“The S260 captures accurate exposures with colours
that are true to life”
This compact is a slim 19.5mm – the lens lies flat until you
hit the power button, when the 5x optical zoom lens will spring into action.
The scene auto selector automatically chooses the best scene
mode for the shot you’re about to capture.
If feature a video capture at 720p HD, with a dedicated
record button at the rear of the camera.
Nikon’s latest addition to the stylish line-up shoots
with the beginner in mind
The compact camera market is a crowded one, meaning your
money can go further. Nikon’s S2600 is one such camera that comes with specs
way above its £70 (approx $114) station. It’s extremely pocketable at only
19.5mm thick, comes with 14 megapixels and a 5x optical zoom for flexible
shooting. However, the low price tag does mean that it comes with some flaws.
This is an entry-level model that controls all the settings
for you, featuring an auto scene selector that chooses from 18 scene modes. The
results are fairly reliable, capturing accurate exposures with colours that are
true to life, but it suffers in bright conditions. Purple fringing occurs
around the edges of objects where light meets dark, and highlights are usually
blown.
What is more of an issue is the length of time it takes for
the photos to be written to the memory card in between shots. This results in
missed opportunities and impatient subjects if you’re capturing a portrait.
The camera comes in a variety of different colours and our
test model – the purple version – even sports some line art around the
lens that would certainly appeal to the more fashion-conscious shooter.
The lens itself sports a 5x optical zoom, which is enough to
capture group shots and landscapes, as well as average close-ups but a minimum
distance of 10cm prevents you from shooting any dramatic macro photographs.
It’s straightforward to operate with labeled buttons and a menu that doesn’t
boast many options. The LCD screen has a low 230k-dot resolution and it is
slightly smaller than average at 2.7-inches.
It’s far from perfect but the price means it is a good
option for a child’s first camera, a teenager’s casual shooter, or an adult’s
budget back-up, but anyone looking to take photography seriously will grow out
of this compact far too quickly.
Hand-on…
The S260 is simple to use straight out of the box thanks to
its lack of buttons and fully automatic modes. It’s the ideal point-and-shoot
for beginners as there aren’t any confusing or advanced features.
The low-res LCD is
slightly smaller than the average three-inch screen
We answer your questions
I’m a novice, is this a good option?
The Nikon Coolpix S2600 is a fully automatic
point-and-shooter that is suited to beginners. You can select the appropriate
scene mode or opt for fully automatic mode so that the compact does all the
work for you. It also features a movie mode for video capture practice.
What’s good about it
ü
You can purchase this high-spec model for less than $84
ü
It’s small, pocketable and functions rather well as a
point-and-shoot
What could be better
ü
The back LCD screen is only 2.7-inches with a low 230k-dot
resolution
ü
Image quality is only really suitable for printing as
standard-sized snapshots
How good is it for
Portraits: Skin tones are flatteringly smooth and
Face Detection works well
Landscapes: Well-lit scenes are often overexposed,
appearing leached out
Sports: Despite Motion Detection, some action shots
were still blurred
Low light: The autofocus takes a while to lock-on
when shooting in dark situations
Macro: The minimum focusing distance of 10cm is
rather limiting
The info
Price: £70/
$84
Megapixels
/ 14MP
Morc
megapixels camera the ability to print larger images
Zoom
/ 5x optical, 4x digital
A focal
range of 26-156mm with the optical zoom
Shutter
speeds / 4-1/2000sec
The
fastest shutter speed is average for a compact camera
ISO
sensitivity / 80-3200
There is a
broad range of ISO speeds for low-light shooting
Exp.
modes/ 18 scenes, A, P
Beginners
will love the simplicity of the scene and auto modes
Aperture:
f3.2-6.5
Flash
modes: TTL Auto
Weight:
121g
Dimensions:
93.8 x 58.4 x 19.5mm
Batteries:
Lithium-ion
Storage:
SD/ SDHC/ SDXC
Screen:
2.7 inches
|
Verdict
Features: 3/5
Design and
handling: 3/5
Build
quality: 3/5
Image
quality: 3/5
Value for
money: 4/5
The Nikon
Coolpix S2600 is slim, stylish and sports impressive specs considering the
low price tag. A fine point-and-shooter but the image quality is compromise: 3/5
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