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Nikon Coolpix S5

Digital Camera Review

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Testing / Performance

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Components
August 08, 2006 By Emily Raymond
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Front (8.0)
The front of the Nikon Coolpix S5 is quite plain, and its important features are all crammed into the top right corner. The 3x optical zoom lens, which remains in the camera body at all times, is between the built-in flash on the left and the auto focus assist lamp on the right. A Nikon logo graces the top left corner of the camera, while the Coolpix S5 title sits below the three features on the right side. The lens specs are printed down the right side: "Zoom Nikkor ED 5.8-17.4 mm, 1:3.0-5.4."
 
Back (7.5)
The back side of the camera has a platform that frames the LCD screen and a few control buttons, then what looks like a bit out of its top right corner. This semi-circular divot is where the right thumb rests; there are four bumps to aid grip. Just left of the divot are two rectangular buttons. The top one has two icons on it for the shooting and playback modes; the button below has a green ‘m’ on it with the word "mode" below it. Below this is a smaller rectangular button labeled "Menu." To its right is a similar button with a trash can icon on it. A square LED that lights up green is situated just above the delete button. At the bottom of the control set is a rotary dial with a central OK button and four surrounding icons: the top changes the flash mode, the left turns on the self-timer, and the bottom activates the macro mode. There is also an arrow icon next to a circled ‘OK’, which means that the central button can transfer pictures to printers with a single touch. To the left of all these controls is the 2.5-inch LCD screen, which is flush with the platform and has a Nikon logo beneath it.

Left Side (8.0)
The left side is completely devoid of features. It has a very shiny chrome finish. So shiny, in fact, that users can check to see if broccoli is sticking in their teeth after dinner. The mirror is quite skinny, but is still usable – especially because there are no features to block the view.

Right Side (8.0)
The right side can also act as a small mirror, but its view isn’t as good. There is an eyelet in the center of this side.

Top (7.0)
The top of the S5 shows Nikon’s interesting "wave" design. The camera is thicker on the left side, where the 3x optical zoom lens resides. The right side is a touch thinner, which makes the camera more comfortable to hold. On the left side of the S5’s top is the one-touch portrait button that activates all of Nikon’s portraiture technology. To its right are four holes that act as the speaker. There is an oval hole directly right of the speaker; this is the microphone. On the right half of the top is a chrome highlight with three buttons on it. The power button, which is tiny and circular, is on the left. The shutter release button is oval-shaped and placed in the middle, with a tiny LED to its left. On the right side is the zoom toggle, which moves left to zoom out and right to zoom in.

Bottom (8.0)
The wave design is also visible from the bottom of the Nikon Coolpix S5. The serial number and branding info are located under the thicker side with the lens on it, and the battery compartment is in the thinner side where the right hand grips the camera. Just right of the center are the tripod socket near the front and the connector terminal near the rear.

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Nikon Coolpix S5
Digital Camera Review
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Testing / Performance

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Components