Nikon Coolpix S610c Cary NC

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Manufacturer: Nikon
http://www.nikon.com
Supplier: BT
www.shop.bt.com
Price: £177 (£208 inc VAT)
Rating: 5/6
Features that were only to be found on digital SLRs this time last year are now almost standard on digital compacts. They all have high-ISO sensitivity settings, allowing for shots in low light without the flash, and all but one of the cameras here - the GE model - has optical image stabilisation to deal with camera-shake. Also, the megapixel ratings are enormous, and 3in screens are becoming the norm. In short, it's pretty hard to buy a bad digital camera these days, but some are of superior quality and better value than others.

The S610c looks lovely with its brushed aluminium facing, but in comparison to the Sony T70 it feels lightweight, which isn't helped by the plastic rotary selector on the back. But while it's light, it isn't flimsy - try to bend or flex the casing and you'll get nowhere. The larger and more angular case may be less sexy than the Sony's, but it hides some impressive features. It starts up in a jiffy, too: Nikon claims 0.7 seconds and our own tests agree - the rest of the pack manage only around 1.5 seconds.

Like the P6000, this model can connect to Nikon's mypicturetown.com to upload shots, but it does so via an integrated Wi-Fi adapter. Setting it up is tedious, though, and we're yet to be convinced it's a useful addition. On the plus side, you get a 3in screen, a decent 4x optical zoom and fine image quality. With "only" ten megapixels on offer, noise is well controlled and ISO 1600 gives impressive results.

The S610c delivers the goods on image quality. But if you're looking for the most desirable Christmas-gadget gift camera, the Sony T70 is more drool-worthy and far less costly.

Sony Cybershot T70
GE E1050TW
Nikon Coolpix P6000
Canon Digital Ixus 980 IS

Back to: Compact Digital Cameras

Author: Darien Graham-Smith, Mike Jennings & Matthew Sparkes

Nikon Coolpix S610c