Nikon Coolpix S560 Review Discussion

[Jim Keenan]

With the Nikon Coolpix S550 first reaching consumers in February 2008, it was a bit surprising to see the S560 announced in August with a September release date. Surprising unless the S550 was a somewhat stopgap measure to get a Nikon 10 megapixel S-series Coolpix to market – previously, the Nikon's "Style" lineup jumped from 8 megapixels in the S540 to 12.1 in the S700, with nothing in between.

Read the full content of this Article: Nikon Coolpix S560 Review

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[Andy Stanton]

It looks like a pretty good small camera. Nikon's making progress in this area.

[KCook]

Very cool that the Scene Auto Selector mode includes Backlight. Can you still set your own ISO and EV compensation while in Scene Auto Selector mode? Some cameras "dummy up" whenever in a scene setting.

I will admit I'm blown away by these DRO features like D-lighting. But can the strength of this treatment be adjusted? Or is it just Full On / Full Off?

Kelly Cook

[David Rasnake]

Jim may be able to comment on the Scene Auto Selector functions; if not, the camera's back on my desk, and I'll check it out on Monday.

Post-shot D-Lighting used to be a single-setting process; again, I can check to confirm next week if needed.

dr

[Jim Keenan]

IIRC, the scene auto mode will allow you to set any settings that are available for the particular scene the camera selects, and exposure compensation is available for most scenes. I'll have to ask David to look into the ISO part, but I'm thinking the scene modes were pretty much auto ISO.

D-Lighting on the 560 was a yes/no proposition, and what you saw was what you got - there were no adjustments.

[KCook]

Thanks for the followup guys. Pity you don't get to adjust that D-lighting treatment. Often too much DRO ends up with an artificial look. Still a lot better than nothing though.

Kelly

[Jim Keenan]

D-Lighting in most Nikon compacts that I've tested has been pretty good - the S560 produced the most pronounced change.

[denbink]

Hi. Thought you would like one more review. I used to own this camera. Sold it to my Mom, who seems to really like it. I thought it was ok. Then I went and bought a Nikon Coolpix S8000. Mistake! I wouldn't have cared if it didnt cost so much. I thought I was buying the top dog camera! Back to the S560.
The S560 photos didn't looks as good as the samples shown above so I don't know what camera they are showing pics from but it can't be from the S560. The camera is small and durable. I liked it a little better than the S8000. Yes..it's all about the picture quality. I don't know. Maybe they are close to the same in pic qual. There is no wide angle. The zoom was decent and the battery life was very good! Started up quick.
So, its an ok camera and at a nice price. I bougt mine used on Ebay for a song and it came with two batteries but that was a deal from the seller.
All in all, its was fun but I wasn't satisfied. I will keep searching for the most decent pocket, point and shoot digi cam. Is there really any out there? LOL.

[steph78]

I have been using my Nikon s560 for a couple of years now, and absolutely love the daytime shots it takes. My dusk/night shots, however, are grainy or blurry. Can you suggest a setting that might help? I have used the scene settings but I wonder if there is an ISO setting thats best for night photos....for example a building lit up with Christmas lights. If this question has been answered before I apologize.

Thanks!

[uduxcam]

Good camera. I might consider buying one of these soon