Nikon Coolpix S200 Review - Performance and Image Quality
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I guess I saved the worst for last in this review. The S200 does not excel against the competition when it comes to performance and image quality. The average photographer may not mind a camera that is a bit slow, but for professionals it may be deal breaker. Recent tests have shown that the typical shot-to-shot times of the S200 are about 1.9 seconds. In low-light conditions, the S200 really slows down its performance with a shutter lag time of 2.6 seconds. One positive note, though, is the shutter lag time in normal lighting conditions is a decent 0.6 seconds, which is almost twice as good as its brother, the S500. Continuous shooting speeds are relatively slow at about 1 frame per second, while the S500 excels at almost 3 frames per second.
The image quality of the S200 is much like the performance; average users will probably be happy with it, while professionals will not. Photos at all ISO levels appear to contain some noise, and it gets worse as you work your way up to ISO 1000. Larger photos taken with the S200 will lack a bit of detail, but to the untrained eye these minor flaws would hardly be noticeable. Action shots appear okay, but there is some blurriness and noise visible.
I think for the average point-and-shooter, the S200's image quality will be sufficient. If your intent is to use this camera for smaller prints (8 x 10 or less), then the image quality should be good enough. For the professional, or anyone who is looking for a fast and accurate camera, the S200 would probably not be a good choice because of the slow speeds and average image quality.
Final Thoughts
I'm a big fan of the Coolpix line of cameras by Nikon, mostly because I have owned one for the past five years. Coolpix cameras are some of the easiest and most user-friendly cameras on the market today, which makes them a good choice for beginners. This camera would be an excellent choice for college students, travelers, or for everyday use.
I'm most impressed by the design of the S200 with its stylish look and tiny body. This camera is probably in the top ten best pocket cameras on the market; it's definitely one of the slimmest. I'm not overly impressed with the S200's feature set or its performance and image quality. For the average photographer, this camera will do the trick, but it's not for professionals.
In my opinion, you may want to take a look at some other cameras out there before you purchase this one. For $200 you can get the Canon SD1000 or one of Sony's W-series cameras which are both good performers. For those of you who want to upgrade an older Coolpix camera and liked the user-friendly interface and design in your old one, this new Coolpix is sure to satisfy your taste buds.
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