Nikon Coolpix S4000

The S4000 has a lot going for it in terms of its general aesthetic. Its smooth, sleek facade definitely helps the attractiveness factor, and perhaps hides a few of its internal flaws.

Also on the exterior is a 27mm wide-angle lens that hits 4x optical zoom, with an aperture range of f/3.2-5.9. There's a small flash positioned next to the Nikon logo, as well as an AF assist light at the top right of the front panel. The teeny tiny shutter button is surrounded by a zoom rocker and alongside it, the power button is flush with the camera body. Our test unit was a splendid fuchsia, but it also comes in a glossy black finish. Further inside, a 12-megapixel CCD sensor captures images in aspect ratios of 4:3 (in a range of megapixel sizes) and 16:9 (just the one image size.

Specifications:

• 12.00 Megapixels

• 1/2.3″ CCD Image Sensor

• Maximum Image Size: 4000 x 3000 pixels

• 4x Optical Zoom

• Focal Length Equivalent: 27 - 108 mm

• Aperture Range: f/3.2 (wide) -f/5.9 (tele)

• 3-inch Touch-screen LCD with 460,000 dots

• Macro Focus: 8 cm

• Sensitivity: ISO80 - 3200

• Subject Tracking AF

• Scene Auto Selector Mode

• Smart Portrait System

• 720p HD Movies, .AVI (H.264)

• SD / SDHC Memory Cards

• 45.0 Included Memory

• Lithium-ion rechargeable Battery

• Size: 3.7 x 2.2 x 0.8 in.(95 x 57 x 20 mm)

• Available Colors: Plum, Champagne Silver, Pink, Red, Black

Most people don't set out to buy a touchscreen camera, so the S4000 sits in a peculiar market segment. It's a compact and attractive model so this will lure potential buyers, but image quality issues and the temperamental nature of the touchscreen don't live up to expectations.