| | |  | -Digital Camera Battery | Home » » » Nikon Coolpix S52 9MP Digital Camera Zoom with 3x Optical Vibration Reduction Zoom (Red) | | | | | | | Description: | | PS2) NIKON COOLPIX S52 RED DIGITAL | | | Features: | |
• 9-megapixel resolution for stunning prints as large as 16 x 20 inches
• 3x optical Zoom-Nikkor glass lens; Optical VR image stabilization
• 3.0-inch high-resolution LCD display; 170-degree viewing angle
• One-touch Portrait Button automatically activates In-Camera Red-Eye Fix and Face-Priority AF functions
• Capture images to SD memory card (not included)
| | | Product Details: | | | Product Length:
| 3.7 inches | | Product Width:
| 2.3 inches | | Product Height:
| 0.8 inches | | Product Weight:
| 0.65 pounds | | Package Length:
| 7.6 inches | | Package Width:
| 5.6 inches | | Package Height:
| 3.7 inches | | Package Weight:
| 1.6 pounds | | Average Customer Rating:
|  based on 24 reviews |
| | | | Customer Reviews: | |
Average Customer Review:
 ( 24 customer reviews )
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
34 of 34 found the following review helpful:
 Nikon Coolpix S52 - A Near-Perfect Point And Shoot CameraMay 21, 2008
By Mark
"Technology, Music and Movies"
Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R1FQOQ680FTH84 The Nikon Coolpix S52 9MP Digital Camera Zoom with 3x Optical Vibration Reduction Zoom (Red) is as close to perfect as you can get in a point and shoot camera. Canon seems to get all the attention in this space, but I like the Coolpix family of cameras best out of point and shoot models in this price range. For $200, you get a great camera with quality pictures and an awesome interface.
The screen on this camera is GREAT. This camera has the nicest screen out of a point and shoot out there. I mean it is BIG. If you're anal like me, you'll want to get a screen protector. But careful handling of my S50 has proven to me that the glass is very durable and not easily scratched.
The control wheel lets you scroll through your photos when displaying them on the screen for review. Only one button to delete a picture and easy access to all the menu functions.
There are some interesting functions, included red-eye correction and image cropping. Once again, most people will be loading their pics on their computers and then dealing with those edits. Still, it's nice to be able to do them.
The zoom on this camera, as with all S5x models, is internal. That means no waiting for the lense to zoom in and out, ad no worries about the mechanical issues with those external lense extension cameras. This is a huge plus for this camera, and helps to maintain the slim profile.
There are thinner cameras, but none of them are as affordable and as packed with features as this one.
For those that want increased digital zoom, I would caution you that that feature is usually a gimmick. The 3X optical zoom is more than enough for point and shoot use and yields clear pictures even at full zoom. Digital zoom just uses software to zoom in to the already captured image, but technically it doesn't zoom at all. So with that in mind, I can live with 3X optical zoom.
This unit also comes in other colors such as the Nikon Coolpix S52 9MP Digital Camera Zoom with 3x Optical Vibration Reduction Zoom (Midnight Black). If you must have the newer wireless features, you are going to want to wait for the Nikon Coolpix S52c 9MP Digital Camera Zoom with 3x Optical Vibration Reduction Zoom with Wi-Fi (Vibrant Black), which has a wireless network card inside it and can upload pictures without hooking up to your computer. For now Amazon is still only selling the red model, but the others should be more available here soon.
This is an update to the S50 and S51 versions and adds more megapixels (9M!) so that you can produce prints up to 16X20. Just keep in mind, almost nobody buying this camera is trying to produce prints that large! But more megapixels never hurt anybody. :)
The only real cons you should be aware of is that your battery will need to be recharged after a few full days of use. That is pretty normal, but it did annoy me at first that I didn't have a spare battery. So get yourself a spare battery and keep it charged. Probably good advice for any camera. The other con is that you have to buy a little case for this camera, which seems like something that should be included.
Bottom line, get yourself this camera if you want to have a nice camera for everyday general use. This camera is durable, easy to use and loaded with features.
Enjoy!
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Update: Testing of video quality and ease of use
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It truly has taken me quite a while to upload a video sample. While I have been travelling without access to all my computer stuff, I can say honestly I know why I never used this feature much with them before. The files are saved as Quicktime (mov) files. I still have to see if there is any way to change that. With my Mac at home, I didn't have the native software on my Vista computer and I had to load it. Long story short: video is better and easier with either my Canon or Sony point and shoot cameras. Obviously this wasn't a deal breaker for me, I still bought this camera (and have even given one of them as a gift to somebody too). But needless to say, if video is a key desire for you, this really isn't it. On the bright side, this video was shot late at night under very difficult circumstances from 40 feet away. Also, in order to meet Amazon's size requirements I had to convert it to WMV, so there might have been quality loss there (not sure). I will repost a better video now that I've set up all the software I need in order to access it.
Hope this helps those who asked for this. Sorry for the delay.
Enjoy
14 of 14 found the following review helpful:
 Standards PLEASE!Jun 17, 2008
By D. M. Deal
"christianazon"
I haven't had this camera for long, but I've just run across the first thing that makes me regret buying it... It uses a NON-STANDARD USB CABLE!
I avoided Sony because of their proprietary memory types, but this isn't any better. I know that once I get my memory card it won't be an issue, but why not just use an industry standard USB cable. I suggest the general public should vote with their money and avoid non-industry standards. These companies will get the hint.
Other than that, this camera does a good job. You can't touch the abilities and quality in this size or at this price point. I could recommend some improvements (like a manual mode and/or aperture priority-shutter priority modes). For my own needs, I'd like to be able to set some longer exposure times (from 1 to 30 seconds would be great), but I don't know how many people would benefit from that.
The tiny internal lens does a pretty nice job and is much safer than a camera that's lens shoots out the front when it turns on.
The jog-dial is nice but it's easy to bump past what you wanted. Easy enough to turn back, but they should build some lag into the software so that doesn't happen.
My BIG peeve is that non-standard USB cable, c'mon Nikon, you know better than that!
Would be a 4 to 4.5 star rating if it weren't for that cable.
EDIT: After farther review...
I've been using this camera quite a bit now. The size is a HUGE positive--no pun intended. I can carry this camera everywhere I go. The lens door does protect the camera from dirt very well, but with this thing in my pocket all the time, I do occasionally have to hit it with a can of air.
There are two drawbacks between this and my DLSR (maybe an unfair comparison, but here it goes anyway), 1) The photos get noisy with high speed shots or dim situations. I don't mean a little noise, I'm talking VERY noisy. If you can avoid those situations with this camera, this won't be a problem. I often like to shoot without flash and this has been an issue for me. I think this is because the lens in this camera is pretty darn small and a dim situation has to be over compensated by the chip.
2) LAG! This camera takes photos about one second after you wish you would have taken the shot. I've missed a lot of shots because of this. It also takes it's sweet time getting ready for the shot. I'm so used to saying something to get people into a natural smile and snapping the photo. Many times with this camera I've done that and had a great opportunity for a natural shot... and the camera gives me the white reticule (as if I hadn't pushed the button) and then I release and hit it again and it's red, then it's green--all the while the person is now in permafrost smile. Finally I get green and take the shot and the natural shot is gone. I'll have to get used to the camera's lag and compensate.
Another positive, the camera takes great little movies. If you like shooting a bit of video, this thing does the job.
As a side note, the manual says it only takes up to a 2GB card. I bought an 8GB Kingston SDHC (I recommend SDHC compliant cards as does the manual) and it works just great. However, the battery will die long before you can fill this card. I think I'll be in the market for another battery very soon.
12 of 12 found the following review helpful:
Great pocket Nikon, but requires some patienceJun 24, 2008
By Dragon Speak
"goldragn"
I needed a VIP gift for a person so important that other people carry their camera and shoot their pictures for them.
Price was no object. And I began testing little cameras.
I ended up keeping this one for myself.
Why? Well, after shooting 1500 pictures with this camera, I believe I can tell you.
First, small and sleek, beautifully designed, the optics are internal with no lens to protrude. It carries in a pocket like a hundred dollar bill.
Second, a 3 inch LCD that makes it so easy to check focus, or review pictures. A huge and useful viewing screen. There is no optical viewfinder nor any need for one.
Image quality is very good, and Nikon handles noise and high ISO speeds so very well.
The vibration reduction (VR) really works: and I can shoot from a fast moving car at high ISO speeds - up to 3200! *WOW* - with no noticeable blur and high sharpness. The higher speeds are predictably grainy, but the grain is pleasingly mild.
Battery life is good, 150 shots or so. When I feel serious, I carry a spare charged battery.
If you like, turn off the flash, and turn off the the synthetic camera sounds from "settings", and you have a discreet and silent camera.
Keep the camera below or above eye level, covert shots can be easily taken.
Since the focus assist lamp is bright, I turned it off from the settings menu. I found that the secret to getting a focus lock in low light without the assist lamp is simply holding the camera still.
The macro mode continuously focuses. It draws a little more from the battery, but can be useful for faster shooting.
The color saturation is very good, the auto white balance works well, surprisingly so, since so many expensive DSLR cameras cannot do this.
Picture quality? Color?
What you see is what you will get.
Nikon means good images. Hear that Nikon? You have a new slogan.
I am Happy. Well, almost..
Downsides...
There is this thing called "shutter lag"...
The time to focus an image can run to 2 seconds or so.
The time to write an image to the SD card can be 3 seconds or more, even with high speed cards. In fact, there does not seem to be any difference in write speed between high speed and regular cards. I know as I tried both types side by side.
Expect to have to concentrate while shooting, which may not be a bad thing. You will get better pictures.
Its not quite a "point and shoot" process, but "frame the shot, then hold down the shutter release half way to focus, and then shoot".
It suits me, but I am from the old school of the manual camera.
Another annoyance is that the lens stays open while reviewing pictures, and can easily get smudged by a wandering fingertip.
The only way to clean the lens is to have the camera on, so the lens is actively suspended while you clean it. Not a great idea, but the only way.
The USB cable is not standard and is a pain to use. After plugging it into the delicate looking port on the Nikon (That thing is going to break someday) the cable has only half of its length going to the camera, and the other half dangles.
The person who designed this was probably dropped on his head as a baby.
The power switch is not well defined by touch, and is easily turned on while the camera is being replaced or removed from the pocket, or when replaced or removed from the camera case (which you will purchase; it is not included).
I learned to set the display timeout to go to standby mode in 30 seconds to save battery life in case of accidental turn on.
So, if you are patient and can live with a few annoyances, you will have a sleek little camera that goes anywhere and gets the most use.
And I really love it.
22 of 26 found the following review helpful:
Ashton Kutcher Knows What is the Best!May 09, 2008
By Casper
I purchased this Coolpix S52 earlier this week and I am ecstatic that this credid card sized camera has all of the state-of-the-art photo enhancements. I purchased the forest green one from another retailer. I am impressed with Nikon's one touch portrait button that is on top of the camera because all you have to do is press that button and the camera does its magic by properly exposing the face and doing away with red eye. The large 3 inch LCD screen is marvelous. The in-house D-Lighting whereby you can brighten a dark, dull photo is a wizard of a feature. This camera was just released on the market last week, so, wherever you go, everyone will be envious. I tried out the macro mode and was floored at the detailed close-ups. The face detection technology is an addendum that any camera should now sport. This camera only weighs about 4 ounces and you can take it anywhere. The flash is strong for a camera this size and it features an ISO of 3200 for extreme low light situations. You never know when a celebrity will pass you by and you want to make sure that you are there at that moment with a camera to take that picture. With the Coolpix, you will be with the "In-Crowd." Listen to Ashton!
8 of 8 found the following review helpful:
 Excellent Photos, Abysmal AudioAug 02, 2008
By P. Griffin
I was so excited to receive my brand new CoolPix S52 (Eco-Green), and the photos were really quite excellent. I was also pleased that it was very easy to learn how to use the various camera features. HOWEVER, when I used the movie or voice recording modes there was a very high level of awful static sound recorded EVERY TIME. I upgraded to the best memory card I could find, and that did not make a bit of difference.
Naturally, I returned the camera under Warranty (with sample video/audio) to Nikon TWICE for repair or replacement. To my dismay, they returned it to me both times stating "Your unit was thoroughly checked and was found completely within the factory standards". They also said not to expect the sound quality to be excellent because it didn't have a "sophisticated microphone". Maybe so, but it shouldn't be so poor that you cringe when you listen to the playback.
I was so disappointed that I sold the camera used and replaced it with a Canon PowerShot SD850 IS (Digital Elph) Canon PowerShot SD850 IS 8.0 MP Digital Elph Camera with 4x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom that I am extremely happy with (both photos and sound are fantastic).
Bottom line - if recording movies is important to you, don't buy this camera. It will be a big disappointment and a waste of money. If you decide to buy it, be sure to test the movie and sound recording modes soon after you receive it to be sure you are satisfied.
See all 24 customer reviews on Amazon.com
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