135compact.com       APS ultra compact camera       Nikon Nuvis S

The Nikon Nuvis S is a very small camera for APS film*(see below). So it is no 35mm camera, the APS main format is 30.2x16.7mm, a bit bigger than half format. APS has been released in 1996 and was discontinued in 2011.

* The APS (advanced photo system) film is 24 mm wide and has three image formats: H for "High Definition" (30.2 × 16.7 mm), C for "Classic" (25.1 × 16.7 mm) and P for "Panoramic" (30.2 × 9.5 mm). The "C" and "P" formats are made by cropping the full image which is always taken on the film. So the formats are just a code recorded on the film. The "ix" in the camera name stands for "information exchange", date and camera settings could be written on a magnetic area on the film. MRC stands for "mid roll change". The APS system was a very advanced photo system indeed, but digital cameras made it obsolete.

This is a very small camera for its impressing 3x zomm. On top of this it has a very robust stainless steel case.
Its main features are:

22.5-66mm Zoom F5.2-F7.5 lens, 6 element, autofocus with focus lock, min. focus 0,45m
Electronic shutter, 2-1/400
Size 95x65x32,  Weight 250 gr. with battery and film
50-1600 ISO, automatic coding, self-timer, automatic film advance and spooling, time/date/settings recording possibility


jpg/nikon_nuvis_s_IMG_0837.JPG
Camera closed

jpg/nikon_nuvis_s_IMG_0845.JPG
Camera closed, back side..


jpg/nikon_nuvis_s_IMG_0838.JPG
Camera front open.

jpg/nikon_nuvis_s_IMG_0842.JPG
Sliding the camera open switches the camera on.
The lens only moves out a little. To close the camera, push the cover a bit, the lens moves back and the housing can be slid back. Very easy and fluid handling.

jpg/nikon_nuvis_s_IMG_0844.JPG
Lens moved out to tele position.
Big shutter release on top. Format switch.
 

jpg/nikon_nuvis_s_IMG_0840.JPG
Camera back. Viewer and diopter adjust. Wide/tele slider
. LCD screen, shows flash auto, film absence and no date printing. Next to the LCD: red eye/timer setting and flash settings, in between mid roll rewind. Below: date or title imprinting.

jpg/nikon_nuvis_s_IMG_0839.JPG
From below. Tripod screw. Battery compartment.

jpg/nikon_nuvis_s_IMG_0847.JPG
Battery compartment open. Takes a CR2 battery. If you want to take the battery out and still close the camera, push the housing a little bit so that the lens retracts. You can still open the compartment.

jpg/nikon_nuvis_s_IMG_0846.JPG
A part of the bottom is the lid of the film compartment
. The switch to open is around the fixation of the strap.

This camera is very easy to use, silde it open and it's ready. Autofocus is responsive and works well. Putting a film is easy as well, you drop the film into the compartment and that's it. It has some manual settings if needed. An annoying feature is auto flash at start, which is the case with most ultra compacts.

It's a very good point and shoot camera with a good zomm range, from wide angle to tele, good picture quality, superb high quality finish in a very small and pocketable body. The camera is much sturdier than other APS models, but it weighs a bit more. It feels extremely solid.

back