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Category: Point-and-Shoot

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

This Nikon Coolpix S500 Review is based on a production model. All sample images are unretouched, except where specified.

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The Nikon Coolpix S500 is a compact point-and-shoot digital camera in an attractive stainless steel body. It has intuitive controls and produces very good image quality with good detail and accurate colour reproduction at the low ISOs. Noise is controlled up to ISO 100, but higher ISOs are visibly noisy.

P&S models do not usually provide the photographer much control, but advanced photographers will appreciate that, besides P and 15 easy-to-use Scene Modes, the Coolpix S500 offers the following practical features:

• Manual WB -- for accurate colour reproduction in artificial lighting situations
• AF Area -- select where camera focuses from 99 focus areas; great for off-centre subjects, especially in macro photography
• Interval Timer stills and Time-lapse movies -- create cool special effects like the pros
• Best Shot Selector -- camera selects the sharpest out of 10 shots
• Framing Grid -- keep your horizontal level
• Manual ISO -- in bright daylight, use the lowest ISO for the best image quality

The LCD is large at 2.5 in. with 230,000 pixels resolution and movie mode is 640x480 pixels 30fps, with sound.

With understated elegance, the Nikon Coolpix S500 delivers what it promises in being both an easy-to-use digital camera as well as producing very good image quality at the low ISOs. It is well designed and intuitive to operate. The beginner will appreciate the point-and-shoot ease of use; more advanced photographers will appreciate the practical features that help obtain well-exposed pictures in challenging situations.

See if you fit the Nikon Coolpix S500 User Profile below: