Nikon has today announced the latest in its S series of ultra-compact digital cameras. The new Coolpix S3 appears to be identical to the S2 apart from the increase in resolution, this camera now sports a six megapixel 1/2.5" CCD sensor. The S3 will be available in a range of colors; white, matt black and silver, priced at €359 and available at the end of this month.

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Nikon blends superior shooting power with high quality and a slim, attractive style

Nikon has taken digital camera design and shooting power to a new level with the announcement of the highly desirable COOLPIX S3 compact camera.

Hot on the heels of the exceptionally popular ‘must have’ COOLPIX S1 and COOLPIX S2, the COOLPIX S3 has a slim, elegant and ultra-portable design made possible by Nikon superior engineering. In addition, it offers the higher shooting performance of 6.0 effective megapixels and features innovative Nikon functions that enable the user to improve images in-camera.

A choice of three colours
The aluminum exterior makes the COOLPIX S3 every bit as comfortable in the hand as it is attractive to the eye. What’s more, it’s also available in a range of appealing colours: Ivory white, Matt black, and Platinum silver*.

Slim yet powerful
Like the S1 and S2, the COOLPIX S3 manages to pack a powerful 35-105mm 3x Zoom-Nikkor ED lens** (35mm equivalent) whilst retaining a surprisingly slim depth of just 19.7mm. The lens also makes use of Nikon’s “right-angled” optics system, which enables the lens to function throughout its focal range without ever protruding from the camera body.

The COOLPIX S3 has a large, bright 2.5-inch LCD monitor, which does away with the need for a viewfinder and makes it easy to play back shots on the spot. Operation is easy thanks to a choice of Graphic User Interfaces (GUI) that gives the user the ability to select functions by either name or icon. A handy HELP button displays easy-to-understand explanations for functions on the main menu, and equally helpfully all information can be displayed in the user’s choice of 12 different languages.

Always ready to use
Designed to deliver swift and efficient performance, the COOLPIX S3 lets the user take up to 190 shots (approx.) with a single rechargeable EN-EL8 battery (based on CIPA standard***), while delivering a speedy start-up time of just 1 second (approx.) and continuous shooting at up to 1.6fps (approx.). Added together, these factors mean the user is ready to shoot more of the time to capture unexpected moments.

A range of exciting Nikon features makes it possible to improve recorded images in-camera, producing pleasing shots even in challenging conditions.

The D-Lighting function, for example, can be easily selected in Playback Mode to rescue shots with insufficient exposure. Allowing the user to select shots taken with insufficient flash or excessive backlighting, this function automatically creates a copy of the photo with added detail and light wherever necessary.

Face priority function
Nikon’s clever Face-priority AF function is available in Portrait Mode. Automatically detecting the presence of a human face in the frame, this function then achieves sharp focus accordingly to produce pleasing portraits, regardless of where the subject is located in the shot.

No more red eye
The COOLPIX S3 also features the In-Camera Red-Eye Fix function, which has the ability to detect the red-eye effect that can sometimes be caused by flash, then automatically corrects for it in-camera. The COOLPIX S3 is additionally equipped with the convenient Blur Warning function. Assisting the achievement of the best possible results, it alerts users whenever an image has been affected by camera shake, giving them the chance to recompose and shoot again before leaving the scene.

The COOLPIX S3 also comes complete with the COOL-STATION MV-11/MV-11B. More than a mere charging cradle, the COOL-STATION allows batteries to be charged while they are still in the camera and provides a direct USB connection to a computer. What’s more, it can also be connected to a TV or straight to a compatible printer for PictBridge-enabled printing that does away with the need for a computer.

Setting the Scene
Making operation even easier still, the COOLPIX S3 offers a range of Scene Modes that make it simple to achieve pleasing results in a wide range of common shooting situations. There is a total of 17 different Scene Modes to choose from in all.

Four of them feature Scene Assist, which simplify composition, and another - Underwater Scene Mode - achieves true-to-life colors when used in combination with the optional Waterproof Case WP-CP5****.

Operating all the Scene Modes is straightforward: the user simply selects the most appropriate mode for the shot they want to take and the COOLPIX S3 automatically selects the optimal settings required.

Featuring 12MB of internal memory, the COOLPIX S3 lets users go on shooting even if they are not carrying any memory media. Such internal memory also makes it possible for users to transfer images between SD memory cards. The COOLPIX S3 has the ability to shoot high-quality movies too, offering four different movie modes with 15fps performance — three with sound, plus a Time-lapse mode that allows you to capture action taking place over longer durations.

Taking the fun and versatility even further still, the COOLPIX S3 also comes complete with Nikon’s proprietary PictureProject software — making it easy to edit, organize and share images with a wide range of user-friendly functions.

* Color availability varies according to region.
** Nikon’s ED (Extra-low Dispersion) glass offers superior sharpness and optimal color correction.
*** Industry standard for measuring life of camera batteries. Measured at 25ºC (77ºF); zoom adjusted with each shot, built-in flash fired with every other shot, image mode set to Normal.
**** Not available in some countries or areas.

Nikon COOLPIX S3 Feature Highlights

High-level performance in a slim, stylish body
The latest in the new “S series” of COOLPIX compact digital cameras, the COOLPIX Q5005 features the same attractive design, smooth lines and practical aluminum casing as its predecessors, making it a pleasure to own as well as use. What’s more, it offers impressive 6.0 effective-megapixel shooting performance and features a powerful 35-105mm 3x Zoom-Nikkor ED lens (35mm equivalent) that can function throughout its entire focal range without protruding from the camera body as a result of employing Nikon’s innovative “right-angled” optics system.

More efficiency means more shots
Delivering exceptional energy efficiency, the COOLPIX S3 can take up to 190 shots with a single EN-EL8 rechargeable battery, so users spend more time shooting and less time charging.

Fast, responsive performance
The COOLPIX S3 has also been specially designed to offer accelerated performance. Starting up in only 1 second (approx.) and offering continuous shooting at up to 1.6fps (approx.), it makes it much easier for users to capture unexpected moments.

Innovations to improve images in-camera
The COOLPIX S3 features a range of unique Nikon functions that enable the user to improve images automatically, in-camera. The D-Lighting function can be selected in Playback mode to rescue images with insufficient exposure — allowing the user to choose shots with excessive backlight or insufficient flash, it automatically creates a copy of such shots with added light and detail wherever necessary. Available in Portrait mode, the Face-priority AF function automatically detects human faces in the frame to achieve sharp focus regardless of where the subject is located in the shot. In-Camera Red-Eye Fix detects the unfortunate red-eye effect that can sometimes be caused by flash and compensates for it automatically to produce more satisfying portraits in low-light conditions. The COOLPIX S3 also features a Blur Warning function too, which lets the user know when a shot has been compromised by camera shake, allowing him or her to recompose and shoot again before leaving the scene.

Nikon COOLPIX S3 Other Features

• Highly portable dimensions of 89.9 x 57.5 x 19.7mm (3.5 x 2.3 x 0.8 in.) (W x H x D)
• Minimized weight of approximately 118g (4 oz.) (without battery and memory card)BSS
• (Best Shot Selector) identifies and saves the best exposure automatically from ten sequential shots
• 4 of the 17 Scene Modes offer Scene Assist (Portrait, Night Portrait, Sports, Landscape)
• Noise Reduction produces clearer results during use of Dusk/Dawn and Night landscape modes
• Time zone function makes it easy for users to set the camera to local time, anywhere in the world
• Voice recording Mode saves up to 30 minutes of audio, or up to 5 hours with a 256 MB SD card
• All buttons are located on the camera back for convenient, easy access
• 4x digital zoom offers further compositional freedom
• Single AF and Continuous AF are available for selection in Movie Mode
• Choice of White Balance: Auto with TTL control, 5-mode manual (Daylight, Incandescent, Fluorescent, Cloudy and Flash) and Preset
• Playback options: Single, 4- and 9-segment thumbnail, Slideshow
• Built-in flash: features settings for Auto, Auto with Red-eye Reduction (In-Camera Red-Eye Fix), Anytime flash, Flash cancel and Slow sync.

Nikon Coolpix S3 specifications