Nikon Coolpix S9 Digital Camera First Thoughts

As I work through my full review of the Nikon Coolpix S9, I wanted to give you some of my first impressions of the camera.  The S9 is a slim ultra compact camera that captures 6 megapixels, has a 3x optical zoom, and a 2.5 inch LCD.  It's very slim and stylish, with a metal body with a glossy finish.

(view large image)

The S9 is purely a Point and Shoot camera.  There are no manual modes.  You can, however, adjust the ISO, exposure compensation, and white balance while in "auto" mode.  The S9 includes several scene modes and movie modes, including a stop-motion movie mode that will let you create your own California Raisins animations.

The camera is very stylish.  Its slim form factor makes it very pocketable - it is smaller than some wallets.  The piano gloss finish gives it a nice look, even though the camera is your typical digital camera silver.  The lens doesn't extend from the body at all, allowing for quick start up and power down.  A button on the top of the camera provides quick access to Portrait mode with Nikon's Face Priority AF system.

While I wish the camera allowed more control over image-taking, I need to remember it's place in the market.  The S9 has Nikon quality, a very compact size, and easy to use features for under $250.  The LCD is nice and bright.  There is minimal shutter lag, shot to shot time is good, and the camera is easy to use.  The flash is a bit under-powered, but that is often the case with the very small cameras.

I'll complete my full review in a couple days where I'll list the main features of the camera and provide more in-depth analysis of the camera's performance.  Stay tuned!

Taken with the S9 - Fall is here! (view medium image) (view large image)