The lens is the heart of the camera.

The Nikon Coolpix S9600 serves as a compact alternative to the Nikon Coolpix L820 which already comes with 30x optical zoom and up to 675mm focal length relative extreme for a digital camera with permanently installed lens. Accordingly, the device is bulky, but it delivers images that have nothing to do with digital cameras and even more closer to the SLR. The S9600, however, is a compact alternative that can sometimes disappear in your pocket. Since digital cameras are losing against SmartPhones ground, manufacturers differentiate more and more about the lens to the smartphone cameras. Features like image effect, 360 degree panorama, FullHD video recording or WLAN for immediate upload to the social networks have become a must.

Operating the camera is in principle completely preset automatic modes. In addition to a configurable automatic, you can choose directly from the templates, automatic programs (Scene). Besides still preconfigured quick selection programs for night scenes or backlit subjects are available. Even when working with the fully automatic programs, the S9600 delivers ultra-sharp images. Night shots are basically something tricky with digital cameras. Of course there is the possibility of adjusting the automatic modes, but this is cumbersome, if it is to go fast. The S9600 provides for night shots two separate versions. Once "tripod" with long exposures and a CS variant (freehand), in which a Series will be combined into a single image. The results of the hands-free mode are meager, bringing the S9600 is in the digital cameras in good company. With appropriately configured automatic mode, the results are in low light but very good.

What remains as a conclusion? Nikon is one of the last company, which produces cameras and lenses. Accordingly, the focus is increasingly placed on the lenses, which are the heart of a camera after all and their quality had a significant impact. With the S9600, you get a powerful object in a digital camera and can make even a layman great pictures, not matter against a SmartPhone camera. In addition, the stabilizer which comes into play especially at high zoom works excellently. Even "Hüftschüsse" show little blurring. Thus, the camera met my expectations completely. The additional features correspond to the mandatory program of digital cameras. When processing the S9600 also convinced. She has not the charm of retro line of Casio but at least she has a trivalent aluminum housing instead cheap plastic.