Not only does the COOLPIX S50 have the power to take simply stunning pictures, but it’s also exceptionally elegant. Its eye-catching wavesurface design sets a high standard for quality throughout the camera, while its smooth curves and beautiful finish blend operational ease with stylish sophistication.
Price Range: $100 - $234
Amazon Rating: 
(35 Reviews)
Epinions Rating: 
(2 Reviews)
The CoolPix S50 is equipped with a huge, bright 3.0-inch LCD great for viewing images anywhere, anytime. The impressive 170 Degree wide viewing angle makes it easier for everyone to see and enjoy images. The larger high resolution LCD lets you make the most of smooth, sharp movies, great-looking stills and exciting Pictmotion shows.
The CoolPix S50 features 15 specially programmed modes to automatically handle focus, exposure, white balance and other adjustments that help you take great pictures easily. Pictmotion allows you to select your favorite images and movies, decide on a style, and pick one of five pre-installed music files or add your own. Pictmotion automatically combines a polished production with transitions and style synced to your music.
Digital Zoom - up to 4x (35mm format picture angle - 456mm) Focus range from lens - 1 foot (30cm) to infinity Macro close-up mode - 1.6 inch (4cm) to infinity ISO sensitivity - ISO 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, Auto (auto gain ISO 100-800) Built-in flash - Wide Range 1 to 19 foot 8 inches (0.3 to 6.0m), Tele Range 1 to 13 foot 1 inch (0.3 to 4.0m) High-Speed USB 2.0 & 802.11b/g Interface System Requirements - Macintosh Mac OS X version 10.3.9, 10.4.x, Windows Vista (32bit), Windows XP Home Edition/Professional and Windows 2000 Professional Dimensions - 3.6 x 2.3 x 0.8 inch (92.5 x 59 x 21 mm) excluding projections Weight - 4.4 ounces (125 grams) without battery and SD memory card.
MPN: Coolpix S50
Weight: 0.28 lb.
Image Sensor Type: CCD
Resolution: 7.41 Megapixel
Optical Zoom: 3x
Camera Type: Compact
Family Line: Nikon COOLPIX
Interchangeable Lens: Not Interchangeable Lenses
Optical Zoom: 3x
35mm Zoom Lens: 38 - 114 mm
Focus Range: 12 in. to Infinity (w)
Macro Focus Range: 1.6 in. to Infinity (w)
Focal Length: 6.3 - 18.9 mm
Camera Resolution: 7.41 Megapixel
Image Resolutions: 2592 x 1944, 2048 x 1536, 3072 x 2304, 3072 x 1728
Video Speed: 30 fps
Aperture Range: f3.3/f4.2 (w/t)
Memory Type: Built-in, SD Card
Built-in Memory Size: 13 MB
ISO Speeds: Auto, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600
Flash Type: Built-In
Viewfinder: Without Viewfinder
LCD Panel: With LCD Panel
LCD Panel Size: 3 in.
LCD Screen Resolution: 230,000 pixels
LCD Protected Position: Without LCD Protected Position
Interface Type: USB 2.0
Wireless Capabilities: IEEE 802.11g/b
Battery Type: Rechargeable Li-Ion Battery
Battery Life: 130 Images
Operating System: Apple Mac OS X, Microsoft Windows 2000, Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition, Microsoft Windows XP Professional, Microsoft Windows Vista
Width: 3.6 in.
Depth: 0.8 in.
Height: 2.3 in.
Weight: 0.28 lb.
Included Accessories: Software, USB Cable, Lithium Battery, Battery Charger
Product ID: 41645814
You will want to carry this camera everywhere
Author's Rating:
For a pocket camera that you will want to carry everywhere, this is a great choice. My complaints are (1) shutter lag and (2) the lack of depth of field in landscape shots; my SLR makes up for the S50's flaws.
The S50 is easy to use and great for family gatherings. My prints always look better than what similarly-priced pocket cameras take in the same settings.
The museum setting is one of my favorites. It works very in cathedrals and museums. I used a tripod and the museum setting to take photos of a night-time light show last summer -- beautiful results! I don't think my SLR would have done any better.
Jul 03, 2008
Great size, but at the expense of picture quality
Author's Rating:
PROS: the worst picture is the one not taken, and with it's size you can always have this camera with you. The large rear-screen is nice. the camera has a ton of features and settings, so many that it takes some time to scroll through them to find the right one for lighting conditions. CONS: It is not really "point and shoot", if you have a fast moving subject or challenging lighting conditions, you have to take some time to find the proper settings, or you get a blurred or grainy picture. the large screen pushes the control panel to one side, which is then difficult to grip without hitting a button unwillingly.
Nov 01, 2007
Not Nikon's best
Author's Rating:
I wanted to like this camera - I really did. I'm an enthusiastic owner of a D80, which I adore. So when I needed a small camera for travel, I thought this sleek Nikon would be just the thing. It looks beautiful, and it's so tiny that holding it almost makes you feel like a spy.
But after using the camera for just three weeks, I returned it to the store. There's the annoying finger-in-the-frame tendency that other reviewers have mentioned: even though you know you need to compensate for that, a finger still winds up in the shot occasionally. There's also the fact that once you account for all the bulky wires and chargers and accoutrements, it's not such a small package after all. And the battery life was far too short. But most importantly, there's the picture quality. Though it is possible to get great shots with this camera, I got far too many that were grainy, and it didn't perform well in low light, either.
I wish this had worked out - I love Nikon and I loved the way this camera looked and felt. I just felt I couldn't trust it with my once-in-a-lifetime travel photos. I suppose if someone were looking for a camera to snap party pictures or around-the-town shots, it could be a good choice.
Oct 27, 2007
Not Nikon's best
Author's Rating:
I wanted to like this camera - I really did. I'm an enthusiastic owner of a D80, which I adore. So when I needed a small camera for travel, I thought this sleek Nikon would be just the thing. It looks beautiful, and it's so tiny that holding it almost makes you feel like a spy.
But after using the camera for just three weeks, I returned it to the store. There's the annoying finger-in-the-frame tendency that other reviewers have mentioned: even though you know you need to compensate for that, a finger still winds up in the shot occasionally. There's also the fact that once you account for all the bulky wires and chargers and accoutrements, it's not such a small package after all. And the battery life was far too short. But most importantly, there's the picture quality. Though it is possible to get great shots with this camera, I got far too many that were grainy, and it didn't perform well in low light, either.
I wish this had worked out - I love Nikon and I loved the way this camera looked and felt. I just felt I couldn't trust it with my once-in-a-lifetime travel photos. I suppose if someone were looking for a camera to snap party pictures or around-the-town shots, it could be a good choice.
More …
Fallas en las fotos
Author's Rating:
Yo compre esta camara, por que a mi criterio las Nikon son buenas, sin embargo esta camara, me causo desilusión, en algunas fotos, aparecen unos puntos blancos, como si fueran agua, malogrando la calidad de las fotos. Hubo algun comentario al respecto anteriormente, pero no le preste atencion, sin embargo me arrepiento no haber hecho caso. Este problema usualmente ocurre de noche. No en el dia. No tengo la foto para adjuntar y puedan apreciar.
Sep 26, 2007
great camera
Author's Rating:
Great features and very easy to use. It is a perfect pocket camera and easy to pack for trips. Great picture quality. You will be happy with this purchase.
Sep 15, 2007
coolpix S50
Author's Rating:
Exellent product, but I had previous knowledge of product. Quick delivery as promised. Would buy again from this supplier.
Sep 15, 2007
Goooooood~~!!
Author's Rating:
I like it
I bought camera at first time all my life
I am satistify. It is good
I always bring it in my pocket and take a picture any time.
I recommend this product.
Nobody will regret about it.
Jul 25, 2007
Great for what it is, but not perfect
Author's Rating:
I have owned about a dozen digital cameras, and thought that when I bought a Nikon D70 with a good lens, I would never need another one. However, I decided that sometimes it would be nice to have a small, good quality, pocket size camera as a companion for the D70, especially in places where I did not really want to lug around a big camera like the D70; like boating and motorcycling and bad weather.
So I bought a S50, and I am very happy with it, realizing it has some limitations. I read the manual, and like most cameras, about 90% of the feature set is not important to me. I just get it out, adjust the zoom, and use it. Picture quality is very good, ease of use is great.
Three drawbacks, none of which is a showstopper:
1. Battery life is very short. You need some extra batteries. Sorry, Amazon, but you can find some no name batteries on eBay for about $5 each, and they seem to work as well as the Nikon branded ones. I recommend carrying two extras if you are planning a lot of photos especially if the flash is going to be used.
2. This camera does not have a docking unit like other small Nikons. It has a large awkward cable for plugging into the USB port, a cable which is heavy and puts stress on the small proprietary plug on the bottom of the camera. Also, you have to take the battery out to charge it, so you are removing and replacing the battery frequently.
3. Like most small digital cameras, taking outside flash pictures at night is a total waste of time.
But I like this camera, and if I lost it, I would be tempted to buy another one just like it, even though there is some room for improvement. Serves its function well as a backup, not serious camera.
Jul 21, 2007
Great for what it is, but not perfect
Author's Rating:
I have owned about a dozen digital cameras, and thought that when I bought a Nikon D70 with a good lens, I would never need another one. However, I decided that sometimes it would be nice to have a small, good quality, pocket size camera as a companion for the D70, especially in places where I did not really want to lug around a big camera like the D70; like boating and motorcycling and bad weather.
So I bought a S50, and I am very happy with it, realizing it has some limitations. I read the manual, and like most cameras, about 90% of the feature set is not important to me. I just get it out, adjust the zoom, and use it. Picture quality is very good, ease of use is great.
Three drawbacks, none of which is a showstopper:
1. Battery life is very short. You need some extra batteries. Sorry, Amazon, but you can find some no name batteries on eBay for about $5 each, and they seem to work as well as the Nikon branded ones. I recommend carrying two extras if you are planning a lot of photos especially if the flash is going to be used.
More …
2 weeks of testing
Author's Rating:
Very small and easy to cart around when not using my big Nikon. The menu is a little awkward to deal with, but the feastures are all there. It takes some time to getting used to not having the speed of the big daddy's. However the display is great. You need to turn up the brightness on the display to max becasue it is sometimes hard to read in the outdoors. But overall it fits my needs well as a samll camera that is really good for the impromptu shots.
Jul 16, 2007
Love this camera
Author's Rating:
I've used several compact digital cameras through my office. Several are other Nikon models. I bought this one for myself based on price, screen size, & resolution. I've had it a week and I think it is great. I was pleased to find that even the video quality was better than several others I've tried. It will shoot 640x480 video! It comes with a combo USB and TV out cable, so you can plug this right into most TV's to play back the photos and movies.
I bought 2 SanDisk 2 GB Extreme III SD Memory Cards ( SDSDX3-2048-901 ) for about $35 each. Seemed like a good buy to me.
My only issues are the display has a smooth surface and stretches right up to the edges, so you can help but get finger prints all over it. Also the cable is big so not very portable since it has 2 RCA's and a USB attached to the camera mounting connector.
Jul 05, 2007
Author's Rating:
Pros: Compact, large screen, lightweight, easy to use
Cons: Externally charged battery, small gallery view.
The Bottom Line: Excellent pocket camera with great picture quality and ease of use. Some minor annoyances that are easily overlooked once you see the large display and beautiful pictures.
Review: We bought the Nikon Coolpix s50 recently after spending a few weeks browsing in stores and onlines at the multitude of slim ultraportable digital cameras. We finally settled on the Coolpix s50 because of it's formfactor, functionality, and picture... Read Full Review by cxshih, Jul 25, 2007
