Nikon’s COOLPIX S710 is a compact with unusually serious intent: a graphite-black stainless-steel body, a bright 28mm wide end and proper P, A, S and M exposure modes. Released in 2008 at $379.95, it was positioned above the everyday snapshot camera—small enough for a pocket, yet made for someone who wants to decide how your whole picture is made.
THE LOOKS
The Graphite Black S710 is a neat, dark-metal rectangle with a deliberately restrained face: flash at one side, inset zoom lens at the other and almost nothing else to interrupt the stainless-steel panel. Its strongest visual move is the contrast between that quiet front and the back, where a 3-inch screen occupies almost the full width and a tidy control column sits alongside it.
THE SPECS
A 14.5MP 1/1.72-inch CCD sensor gives the S710 the older-style, gently softened rendering that suits daylight and flash. Its 3.6× NIKKOR zoom covers 28–101mm equivalent at f/2.8–5.6, with optical lens-shift VR for steadier handheld shooting. There’s a 3-inch, 230k-dot anti-reflective LCD, 10cm macro focus, SD/SDHC storage, 42MB built-in memory and VGA movies with sound. P, A, S and M modes give it real manual range. Dimensions: 92.5 × 57.5 × 24.0mm; weight: 155g (body only).
DESIGN HIGHLIGHTS
Dark, not flat — Graphite Black gives the steel shell a charcoal, almost gunmetal character. Against the black lens and screen surround, it feels measured, not glossy.
Screen-first rear — The 3-inch display claims most of the back, leaving a slim strip for the zoom lever, mode button and rotary multi selector. It feels open for 2008.
A compact with controls — P, A, S and M exposure modes sit inside a clean, pocket-scale body. The design stays spare and easy to read, but allows more intentional shooting.
THE VERDICT
The S710 is for the person who likes a compact camera to feel composed rather than cute. Its graphite finish, spare metal face and unusually complete exposure controls make it a natural everyday carry for considered daylight shooting. The small 3.6× zoom will not cover every distance, but 28mm framing, optical VR and the larger-than-usual CCD give this little Nikon a distinct, capable place in the pocket.
Manufacturer: Nikon Full model name: Nikon COOLPIX S710 Megapixels: 14.5 MP CCD (1/1.72"), EXPEED Zoom: 3.6x optical (28–101mm equivalent) Lens: 6.0–21.6mm f/2.8–5.6, optical lens-shift VR ISO range: 100–12,800 (ISO 6400/12,800 limited to 3 MP) Shutter: 8 sec–1/2000 sec; 1/4000 sec in high-speed continuous mode Screen: 3.0-inch wide-viewing-angle TFT LCD (230,000 dots) Release date: August 2008 (Japan; other regions September) Price when new: $379.95 USD / €329 EUR / £299.99 GBP Available colors: Black, Silver, Red Battery: EN-EL12 Li-ion Weight: Approx. 155g (without battery and memory card) Dimensions: 92.5 x 57.5 x 24.0 mm
Special features: PASM exposure modes, 640×480/30fps video with sound, face-priority AF, Scene Auto Selector, D-Lighting and optical VR.
Every piece goes through the same checks before it's listed:
Powers on and the battery holds a charge
Lens extends, retracts and zooms smoothly
Autofocus, shutter and flash fire correctly
Screen checked for dead pixels, scratches and backlight bleed
Every button, dial and switch tested
Memory card slot reads and writes
Test shots at wide and full zoom, checked for dust and spots
Video recording and playback
USB transfer to a computer
Cleaned inside the battery door, the card slot and the body
Anything that doesn't pass isn't put up for sale. In rare cases a piece with a minor issue is still listed, with the issue clearly stated in the condition notes.
POST PURCHASE ORDER NOTES
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