Nikon Coolpix S500 Review - Features
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As usual, Nikon has put a great set of usable features into their camera. I will touch on some of its key features.
One of the great features of this camera is the VR image stabilization system, which is becoming pretty standard in all digital cameras. The VR stands for "Vibration Reduction," and that is just what it does. This feature allows the user to shoot at slower speeds and still get relatively clear shots. Also working in conjunction with the VR stabilization is the anti-shake feature which I mentioned earlier in this review. This feature helps to produce less blurry images in low-light or while at full zoom. It is activated with the push of a button, while the VR stabilization feature is always active unless you shut it off. The photo samples shown here show the difference between a shot with VR on and with VR off.
There is another feature which Nikon put into this camera which also helps to get the best image possible from a shot. This feature is called BSS (Best Shot Selector). It works by taking up to 10 shots in a row, very quickly, and then choosing the best shot as the final image. This is a very cool feature not available in a lot of cameras.
For low-light conditions, this Nikon is capable of reaching levels of ISO 2000. At these levels, the shutter speed is greatly increased so that images can be captured when the object is moving or when the object is dimly lit.
The portrait mode is another very useful feature in this camera. I mentioned earlier that this feature is accessible by a push of a button which is located on top of the camera. With this feature turned on, the camera will seek out the person's face and focus in on it. If the person in the photo moves, the camera will sense that and in turn will move to where the face is. This is a very useful feature which helps to create the best portrait pictures possible.
Some of the key specs of this camera are the 7.1 mega pixel CCD sensor, the 3x optical zoom, and the 640 x 480 movie capture ability. At over 7 mega pixels, this camera will easily produce 8 x 10 photos or even larger without any loss of quality. The 3x optical zoom is good, although many competitors have a higher zoom power than this one. The movie mode works great and it includes sound. There is also a feature in which the user can take time-lapsed photos and turn them into a movie such as the movement of clouds or a flower growing.
Some of the other features include 15 scene modes, 4x digital zoom, and 5 special effects choices. There is also a limited amount of in-camera editing such as the red-eye fix, and cropping of images.
Included with your purchase of the Nikon Coolpix S500 are the following items:
- Nikon S500 camera
- USB cable
- A/V cable
- Neck strap
- Software
- Lithium ion battery and charger
- Warranty card
The camera comes equipped with 26 MB of memory, which is not sufficient. I recommend purchasing a 2 or 4 GB SD memory card which will hold plenty of pictures and movies.
Next: Performance and Image Quality >>
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