Fashionable color variety
To have the Nikon Coolpix S6400 in the colors black, red, silver, violet and blue, the MSRP is 250 Euros. Overall, there are only six mechanical controls: on / off, zoom button, video recording, timer and two buttons.
The controls except the trigger are small, and their even smaller marking is not clear. The function of the two elongated buttons, right of the display is unreliable. The key travel is sufficiently large only at the round end of the key. By pressing the other key end to the short key travel usually nothing happens.
The 3-inch display is a touch screen. The resolution is 153,333 pixels RGB and provides a picture that is properly in the colors and consistently sharp. Unfortunately, when taking photos is only one window 49 x 37 mm for the subject available. The remaining edge will be used to represent symbols. When playing and video recording the entire display area of 65 x 37 mm is used for image display.
With an appropriate setting can be defined by a finger touch on the display of the focus area. After a short delay, the camera is set to this point and the focus automatically releases.
Menu navigation with brains
From the Main Menu screen size, touch screen function, ISO setting, continuous shooting, white balance, creative effects, movie and other menu items can be set. From this menu, then you get to the system settings.
This is somewhat unusual system settings are first set in the menu hierarchy usually but not unrealistic. The icons for quick access and are logically positioned on the left side of the display. Exposure compensation, macro, self-timer, and flash functions can thus be called up at a touch. More Settings, there are not.
After the recording is in the box, it can be further spiced up with the function creative effects. You can select on the basis of sample images of 19 different effects.
The focal length of the zoom lens ranges from 25 to 300 mm (KB). This is practical in our eyes than about 28 to 336 mm, which also corresponds to a 12x zoom. The maximum aperture of 6.5 at the long focal length would have been more correctly described as faintness, and 3.1 at wide angle cut not really socks off.
Overall, the camera is properly processed, only the cover for the plug connectors is made of plastic and attached to two thin brackets. The tripod mount socket is made of plastic and should be treated with great care. The cover for the battery compartment is sprung and somewhat smooth.
The sensor sounds like standard and provides standard quality: 16 megapixels on a 1 / 2.3-inch CMOS sensor offer 1594 LP / BH in the center at ISO 125 in wide angle, the edge drop is 300-400 with LP / BH all sensitivities similarly stark. At ISO 100 and 400 little noise can be seen; the images seem strangely ironed, but otherwise rather balanced. From ISO 800 significant artifacts on the edges are visible.
Conclusion
The Nikon Coolpix S6400 is an upgraded through the touchscreen mainstream camera that neither thrilled nor disappointed.
