Recording Features
Play, Edit and Print Functions
Battery Information
Inputs and Outputs Notes
Supplied Software

Recording Features

LCD Monitor: The Nikon Coolpix S550 has a 2.5"  TFT LCD monitor featuring approximately 230,000 pixels, an anti-reflective coating and a five-level brightness adjustment. The LCD monitor's 170-degree wide viewing angle makes it easy to see and use. The LCD monitor has approximately 100% horizontal and vertical coverage in the shooting mode and playback mode.

Note: There is no separate viewfinder on the camera.

10.0 Megapixels CCD With EXPEED Engine: The Coolpix S550 features a 1/2.3-inch, high-density CCD imager with a total pixel count of approximately 10.34-million pixels. The effective pixel count is 10.0-million. Optimizing performance and color reproduction is an advanced new image-processing engine, EXPEED.

Optics: The Coolpix S550 digital camera uses a Zoom-Nikkor glass lens for superb image quality. Every aspect of the lens manufacturing process is controlled by Nikon. The Zoom-Nikkor lens is designed for the specific camera and CCD combination. The Coolpix S550 uses a 5x optical zoom, 4x digital zoom lens (20x total zoom) that is equivalent to a 36-720mm lens in 35mm photography. 

Maximum Zoom Without Interpolation: The Coolpix S550 offers maximum zoom settings based on your current Image Mode which allow for the maximum zoom rate with digital degradation.

Electronic VR (Vibration Reduction) Image Stabilization: The Coolpix S550's Electronic VR Image Stabilizer allows you to shoot sharper and clearer images without blurring. The Electronic VR Image Stabilization system detects and corrects for camera movement to give you rock-steady results each time you shoot.

Built-in Memory: The camera has a built-in 50 MB internal memory for storing still images and movies with sound.

Optional Recording Media: In addition to the built-in memory, images can be recorded onto SD (Secure Digital) or SDHC Memory cards. When an SD Memory card is inserted in the camera, the images are automatically recorded onto the card. When no card is inserted, the images automatically record to the internal memory. The camera can support SD cards from 128MB up to 2 GB; and 4GB SDHC cards.

Image Size: The Coolpix S550 records still images in JPEG format, and movies in AVI video format with WAV sound. You have a choice of five still image size options and five movie options:

Shooting Modes: You can choose one of the following shooting modes:

• Single: The camera records one picture each time the shutter release button is pressed.
• Continuous: While the shutter-release button is held down, up to 8 pictures are taken at a rate of about 1.0 frames per second (fps) when image mode is set to 10m Normal 3648.
• Multi-Shot 16: Each time the shutter release button is pressed, the camera takes 16 consecutive "thumbnail" images at a rate of about 1.0 frames per second, and arranges them into 4 rows of 4 images in a single frame measuring 2592 x 1944 pixels.
• Interval Timer Shooting: Camera take pictures (up to 1,800 frames) automatically at specific intervals between 30 seconds and 60 minutes.
• Best Shot Selector: The BSS is recommended for situations in which inadvertent camera movement can produce blurred pictures, or when parts of the image are prone to under- or over-exposure. When BSS is on, the camera takes shots while the shutter-release button is pressed, to a maximum of ten. The images are compared and the sharpest picture is saved to the memory or memory card.
• Self-timer: The camera is equipped with a ten second and two second timer for self-portraits.

AF Area Mode: You can select between the following AF Area Modes to determine where the camera focuses.

• Auto: The camera automatically selects the focus area (1 of 5) containing the subject closest to the camera.
• Manual: You can manually select from 99 focus areas in the frame. Pictures can be taken while focus area selection screen is displayed.
• Center: The camera focuses on the subject in the center of the frame.
• Face Priority: When the camera recognizes a face (front view only), the camera will focus on the face automatically.

Macro Mode: Macro mode is used for taking pictures of objects as close as 3.9-inches. The flash may be unable to light entire subject at distances less than 11.8-inches.

Focus Lock: The Focus Lock feature is used to focus on off-centered subjects in the frame while shooting in Center AF mode.

AF-Assist Illuminator: If lighting is poor, the AF-assist illuminator may light to assist the focus operation when the shutter-release button is pressed halfway. The illuminator has a range of about 6 feet at the maximum wide-angle position and 3 feet-7 inches at the maximum telescopic position. You can turn this function on or off.

Smile And Blink Recognition: Smile and blink recognition notification functions both help capture precious smiles in the brief instants they appear. Smile recognition displays a gauge that detects when your subject smiles. Images recorded in Smile Mode can be played back independently of images recorded without Smile mode. Blink recognition notifies you when it detects that subject has blinked, and allows you to immediately retake the shot.

Exposure Modes: You can set the camera to suit your level and style of photography. The mode choices include:

• Auto Mode: The Auto Mode is a simple point-and-shoot mode in which the majority of camera settings are controlled by the camera. This mode is recommended for first-time users of digital cameras.
• High Sensitivity Shooting Mode: In high-sensitivity shooting mode, sensitivity is increased with shooting under low lighting to reduce blurring caused by camera shake or subject movement, allowing you to capture the atmosphere of the scene. ISO sensitivity will be automatically increased to a maximum 1600 depending upon the brightness of the subject.
• Scene Modes: The camera gives you the option of 15 Scene Modes. The camera settings are automatically adjusted to suit the selected scene. The Scene Modes include:
  • Portrait: Useful for photographs where you want the main subject to stand out clearly from the background.
  • Landscape: For vivid landscape shots that enhance outlines, colors, and contrast in such subjects as forests and skyscrapers.
  • Sports: A fast shutter speed freezes motion for dynamic sports shots.
  • Night Portrait: For shots that provide natural balance between the main subject and the background when shooting portraits under low lighting.
  • Party/Indoor: Shots include details of the background behind the main subject, or to capture the effects of candlelight and other indoor background lighting
  • Beach/Snow: Vividly captures the brightness of subjects such as snow fields, beaches or sunlit expanses of water
  • Sunset: Preserves deep hues seen in sunsets and sunrises
  • Dusk/Dawn: Preserves the colors seen in the weak natural light before sunrise and after sunset
  • Night Landscape: A slow shutter speed is used to produce stunning night landscapes.
  • Close Up: Used to capture vivid colors in close-up shots of flowers, insects and other small objects, with the background artistically blurred
  • Museum: Use indoors where flash photography is prohibited or in other settings in which you do not want to use flash
  • Fireworks Show: Slow shutter speeds are used to capture the expanding burst of light from fireworks
  • Copy: Provides clear pictures of text or drawings on a white board, business card or in other printed matter
  • Back Light: Use when light is coming from behind your subject or when your subject is in the shade but the background is brightly lit
  • Panorama Assist: Use to take a series of photographs that you will later join to form a single panoramic scene

Exposure Compensation: You can alter the exposure from the value suggested by the camera, making pictures brighter or darker. You can adjust the exposure from -2.0 to +2.0 EV in 1/3 steps.

ISO Settings: Sensitivity is the measure of how quickly the camera reacts to light. The higher the sensitivity, the less light needed to make an exposure. The camera features the following ISO settings - ISO 64, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600 or Auto (auto gain from ISO 64 to 800).

White Balance: You can set the White Balance to Auto, Daylight, Incandescent, Fluorescent, Cloudy, or Flash. You can also choose Preset White Balance and use a neutral-colored object as a reference to set the white balance under unusual lighting conditions.

Color Options: When you are shooting your images, you can make certain colors more vivid, or record the images in monochrome. You have the following choices:

• Standard Color: The images will be recorded in their natural colors
• Vivid Color: You can use this to give your images a vivid, "photoprint" colors
• Black and White: The image will be recorded in black and white
• Sepia: The image will be recorded in sepia tones
• Cyanotype: The image will be recorded in cyan-blue monochrome color