Nikon Coolpix S51c review

Performance
The S51c's one-touch picture-mail button, straightforward setup and the fact that plugging the S51c in to recharge automatically uploads images to your MyPicturetown account are all sound ideas. But although the Wi-Fi functions within the camera itself are well-implemented, it's let down by other elements.

We focused on public rather than personal wireless networks, as the point of such features is, for us, the ability to transfer pictures while out and about. Public Wi-Fi often includes some kind of terms and conditions screen that requires users to agree for access, which requires a browser and therefore foxes the S51c. The My Picturetown site just isn't as well put together as other image-sharing sites such as Flickr, so the email feature was more important to us.

The overlaid grid on this image shows the S51c's substantial barrel distortion at the wide end

Wireless aside, the S51c is a reasonable point-and-shoot. Portraits are pleasingly warm and soft. Automatic white balance is slightly off, but automatic exposure is capable.

Image quality
The S51c's non-protruding lens is its biggest problem in the image quality department. There's a hefty amount of barrel distortion at the wide end, with lines curving in at the corners.

Noise is under control at ISO 100 (left), gets worse at at ISO 800 (middle) and renders images unusable at ISO 1,600 (right), the high ISO setting

Noise is always an issue on compact cameras. At ISO 100 there is little trace of noise. From ISO 200 upwards there is noise in the shadows and darker areas of images and at ISO 800 prints are really out of the question. As on so many compacts, the high ISO low-light setting is something of a mixed blessing, as the noise levels render images unusable.

Conclusion
Although some aspects of the Nikon Coolpix S1c's wireless features are well-executed, we hesitate to recommend it on this function alone as Wi-Fi in general doesn't seem ready yet. As a camera, the S51c is unremarkable and lens problems make it hard to recommend over it similarly-specced snappers like the Canon Digital IXUS 75.

For a similar price you could pick up the Ricoh Caplio R7, a camera packed with features that actually work. We think the combination of cameras and Wi-Fi will be worth the wait, but the wait isn't over yet.

Edited by Jason Jenkins
Additional editing by Shannon Doubleday