Digital Camera Review

Digital Camera Review

The slim and sexy Nikon Coolpix S6 was announced in February, along with its compatriot, the S5. Both cameras share similar specs, like 6 megapixels on a 1/2.5-inch CCD and a 3x optical zoom lens, with the main difference being the wireless capability on the flagship S6. The WiFi-enabled digital camera allows users to send photos and videos to profiled computers and printers without a USB cable in sight. Still, the camera comes with plenty of wires in the package. Included in the box is the Nikon CoolStation MV-15, which charges the battery and provides the access point to connect to the television, computer, or printer. The Nikon Coolpix S6 has enticing features like a 3-inch LCD screen and a Pictmotion mode that strings pictures and video clips into interesting slide shows complete with techno music. Ease of use features include a one-touch portrait mode, automatic functionality, and an all-metal body, designed like a wave to make handling more comfortable. The Nikon Coolpix S6 originally retailed for $449, but the price has since been lowered to $399.
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Picture Quality / Size Options (7.0)
While most digital cameras have a designated button that selects the picture size, the Nikon Coolpix S6 includes this list right in its menu system. The compressed JPEGs can be saved in the following image sizes: High (2816 x 2112), Normal (2816 x 2112), Normal (2048 x 1536), PC (1024 x 768), and TV (640 x 480). The top image size comes in fine or standard compression, but is the only size with options. Users who shoot at higher resolutions can resize pictures to streamline the email process. Pictures can be resized to the following: 640 x 480, 320 x 240, and 160 x 120 pixels.
 
Picture Effects Mode (7.0)
The Nikon Coolpix S6 comes with several different color modes: Standard Color, Vivid Color, Black and White, Sepia, and Cyanotype. The Standard mode is the default, with the Vivid mode simply over-saturating colors. If users want to exaggerate those hot pink pants, this mode will do it. The first two color modes look decent, but the rest of them just look a little off. Black and White could use some more contrast, Sepia looks too pinkish, and the Cyanotype looks too bluish. All of the color modes are only available before recording the picture – not in playback. There are live views of the color modes in the menu, but they are hard to see with the large text.

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