Latest Update - Nikon Coolpix S6 Review by CNET (added 24 May ’07)

Nikon’s Coolpix S6 Review Roundup includes summaries from all main digital camera expert reviewers as they become available, company specification sheet, owners manual, videos, Digital Camera Tracker’s unique review conclusion thermometer, and sample photos taken with the Nikon Coolpix S6.

Nikon Coolpix S6 Features Include:

• 6 megapixel
• 3.0 inch LCD
• 3x optical zoom
• Wi-Fi enabled
• In camera red-eye fix
• Face priority auto focus
• D-lighting eliminates overly dark images

Nikon Coolpix S6 Reviewer - Opinion Thermometer

CNET
PCWorld
GoodGearGuide
Imaging Resource
PCMag
Photoxels
PhotographyBlog
T3

Read More Nikon Coolpix S6 Reviews

CNET - 5/24/2007 - has reviewed the Nikon Coolpix S6 and writes, “The Nikon Coolpix S6 is a relatively peppy performer, rattling off shots at a reasonable rate. After a wake-up time of just 2 seconds, the camera snapped a shot every 1.8 seconds thereafter. Even with the onboard flash enabled, we could take a photo every 2.1 seconds. Shutter lag was a moderate 0.5 second in bright light, although dim light caused the lag to balloon to 1.7 seconds.”

PCWorld - 3/19/2007 - has reviewed the 6 megapixel Nikon Coolpix S6 and here’s the verdict, “My photos looked colorful and sharp–pleasing for the most part. The PC World Test Center gave the S6 an overall image-quality score of Good. The camera’s marks for color fidelity and exposure accuracy were a bit above average, but it scored slightly below average for sharpness.”

GoodGearGuide - 2/10/2007 - has reviewed the 6 megapixel Nikon Coolpix S6 and they write, “The CoolPix S6’s design is one area where it truly excels. With a curved, black aesthetic, it certainly looks quite classy, and the large 3in LCD display is certain to please plenty of users. The controls are also a little different, with the standard five-way navigational pad replaced by a scroll wheel, used to navigate the menus. The rest of the buttons are fairly standard, with menu, trash, mode and playback keys rounding out the unit’s controls. Overall, the CoolPix S6 is lightweight, attractive and definitely one of the better designed compacts we’ve recently reviewed.”

Imaging Resource - 9/20/2006 - has reviewed the 6 megapixel Nikon Coolpix S6 and here’s the verdict - “Between capture and playback, the S6 provides a lot of picture-taking intelligence. The ED glass makes the most of the S6’s small lens. The Feature System provides Nikon exclusives like face detection auto focusing, in-camera red-eye removal, and D-Lighting. The Scene modes are easily accessed, especially Portrait, which has its own button. Everything else is fun to find with the new rotary multi-selector. In short, it’s a smart choice.”

Quesabesde - 07/17/2006 - a Spanish site has reviewed the 6 megapixel Nikon Coolpix S6 and here’s the verdict -

“In Favor: - Comfortable unloading of images to the computer by means of Wi-Fi transmission. - Interesting finished and design. - Good quality of image. - High quality Nikkor zoom lens. - 3 inch LCD.”

PCMag - 07/15/2006 - has reviewed the 6 megapixel Nikon Coolpix S6 and rate it 3 out of 5 -

“Overall, the camera is pleasant to hold and to use. Some of the buttons along the top of the camera, including the zoom control, are too tiny, though; those with large fingers might find it awkward to operate.”

Photoxels - 07/8/2006 - has reviewed the 6 megapixel Nikon Coolpix S6 and here’s their verdict - “The Nikon Coolpix S6 is easy to use and has lots features like D-Lighting, Face-Priority AF, and Panorama scene mode that actually help you take better pictures. If you love Wi-Fi technology, then this compact and stylish digital camera should certainly be on your list.”

PhotographyBlog - 07/05/2006 - has reviewed the 6 megapixel Nikon Coolpix S6 and here’s their verdict -

“The “S” in Nikon Coolpix S6 stands for “Style”, and this camera certainly delivers on that promise. The Nikon S6 is one of the most distinctive point and shoot compact cameras on the market today, with an overall style that is subtle yet pleasing. The large 3 inch LCD screen is a joy to use, and the rotary wheel on the back of the camera echoes the Apple iPod.”

T3 - 06/19/2006 - has reviewed the 6 megapixel Nikon Coolpix S6 and here’s their verdict -

“It looks great, shoots great and makes falling off a log look like quantum physics. Add straightforward Wi-Fi functionality and you’ve got a winner.”

Digital Camera Info - 06/13/2006 - has reviewed the 6 megapixel Nikon Coolpix S6 and here’s their verdict -

“The Nikon Coolpix S6, with its sexy all-metal body and big screen, offers some very nice features but still has the “small camera syndrome.” Symptoms include poor handling from overall tiny size, automatic modes, blurry pictures, a weak flash, and a body sexier than its true functionality. Indeed, the Nikon S6 has perhaps the smallest zoom control ever included on a digital camera and is sure to break thousands of fingernails. The camera is equipped with automatic modes that work well in bright lighting, but lacks the sensitivity needed to capture decent pictures in lower light: users will end up with plenty of blurry pictures if their subjects are moving. The S6’s tiny flash is powerful in the short range, but can’t reach beyond about 8.5 ft. As with many other small cameras, many pictures from the S6 had red eyes and a harsh flash – despite Nikon’s portraiture technology.”

Digicam Review - 06/12/2006 - has reviewed the 6 megapixel Nikon Coolpix S6 and indicate that image quality is hit and miss with this camera. Their verdict -

“The Nikon Coolpix S6 is a very stylish, slim 6 megapixel digital camera with a 3x optical zoom lens and a huge 3″ screen on the back. The digital camera is one of few to include Wi-Fi support for wireless transfer of photos. The camera has a lot of features built in that aim to produce a better image, such as Face-priority focus, D-lighting, Red-eye reduction, Blur-warning, etc. However all of this is useless if the lens isn’t capable of acquiring a sharp clean image. In this case, the Nikon Coolpix S6 is noticably let down by the lens, as it produces vignetting, distortion, soft corners, and soft edges, so no matter how much post-processing goes on, the image quality will always be a weak point of this camera. Add to that, the very high red-eye in indoor photos, that isn’t removed by the built in red-eye reduction, and the image quality problems start mounting up. Overall image quality is very hit and miss, one photo will come out looking great, (particularly macro photos), whereas another photo will come out looking awful (the worst photos were left out of the gallery). If image quality was up there with the rest of the cameras features and abilities then this would be recommended, however, as it stands with image quality so hit and miss, it’s very difficult to recommend this camera.”

DC Resource - 06/08/2006 - has reviewed the 6 megapixel Nikon Coolpix S6 and indicate that Nikon has packed just about every conceivable feature into its slim body. Their verdict -

Overall I was a bit disappointed with the Coolpix S6. Sure, it looks cool, and some of the features are really handy. But the bottom line is that photo quality is not as good as other ultra-compacts, and it has more flaws to boot. I’d probably skip the S6 and look at one of the cameras listed below instead.

Megapixel - 05/30/2006 - has finished a new review of the 6 megapixel Nikon Coolpix S6 and rate it a 7.6 for functionality and 8.4 for photographic quality. Their verdict -

Positives: Elegant and slim design. Good overall image quality. Excellent 3-inch LCD monitor. Good macro capability. WiFi capable. Includes Cool-Station. Effectively noise-free at 50 and 100 ISO.

Lets Go Digital - 05/28/2006 - has reviewed the 6 megapixel Nikon Coolpix S6 and rate it 79 out of 100. They write - “The Nikon Coolpix S6 is a stylish performer with a handy control wheel, but its Wi-Fi implementation feels almost like an afterthought. “I found working with the Nikon S6 digital camera an exceptionally pleasant experience. The camera truly lives up to its word; ease, excellent image quality and superb innovation packaged in a stylish design. Although the Coolpix S6 camera does leave Nikon room for improvement on a few minor points, such as adding optical image stabilisation, and extending the optical zoom range, this is something for a future generation of Coolpix S-series cameras.”

CNET - 05/23/2006 -has reviewed the 6 megapixel Nikon Coolpix S6 and rate it 7 out 10. They go on to write - “The Nikon Coolpix S6 is a stylish performer with a handy control wheel, but its Wi-Fi implementation feels almost like an afterthought. “

DP Interface - 05/15/2006 -has reviewed the 6 megapixel Nikon Coolpix S6 and gets an A+ in the style category. They continue to write - “This camera is a great one for point-and-shoot group snaps but not at night or for sports. I would recommend the Nikon Coolpix S6 for the above use but I think the Sony T30 is a better deal. Well, in case you need built-in WiFi or like its design or whatever your reason to get the S6, but you’re stuck between the Nikon Coolpix S5 and S6 - I think the Nikon Coolpix S6 is a better deal: for an additional $40, you’re getting a larger LCD, WiFi and slightly better image quality at high ISOs.”

Hardware Zone - 04/21/2006 - has reviewed the 6 megapixel CCD, 3x optical zoom, 3-inch LCD, 22MB of internal memory Nikon Coolpix S6 and here’s their experience - “In all, we loved the seamless wireless capability found in the S6. It delivers convenience by freeing users from having unsightly cables while providing users with another alternative to offload and share pictures. Quality wise, the S6 was able to capture still with good reproduction and image noise were mostly minimal. Night landscape shots were brilliantly captured as well with commendable color separation and low noise even at ISO 200. Slight edge softening was noticeable though.”

Wi-Fi Planet - 04/12/2006 - has reviewed the 6 megapixel Nikon Coolpix S6 and here’s their experience - “Range and connection speed are not quite as good as with most computer Wi-Fi adapters, but appeared to be slightly better than with the previous Nikon Wi-Fi models. In my small house, there were still places where camera-to-PC connections were solid but slow.”

Steve’s Digicams - 04/07/2006 - has reviewed the 6 megapixel Nikon Coolpix S6 and here’s the bottom line - “The Coolpix S6 has a lot of appeal to those wanting ease of use and good image quality in a very small stylish package. It offers several unique features that distinguish it from the competition, including a 3-inch LCD monitor, D-lighting, Red Eye Fix, Best Shot Selector, and WiFi connectivity. But it suffers from low flash output and sometimes selects a low shutter speed that results in images blurred by camera shake. The S6 is a fairly good value if you need its WiFi connectivity to reduce cable clutter, and want an extra-large LCD. If you’re satisfied with USB connectivity and a 2 1/2-inch LCD, the Coolpix S5 includes all of the S6’s photographic features for about $100 less.”

Nikon Coolpix S6 Sample Pictures

[Sample Photos at Quesabesde]

[Sample Photos at Photoxels]

[Sample Photos at PhotographyBlog]

[Sample Pictures at DC Resource]

[Sample Pictures at Megapixel]

[Sample Pictures at Steve's Digicams]

[Sample Pictures at DC Resource]

Nikon Coolpix S6 Spec Sheet

[Nikon Coolpix S6 Specs at Nikon]

Nikon Coolpix S6 Owners Manual

[Nikon Coolpix S6 Users Manual]

[Nikon Coolpix S6 Software Downloads]

Nikon Coolpix S6 Initial Press Summary

Two exciting digital compacts packing new photo-sharing entertainment into attractive wave-surface designs

Tokyo - Nikon Corporation is delighted to announce two exciting new cameras - the COOLPIX S5 and S6. The stylish models have been built with the sharing and enjoyment of digital photography in mind, combining high-quality imaging performance with a striking wave-surface design, the ability to improve images in-camera, outstandingly large LCDs and a powerful new Pictmotion function that allows users to create entertaining in-camera shows.

The brand new Pictmotion function lets users create much more than just a slideshow – indeed it enables a radically new form of in-camera entertainment. This allows users to select favourite images and movie files, pick a style, and then select a music file from one of the five pre-installed files in the camera - or even add their own music via PictureProject for Windows only - to suit the show. Pictmotion then automatically analyses all these elements to produce highly entertaining shows that are coupled with pace and transition selected to match the chosen music and style.

These shows can then be played back anywhere, anytime on the ample-sized LCD monitors (COOLPIX S5: 2.5-inch; S6: 3.0-inch), and because each of these monitors offers a surprisingly wide viewing angle of 170° (both horizontal and vertical), such in-camera entertainment can be enjoyed by everyone at the same time. Both cameras also feature Auto Image Rotation, which detects pictures that have been taken with the camera held vertically, automatically rotating them to suit in-camera LCD playback.

With the COOLPIX S5 and S6, image quality is a top priority: both cameras offer a 1/2.5-inch CCD and 6.0 effective megapixel resolution to produce images that stay sharp even when significantly enlarged. They also feature a high-quality 3x Zoom-Nikkor ED lens with a range of 35-105mm (35mm equivalent) that gives the photographer the flexibility to zoom out for beautiful landscapes, zoom in for tightly-composed portraits, and enjoy macro photography from as close as 4cm.

Both the COOLPIX S5 and S6 have been specially designed to be visually appealing as well as easy to use. The eye-catching wave-surface designs are more than just about great styling - their thin, compact dimensions and form make the COOLPIX S5 and S6 really comfortable to hold.

In terms of control, the cameras feature a new Rotary multi-selector that allows fast circular scrolling for speedy image browsing at up to 10 frames per second, a range of buttons that further simplify operation and an on-screen icon with a cursor that tracks circular scrolling, making it easy to select desired features. Furthermore, users can select functions by name or icon according to their personal preference, and all menus and icons have been made easier on the eye with a new color scheme and optimised icon dimensions.

The COOLPIX S5 and S6 also boast a new One-touch portrait button, conveniently located at the top of the camera body, making it much simpler to take better quality pictures by offering easy access to Nikon’s unique Face-priority AF, In-Camera Red-Eye Fix and D-Lighting functions. With Face-priority AF*, the camera can automatically detect people’s faces in the frame, no matter where they are located, to produce sharply focused portraits.

In-Camera Red-Eye Fix detects the unfortunate red-eye effect that can sometimes happen in flash photography, automatically compensating for it in-camera to produce more pleasing results. D-Lighting (available in playback mode) enables users to improve images that are underexposed or taken with too much back light - creating a copy of the image with light and detail added where necessary while leaving the well-exposed parts exactly the way they were.

The COOLPIX S6 delivers the additional advantage of Wi-Fi capability. Offering IEEE 802.11b/g support, it allows users to send images wirelessly to a computer as soon as they are taken or to transfer in one go all images stored in memory to a computer. The COOLPIX S6 also supports cable-free printing**, enabling images to be sent directly to PictBridge-compatible printers without the need to use a computer .

A selection of 15 Scene modes - 4 with Scene assist - allows COOLPIX S5 and S6 users achieve satisfying results, aided by clear focus and optimal exposure in diverse situations. All the user has to do is select the most appropriate Scene mode best for the scene and compose the shot, leaving the camera to automatically select the optimum settings.

Three movie modes with sound are also available for capturing action at up to 30 frames per second. Both cameras also feature Time-lapse movie shooting capability that allows dramatic results to be created out of slow-moving action, such as shooting a flower blooming or a movie of clouds rushing across the sky, for example.

The COOLPIX S5 and S6 help speed up the user’s search for recorded images thanks to a Calendar function that automatically sorts images according to the date they were taken. For further versatility, the COOLPIX S5 and S6 come complete with the COOL-STATION MV-14 and MV-15 respectively, to allow batteries to be recharged while they are still in the camera. They also offer USB connectivity and can even be hooked up for TV display.

On a final note, the COOLPIX S5 and S6 come bundled with Nikon’s complimentary PictureProject software and an easy-to-use Wireless Camera Setup Utility which employs a simple Wizard to configure the camera for wireless operation. The beauty of PictureProject is that it makes editing pictures, organising shots and sharing images remarkably simple, while a range of available plug-ins lets users extend capabilities as they like.

• Face recognition capability may be limited in some shooting conditions. ** Requires optionally available Wireless Printer Adapter PD-10.

Sales release schedule: This camera is scheduled for release in February 2006. Note: Specifications, design, product name, standard accessories, and release schedule may differ by country or area.

Nikon COOLPIX S5/S6 Feature Highlights

Pictmotion with high-quality music

Nikon’s new Pictmotion is much more than a simple slideshow function. Available on both the COOLPIX S5 and COOLPIX S6, it allows you to select your favorite images and movie files, then pick a style and add a music file of your choice from among 5 pre-installed ones, or load your own choice of music* to suit the images. The COOLPIX S5 and S6 then automatically analyze each element to produce an entertaining show with pace and transitions determined by music and style for in-camera viewing anywhere on the generous LCD with an impressive 170° viewing angle that makes it easy for everyone to see. Furthermore, to heighten enjoyment of audio elements, both cameras also feature a large speaker that delivers heightened sound pressure and a sampling frequency increased from 8 to 22kHz that makes for noticeably enhanced sound clarity. * Via PictureProject for Windows only.

Eye-catching wave-surface design

Both the COOLPIX S5 and S6 have been created with a unique wave-surface design that is both esthetically appealing and very comfortable in the hand. They are also available in an attractive range of colors (availability may vary by country or region), with each exterior combining a range of attractive textures comprising a high-grade glossy main aluminum body with elements of protective acrylic, resilient stainless steel and silicone paneling.

Large LCDs

The COOLPIX S5 and S6 feature large 2.5-inch and 3.0-inch 230,000-dot TFT LCDs respectively. Such generous size does away with the need for a viewfinder and makes for easier composition. Both LCDs also offer an impressive 170° viewing angle that makes it easy for everyone to enjoy the playback of still images, movies and entertaining Pictmotion shows anywhere, at any time.

Rotary multi selector and improved GUI

Operation has been made smoother, simpler and faster. A new Rotary multi selector incorporated into the camera back enables high-speed image browsing with circular scrolling action at up to 10 frames per second, while a range of buttons built into the Rotary multi selector make for more intuitive operation. There’s also an on-screen icon with a cursor that tracks Rotary multi selector scrolling to make function selection even simpler still. The COOLPIX S5 and S6 also feature various screens and menus created with a color scheme that’s easier on the eye, functions can be selected by the user’s choice of name or icon, and all icons have been optimized and made clearer for easy viewing.

Built-in Wi-Fi

The COOLPIX S6 features the additional advantage of built-in Wi-Fi capability to add further enjoyment and flexibility to digital photography. Providing IEEE 802.11b/g support, it enables individual images to be wirelessly transferred to computer as soon as they’re recorded, allows all stored images to be sent to a computer simultaneously and also supports cable-free direct printing* with PictBridge-compatible printers. * Requires optionally available Wireless Printer Adapter PD-10.

One-touch portrait functions

A standalone One-touch portrait button is conveniently located on the top of the COOLPIX S5 and S6, giving direct access to three innovative Nikon features for in-camera improvement. Face-priority AF automatically finds and then focuses on people’s faces no matter where they are in the frame for pleasingly sharp portraits time after time. In-Camera Red-Eye Fix can automatically detect the annoying red-eye effect that sometimes occurs in flash photography, then compensate for it in-camera to give natural-looking portraits. And D-Lighting can improve underexposed images or shots taken with too much back light by creating a copy with light and detail added wherever necessary and well-exposed areas kept exactly as they are.

Nikon COOLPIX S5/S6 Other Features

Highly compact dimensions of (W x H x D) S5: 93 x 59 x 20mm (3.7 x 2.3 x 0.8 in.); S6: 100.5 x 60 x 21mm (3.9 x 2.4 x 0.8 in.) Carry-anywhere light weight (without battery and memory card): S5: Approx. 135g (4.8 oz.), S6: Approx. 140g (4.9 oz.) S5: 21MB (approx.), S6: 20MB (approx.) of internal memory, SD Card compatibility BSS (Best Shot Selector) identifies and saves the sharpest shot automatically from ten sequential shots Exposure BSS automatically selects and saves the shot most closely matching user-selected criteria from five sequential shots USB connectivity supports easy transfer of data to computers and other peripherals Swift startup of approx. 0.8 seconds; Continuous shooting at up to 2.2fps Date Counter visually records countdown of days to an occasion or number of days since an important event Help Button provides easy-to-understand explanations for functions on main menu Blur Warning informs user after shooting if an image is blurred Menu available in a choice of 20 languages Noise Reduction produces better results during low-light conditions Time zone function enables the camera clock to be set to local time, anywhere in the world 4x digital zoom extends compositional freedom Rechargeable EN-EL8 Li-ion Battery (supplied) can shoot approx. 210 shots (S5)/ 200 shots (S6) on a single charge Field Jacket FJ-CP1 water-resistant case (optional) lets users keep the COOLPIX dry to underwater depths of 3 meters Dock Insert PV-10/PV-11 (supplied) enable direct printing to compatible ImageLink printers Choice of White Balance: Auto with TTL control, 6-mode manual (Daylight, Incandescent, Fluorescent, Cloudy, Flash and White Bal. Preset) Voice recording available for duration of up to 5 hours or until memory capacity is reached