Features
Handling
Performance
Verdict
Specification
The Nikon Coolpix S2600 was released in February 2012 and is designed to be an easy to use digital compact camera that's exclusively available from Argos for £69.99 in purple, pink, silver and black.
Nikon Coolpix S2600 Features
The S2600 has a 14 megapixel CCD sensor and 5x optical zoom lens, a 35mm equivalent of 26-130mm. To help keep blur to a minimum there is e-VR (Vibration Reduction) to reduce the effect of camera shake, with ISO available up to 3200.
To make picture taking as easy as possible there is Scene Auto Selector which chooses the correct camera settings for the scene. You can also choose from 18 scene modes. There is also the smart portrait system with smile timer, blink proof alert, skin softening and red-eye fix. For capturing moving objects there is Subject Tracking AF. When you've finished taking your pictures you can enhance them further using the retouch menu, which includes selective colour and cross screen.
Videos can be recorded at 720p HD.
Key Features
- 14 megapixel CCD sensor
- 5x optical zoom lens (35mm equiv: 26-130mm)
- e-VR (Vibration Reduction)
- 2.7 inch LCD screen
- Scene Auto Selector
- 720p HD video recording
- ISO 80-3200
- 10cm minimum focusing distance
- Slim 19.5mm body
- Smart portrait system
- Retouch Menu
- 18 scene modes
- Subject Tracking AF
- Available in purple, pink, silver and black
Nikon Coolpix S2600 Handling
The S2600 has an extremely compact, metal body, easily small and light enough for you to carry in your pocket when out with friends. It doesn't offer much in the way of a grip, although there is a dotted area for your right thumb. Although small, the 2.7 inch is bright and clear to see in varying lighting conditions. The buttons are typical for a compact camera, with a dedicated video record button featuring on the rear of the camera. The menu system on the S2600 is easy to understand and navigate.
The battery has a CIPA rating of 220 shots, we managed just over 350 during testing. We tested the camera's performance at focusing, shutter response, shot-to-shot time, continuous shooting etc. and have posted the results below. To test this we took 6 or more shots and calculated the average.
| Shutter Response | 0.2 seconds | |
| Wide - Focus / Shutter Response | 0.4 seconds | |
| Full zoom - Focus / Shutter Response | 0.6 seconds | |
| Switch on Time to Taking a Photo | 2.3 seconds | |
| Shot to Shot (without flash) | 3.3 seconds | |
| Shot to Shot with Flash | 6.2 seconds | |
| Continuous shooting | 0.95 fps |
Continuous shooting records at full 14 megapixel resolution.
Nikon Coolpix S2600 Performance
Additional sample photos and product shots are available in the Equipment Database, where you can add your own review and product ratings.
Nikon Coolpix S2600 Sample Photos
Sample Photos - The S2600 produces well exposed images with good colour reproduction. Portraits have pleasant skin tones and are free of red-eye when shooting with the flash.
Nikon Coolpix S2600 Lens test images
Lens Performance - Detail is decent when shooting at both ends of the lens, with purple fringing evident in contrasting areas of the image. The lens has a minimum focusing distance of 10cm, this makes it difficult to take a detailed macro shot.
Nikon Coolpix S2600 ISO test images
ISO Noise Performance - Noise is low at ISO 80 and 100 but there is some evident at ISO 200. Noise causes images to become soft at ISO 400, with black dots reducing image quality at ISO 800. At ISO 1600 the black dots increase, with areas of the image looking like white noise. Images are ISO 3200 are clearly very noisy, but the size is restricted to 2 megapixels when using this setting.
Nikon Coolpix S2600 White-balance test images
White Balance Performance - Under the incandescent lights the AWB preset has an orange cast, with the incandescent preset taking the better picture. When using the fluorescent lights, the AWB preset performs well, with a magenta cast appearing when using the fluorescent preset.
Nikon Coolpix S2600 Other sample images
Nikon Coolpix S2600 Low light images
Nikon Coolpix S2600 Digital filters
Digital Filters - The S2600 has a number of colour options to add creativity to your images, with examples of each above.
Video - The Nikon Coolpix S2600 records videos at 720p, although you can't use the optical zoom.
Value For Money
At just £69.99, the Nikon Coolpix S2600 is one of the cheapest compact cameras we have reviewed. Others to consider are the Samsung PL210 at £79.00, Olympus VG-170 at £79.95, Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3 at £84.00, Canon PowerShot A1300 at £89.95, Nikon Coolpix S3300 at £94.95, Canon PowerShot A3200 IS at £99.00 and Olympus VR-340 at 99.00.You'll also need to buy a memory card and a case or bag to keep your camera safe and protected - have a look at our complete guide to camera bags.
Nikon Coolpix S2600 Verdict
With a price tag at less than £70, the S2600 is an ideal camera if you are looking to buy your first digital camera or looking to purchase it as a gift for a child. Images have good colour reproduction, so will look great when uploaded to Facebook. It is also available in a range of colours and has a solid metal body.