Nikon Coolpix S510 Digital
Camera Review

Just about every major manufacturer has an entry-level point-and-shoot with barebones specifications. Here’s another one. The Nikon Coolpix S510 makes an unexciting entrance into a packed market of similar cameras with basic 3x optical zoom lenses and small, portable bodies. The Nikon S510 is no different. Announced in August 2007 at the introductory price of $299.95, the Coolpix point-and-shoot carries an 8.1-megapixel count and promises faster  processing times with the updated Expeed image processor.

 The Nikon Coolpix S510 produces accurate photos with good white balance under proper lighting. In low light conditions like bars or candlelight dinners, however, the Nikon S510 yields ugly noise and applies automatic noise reduction that smoothes over details. While Nikon boasts a ISO 2000 sensitivity speed at full resolution, the camera produces extreme levels of grain and smoothing above ISO 400, which may prohibit photographers from printing large format prints.

The Coolpix camera also has disappointing resolution and poor dynamic range, making it difficult for the camera to distinguish detail in high contrast images, like a black tuxedo against a white wedding dress. While the S510 turned in disappointing results in our image quality tests, it is speedy. It shows a particularly quick startup time of less than two seconds and better-than-average image processing speeds of slightly more than two seconds.

With simply average image performance, the Nikon Coolpix S510 has a basic – dare we say, boring – feature set. The camera has a standard 3x lens, equipped with optical image stabilization. Optical image stabilization is preferable to simple digital image stabilization because the optical system effectively compensates for picture blur associated with camera shake without degrading image quality.

The camera has a modest 2.5-inch LCD screen with a 230,000-pixel resolution, which is the current point-and-shoot standard. Like many other cameras on the market, the S510 is equipped with a face detection system, but it lags behind rivals that have updated to second or third-generation technologies. The Nikon S510 supposedly focuses and exposes up to 12 faces automatically, but the camera failed to properly detect front-facing subjects too often during testing.

The S510 limits manual control, which beginners will appreciate. However, there are limited built-in editing options, which these same users might find useful. The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T70 offers much more in this area. Video is much improved from its predecessor, the Nikon Coolpix S500. Controls are a mix of good and bad. The tiny buttons hinder usability, but the intuitive rotary dial multi-selector is a great, easy-to-use addition.

With mediocre image performance and a bland feature set, the Nikon Coolpix S510 just doesn’t really have a hook. The camera offers nothing radically different from its predecessors. Rival cameras offer advanced features for the same price, including touch screen capabilities, like the Sony T70, or wireless photo transfer, found on the Fujifilm FinePix F50fd. With each generation of cameras, manufacturers should offer new innovations. The Coolpix S510 coasts by as an OK camera, but fails to impress.

For a more in-depth review, visit the Nikon Coolpix S510 Review at our partner DigitalCameraInfo.com