On paper the Coolpix S500’s
specifications appear, at a glance, to be quite similar to
those of the Coolpix S200. In fact, these are clearly distinct
models, which have more differences than they have in common.
The Coolpix S500 is equipped with a true optical
image stabilization system — Nikon’s VR (Vibration
Reduction) system — has a monitor that has more than
twice the number of pixels of the S200’s, and
offers a sensitivity range that can go as high as 2000
ISO.
The Coolpix S500 is equipped with
Nikon’s excellent Matrix metering system, which yields
very well exposed images effortlessly, even when confronted
with subjects that contain strong contrasts. Similarly, the
Auto white balance also produces excellent results, even under
mixed lighting conditions.
In terms of sensitivity, the
Coolpix S500 is a relatively good performer. From 50 to 200
ISO, noise is generally quite light, appearing only in shadow
areas at the higher sensitivities and vanishing when images
are printed. Moreover, outdoors and with good light, sensitivity
can be pushed to 400 ISO, and the images will remain acceptable.
At 800 ISO and beyond, noise becomes more pronounced, and
can be seen in areas of similar or uniform colour.
Aperture: f6.1, shutter speed: 1/125 sec., 50 ISO
From 1000 ISO onwards, noise is
omnipresent and the noise processing applied to the image has
a serious impact on image detail. As for highest sensitivities,
1600 ISO — used by the High Sensitivity mode and the Anti-Shake
mode — or the 2000 ISO level, they are best left to photos
that will be used at a very reduced size as they exhibit a strong
loss of definition.
Optically, the 3X zoom lens
of the Coolpix S500 is rather good. There is little barrel
distortion at the wide angle end, and no distortion throughout
the rest of the zoom’s focal length range. There is
a slight loss of sharpness in the image corners at the wide
end, but it is limited to the widest angle, the rest of the
range being uniformly sharp throughout.
Similarly, the images do not reveal any chromatic aberration,
whatever the focal length used.
In addition, the fact that
the zoom is optically stabilized is a plus. Unlike current
electronic stabilization systems that increase sensitivity
to allow for a higher shutter speed, optical stabilization
does not degrade the image quality by introducing noise. So,
even with a relatively small maximum aperture of f4.7 at the
telephoto end, the VR system allows the photographer to capture
a sharp image under less than ideal light conditions.
With flash photos, as long as
the subject is no farther than 3 metres (10 feet), the small
built-in flash is perfectly capable of providing good homogeneous
light. Furthermore, the flash exposure metering is excellent,
yielding images that are perfectly balanced between ambient
light and flash and which have natural-looking colours.
The compression applied to
7M* images, the highest image quality the
S500 offers, is on the conservative side, hovering in the
4:1 range. As a result, images retain a high level of detail
and show no trace of the compression.
It is regrettable, however, that this reasonable compression
level is reserved for the highest resolution, and that all
other image sizes are pegged at a compression ratio of 8:1,
limiting the applications to which these images can be put.
Still, using the 7M* image quality,
the Coolpix S500’s photos can easily be printed out
to a 8 x 10 inch (20 x 25 cm) size, producing superb prints.
Set to 7M*,
the Coolpix S500 yields very good images, especially when
photos are captured outdoors and with good light, the images
showing good sharpness and excellent colour rendition. And,
for a modestly higher price than the S200, the S500 offers
a true image stabilization system, and an excellent monitor,
both of which represent valuable assets when taking photos.
This, in combination with a compact body and a solid construction
should make the S500 a perfect companion on outings and vacations.
Compare Prices for Nikon Coolpix S-500 7.1 MP Digital Camera
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