| Do people actually buy cameras because they think it | | | | of dust and beach sand, backpacks along with your |
| enhances their image? With a name like Coolpix, | | | | paper clip collection, and car consoles right beside all |
| apparently the good folks at Nikon seem to think so. | | | | your loose dimes and nickels. You'd think, they'd make |
| The million dollar question here though, is whether | | | | the Coolpix LCD a little more durable for these hostile |
| buying a Nikon Coolpix S51 Digital Camera will allow | | | | environments. Especially since there's no viewfinder, |
| you to take cool pictures like the name suggests. I | | | | and your stuck staring at a scratched up LCD to |
| suspect not, but lets take a look anyway. | | | | frame all your photos. |
| One of the nice things about ultra compact cameras | | | | Megapixels and LCD's screens seem to be the big |
| like the S51, is their portability. Being able to reach into a | | | | selling point these days with manufacturers. If only |
| pocket quickly, grab your camera and snag a picture | | | | more consumers realized that too many megapixels |
| at a moments is a nice feature. If it works. Don't count | | | | result in noisy pictures, especially with an ultra-compact |
| on catching many of those candid moments with a | | | | camera that have such a small image sensor to start |
| Coolpix. It tends to take a few seconds to start up | | | | with. While bigger LCDs may seem cool, they're just a |
| once you've powered it up, followed by another few | | | | killer on batteries. I swear that little Energizer Bunny is |
| seconds after you've squeezed the shutter button. | | | | subsidizing the camera manufacturers big LCD hype, |
| Hopefully your subjects are slow (translation... not kids), | | | | just to ensure he stays employed forever. I'd gladly |
| and don't go scurrying off the second they see a | | | | exchange a 3 inch LCD for a 2 inch one, if it meant I |
| camera in your hand. | | | | got 30% more pictures, and a viewfinder thrown in as |
| Nikon, must know that the S51 is going to be carried | | | | a backup. |
| around in all kinds of strange places. Pants pockets full | | | | |