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Comparisons
 Nikon Coolpix S6 – The flagship S6 is nearly identical to its S5 sibling, with the exception of its wireless technology. The WiFi-enabled Coolpix S6 has an internal 3x optical zoom lens, the same scene and movie modes, weak flash, limited manual functionality, and great Pictmotion by muvee mode. Besides the wireless technology, the S6 differs in that it has a larger 3-inch LCD screen – although it has the same 230,000-pixel resolution as the S5. The S6’s body incorporates the wave design, but it is slightly taller and wider than the S5’s, although it is not thicker. The S6’s wireless concept sounds lucrative, but the camera really isn’t as wireless as it sounds. This model also comes with a CoolStation dock that it must sit in to recharge the battery. As long as it’s in the dock, you may as well download your pictures through the dock instead of waiting the few minutes for them to wirelessly transfer over the spotty network connection. The S6 retails for $399 and offers the same modes and many of the same components as the S5; however, the S6’s wireless concept doesn’t really work with the CoolStation and low capacity battery.
 Canon PowerShot SD700 IS – This model is from Canon’s Digital Elph lineup of stylish pocket cameras. It isn’t as sexy as the S5, with its tri-color design. It isn’t as skinny as the S5, with its 1.04-inch-thick frame. It isn’t as affordable either; it retails for $499. Still, the 6-megapixel Canon PowerShot SD700 IS has some great features that actually add up to great image quality – unlike the Nikon S5. The camera’s flagship feature is its optical image stabilization, which works markedly better than the S5’s digital vibration reduction system. The SD700 has a 4x optical zoom lens and a built-in flash that reaches up to 11.5 ft. Like the S5, the SD700 cannot use optical zoom in the movie mode. The Canon model’s videos can be recorded at 15 or 30 fps with 640 x 480 or 320 x 240 pixels. The PowerShot also has a “fast frame rate” mode that records 320 x 240 pixels at 60 fps for up to a minute. Movies can later be divided into two files in the playback mode. The Canon PowerShot SD700 IS is still an automatic camera, but it has more options from which to automatically choose. Its shutter speed range is much wider at 15-1/1600 th of a second. Its maximum apertures are similar, but still wider, at f/2.8-f/5.5. The ISO range extends from 80-800, although it includes some noise. The camera performs decently in low light and extraordinarily in optimal lighting. Its colors are nearly perfect, and it has 11 scene modes and a My Colors mode that offers interesting color filters for recording and playback. The Canon SD700 retails for $499 and isn’t as sexy as the S5, but takes great pictures and has higher quality components.
 Casio Exilim EX-S600 – Competing in the slim pocket camera contest is the 6-megapixel Casio S600, which has a 0.63-inch thickness that slims down ever more to 0.54 inches at one point. The metal body of the Exilim isn’t as durable and has a telescoping 3x optical zoom lens. Still, it is very attractive with its straight edges and flashy colors; it comes in orange, silver, and blue. However, the camera’s surface is slick, so users will most likely drop this one a few times. The S600’s LCD screen is a bit smaller at 2.2 inches, and its resolution is simply terrible at less than 85,000 pixels. This automatic camera has 34 scene modes, ranging from the normal (Portrait) to the useful (High Sensitivity) to the odd (Splashing Water). It has an Anti Shake mode that boosts the ISO to 800 or 1600, but its manual offerings only range from 50-400. The Casio Exilim S600 has less internal memory, with 8.3 MB, produces terribly inaccurate colors, is unusable in low light, and comes packaged with software that looks like a kids’ cartoon program. It does have some decent features, too: it has a wider f/2.7 maximum aperture and its battery lasts much longer at 300 shots per charge. The Casio S600 comes with the same dock setup as the Nikon S5 and has a similarly great body, but retails for slightly more at $399.
 Kodak EasyShare V603 – This Kodak digital camera has 6.1 megapixels and a 3x optical zoom lens that telescopes outward from its 0.9-inch thick body. It is slightly thicker and definitely longer than the Nikon S5. It comes in black and silver housings and is honestly just not as classy looking as the Nikon. Still, the Kodak V603 has 22 scene modes, is incredibly easy to use, and comes at a cheaper $299 price. It has a 2.5-inch LCD screen that boasts a wide viewing angle and 230,000 pixels of resolution. The Kodak has similar features to the Nikon; for instance, the panorama stitch mode and the Kodak Perfect Touch technology that operates similarly to Nikon’s D-lighting compensation. Both cameras have in-camera red-eye fix algorithms and direct printing, although the Kodak is compatible with ImageLink printers in addition to PictBridge systems. The Kodak EasyShare V603 isn’t perfect, though. Its flash has the same weak specs as the Nikon S5’s and its burst mode only lasts for 4 shots. It has only four white balance presets and ISO options from 80-400, with an additional 800 setting only for unusable 1.3-megapixel pictures. The V603 comes packaged with a camera dock as well.
 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T9 – The 6-megapixel Sony T9 has a very slim body at a diminutive 5/8 of an inch, and includes a sliding metal door that protects the internal 3x optical zoom lens when not in use. The zoom lens should be protected: it has a great optical image stabilization system, but its maximum apertures are only f/3.5-f/4.3. This is smaller than the Nikon’s at the wide end, but larger at the telephoto end of the zoom range. The Sony T9 has a 2.5-inch LCD screen with 230,000 pixels like the S5’s. It also has a slide show mode similar to the Pictmotion concept: the Sony’s version pairs interesting transitions and music backgrounds with pictures, but doesn’t string it into a video file that can be saved. The Sony doesn’t need an extra card for that function either; it has 58 MB of internal memory. Still, users of this model will want to get a card to access the full 30 fps frame rate in the movie mode. The Sony T9 has manual ISO ratings to 640 and its battery lasts 240 shots per charge. It has a multi-terminal on its bottom that connects to an adaptor with cables, but the Cyber-shot cradle is not included in the package. The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T9 retails for $399, which is a little more expensive than the S5, but it has some great features and a similarly sexy metal frame.
Who It’s For
Point-and-Shooters – Oh yeah, this is your camera. It is portable in a pocket and attractive to look at. It is durable, with its metal body and internal lens, so it can take a reasonable beating. Finally, it’s easy to use. The S5 was made for point-and-shooters.
Budget Consumers – Retailing at $349, the Nikon S5 isn’t an especially great deal. There are plenty of other portable, easy to use digital cameras that even take better quality pictures for the same price or less.
Gadget Freaks – The time lapse shooting is very cool, as are the Pictmotion slide shows. Gadget freaks will enjoy these features for about two weeks, then will get bored and want to loosen the screws to try and find out how that face-priority auto focus mode works.
Manual Control Freaks – Look elsewhere. This digital camera is built with very few manual controls on it. The ones that are included don’t have much range, either. To these consumers, the 50-400 ISO range is simply blasphemous.
Pros / Serious Hobbyists – This audience won’t even give this model a glance, not even as a gift for their grandmothers. Its cramped style and scandalously sexy metal body is a turn-off to these users who appreciate function over form.
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