The interface of the Coolpix
S4 is typical of current Nikon compacts. Some settings are
controlled through the menu, while others, such as flash modes,
are controlled by the Multi selector — the joystick
— and mini-menus for the function that are superimposed
on the monitor. Equipped with a 2.5-inch LCD monitor, the
menus and settings displayed on the screen are easy to read.
The lack of precision of the Multi selector, however, can
occasionally make selecting a particular mode or option more
of a challenge than it should be.
Missing from the interface is any indication of the shutter
speed or the aperture selected by the camera. Instead, a camera
shake symbol appears whenever the shutter speed drops below
a pre-set threshold. Similarly, the information available
directly on the camera when pictures are under review is limited,
and details such as speed, aperture, and ISO settings are
not shown.
The menu presentation used with the S4 makes it easy read
and the optional "Help" screens, which can be displayed
for any menu item by moving the zoom control to the T
side, are a useful feature. Although succinct and written
in a mix of English and American (color and colour are used
for instance) the explanations can be of help to beginners,
or even act as refreshers when the camera is used infrequently.
An access to the Setup options is offered as the first
line of the menus, whatever the mode. The Setup options contain
basic and important camera settings:
Shooting/Scene/Movie/Playback Menu: returns to
the previous menu.
Welcome Screen serves to select the display during
startup:
a photo captured with the S4,
the Nikon Coolpix logo,
a Nikon animation,
or nothing, which allows the camera to be ready to
shoot faster and is the default setting.
Date: allows setting the time and date on the Coolpix
S4. An additional option allows setting a destination time
zone, useful when travelling.
Brightness: serves to adjust the brightness of
the monitor over 5 increments.
Date Imprint: determines whether or not the date,
or the date and time, will be imprinted on the image permanently.
Options are: Off (default), Date, Date and Time and Date
counter which shows the number of days separating the shooting
date and a selected date (for example a birthday or anniversary).
Sound Settings controls the sounds produced by
the camera:
Button sound (operation sound).
Shutter sound.
Start up sound.
Blur Warning: controls the display of a message
that indicates that the photo that has just been captured
is blurred, and offers the option of not saving it. This
button also controls the display of the camera shake symbol,
which appears when the shutter speed is low and the image
about to be captured might be subject to camera shake.
Auto Off allows choosing the time delay before
the monitor automatically shuts off to conserve power: 30
seconds (default), 1, 5 or 30 minutes; and whether or not
the camera enters "Sleep Mode" (On or Off).
Format Memory/Format Card: serves to format a memory
card or the S4's 13.5 MB internal memory.
Language selects the interface language: German,
English, Spanish, French, Italian, Dutch, Russian, Swedish,
Japanese, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, or Korean.
Interface allows setting the various connections:
USB,serves to select the USB protocol,
PTP (for use with PictBridge compliant devices), or
Mass Storage (to have the camera recognized as a removable
mass storage device);
Video Mode, serves to select the video signal
output (NTSC or PAL);
and Auto Transfer, to decide whether all images
marked for transfer are automatically uploaded to the
computer when the camera is placed in its dock.
AF Assist: (Auto or Off) decides whether or not
the camera will automatically use its AF assist lamp when
there is insufficient light for the autofocus to operate
reliably.
Reset All: returns all camera settings to their
default values.
Battery Type: allows setting the kind of batteries
used so the camera displays the correct power level on the
monitor (Alkaline, Coolpix [Ni-MH] or Lithium).
Menus: selects whether menu options are presented
as text or icons.
Firmware Version: displays the current version
number of the firmware (version 1.0 for the camera reviewed
here).
The Nikon Coolpix S4 includes two printed manuals: a quick
start booklet that provides basic information so the camera
can be used immediately, and an in-depth manual that details
all the camera functions. The manuals are accurate and well-written,
making it straightforward to understand camera functions and
modes.
Software
(Note that the software included with any camera
can vary from country to country)
The Canadian version of the Coolpix S4 contains 2 CDs: Picture
Project 1.5 for Microsoft Windows and Macintosh on one,
and on the other, the reference manual for the software in a
variety of languages.
In addition, the software disk also provides Arcsoft Panorama
Maker 3.5, QuickTime 6, and Microsoft DirectX
9. If desired, each component can be selected individually
for installation.
Picture Project presents images
as a film strip at the top of one window with the currently
selected image at a large size below, while the right window
pane can list the image's properties including its shooting
data if desired.
Meanwhile, the left side window pane provides links to import
images either from folders on the hard drive, a memory card
in a card reader or the camera itself, into the program's
own database.
A number of tools are made available
to the user, accessed through a button labelled Edit
at the the top of the main window pane. With these tools,
an image's brightness, colour, and sharpness can be adjusted.
Moreover, images can be converted to black and white or sepia.
Any editing done to the image can be seen immediately.
Beyond these tools, the program also provides procedures
to reduce or eliminate the red-eye effect automatically, change
the orientation of an image, or even apply the software version
of D-Lighting — called D-Lighting HS in Picture Project
— which brings out details in any under exposed area
of an image.
Picture Project can also be used to create
slide shows, prepare photos so that a copy can be used as
an e-mail attachment, see videos captured with the camera,
and burn compilations of photos and/or videos onto a CD or
DVD.
Panorama Maker 3.5, also included, is specifically
designed to assemble a series of photos, captured with the
S4's Panorama mode, into large panoramic images.
And finally, Apple's QuickTime 6 can be used to view
the movies captured with the camera.
Compare Prices for Nikon Coolpix S4 6MP Digital Camera
Interface & Software
