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Nikon's Coolpix S4 digital camera. Courtesy of Nikon, with modifications by Michael R. Tomkins. Nikon: Swivel-bodied Coolpix S4
By
(Thursday, September 1, 2005 - 02:01 EDT)

Nikon Inc. has today revealed its first swivel-bodied digital camera model since the Coolpix SQ was launched way back in February 2003 (and the first to retain the styling cues of its original, extremely popular prosumer swivel-bodied models since the Coolpix 4500 in late May 2002).

Several other manufacturers have continued to sell swivel-bodied cameras since the retirement of the Coolpix 4500 and SQ (and the inner-swivel Coolpix 2500), Nikon's last three swivel-bodied cameras, including Sony's F-series and the ultracompact SL-series from Kyocera / Contax. Nikon apparently found digicams that looked more like a traditional film camera an easier proposition at retail, however, and like many other manufacturers simply adopted a tilt/swivel LCD display in premium models to offer shooting possibilities from unusual angles.

There's clearly a portion of the market that believes swivel-bodied cameras to be preferable, however, and we're sure many fans of Nikon's past swivel-bodied models with look upon the new Coolpix S4 with great interest. The S4 offers a whopping 10x optical zoom lens equivalent to 38 - 380mm on a 35mm camera, coupled with a 6 megapixel imager and 2.5" LCD display. The camera has an ISO sensitivity range of 50 - 400, and while the lens doesn't offer any form of stabilisation, the camera does offer Nikon's blur detection and Best Shot functions to aid in determining that a shot has minimal shake. Unlike past swivel-bodied cameras from Nikon that tended to mark the top of the company's lineup and include a wide range of manual control, the Coolpix S4 is aimed at pocketability and ease of use, and doesn't offer manual shooting controls. As an idea of size, the S4 is about 20mm narrower and slimmer than the Coolpix 4500 was, and about 5mm shorter.

The Nikon Coolpix S4 will be available this September for a cost of $399.

Nikon Coolpix S4
Nikon's Coolpix S4 digital camera. Courtesy of Nikon, with modifications by Michael R. Tomkins. Click for a bigger picture!
General
Camera Type Swivel
Manufacturer Nikon
Model Number S4
Dimensions 4.4 x 2.7 x 1.5"
111.5 x 68.5 x 37.0mm
Weight 205.0 g
7.2 oz
Planned Price $399.00
Planned Availability Sep 2005
Image Capture
Sensor Type 1/2.5" CCD
6.40 megapixels (total)
6.00 megapixels (effective)
Aspect Ratio 4:3
Image Dimensions 2816 x 2112 (5.9 megapixels)
2048 x 1536 (3.1 megapixels)
1024 x 768 (0.8 megapixels)
640 x 480 (0.3 megapixels)
Image Preview / Review
Viewfinder No
LCD 2.5", 110,000 pixels
Lens
Lens Type Zoom-Nikkor
10x optical zoom
Image Stabilization No
Focal Length 6.3 - 63.0mm (actual)
38 - 380mm (35mm equivalent)
Aperture Range f/3.5 - ???
Focusing Range Normal: 12" - infinity (30 cm - infinity)
Macro: 1.6" - infinity (4.0 cm - infinity)
Exposure
Internal Flash Modes: Auto, Auto with Red-Eye Reduction (In-Camera Red-Eye Fix), Anytime Flash, Flash Cancel, Slow Sync.
Range: 1 ft. 4 in. - 10 ft./0.4-3.1m
Creative
Scene Modes Portrait, Landscape, Sports, Night Portrait, Party/Indoor, Beach/Snow, Sunset, Dusk/Dawn, Night Landscape, Close Up, Museum, Fireworks Show, Copy, Back Light, Panorama Assist, Voice recording
Digital Zoom 4x
Self Timer Yes, 10 seconds
Time Lapse No
Storage
Recording Medium SD/MMC, Built-in
Connectivity
Video Yes
Computer USB 1.1
Power
Battery Type Alkaline disposable, NiMH rechargeable
Battery Form Factor 2 x AA
Product Bundle
Software PictureProject
Battery / Charger 2 x AA alkaline disposable battery
Flash Memory 13.5MB built-in memory
Other
Internal Microphone Yes
Operating System Compatibility Windows, MacOS
More Photos
Nikon's Coolpix S4 digital camera. Courtesy of Nikon, with modifications by Michael R. Tomkins. Click for a bigger picture!
Nikon's Coolpix S4 digital camera. Courtesy of Nikon, with modifications by Michael R. Tomkins. Click for a bigger picture!
Nikon's Coolpix S4 digital camera. Courtesy of Nikon, with modifications by Michael R. Tomkins. Click for a bigger picture!
 

Original Source Press Release:

NEW NIKON COOLPIX S4 PACKS A 10X OPTICAL ZOOM INTO A CAMERA THAT FITS IN A SHIRT POCKET

MELVILLE, NY, September 1, 2005— Nikon announced today the addition of the latest Coolpix “S” series camera to their impressive fall line-up of compact cameras. The new Coolpix S4 features an incredible 10x optical zoom, six megapixels of resolution, a 2.5” LCD and an innovative, compact design allowing the camera to fit into a shirt pocket. The powerful optical zoom combined with the innovative body design of the camera gives digital photographers unprecedented freedom and creativity with the ability to take pictures from a wide range of angles such as from the hip, self portraits and even from overhead.

“The S4 is a stylish camera that combines the power of a 10x optical zoom, distinctive body design and Nikon’s exclusive in-camera technology,” said Bill Giordano, General Manager of Marketing ¬¬¬for Nikon, Inc. “This model is an excellent choice for digital photographers who want creative freedom while on-the-go.”

To capture everything from extreme close-ups to detailed architecture or even expansive landscapes, the 10x Zoom Nikkor lens delivers 38-380mm (35mm equivalent) performance all in slim, compact package measuring a mere 4.4 x 2.7 x 1.4-inches and weighting just over seven ounces*—small enough to easily fit in a shirt pocket. The 10x optical zoom give users the freedom and power to shoot from the sidelines or compose great portraits in one compact package.

The S4 features a new interpretation of the popular and innovative swivel body design, first unveiled in the award-winning Coolpix 900 series cameras. The body design allows the lens and the 2.5-inch LCD to move independently so users can view their shot from any angle. For comfortable shooting, the S4 features a newly designed hand grip as well as conveniently placed buttons and controls.

In addition to a stylish package and impressive zoom, the S4 comes packed with innovative and advanced features for beginning through advanced photographers. Using exclusive technology, Nikon has narrowed the picture-taking process down to three simple steps – turn on the camera, frame the shot and snap the picture. To ensure a sharp portrait with the press of a button Face Priority AF ensures that faces remain in focus when shooting portraits by automatically sensing the presence of a human face within the frame and setting accurate focus accordingly. Nikon’s renowned In-Camera Red-Eye Fix™ technology detects and corrects red eyes in most typical situations without the need to press buttons or select and highlight the eyes in playback. Without the hassle of additional software, photographers will experience less red-eye photos yielding print-ready portraits.

To help ensure a balanced exposure and sharpness, Nikon’s exclusive D-Lighting function automatically compensates for insufficient flash or excessive back lighting in order to obtain balanced exposure throughout the frame. Blur Warning, another feature unique to Nikon alerts the user when a shot is compromised by camera or hand shake, allowing another shot to be taken before leaving the scene.

The S4 features 16 Scene Modes with four of them offering Scene Assist to simplify shooting in common situations. To capture moving memories the S4 features four Movie Modes at up to 15 fps with three of the modes offering sound recording. And, the Time-Lapse movie function can capture action taking place over extended periods of time.

Additionally, the S4 includes helpful functions such as: Best Shot Selector (BSS), Macro mode, 4x Digital Zoom, Single AF and Continuous AF and choice of White Balance.

For further convenience the S4 includes 13.5 MB of internal memory and operates on two AA-size alkaline or rechargeable batteries.

The S4 will be available at retail nationwide in September 2005 with an MSRP of $399.95. For more information on the S4 and other Coolpix cameras, please visit www.nikondigital.com.

About Nikon
Nikon, At the Heart of the Image™. Nikon Inc. is the world leader in digital imaging, precision optics and photo imaging technology and is globally recognized for setting new standards in product design and performance for its award-winning consumer and professional photographic equipment. Nikon Inc. distributes the Nikon Total Imaging System of consumer and professional digital SLR cameras, Nikkor optics, Speedlights and System Accessories; Nikon Coolpix® compact digital cameras; Coolscan® digital film scanners; 35mm film SLR cameras; Nikon software products and Nikon sports and recreational optics. At the heart of every Nikon camera is Nikon’s Exclusive Feature System, making it easy for anyone to take amazing digital pictures. Through the Nikon Spirit Initiative™, the company, plays an active role in supporting aspiring and advanced photographers through a variety of philanthropic organizations, educational programs, events and workshops. For more information, dial (800) NIKON-US or visit www.nikonusa.com, which links all levels of photographers to the web's most comprehensive photo learning and sharing communities.

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*Without Battery or memory card

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