The Nikon Coolpix S3 is the new 6 megapixel variant of the slimline 'S' series of compact cameras. This test for this summary was carried out in a swimming pool and is by no means exstensive; it merely attempts to explore the cameras underwater capabilities.

The Coolpix S3 falls into the same category as the Sony 'T' series and also the Konica Minolta X1. Like these others it is very slim and features a 2.5" LCD. Unlike these other cameras the Coolpix S3 has a manual white balance feature that makes quite a difference underwater. I found the Coolpix S3 to be more sophisticated in its features than the other cameras, such as the D-Lighting function which can increase the contrast on an already captured picture. It has a more vivid and clear screen as well. Although I had no fish in the swiming pool to test it on I expect that some of the sports modes on the camera could be useful for photographing fast moving aquatic creatures. With the housing I found that the indented buttons as opposed to the rounded ones found on Sony and Konica Minolta housings were a lot easier to use.

There is an underwater mode on the Coolpix S3, but in the 1m test in a swimming pool I found it not to be as good as the Auto white balance at rendering brighter colours. It will probably be preset for a certain depth that doesn't work in a swimming pool, but this could be problematic as the user has no idea where that preset depth is.

When it comes to macro with the Coolpix S3 I found it to be a little different in use to many of the other compacts I have tried. Instead of merely holding the camera very close to your subject you hold it a little way off and zoom into the subject. Now this is a double edged sword in some ways becuase it allows you to photograph your subject from further away, but because focal length is increased the possibility of motion blur is correspondingly increased.

Overall I found the Coolpix S3 to be a clever camera that goes that little bit further than similar slim, compact cameras. The colours are good and features are exstensive; a good all round camera that performs favourably underwater.