Nikon Coolpix S630 vs Olympus MJU 7000 Comparison
Olympus MJU 7000
Nikon Coolpix S630
The Olympus MJU 7000 and the Nikon Coolpix S630 are different from many smaller compacts as the offer some extra zoom when compared with most cameras with similar dimensions and weight. They are both quite stylish cameras. These two cameras tend to be marketed as suitable for travel and holidays owing to that extra zoom power.
Basic Specification
Olympus MJU 7000
12 megapixels
7x optical zoom
96.4 x 55.9 x 25.3mm
132g
3 inch LCD screen
Macro focusing 2cm
Nikon Coolpix S630
12 megapixels
7x optical zoom
96.5 x 57.5 x 25.5mm
140g
2.7 inch LCD screen
Macro focusing 2cm
Features
The features show just how closely matched these two digital cameras are. It is almost as if one company were looking over the other's shoulder when the specifications were being drawn up. Even the dimensions and the weight of the cameras is more or less identical with the Coolpix S630 weighing just a few grams more.
The most noticeable difference is the fact Olympus has given the MJU 7000 a slightly larger LCD screen.
Design
Design is another area where there are plenty of similarities. Both cameras are a shade larger than the smallest pocket cameras, but you should be able to squeeze either model into a good sized pocket. The MJU 7000 is available in a choice of silver, black or blue.
Start Up and Shutter Lag
The biggest difference I found in terms of shutter delay is if you are looking to fire off a short burst of photos. The Coolpix S630 was very slow in this area unless you switched modes to continuous shooting. If all you want to do is take a quick two or three picture, one after the other this is an area where I found the Coolpix S630 to be quite weak.
Aside from that issue there was little difference in turn on time or the time taken to capture single images.
Power Supply
Both cameras are powered by lithium ion batteries.
Picture Quality
You should be able to produce decent snapshots with either the Coolpix S630 or the MJU 7000. I must admit to being a big fan of the colour and brightness that most Nikon digital cameras are able to produce for general outdoor scenic shots. I think this gives the Coolpix S630 a slight edge. The MJU 7000 performed very well in my close up tests.
Ease of Use
The menu system Nikon use is one of the best around in my opinion. It is very clear and easy to read. There are also few options for you to get bogged down with and overall the Coolpix S630 scores very well for ease of use. There is very little that can be described as complicated about the MJU 7000 either, but the way Nikon has organized this camera makes it stand out.
One area I found a bit annoying with the Coolpix S630 is that the zoom has a small number of steps. This means that when you use the zoom ring it can be difficult to get just the right amount of zoom. This leaves you feeling you have either zoomed in too far or not far enough.
Verdict
Based on current prices at the time of putting this comparison together you will need to pay a small premium for the Coolpix S630. I think based on the outdoor pictures this camera takes and its ease of use it is just about worth it. It is a close call, but if I was choosing between these two cameras the Coolpix S630 is the one I would buy.
Where to Buy - Olympus MJU 7000
Where to Buy - Nikon Coolpix S630
Product Shots
Front View
Olympus MJU 7000
Nikon Coolpix S630
Back View
Olympus MJU 7000
Nikon Coolpix S630
Top View
Olympus MJU 7000
Nikon Coolpix S630
