is primarily an automatic camera. There is relatively little manual control available, and many basic functions are buried in menus – out of the way of casual users. Those who want to set the ISO or use a custom white balance have to dig, and may be a little frustrated that automatic color post-processing -- “D-Lighting” -- has a direct control on the back of the camera, but no exposure parameters do.
 Control Button / Dial Positioning / Size (6.0)
The four-way controller on the Coolpix S4 works like a joy stick – the user tilts it slightly toward the cardinal points to navigate images or menus. Unfortunately, it can be hard to differentiate between tilting it and pressing it inward. Pressing it inward activates its “OK” button function, so it's easy to accidentally change settings.
The zoom control is a small ring around the shutter release. It has a bump on the front, which makes it easy to control, despite its size. The on/off button is small and mounted slightly below flush, apparently to prevent users from accidentally turning the camera on or off. We generally prefer slide or rotary power switches – they are easier to use, and are more effective at preventing accidental shutdowns (or activations).
Menu (7.0)
The Coolpix S4 menus appear in large type on a gray and white background. It's legible, but because the resolution of the LCD is only 110,000 pixels, it's not particularly smooth or attractive. The background is pleasant enough, but many cameras in this range superimpose menus over a live view, which allows the user to see the effects of settings as they make changes.
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Shooting Menu
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Image Mode
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Set image size and quality
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White balance
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Set color balance for Auto, a custom setting, or one of 5 presets
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Exp. +/-
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Exposure compensation – shoot a lighter or darker image than the camera would automatically make
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Continuous
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Shoot single images, bursts of images in sequence, or images at intervals of 30 seconds to 1 hour
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BSS
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Best Shot Selector – The Coolpix S4 chooses the sharpest or best-exposed image from a burst
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Sensitivity
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Set the ISO
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Color Options
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Set color for vivid saturation, black and white, sepia (brown) or cyanotype (blue)
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Setup
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Welcome Screen
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Set the image that will appear as the Coolpix S4 is turned on
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Date
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Set date and time
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Brightness
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Set the LCD brightness
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Date imprint
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Imprint date or “birthday count” on images
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Sound settings
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Adjust sound for voice memos, video playback, and annoying alert beeps and tones
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Blur warning
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Set the Coolpix S4 to warn when a blurred image is shot
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Auto off
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Set time for unattended camera to shut itself off
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Format memory/ Format card
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Format the internal memory or the SD card
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Language
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Set displays to read in Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Russian, Spanish, and Swedish
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Interface
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Set USB port for connection to a computer for downloading, or a compatible printer for printing
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AF assist
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Turn autofocus assist lamp on or off
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Reset all
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Return Coolpix S4 to default settings
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Battery type
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Set for alkaline, NiMH, or lithium batteries
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Menus
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Choose between text menus or icons
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Firmware version
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Show current firmware version
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A separate menu comes up when the camera's mode switch is set for shooting in scene modes. Four of the scene modes offer composition aids as well. (Check the Modes section of this review for specifics). The modes are: Portrait, Landscape, Sport, Night Portrait, Party/Indoor, Beach/Snow, Sunset, Dusk/Dawn, Night Landscape, Close Up, Museum, Fireworks Show, Copy, Back Light, and Panorama Assist.
The Playback mode menu lists operations the Coolpix S4 can perform on saved images.
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Playback
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Print set
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Set images to print via PictBridge or DPOF printers
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Slide show
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View pictures in a slide show
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Delete
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The Coolpix S4 will delete either selected images, or all the unprotected images in memory
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Protect
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Set to prevent an image from being deleted
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Transfer Marking
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Set to transfer images to a computer with Nikon PictureProject software installed
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Small pic.
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Save a small copy of an image for email, etc.
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Copy
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Copy an image from memory to SD card, or vice versa
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Setup
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Display Setup menu
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Ease of Use (7.0)
Nikon has made heroic efforts with the Coolpix S4 to create a camera that protects the extremely casual user from common errors. The “D-Lighting” mechanism for fixing poor exposures, and the assist programs that guide the user in pointing the camera with superimposed silhouettes of people, are prime examples of Nikon's work in this arena.
Most consumer cameras we review are easy to use in automatic mode, but difficult to use in their manual modes. The Coolpix S4 takes that axiom a step farther – manual control on the S4 isn't difficult, it's impossible. The camera offers no manual exposure settings, and it doesn't display information about aperture or shutter speed. The user who wants control is stymied.
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