Full Review
15 May 2008 - While most manufacturers continue to push the megapixel count in every digital camera they release, Nikon has opted for lucky 8 with the S520, but should you?
The Nikon Coolpix S520 is an 8 megapixel camera, with a 3x optical zoom-Nikkor lens and optical lens shift VR image stabilisation.
Available in a choice of Light Bronze, Urban Black, or purple body colours, the lightweight design is encased in metal and sports a 2.5-inch screen.
To the right of the screen is the usual array of buttons, not too many mind you, and underneath is the rechargeable battery and SD card slot.
The camera does come with an internal memory (enough to store around five images) so getting an SD card should be one of the first things on your list after you buy the camera.
Overall the camera’s design is simple and easy to use - this is a point and shoot after all - just don't expect it to draw any attention when you pull it out of your pocket.
Tech features include Face-priority AF, In-Camera Red-Eye Fix and D-Lighting, as well as macro shooting from 15cm, three movie modes with sound, plus a new time-lapse movie mode.
Another new feature allows users to select their favourite three of the 16 available scene modes to appear in the Mode menu for easier access.
Turn it on and it's ready to go in milliseconds rather than minutes and the menu system, or rather lack of one, means you shouldn't have too much trouble using the camera.
Shortcut keys for features like flash, timer, exposure, macro mode and scene settings can be found on the back while the rest, like changing picture resolution or cropping images in-camera, can be found on the menu system.
The only complaint we found with the menu system was that the menu allowing you to set the date, or format the memory card, for example, was buried in the scene selection menu, somewhere we weren’t expecting it.
Nifty features like the D-Lighting option that will bring light to your images are welcomed as was the face detection option that will detect up to five faces in any one shot and then allow you to zoom in on the images.
Get past the menu systems and the feature set and the Coolpix S520 is a breeze to use, taking great looking pictures with little noise thanks to a good ISO range (64 to 2000) and a low f stop of 2.8. The images might be smaller than their 10 megapixel counterparts, however they contained little noise and plenty of detail.
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VERDICT
The Nikon S520 might be a simple point and shoot, but it's one that impressed us.
Image quality is very good and the price (around £150) is even better.
The only grumps are that the design isn't likely to impress and even though it's made out of metal it comes across as a bit flimsy, and that the macro mode wasn't great.
But if you are looking to snap your holiday or a party, you can't go far wrong with this.
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It does what it says on the box. Point and shoot.
Multiple face detection is good as is the in-camera red eye fix, although I feel that for us cheapskates, the red eye fix in Google's free Picasa might just do a better job.
What makes the S520 special for me though is the image stabilisation, or as Nikon call it, Vibration Reduction (VR). I have deliberately taken test pics in iffy lighting conditions, and whilst noise is evident, blur is absent.
I found the macro very good. The only downside is the camera needs to be 7-8 inches away from the subject; you can't get the camera right in.
With a 1Gb SD card (not included) you can take over 400 images at 8Mp standard resolution.
Any of you out there who like the convenience of a point and shoot that takes 640x480 video will be surpised at the S520. The fact that it has this facility does not seem to be shown on the published specs, but it IS in camera. Bit rate is 64Kbps, frame rate is 30/sec and audio is sampled at 8 bit.
The only minor gripe I have is that the camera body is smooth to the point of being slippery, the wrist strap needs to be used at all times.
If you want a low cost camera with a good feel, the S520 should be on the top of your list.
Indeed, it was a bargain because the price is now £119!