Nikon Coolpix S7c review

The Coolpix S7 ($350) is the update to the Coolpix S6, which was one of Nikon's first cameras to support Wi-Fi. The S7c supports Wi-Fi too -- in fact, it's been enhanced over its predecessor. While before you could just transfer photos to your computer wirelessly, the S7c lets you e-mail photos right from your camera, from almost any Wi-Fi access point. It's even preset for T-Mobile Hotspots (usually found at Starbucks), so you can send some photos while sipping your double americano.

Other new features on the S7c include more pixels (7MP vs 6MP on the S6), a slightly different lens (in terms of maximum aperture), a more powerful flash, Electronic Vibration Reduction, and new high ISO options. What hasn't changed? The S7c still has a huge 3-inch LCD, fancy slideshow feature, and VGA movie mode.

Before we start the review, I have to knock Nikon for some rather questionable product labeling. If you're shopping for a camera and look at the S7c or its box, you might be mislead about its Vibration Reduction (image stabilization) capability. Have a look at this:

So, according to the labels on both the camera and the box, the S7c has Vibration Reduction / image stabilization. And that's what I thought for a while, until I started using the camera. I noticed that there was only an "electronic VR" option available. After checking the manual (and confirming with Nikon), it turns out that VR on the S7c is nothing more than some post-shot sharpening. Pretty misleading if you ask me.

Okay, rant over. Read on to find out how the S7c performs in the crowded ultra-compact field!

The Coolpix S7c has an average bundle. Inside the box you'll find:

• The 7.1 Megapixel Coolpix S7c digital camera
• EN-EL8 rechargeable lithium-ion battery
• Battery charger / AC adapter
• Cool-Station camera dock
• Wrist strap
• USB cable
• A/V cable
• CD-ROM featuring Nikon PictureProject / Wireless Camera Setup Utility
• Fold-out Quick Start guide + 185 page camera manual (both printed)

Last year Nikon started building memory into their cameras instead of putting a memory card in the box. And, in one of those "what were they thinking?" moves, Nikon put less memory into the higher resolution Coolpix S7c than they did on the S6. That camera had 20MB, and the S7c has just 14MB. You can fit just four photos at the highest quality setting into that amount of memory, so consider a large memory card to be a required purchase. Since it's 7 Megapixel, I'd recommend getting at least a 512MB memory card for the S7c. The camera can use SD or MMC memory cards, and spending the extra bucks on a high speed card is worth it (no need to go overboard, though).