Equipment and processing:
Clearly, in the price range of the S3500 can not expect miracles in terms of equipment and processing. Especially in the field of equipment you see this already when looking at the technical specifications of the camera. Although it provides a 7x zoom, which is relatively generous, but not later than in the other features one notices the red pencil. The video function absorbs only in 720p format and limits the film length to just over 8 min. Furthermore, the monitor is due to its low resolution only to compose images, sharpness control is not really possible. Otherwise, the camera is purely limited to the automatic photography, but the user has some effects, such as selective color, thumbnail view, Sephia, or similar .. Nett solved is that these effects are offered to the user in the creative mode even after a geschossenem Photo Sets so that subsequently also the desired effect can be selected. Although the camera has a continuous shooting mode, but this is relatively slow, so that it is not really suited for fast continuous shooting. All in all, the camera is poorly equipped, but this is not surprising considering the price.
From a processing perspective, the camera is relatively good processed. The camera is very compact and the housing more fairly dibasic. Gaps singing evenly, but quite visible and the low weight refers to the simplicity of the camera. The display is recessed slightly into the case, but not really protected, so you should install during transport in your pocket, what this camera certainly is good, a protective film, you want to avoid scratches on the display. The lens has some play in the extended state, but this does not express itself through disruptive rattling in movement. It can be noted that the processing Nikon's typically good and considering the amount of fully is alright.
Handling:
There you will find the usual control buttons to the right of the display. Central control is a 4-way rocker, the video function is started via a separate record button and there are two different menu buttons that control the image parameters. The menus are pretty simple, since only relatively few parameters can be set, the camera is designed for your automatics, which certainly comes the audience to Good. In addition to the standard menu Nikon has housed the Scene selection and effect filter in a separate menu, which can be opened by a dedicated key. Good handling of her works in the creative mode described above, which provides a selection effect after shot. However, the camera approved after the selection quite a longer processing time. Even in normal mode the user has to wait until he can take the next picture, sometimes it's a bit disturbing, you want to take multiple snapshots in succession.
Ergonomically, the camera is quite good in the hand and can be operated with one hand thanks to the small size and low weight without problems. Rather, it is also not to say due to the limited possibilities to exert influence on handling.
Image Quality:
The main category of a camera. This shows that megapixels are not everything. The image quality is to be regarded merely average. Even an 8-year-old Sony Digicam Thanks produced only 6 megapixels a more considerable image quality. Image noise is visible on the monitor at all ISO levels and occurs from ISO 400 even with larger deductions visible. The noise reduction has to intervene early. One should use the maximum ISO Auto ISO to 800 for smaller prints so, with larger deductions only up to ISO 400. The only low quality of the lens is visible as distortion and loss of sharpness to the image edges down significantly. For small prints this is not quite so disturbing visible. The video function cuts here a little better. Especially in bright light to see the videos from appealing and also show no stuttering or effects like shutter lag. However, the sound is recorded in mono, which no longer sounds particularly timely. The lighting is dim to show the video, a visible image noise.
With all the criticism one must also say that the picture quality is still far higher than that of mobile phone cameras, however. Because you certainly do not want to always carry its high-quality camera in your pocket to events such as concerts and parties, the camera therefore a very good alternative as always is still in the process camera, even if there are some competing models in this price range, the slightly better picture quality can boast. Nevertheless, Nikon could have done better here. Sometimes less is more, so I'm sure that 10 or 12 megapixels of image quality would have been much more beneficial than the 20 of the S3500, just in Abetracht the intended use of such a pocket camera.
Conclusion:
The S3500 is likely to be only the beginning of a new round in the megapixel madness. However, the buyer should remember that more megapixels do not necessarily improve the image quality, such as the S3500 shows. The image quality can be described at best as an average for the price range and the noise already strongly visible. On the plus side, the camera is the 7-fold zoom, the compact dimensions, the fairly good processing and the right clever creative mode. As a compact pocket camera that can be taken anywhere, it is certainly not wrong and the relatively low price even occasionally forgive when the camera a little suffering in their operations. Better than the built-in cameras in mobile phones / smartphones, it is all. In view of the further-driven megapixel madness and quite meager amenities (just the Video mode), there are only 3 star for the S3500 from me.
