Nikon Coolpix S51 8.1MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Vibration Reduction Zoom (Matte Black) | 
| Brand: Nikon
List Price: $229.95
Buy New: $174.95
You Save: $55.00 (24%)
New (24) Used (1) from $198.32
Rating:  73 reviews
Sales Rank: 857
Color: Matte Black
Media: Electronics
Batteries Included: Yes
Floppy Disk Drive: None
Optical Zoom: 3
Display Size: 3
Maximum Focal Length: 18.9
Minimum Focal Length: 6.3
Maximum Resolution: 8
Has Red Eye Reduction: Yes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.6
Dimensions (in): 3.8 x 0.8 x 2.3
MPN: 25574
Model: 25574
UPC: 018208255740
EAN: 0018208255740
ASIN: B000VD5PEM
Release Date: September 25, 2007
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Features:
| • | Supplied accessories - EN-EL8 Rechargeable Li-ion Battery, MH-62 Battery Charger, UC-E12 AV/USB Cable, Strap, Printer Dock Accessory - Dock Insert PV-12, Software Suite CD-ROM | | • | 8.1 effective megapixels for high-precision image quality for up to 3264 x 2448 pixel resolution (standard) and 3200x1800 (16 - 9 Widescreen ) | | • | Optical 3x Zoom Nikkor lens (35mm equivalent 38-114mm) / 4x Digital-zoom | | • | Pictmotion allows you to create in-camera slide shows with your music | | • | Optical lens shift VR image stabilization minimizes the effect of camera shake |
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| Accessories:
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| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
A large, bright LCD monitor makes it a cinch to compose shots and play them back anywhere. Thanks to its wide 160-degree viewing angle, it's easy for everyone to gather round and see. And with the advantage of an anti-reflection coating, it allows images to be seen clearly even in direct sunlight.Not only does the COOLPIX S51 have the power to take simply stunning pictures, but it's also exceptionally elegant. Its eye-catching wave-surface design sets a high standard for quality throughout the camera, while its smooth curves and beautiful finish blend operational ease with stylish sophistication.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 68 more reviews...
 Compact, slick, and slow to respond November 27, 2007
Ped Xing
78 out of 83 found this review helpful
I purchased this camera as an all-around point-and-shoot for my family's use, and plan to return it and pick another - probably a Canon SD850 or similar.
First, the good. Photos are very good overall, with the exceptions noted below, and much better than my previous camera, a Nikon 4300. The camera is small, nice looking, and has a huge LCD. I also appreciated the integrated (and internal) lens cover and non-protruding optical zoom. The image stabilization was another selling point for me.
Then I got the camera home... The slick look is slick (as in slippery) to hold, too. The tiny buttons are not well differentiated, and like other reviewers I found myself accidentally hitting the power switch frequently. The big LCD always looks grainy, making me think my photos weren't very good until I viewed them on my PC monitor. I also found the interface confusing (and I'm no electronics newbie).
But the real killer is the camera's speed. Although it snaps open and lights up extremely quickly, it refuses to take a photo for about two seconds. Press the shutter button again, and you're waiting 1 or 2 more seconds while it focuses and processes - by then the kids have turned away and are on to something else. In short, it's just unbearably slow in everyday use.
Back in the box, then.
UPDATE: I returned this camera and purchased a Canon SD850 IS as a replacement. I am much happier - the Canon is SUPER quick so I no longer get photos of the backs of the kids heads, their ears and hair, or the background when I was setting up the shot... Other quirks with the Nikon that I noticed in a week of use: The battery/card door is VERY hard to open and feels flimsy; the charger requires a big bulky power cord; the slim design fit very nicely in a pocket.
Very good, but I have a problem (Muy buena, pero tengo un problema). September 28, 2007
Federico Abreu
56 out of 63 found this review helpful
It is very comfortable and easy to use. The 3 inches screen is fabulous. The revolving wheel is a different way to show the multiple customized options and allows the reproduction of photos in multiple ways, one of them as a carrousel that turns when it rotates.
The stabilizer of real images works efficiently! As if it was firmly supported.
The problem I have is that the on/off button, located on top, reacts to very slight pressures unexpectedly turning on. It usually happens when sliding it into the protective case and into the trousers pocket. Although it turns automatically off in five minutes, the frequency of this occurrence contributes to unload the battery.
I have found that 150 photos by battery load is very little. It forces to buy an extra battery. The battery icon appears too late when very little load on battery is left. It should be present when the camera is turned on as it does for the amount of available photos and the actual setting. This was one of the few things that made me angry about my old Nikon model which I still keep in working.
-=+=-
Muy comoda y facil de usar. La pantalla de 3" es fabulosa. La ruedita giratoria en una forma diferente de configurar las multiples opciones personalizables y permite reproducir las fotos de varias formas diferentes, una de ellas en un carrusel que gira al rotarla y que simultaneamente presenta la seleccion en una imagen adjunta mas grande.
El estabilizador de imagenes realmente funciona, es como si estuviera apoyada firme.
El problema que tengo con ella es que el boton de encendido y apagado, ubicado en la cara superior, se presiona con suma facilidad. Un simple topadito y ya esta prendida. Al entrarla en el bultico protector se activa facilmente. Y en el bolsillo de los pantalones, tambien se prende a cada rato. Aunque se apaga automaticamente a los cinco minutos, descarga la bateria.
Encuentro que 150 fotos por carga de bateria es poco. Obliga a comprar una bateria extra. El medidor de bateria solo se presenta cuando queda poca carga para mostrar la bateria floja. Debiera ensenarlo siempre al prender, como hace con la cantidad de fotos disponibles y la configuracion actual. Esto era de las pocas cosas que me hacian incomodar de mi viejo modelo Nikon que aun conservo funcionando.
FA
Great compact camera, especially for the price December 4, 2007
Christina Warren (Atlanta, GA)
45 out of 45 found this review helpful
I wanted to replace my aging P&S digital camera and wanted something that was compact and easy to carry in a small handbag, that would still take good pictures. I specifically wanted a non-retracting lens camera - simply because I wanted the most compact camera I could get (and didn't want to risk having someone knock over the camera if the lens was partly open). Oh - and I wanted something on the cheap. This fits the bill. If you are willing to spend more money, I think you can probably get a better camera -- but for what I wanted, I couldn't find another ultra-compact in the sub $250 range that I liked as much. For $225, I was able to get a camera, a 2 GB SD card (free thanks to some promo Amazon was running a few weeks ago) and an extra battery. Can't beat that.
The LCD screen is gorgeous, works great in a variety of lighting conditions (including bright sunlight) and is HUGE. Although I'm a big fan of looking through the lens on DSLRs, I'm of the opinion that most of the viewfinders on compact P&S cameras are less reliable than a LCD, so I would rather have a high resolution, bright LCD that works outdoors. The one downside of having a 3" LCD is that the battery life is less than some other cameras. I picked up an extra battery when I purchased my camera and would recommend potential buyers to do the same thing. The battery does not charge in the camera - something I personally prefer - but know that you will need to buy a separate AC adaptor if you want to do that.
The build quality of the camera is fine. It's mostly plastic, with some pieces of metal - and it's lightweight, but if you are used to a heavier metal camera (like Sony features on their higher-end ultra compacts), I'm not going to lie, this feels kind of cheap in comparison. But at $200, I really don't expect it to feel like a camera that costs $160 more.
This is not the fasted digital camera that I have ever used, nor is it the slowest. I had fewer issues with the speed than some of the reviews that I have read, mostly because it's the result of the auto-focus system doing its thing. You press and hold the shot button, wait for the AF sensor to turn green and then press again. The auto-focus is VERY good (even if you aren't using the facial recognition mode), so I'm fine with waiting another tenth of a second to take a shot. It's really not a huge thing.
The image quality on the camera is quite good, once you become familiar with the controls. The macro mode is amazing -- for such an inexpensive camera, I was blown away. Fantastic. The flash is pretty bright, be weary of that when taking indoor shots, as it can often wash out the entire shot. The autofocus is great and the scene modes/white balance work as they should. Red eye is a problem - as it is for almost all compact digital camera. Fix that on your computer after the fact - but yes, it's definitely there.
Straight out of the camera, the pictures and colors look very good. After some tweaking in Aperture or Lightroom (or iPhoto or the included Nikon photo software if you want to get less fancy), they look amazing. I put up some pictures from Thanksgiving on my Flickr page and someone was able to make out the photographs in the background of the original, even though it was partially obstructed by plant leaves, to know that it was an older picture of me.
I can't speak for Windows (haven't used it with a Windows PC yet), but the camera works flawlessly with a Mac (I'm running OS X 10.5.1). I didn't install the Nikon software, preferring to use my other photo apps instead. Connecting the camera via USB is a breeze and the transfer from the SD card to the computer is very fast. I got a 2 GB SD card, but it supports up to a 4 GB card, and supports high-speed cards (well, it's been tested with certain brands, see the owner's manual).
All in all, for the price - the camera can't be beat if you want something ultra-compact and with a large LCD. I only give it 4 stars because of the battery life and the fact that the build quality is on the plasticy side. Honestly though, for $200 - this is awesome.
I do like it October 15, 2007
D. Farber (Pittsburgh, PA USA)
28 out of 32 found this review helpful
Nikon Coolpix S51 8.1MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Vibration Reduction Zoom (Matte Black)
I have had it for a week. It is wonderful when on a trip and I can stop at THAT chain of coffee shops and email the picturs to the family. The quality looks fine for the size camera at normal iso. The BAD thing is the damn ower button. Even in the nikon case it often turnes on accidentally. Bad design
 Read the manual people! December 8, 2007
Charles Wellman (The Woodlands, Texas)
26 out of 27 found this review helpful
I keep seeing all of these review with silly problems, just read the manual! If it seems slow to take pics, change the shutter speed to the higher/faster speeds and the camera will keep up with your multi fast action photos, no delay as described by others. The power button is just like the one on the L series, although easy to turn on, the camera has an automatic sleep mode before it actually turns off. I love this camera, and when in high resolution photo mode, the display is vivid and quite clear, unlike the grainy lo res pics show on it. I give it a 5+ for outstanding ease and wonderful functions.
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