Nikon Coolpix S230 First Thoughts

Also on the rear panel, two buttons toggle between shooting modes and image review, so all other user interface happens through touch-enabled magic.

User interface
I found the camera menus to be straightforward and easily navigated, and the touch screen was very responsive. A few quick setting adjustments are set right at the user's fingertips on the main shooting screen. In my brief experience with this camera, I liked how easy it was to access flash and display options. Auto scene detection was fairly seamless, though adjusting shooting settings manually was easy enough. Image processing was quick after each shot.

Measuring up
The S230 is a bit thicker than the likes of a Sony Cyber-shot T700, another touch screen camera, and sports a slightly smaller LCD. It handles easier than the Sony with a nice indentation for a thumb on the upper right corner of the back panel. Though slim, the S230 didn't feel slippery in my hand.

Sample shots
I was happy with the images the S230 produced on my trial run. For a very pocket-friendly sized camera, it captured details and colors nicely.

Stay tuned...
Our preliminary run with the S230 proved it to be a quick little camera. Our full review will take a rigorous look at image quality and the love-it-or-hate-it touch screen, so check back for the full rundown on the Coolpix S230.