Review Nikon Coolpix S9500 Camera Introduction:
Nikon launches a new addition to its Style series of compact cameras. The Nikon Coolpix S9500 is an 18 megapixel camera with a slim-line body that conceals a wealth of cutting edge technology. Nikon's revamped the champion S-series Coolpix camera with its latest S9500 model. We were on hand at the Focus on imaging show in Birmingham where we were able to nab this forthcoming compact model from one of Nikon's locked and sealed glass cabinets. Although we weren't huge fans of the Nikon S9300 model that came before it, we can see the intended direction of the S9500. It's a simple point and shoot compact camera laden with scene modes and automatic options that avoids getting bogged down with mode dials or much advanced stuff that can be found in some competitor cameras. Nikon's stance: if you want that control then look elsewhere in the range. Along with built-in Wi-Fi, which allows you to share images and movies instantly, the 22x Nikkor optical super zoom lens and backlit 18-megapixel CMOS sensor capture distant action and candid close-ups with ease. The Nikon Coolpix S9500 is equipped with a lens-shift vibration reduction system that enables sharp results and a steady image on the large 7.5-cm OLED screen, making it easy to frame your shots. The Nikon S9500 is a user-friendly compact digital camera offering a feature-rich performance.
Nikon Coolpix S9500 Camera Features:
The Nikon Coolpix S9500 includes a Smart Portrait System to capture blink free photos and to make sure that people smile in the picture. Use the glamour retouch options to make the portraits look even more flattering. The camera includes an easy panorama mode for 360° and 180° panorama pictures. The Nikon Coolpix S9500 can also create 3D images and includes 19 scene modes, to achieve the best shots in any situation. In addition, the Nikon S9500 is equipped with a GPS module, to record the exact location of captured pictures as a 'geotag'. Users can review the point-of-interest information in playback or retrace their route on a PC. Besides taking photos, the Nikon Coolpix S9500 records movies with stereo sound in Full HD 1080p. A dedicated video-record button makes it easy to begin filming.
The zoom is controlled by a toggle around the shutter button and we found it to be really responsive throughout. Controls are limited Nikon Coolpix S9500 Camera Charger, but there are options to jump between single and continuous autofocus among various other choices instead of the full-on set of manual controls.
Another big hitter is the S9500's inclusion of built-in Wi-Fi to share images directly from the camera. Without a decent network within the show's walls it wasn't possible to test this out, but we suspect that it ought to be a big jump forward - certainly far better than the S9300's Eye-Fi compatibility only anyway. Good job the Wi-Fi's built in to the S9500 rather than based on the cost of an optional WU-1a adaptor as per other recent Nikon models too.
The Coolpix S9500's most immediate new feature is a yet longer zoom range, increased from the S9300's 18x optical zoom to a more significant 22x optical zoom. That equates to a 25-550mm equivalent which means not only can wide-angle group shots be snapped up with ease Nikon Coolpix S9500 Battery Charger, the middle-to-long zoom can also pick off far away subjects and make them appear large and closer in the frame. It's a fair whack longer than the S9300's lens was too.
Elsewhere Nikon's done the same thing as it has with much of its recent range - including the P520 super zoom that we've also got our mitts on at the show - by increasing the S9500's resolution. It's got an 18-megapixel sensor. The results of this we can't comment on in any detail at the moment, but we're a little baffled as to why the resolution race keeps on running - the S9300's 16-megapixel sensor was more than resolute enough, if not pushing its limits a little too much.
Cosmetically we prefer the S9500 Nikon Camera Charger too: there's no "hump" on top for the GPS unit, instead Nikon's managed to keep the tech on board minus the physical protrusion. It makes for a simple yet elegant looking compact camera and one that's rather slim - 31mm at its widest - considering that wide-ranging zoom.
It might not have the more advanced manual options of some of its competitors, but the S9500's direction makes good sense. The only thing we're not yet convinced by is the rise in resolution, but we'll take a closer look at that when we get one of these models in for review before its April release date.
