Overview
The Nikon Coolpix S510 is a compact digital camera that will slip into a pocket. Emphasis is on ease of use rather than the camera being weighed down with lots of features. The Coolpix S510 has 8 megapixels, a 3x optical zoom lens and a metal body.
Main Features
Megapixels:
Zoom:
LCD Screen:
Dimensions:
Weight:
8
3x
2.5 inches
88 x 51 x 22mm
125g
Macro:
HD Movies:
Manual Controls:
Batteries:
Memory Cards:
15cm
No
No
Lithium ion
SD/SDHC
Image Quality - See Sample Images Below
Outdoor Scenic Shots in Good Light
Focusing in all three of my outdoor test shots is better than most digital cameras with a similar specification are able to produce. Focusing also remains strong as you move towards the edge of the first outdoor shot. Glare from the sun is handled quite well although a small amount of detail is lost from the boat on the right hand side of the photo.
As mentioned above focusing is above average on the whole, although there is a more noticeable loss of sharpness towards the very edges of the photo. The corners of the photo are also darker as the lens finds pulling in enough light for the shot a challenge. Even so I am happy with the overall result.
I like the brightness of this photo. Considering the Coolpix S5100 only has a standard 3x lens the level of detail is impressive.
Portraits
This is my favourite picture from this set of test results. The photo is sharper than I am used to seeing and the colours are just right for me. To help with sharpness I used face detection focusing. To boost the colours I used a white balance setting of cloudy.
The best part about this photo is the fact that the flash does not blast away all the colour in the photo. This shows especially well with the skin tones. Focusing is sharp too.
This is one of the most successful shots I have taken since introducing this test. There is plenty of detail and not too much noise showing in the picture. As long as the light is sufficiently bright indoors you should be able to take photos without the need to use flash.
Macro, Colours and Noise
To be honest the Coolpix S510 is not really set up as a camera for taking macro shots. The minimum focusing distance is 15cm and I have cropped my macro shot to create a close up. With the majority of cameras capable of focusing from 5cm or closer this makes a big difference and anyone who is looking to take a lot of close ups should look elsewhere.
I have no complaints about the colours in my test shots. The brightness levels in the pictures help to make the colours appear to be quite vivid, but at the same time natural.
The quality of the shot at ISO 400 is one of the best I have seen. This supports the results I saw for the indoor portrait without flash. There is a far greater level of detail showing in the shot than I am used to seeing.
ISO 1600 is a step too far though. All quality has gone. I am not too concerned about this as it is unlikely you will be selecting this setting on a regular basis.
Summary
My overall impression when it comes to picture quality is a positive one. There are very few negative points I have come across and there are plenty of positives.
Style
The Coolpix S510 is available in silver and a darker gunmetal. It has a simple design. I like the selection wheel on the back of the camera. It speeds up selecting the settings you wish to use.
Shutter Lag Times
Single Shot
Five Shots
Single Shot With Flash
Five Shots With Flash
0.54 seconds
9.97 seconds
1.64 seconds
16.71 seconds
Ease of Use
This is about as straightforward a camera as you are likely to find. The menu system is easy to read and there are not many settings to gets to grips with.
Points I Like
Ease of use - picture quality - simple design
Where it Could Improve
Shutter lag - macro range
Verdict
I like the Nikon Coolpix S510. The camera does a good job and achieves what it sets out to do. This is to be a simple pocket sized camera that takes decent photos in most situations. Shutter lag times could be improved and if you are looking to buy a camera to take snapshots of active children or pets this is a drawback.
Product Shots
Front View
Back View
Top View
Sample Menus
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Related Pages
Nikon Coolpix S510 Review Nikon Coolpix S510 Specification Nikon Coolpix S510 Sample Images Nikon Coolpix S510 Features
Review Date
January 2008
