Auto Mode (6.0)
The Nikon Coolpix S510 doesn’t have an Auto mode, per se. The camera defaults to a “Shooting mode,” represented by a camera icon graphic, as a true Automatic mode would. But it's more like a Program mode. The S510's Auto mode gives the user access to various settings including white balance and ISO whereas many other cameras' Auto modes automate everything.
Movie Mode (6.75)
The Nikon Coolpix S510 records movies in AVI format with WAV audio. Movie mode is accessed through the Mode button and represented by a film camera icon. Movie mode defaults to TV resolution at 640 x 480 pixels at 30 frames per second (fps), but users have a full range of resolution options through the Mode button. At the highest movie quality, the camera can record up to a reported 3 minutes and 40 seconds on a 256MB memory card. Users can cut down the file size by recording at 320 x 240 at either 30 fps or a choppy 15 fps for posting to the Web. If users are e-mailing files, there is also a smaller 160 x 120-pixel resolution at 15 fps.
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Movie
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Movie options
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TV movie 640*, Small size 320*, Small size 320, Smaller size 160, Time-lapse movie*, Stop-motion movie
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Auto-focus mode
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Single AF, Full-time AF
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The camera records smoothly at full resolution, but autofocus is less-than-accurate, whether set to the default Single AF or switched to Full-Time AF. Digital zoom is enabled in Movie mode, but optical zoom is disabled.
There aren’t any editing tools for movie splicing or other changes after capture. Many competing point-and-shoots offer those options. Instead, the camera has two creative movie shooting modes. There is a Time-Lapse Movie function that automatically captures still pictures and splices them together for a silent move at 640 x 480 at 30 fps. There is also a Stop-Motion movie mode that records at the same resolution but a choice of 15, 10, or a minimal 5 fps.
With mediocre autofocus and no editing modes, the Movie mode on the Nikon S510 is simply an afterthought. Users who place high priority on the Movie mode in a still camera should consider higher-end compact hybrids or even smaller point-and-shoots with more built-in editing options.
Drive / Burst Mode (6.5)
A variety of burst shooting is available in the Nikon S510. The Burst modes are buried in the menu system, not in the Self-Timer button on the multi-selector where it is traditionally accessed. Users have to select the Shooting menu, then the Continuous submenu.
Users can switch from the default Single Shot mode to Continuous shooting which takes five frames in a reported 1.2 seconds. We found Continuous burst shoots slightly faster, at 0.9 seconds for up to five frames at the full resolution. Like most Burst modes, the Continuous setting disables flash to speed up the capture rate, which is something to consider when shooting in low light conditions.
The Best Shot Selector, or BSS mode, takes a maximum of 10 frames. BSS mode then automatically selects and saves what the camera interprets as the sharpest image of the bunch. The BSS isn’t all that accurate, though. What the camera saves as the “sharpest” is still a semi-blurry photo. Because the other nine images aren’t saved, users cannot view the other images to see if there's one they'd prefer.
Multi-Shot 16 mode is a 16-frame composite that arranges multiple photos into one index-type photo. Our tests show Multi-Shot captures at about half a second between each frame. Recorded at a reduced 5-megapixel resolution, multi-shot is geared for creative fun, like MySpace profile pictures or an action sequence filmstrip.
There is also an additional Interval Timer mode that reportedly captures up to 1,800 frames automatically at intervals between 30 seconds and 60 minutes. Users can also access the Self-Timer for a 2- or 10-second delay, accessed through the multi-selector.
The Nikon Coolpix S510 has plenty of burst options, surpassing many other point-and-shoots.
Playback Mode (7.5)
Users can access Playback in two steps, like most digital cameras. First, users hit the playback-dedicated button, then the menu button, which draws up a list of the following options:
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D-Lighting
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OK, Cancel
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Print set
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Print selected, Delete print set
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Slide Show
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Start, Frame intvl, Loop
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Delete
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Erase selected images, Erase all images
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Protect
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On, Off
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Small Pic
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640 x 480, 320 x 240, 160 x 120
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Copy
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IN-> Card, Card-> IN
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There aren’t many built-in editing functions, but the Playback menu does have Nikon’s signature D-Lighting compensation. D-Lighting is an all-purpose editing tool that fixes brightness and contrast. Users can see a before and after picture in a split screen view before applying the edit.
Users can also set the camera to play slide shows with duration changes, erase certain images or all photos, and lock certain photos from deletion. Other post-capture editing functions include a resizing setting to shrink the file size to as small as 160 x 120 pixels and a copy function to save pictures to the memory card or internal memory.
Custom Image Presets (7.75)
The Nikon Coolpix S510 has 15 Scene modes optimized for common shooting conditions. The list contains a standard scene set: Portrait, Landscape, Sports, Night portrait, Party/Indoor, Beach/Snow, Sunset, Dust/Dawn, Night Landscape, Close Up, Museum, Fireworks, Copy (similar to “Document” modes found on other cameras), Backlight, Panorama Assist, and Image mode. Users access the Scene modes though the Mode button.
The Panorama Assist mode helps make wide composite photos for landscapes or group pictures. The Panorama Assist requires the user to set the Scene mode and rotate the dial to change the arrow direction to indicate from side-to-side or top-to-bottom shooting. Once the user hits the shutter button, the camera saves the image with a live preview overlay so users can line up to the next frame. The camera doesn't automatically stitch the pictures together like some cameras do; users have to open the included Panorama Maker software for the final step.
The Image mode isn’t a scene set at all, although it is lumped with the presets. Image mode is really the Resolution menu.
Overall, the Nikon S510 has enough Scene modes to cover basic shooting conditions. Most of the modes lock out flash or focus, but users can change exposure compensation or Burst mode for most of the Scene modes.
