Nikon COOLPIX S60

Nikon’s 2008 COOLPIX S60 is a Platinum Bronze touch-screen compact from the moment cameras began to behave like phones. Its wave-surface body has a sculpted profile, while a 3.5-inch touch display replaces nearly every button. A 5× NIKKOR zoom, 10-megapixel CCD and sensor-shift VR sit behind that pared-back exterior. It launched in the US at $349.95, a serious price for a camera whose appeal was as much interface design as photography.

THE LOOKS

Officially Platinum Bronze, this is a muted champagne-brown with a metallic sheen. Its defining Wave Surface Design pairs smooth front curves with a sharp diagonal ridge at the lower right. A black lens surround, tiny flash and white NIKKOR lettering sit on the spare face. The rear is nearly all glossy black glass: the 3.5-inch screen is also the control panel. Other US colours were Crimson Red, Espresso Black, Arctic White, Burgundy and Champagne Pink.

THE SPECS

The S60 uses a 10-megapixel 1/2.3-inch CCD sensor — an older-style sensor for a warm, slightly soft look — and a 5× Zoom-NIKKOR lens. Its 33–165mm range suits portraits rather than wide group scenes. The f/3.8–4.8 lens is not especially bright, so it is happiest in good light. Image-sensor-shift Vibration Reduction is a stabiliser for handheld shots. Its 3.5-inch, 230k-dot touch screen handles shooting, zoom, playback and settings; only power and shutter buttons remain physical. Movies top out at VGA. 97.5 × 60.0 × 22.0mm; 145g body only.

DESIGN HIGHLIGHTS

• A screen where the buttons should be: Apart from power and shutter release, the S60 puts every shooting, zoom and playback control behind its 3.5-inch touch display.

• Wave Surface Design: Smooth curves across the front are interrupted by a sharp diagonal ridge at the lower right, giving the Platinum Bronze body a sculptural outline.

• Black glass, bronze frame: The large glossy rear panel runs almost edge to edge, creating a striking contrast with the soft champagne-brown body around it.

THE VERDICT

The S60 is for someone who wants a camera of its time: a 2008 touch-first device. The large screen, almost button-free rear and sculpted bronze body make it more of an object than an ordinary compact. Its 5× lens starts at a modest 33mm, so it is not the flexible choice for big groups or distant subjects. But for daylight portraits, details and casual shooting, its CCD character and unusual interface make it a particular carry.