12. Nikon Coolpix S4: The Return Of The Swivel Lens!

Nikon had a lot of success with its Coolpix swivel cameras in the 900 and 4500 series; many serious photographers, and even some professionals, used those models. But over the last few years, the design disappeared from Nikon's lines. Now the S4 has brought it back - is it still a good choice for demanding users?

Overall Design And Handling

The S4 is actually closer in design to the SQ - an ultra-compact camera - than to the old 900 or 4500 series. It's a very compact swivel-lens model with a 10x zoom. This is a combination that has already been tried by other brands, like Casio, in the past. The S4 is a model that's aimed at the general public, with limited possibilities for image making control. That makes it suitable mostly for users without a lot of technical knowledge. Aiming and composing shots are done exclusively on the big 2.5" screen.

Handling is always good with this type of camera, using the screen as viewfinder; its position is always ideal, regardless of the viewing angle and the level of the camera. You can aim while holding it at stomach level, at ground level, or above your head (for shooting over a crowd, for example). The S4 is no exception to the rule, but naturally you have to take care not to move while shooting when using the longest focal lengths. Note the lens protection system, that uses a manually-operated plastic shield; it's a bit simplistic, but effective. It would have been difficult to include an automatic lens cover without losing compactness.