Nikon
COOLPIX S640
Behind every Nikon COOLPIX compact digital camera is the fundamental
idea that photography should bring you joy. Every shot you take is a
precious moment captured. With Nikon COOLPIX cameras you can
capture that moment and its joy forever. The
Nikon Coolpix S640's MSRP is few rands more than its linemate, the
S570. But those few rands buy you optical image stabilization, some
slightly improved shooting performance, and a couple extra shooting
options. Otherwise, it's the same simple and stylish camera with a
wide-angle lens, 5x zoom, and consistently very good photo quality below
ISO 400. The only thing keeping this very good camera from being
better is the lack of an HD-quality movie mode. If you're fine with its VGA-only mode, then
the S640 is a better-than-basic ultra compact camera.
Available in pink, red, white, and black versions, the S640 is a
slim, lightweight camera that can be easily slipped into a pants pocket
or small bag. Its metal body gives it a sturdy, high-end feel. Its
lens specifications add to that feel, hitting all the things good to
find on an ultracompact camera--28mm-equivalent wide-angle with a
maximum aperture of f2.7 and a 5x zoom range. The only disappointment
is that when zoomed out, the aperture goes down to f6.6, making
low-light shots iffy when the lens is fully extended. (It was a little
more acceptable on the S570 since it was cheaper.) You'll also have to
be aware of your finger placement when using the flash, as the bulb is
located high on the left side and easily blocked.
Its controls are fairly standard and easily learned with little effort.
On its top are the power and shutter release buttons with a zoom
control around the release. On its back to the right of the bright
LCD and below the thumb rest are buttons for changing shooting
modes; playing and editing images; accessing photo, video, and system
setting menus; and deleting pictures. There's a dial for quickly moving
through settings and photos and it acts as a directional pad for
navigation and setting exposure, flash, timer, and macro. Again, it's
all pretty straightforward. The dial moves a bit freely; however, there
are stops you can feel when using it. The S640 uses a version of
Nikon's four-way VR Image Stabilization that includes optical image
stabilization. It will also use high ISO settings and shutter speed
adjustments along with motion detection to help with handshake and
motion blur. Another nicety about the S640 is that the camera can be
charged via a USB
cable.
