Nikon hits a sweet spot with the Coolpix S4
I think the Nikon Coolpix S4 is the compact camera for me. I need a camera small enough to carry around in my Booq bag but all the cameras of that size that I’ve looked at had a big failing. Most of them only have a 2x or at best 3x optical zoom making them pretty useless for any longer distance shots. The Nikon Coolpix S4 shatters that limitation with a, get this, 10x optical zoom! The camera itself offers 6 mega-pixel resolution and still is only 4.4 x 2.7 x 1.4 inches in size and weighs only 7.2 ounces. There is a 4x digital zoom to accompany the 10x optical zoom making this the most capable camera I’ve seen at anywhere near this size. The unique swiveling lens lets you take pictures from virtually any position and I am happy to see it uses SD cards. MSRP is $399.95
Better think about that swivel lens. Makes pic-snapping a two-handed affair.
Actually you only have to swivel the lens when you are trying to get an otherwise impossible shot, such as taking a pic over a crowd. It can easily be used one-handed from what I gather on the website.
I have the Sony DSC-F88 and I love the swivel lens. It’s not for everyone.
it’s funny how many times i have been standing in a crowd at disney world or elsewhere, and held my camera over my head to get a shot, and wished i had had a swivel lens…
This looks like the grand-son of my old Nikon Coolpix 950. I still use the 950 – I love the swivel lens and the camera was 5 years ahead of its time. I can’t wait to try this one out!
just ordered one for reasons stated above the only thing that worries me is that there is no anti shake for the zoom so such a long zoom might be useless without a tripod
My second digicam was a casio QVS-8000 with a 8X zoom and swivel lens. I had been hopeing for an upgrade, and it looks like it has finally arrived. I have a Canon 3200 (1 year old) and really miss the zoom AND swivel lens. The shots you can get with that swivel lens in crowds, over or under things is wonderful.