Nikon Coolpix S200

Reviewed April 2007

Characteristics

The Coolpix S200 uses a 1/2.5 inch CCD with 7.41 million pixels, of which 7.1 million are effective to capture an image. Six image sizes are available, all of which are saved in JPEG format, but only the highest resolution offers two compression settings:

CCD sensitivity starts at 50 ISO and extends to 100, 200, 400, 800 or 1000 ISO, but is only user-selectable when the camera is set to the Auto mode, in all other modes, sensitivity is automatically set by the camera. Additionally, an Auto ISO mode allows the camera to automatically adjust sensitivity over a range of 50 through to 800 ISO according to the strength of the ambient light.

The Coolpix S200 is equipped with a 3X optical zoom composed of 6 elements in 5 groups.

The focal length range of the zoom covers from 6.3 to 18.9 mm, the equivalent in the 35 mm format of a 38 to 114 mm. Apertures start at f3.1 when the zoom is at the wide angle end, and f5.9 at the maximum telephoto.

A 4X digital zoom — which cannot be deactivated — takes over from the optical zoom once the maximum telephoto setting is reached. The digital zoom crops the centre portion of the image and interpolates it to the currently selected image size, usually causing a loss of image quality.

The shutter speed range covers from 1/1000 second down to 4 seconds, however, the maximum exposure time varies according to the mode in use, the use of the flash, the focal length in use and the use of the VR electronic stabilization. A noise reduction processing is used on all images captured with a long exposure time.

Albeit automatic, the Coolpix S200 still offers control over some photographic parameters, either with the 4-direction control, or by accessing the menu.

Set to the Auto or High Sensitivity modes, the Shooting menu offers the following options:

• Image Mode: serves to select the image size and compression (only at the highest compression level).
• White balance has 7 settings: Auto, White Balance Preset (serves to set the white balance under unusual lighting sources), Daylight, Incandescent, Fluorescent, Cloudy and Flash.

• Continuous:
  • Single: captures a single image each time the shutter release is pressed.
  • Continuous: captures up to 8 images at a frame rate of 1.6 frames per second using the 6M* image size until the buffer memory is full.
  • Multi-Shot 16: captures sixteen 704 x 528 pixel images at a 1.9 frames per second and records them into a single 2816 x 2112 pixel (6M Normal) image.
  • Interval Timer Shooting: allows the camera to capture up to 1800 images at a specified interval (30 seconds through 60 minutes).
• BSS (Best Shot Selector): On or Off. The camera captures up to 10 images while the shutter release is pressed, but only records the image that is the sharpest.
• ISO Sensitivity (only when the S200 is set to the Auto shooting mode): Auto (50 to 800 ISO) or 50, 100, 200, 400, 800 or 1000 ISO.
• Colour Options serves to modify the way colours are recorded:
  • Standard is the default.
  • Vivid increases saturation.
  • Black and White.
  • Sepia captures colours as brown tones.
  • Cyanotype captures colours with blue tones.
• Electronic VR (only when the camera is set to Auto shooting mode): serves to turn on or off the electronic image stabilization, which takes place in the image processor.

Set to the One-Touch Portrait Mode, the menu contains only two options:

• Image Mode: as with the Auto menu.
• Portrait Effect: serves to select if the portrait is captured in the Normal mode; or the Brighter mode, which reduces the vividness of skin tones; or Softer, which softens the image.

Set to the Movie mode, the menu is limited to three options:

• Movie Options: controls the frame size, and the frame rate (see the Ergonomics section of the review for more details).
• Auto-focus Mode offers two auto focus modes:
  • AF-S: Single AF, sets the focus at the first frame and locks it.
  • AF-F: Full time AF, constantly adjusts the focus.
• Electronic VR: On or Off, controls the electronic image stabilization system.

Set to the Playback mode the menu contains the following options:

• D-Lighting: serves to enhance brightness and contrast, brightening up dark areas while retaining details in the highlights. The processed image is then saved as a new image.
• Print Set.: allows selecting images that will be printed on a DPOF compatible printer or service. In addition, DPOF selections can be printed to a PictBridge compatible printer. Images can be selected to have the date and time at which they were captured imprinted atop the image, and the number of prints to make of each image can be selected.
• Slide Show: serves to review images in an automated slide show with a selectable on screen time for the images (2, 3, 5 or 10 seconds), looping or not.

• Delete: serves to delete images that have been selected, or all images.
• Protect serves to tag images so they cannot be accidentally deleted.
• Transfer Marking: serves to automatically transfer images when the camera is connected to a computer via USB. All images can be selected to be transferred, or images can be selected one at a time.
• Small Pic allows creating a copy of an image at any of three sizes: 640 x 480 pixels, 320 x 240 pixels, or 160 x 120 pixels.

• Voice Memo: makes it possible to capture a 20-second voice annotation and associate it to an existing image.
• Copy: serves to copy all images from the internal memory to a memory card, or vice versa.

Moreover, while the camera is set to the Playback mode, when the image on screen is zoomed into using the zoom control, the MENU button can be used to capture the portion visible on the monitor as a new image.

The Coolpix S200 has a 20 MB internal memory. In addition, it is also equipped with an SD (Secure Digital) memory card slot that is located next to the battery card, and covered by the same solid door underneath the camera. In North America, the camera is retailed without a memory card.

The chart below lists approximate numbers of photos, and the length of videos that can be stored in the internal memory, and using an optional 1 GB SD memory card:

The Coolpix S200 is powered by a rechargeable Li-Ion (EN-EL5) battery that is kept in place by a small orange-coloured latch so it does not slide out when the memory card is accessed. A charger, MH-63, is included to recharge the battery, a process that takes approximately 100 minutes.

The Coolpix S200 has only 1 external connection, located underneath the camera and covered by a small door positioned between the tripod screw and the battery/card compartment. The connection serves for the A/V Out (Audio/Video) and as the USB Port depending on which cable is used. Both cables are included in the camera kit.