Nikon Coolpix S570 review

The S570's 'electronic VR' image stabilisation relies on high ISO settings and shutter-speed adjustments, along with motion detection, to help deal with shaking hands and motion blur.

Average performance, decent pictures
The S570's performance is average for its class, teetering on the edge of slow. It takes 2 seconds to wake up and shoot. Subsequent shots will leave you waiting an average of 2.2 seconds between them, jumping to 3.8 seconds if you use the flash. Shutter lag is noticeable in good lighting conditions, at 0.6 seconds. In dim lighting, it's slightly better, at 0.8 seconds. The S570 has a full-resolution continuous-shooting speed of 0.6 frames per second. These numbers really drive home that this camera is better for capturing still subjects than moving targets.

Overall, the S570 produces very good photo quality. Many cameras in its class suffer a significant dip in quality when any sensitivity above ISO 200 is used. The S570 is actually good up to ISO 400 and, to some extent, ISO 800. The camera lets you limit the auto ISO range to either 80 to 400, or 80 to 800. If you're in daylight or bright conditions, we recommend locking it down to 80 to 400. Again, the S570 does perform well up to ISO 800, with minimal colour shift and most fine detail left intact, but it's at its best below ISO 400. It can shoot at full resolution up to and including a sensitivity of ISO 3,200. But photos at both ISO 3,200 and ISO 1,600 don't look good, due to colour shifting and yellow blotching. While you can keep shooting photos in low-light conditions, then, you probably won't be thrilled by the results.

The S570 doesn't produce accurate colours, but the results are pleasing. Everything turns out bright and looks reasonably natural. As is typical of compact cameras, highlights tend to blow out, but at least Nikon's D-lighting system helps bring up shadow detail. For a 28mm-equivalent wideangle lens, the S570 has little in the way of barrel distortion, and no discernible pincushion distortion when the lens is fully extended. There's some purple fringing in high-contrast areas of photos, but the amount is below average for the S570's class. Finally, photos generally look rather soft. The softness is consistent from edge to edge, though, unlike models we've tested that soften up towards the sides or in the corners.

Shooting speed (in seconds)
(Shorter bars indicate better performance)

Time to first shot

Typical shot-to-shot time (flash)

Typical shot-to-shot time

Shutter lag (dim)

Shutter lag (typical)

Canon Digital IXUS 95 IS

1.4 

3.2 

2.1 

0.7 

0.5 

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W220

1.6 

2.7 

1.7 

0.7 

0.5 

Nikon Coolpix S570

2 

3.8 

2.2 

0.8 

0.6 

Kodak EasyShare M1093 IS

2.8 

1.4 

1.2 

1 

0.5 

Pentax Optio P70

2.5 

4 

3.9 

1 

0.5 

Conclusion
The Nikon Coolpix S570 has loads of similarly priced rivals. Some cameras compensate for their mediocre photo quality and performance by loading up on features. The S570 comes close to falling into that category, but it seems that Nikon has put more effort than usual into the results. The S570 isn't excellent, but, for someone seeking a reasonably priced ultra-compact camera for portrait and landscape shots, where speedy performance is less of an issue, the S570 should work well.

Additional editing by Charles Kloet