| |
 |
|
| Click photo for more images taken by the Nikon Coolpix S7C. |
There are advantages to this method. By simply sending thumbnails, you won't clog up your friend's e-mail inbox. But for short-term archiving while on the road, it may not be the best solution. The images are downsampled and then compressed, and only stored on the Nikon server for 14 days! But for the people most excited by this camera, these are probably not the biggest concerns. It is fun, it works in its own way, and you can share your adventures only moments afterwards.
Disappointingly, the e-mailing only works for still photos and not any of the movie modes. This is a shame, because the Coolpix S7c has two really cool video capture modes that would be fun to share while on the road. Wouldn't it be great to send a time-lapse movie of the sunset at the beach resort while you're still on vacation? You'll have to do it the "old-fashioned" way and tether the camera or SD card to a computer, rather than using a T-Mobile Hotspot.
Nonetheless, the S7c's time-lapse movie move is a really fun feature. Set the camera up in a corner during a party and watch the night unfold at an amazing pace! Mount the camera on the dashboard and take a shot every 30 seconds as you roll down the highway! Set the camera in its dock and capture a flower opening over the course of a few days. And once you are done capturing the still images at intervals ranging from 30 seconds to one hour, the Coolpix S7c saves it as a QuickTime movie, ready to share with the world.
Like its stylish sister, the Nikon Coolpix S9, the Coolpix S7c also features a stop-action video mode. A ghosted view of the previous image helps the user make the minute adjustments between frames. These movie modes are a lot of fun. For normal video capture, it's recorded at up to 640x480 pixels at 30 frames per second. On the playback side, there is also the option to make PictMuvees, which feature canned music and Ken Burns-type effects for sharing.
Is this a serious camera for the hardcore photo enthusiast? No, not really. But for the plugged-in member of the Internet generation who likes to share snapshots while sipping iced lattes, the Coolpix S7c is as good as they come.
Tech Specs:
Ultra Compact 7.1 megapixel (effective) digital camera with 1/2.5" CCD
Maximum capture, still: 7MP (3072x2304)
Maximum capture, video: VGA 640x480 @ 30fps in QuickTime format
Lens: Zoom-Nikkor ED 3x zoom 35-105mm f/2.8-5.0 (35mm equivalent)
ISO Range: 50-1600
Media Type: SD
LCD: 3.0" TFT Color LCD (230,000 px)
Street: $280.00
Dimensions: 2.4 x 3.9 x 0.8"
Weight: Approx. 5.5 oz with battery and SD card
In the Box:
• Nikon Coolpix S7c
• EN-EL8 Rechargeable Li-ion Battery
• MV-15 Cool-Station Dock
• PV-11 Dock Insert
• EH-64 AC Adapter
• UC-E10 USB Cable
• EG-E5000 Audio Video Cable
• Carry Strap
• PictureProject Software CD-ROM
• User Guide
• 1-Year Nikon U.S.A. Limited Warranty
|
