Nikon Coolpix S800c overview: First Android point-and-shoot misses mark

There was the Polaroid SC1630 introduced at CES this yr, however that wasn’t a lot of digital camera and it does not look like accessible on the market. The S800c, then again, has a 1/2.3-inch 16-megapixel backside-illuminated CMOS sensor, a Nikon Expeed C2 processing engine, and a 10x f3.2-5.8 25-250mm lens with optical picture stabilization — all of the stuff you’d discover in Nikon’s Coolpix S6300. So, sure, this can be a actual point-and-shoot digital camera working on Android.

Android does convey some enjoyable stuff to the desk, after all, with an entire world of apps at your fingertips. Though the digital camera does not have a headphone jack, it does have Bluetooth, so you’ll be able to join wi-fi headphones or audio system and use the digital camera to play video games, take heed to music, and watch films. It’s Wi-Fi solely (there is no cell broadband entry), so when you can share immediately from the digital camera to any of your favourite websites, you may have to have wi-fi entry to take action. Should you’re on the go, although, Nikon does have cell apps for Android and iOS, which let you ship to a smartphone or pill that you can then use to add.

My important situation with the S800c, although, is that it is not a greater digital camera just because it is working Android. The S6300 I discussed earlier is at the moment accessible for about $150, and at that value, it is a first rate digital camera. The S800c is about $350, and whereas that provides Android, Wi-Fi, GPS, and a contact display, the digital camera itself is not something particular.

Image high quality
Forgetting in regards to the Android a part of this digital camera for the second, general picture high quality from the Nikon Coolpix S800c is above common for a point-and-shoot with its options, appropriate for prints as much as 8×10 or barely bigger and Net use. You’ll get higher images (and movies, for that matter) from it than from a smartphone, barring high fashions just like the Samsung Galaxy S3, HTC One X, Nokia 808 PureView (and doubtless the Lumia 920), or iPhone 5. Even towards these, it is higher in low mild.

Although its sensitivity settings run from ISO 125 to ISO 3200, the S800c is finest used with loads of mild to maintain sensitivity under ISO 400. No matter sensitivity, images can seem considerably tender and profit from sharpening with photo-editing software program. There is a Fastened Vary Auto possibility that can restrict you to ISO 125-400; I like to recommend utilizing it in daylight when potential.

The 2 highest ISOs — 1600 and 3200 — ought to solely be utilized in emergencies, primarily as a result of the colours get very washed out and the noise discount makes topics seem smeary and flat, and truly, colours are so dangerous at ISO 3200 you in all probability should not use it in any respect.

Video high quality was excellent; it truly gave the impression to be barely higher than the outcomes I bought from the S6300, which is good. You do get use of the optical zoom whereas recording and there’s an possibility for steady autofocus. You could, nonetheless, hear these picked up by the digital camera’s stereo mics in quieter scenes.

Efficiency
Editors’ observe: We not too long ago up to date our testing methodology to gauge barely extra real-world efficiency, so the outcomes aren’t essentially comparable with earlier testing. Till we’re completed refining our procedures, we won’t be posting comparative efficiency charts.

The capturing efficiency for the digital camera is barely higher than it’s for the S6300, which is nice as a result of that digital camera is fairly fast. The digital camera will begin in no matter interface you had been final in, so should you flip off the digital camera whereas within the Nikon digital camera interface, it takes on common 2.4 seconds from off to first shot; in any other case you may be greeted with an Android lock display if you activate. Shutter lag — the time from urgent the shutter launch to seize with out prefocusing — in brilliant situations was 0.2 second. For lower-contrast targets, the digital camera may take as much as 1.9 seconds to focus and shoot. Shot-to-shot occasions averaged 1.5 seconds with out flash and 1.6 seconds with, which is superb for a point-and-shoot.

The S800c can seize three-shot bursts at 7.9 frames per second. Nevertheless, focus and publicity are set on the first shot, so in case your topic is transferring, likelihood is good all three photographs will not be in focus. The digital camera additionally has 60fps and 120fps bursts; the previous captures as much as 25 photos at a decision of 1 megapixel, and the latter grabs as much as 50 VGA-quality photographs at a press of the shutter launch. There is a substantial wait whereas the digital camera shops all these images, however should you’re making an attempt to seize a selected second in time, that is your finest wager with this digital camera. Additionally, with all of those modes, the main focus, publicity, and white steadiness are set with the primary picture. If in case you have a fast-moving topic, like somebody working, there is a good likelihood your topic will not be in focus for all the images.

So general, capturing efficiency is excellent. Nevertheless, the remainder of the digital camera’s efficiency is considerably sluggish. Apps, exterior of Nikon’s digital camera interface, are gradual to open and utilizing them is not any higher. Throughout testing there have been a number of occasions the place apps would drive shut or dangle. I used to be additionally incessantly greeted with a “Please wait…” message when turning the digital camera on or off. It was not in contrast to utilizing a reasonable Android smartphone from two years in the past. To high it off, battery life is poor (extra on that within the subsequent part).

Design and options
The S800c from the entrance does not look all that completely different from Nikon’s different S-series fashions, although its casing is plastic as an alternative of metallic. Flip it round and also you’re taking a look at very good and responsive 3.5-inch OLED contact display and three buttons: Menu, Residence, and Return. It appears like a smartphone, and since Nikon trimmed out the display in silver, the S800c looks like a digital camera that is principally had a smartphone tacked on the again as an alternative of feeling like one full product.

That feeling extends to the digital camera’s use, too. Once you activate the digital camera, you are greeted with what appears like a typical digital camera interface, albeit one designed for contact navigation.

Press the Menu button and you will get settings for the digital camera options. Nevertheless, touching the Residence button will launch you into an Android dwelling display with numerous shortcuts to launch apps, together with ones labeled “Capturing” and “Play” that convey you again to Nikon’s digital camera interface. It makes full sense that the digital camera options are reached utilizing what’s primarily Nikon’s digital camera interface as an Android app, however there’s one thing about it that is simply off.