While the S500 can reach ISO 2,000 sensitivity, we wouldn't recommend it. The ISO 1,600 and 2,000 settings produced some of the highest levels of noise we've seen in the last year; photos taken at those sensitivity levels look more as if they were painted on shag carpets than shot with a digital camera. Shots taken at lowers ISO levels don't look quite as bad, but the noise is still present. A gentle grain starts to show up in shadows at ISO 200, and becomes quite noticeable on computer monitors at ISO 400. At ISO 800, that grain becomes full-blown fuzz that dulls colors and destroys details.
If you can stay at a low ISO setting and keep your subjects well lit, the S500's photos can actually look quite good. Fine details come out crisp and sharp, remaining generally unmolested by processing artifacts. Colors appear neutral and saturated. Of course to get these results, you need to keep your ISO sensitivity low or you'll just find yourself with a noise-filled mess.
The stainless steel body and handy click wheel are two great touches I'd love to see on any camera, but they can't make up for the S500's flaws. It shoots too slowly and generates unreasonable levels of noise at ISO 400 and higher. It's a nice, if sluggish, snapshot camera in bright light, but don't expect to get any decent fast or low-light shooting done with it.
(Shorter bars indicate better performance)
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(Longer bars indicate better performance)
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Where to buy
Nikon Coolpix S500:
$139.00 - $149.00
| store | price | in stock? | rating |
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$149.00 | Yes |
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$139.00 | Yes |
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$149.00 | Yes |
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