Product Review: Nikon Coolpix S630 12-Megapixel Digital Camera with 7x Optical Zoom

The Nikon Coolpix S630 compact digital camera is a moderately-priced camera aimed towards the average consumer who wants to take snapshots in a wide range of shooting scenarios. With a suggested retail price of $250, and a common online retail price of $170, this camera is as affordable as it is compact.

Features

The Coolpix S630 is square and constructed entirely of metal. Available in black and a few select other colors, you can choose one to make your accessories. The lens retracts to be flush with the body when not in use, and extends when the camera is one. The 7x zoom feature allows users to take close-up shots from a distance, while a macro feature lets users get detailed shots from approximately 1 centimeter away.

All images taken with the Coolpix S630 are processed using Nikon's EXPEED processor, which was designed specifically for the Coolpix line. Image stabilization to avoid blurred images is achieved with Nikon's VR Image Stabilization system in conjunction with a motion detector.

Features are standard as far as compact digital cameras go, but one thing I do like about this camera is the Best Shot feature, which takes a burst of 10 snapshots, analyzes them for quality, then discards all but the best image. This is convenient for those times you want an action shot, such as a touchdown during a football game.

Image Quality

Image quality is good, but not exceptional. The colors are true, the contrast is good, the sharpness is decent. The problem is the noise - even though a day shot might not show a lot of noise, the moment you try to post-process it, you'll notice the sand coming out of the sky, the dots on the wall, etc. Dim light shots have the telltale levels of noise of a relatively inexpensive compact camera.

Conclusion
Nikon's Coolpix S630 is the type of camera you'd buy for daily snapshots, for vacations, for teenagers and college students. It is a perfectly fine camera for the average shooter, but not recommended for the hobbyist or professional, as it is limited and post-processing the photos is difficult due to noise levels.