A First Hand Review of the Nikon S6200
The market is growing for superzoom compact digital cameras. Consumers are searching for a small, pocketable camera with a great focal length that produces beautiful shots every time.
Let’s see how the Nikon S6200 compares to the Canon PowerShot SX130IS, its main competitor.
The lens
The Nikon S6200 is a compact, lightweight frame that features a powerful zoom lens. The ED glass elements from Nikkor are used to reduce chromatic aberrations.
The sensor
The Nikon S6200 camera has one of the most sought-after compact points and clicks sensors on the market, the 1/2.3″ CCD (Charge Coupled Device). CCD sensors are notoriously power-hungry. They also have superior light-gathering technology, which gives them an advantage over CMOS sensors of the same size. Another advantage of CCD sensors over CMOS sensors is their lower cost. The S6200’s sensor boasts 16 MP. Canon PowerShot SX130 IS has a 1/2.3 inch CCD sensor but only 12.1 megapixels.
Optical zoom
Nikon’s focal range is 4.5-45mm (10x optical zoom), which is equivalent to 25-252mm in a 35mm format. The 4x digital zoom extends the reach further to 1000mm (for 35mm equivalent). The Canon PowerShot SX130 IS, on the other hand, has a 12x optical zoom which ranges from 28-336mm in a 35mm equivalent format.
LCD Screen
The bright TFT-LCD screen of 2.7 inches is immediately visible when you turn the camera in reverse. The screen has a brilliant resolution of 230,000 dots and 98% coverage while you are shooting. The screen’s anti-reflection coating makes it easy to compose photos and view them under bright sunlight. The Canon PowerShot SX130IS has a 3-inch polycrystalline silicon TFT color LCD display.
Image stabilization system
This camera includes Nikon’s Lens shift vibration reduction (VR) system. This allows for crisp hand-held shots without the blurring that is often associated with the non-VR-based shooting.
Auto-focusing
Nikon compact superzoom cameras are now equipped with the 9-point Auto-Focusing system. This is useful when shooting videos, as the camera will keep track of the subject regardless of its speed. Manual focusing uses the 99 focusing points. These modes are not the only ones available. The camera can also track a face to identify it and give it more focus priority.
Video mode
The Nikon S6200 can shoot videos at 30 frames per second in HD mode 720p HD mode. It can play MPEG-4 and AVC H.264 files, as well as record stereo AAC sounds.
Scene modes
There are 19 preset scene modes. The camera adjusts exposure, shutter speeds, ISO, and aperture to match your shooting needs. Canon PowerShot SX130 IS several scene modes, PhotoEffects mode, and Shooting modes to maximize creativity.
Continuous shooting speed
When it comes to continuous fast action shooting, the S6200 isn’t precisely the best choice. The S6200 can only take 1.2 shots per second and will only shoot six photos before it stalls. In normal mode, the Canon shoots at a mere one fps.
Rajib Mukherjee, a freelance writer, specializes in technology topics like web technologies and digital cameras. He loves to travel and document his experiences through his lens.
