As well as being compared against other compacts, the Nikon Coolpix S2600 is also often compared to ultra compacts, entry-level DSLRs, travel zooms and super zooms. The Nikon Coolpix S2600's top rivals come from Sony (such as the Cyber-shot DSC-W320 and the Alpha DSLR-A200) and Nikon (such as the Coolpix S3100 and the Coolpix S2500)
Generally, some of the advantages of the Nikon S2600 compared to other compact competitors include: it has a slightly wider wide angle lens (26 mm vs 28 mm), has better image stabilization (digital vs none), has a slightly longer battery life (220 shots vs 190 shots) and is newer (february 2012 vs january 2011).
However, on average it slightly shorter exposures (4 seconds vs 60 seconds).
Generally, some of the advantages of the Nikon S2600 compared to ultra compact competitors include: it is newer (february 2012 vs january 2010) and has a faster max shutter speed (1/2000 of a second vs 1/1600 of a second).
However, on average it has a slightly shorter battery life (220 shots vs 250 shots).
Generally, some of the advantages of the Nikon S2600 compared to entry-level DSLR competitors include: it records lower quality movies (720p @ 30fps vs none), is newer (february 2012 vs january 2008), is much smaller (super compact (94×58×20 mm) vs prosumer size (131×99×71 mm)), is thinner (0.8" vs 2.8") and is much lighter (121 g vs 572 g).
However, on average it has worse image stabilization (digital vs sensor shift), has a much smaller sensor (1/2.3" 6.16x4.62mm vs APS-C 23.6x15.8mm), doesn't have a viewfinder (none vs pentamirror), has a significantly shorter battery life (220 shots vs 750 shots) and users slower contrast detection autofocus (contrast detection vs phase detection).
Generally, some of the advantages of the Nikon S2600 compared to travel zoom competitors include: it is significantly smaller (super compact (94×58×20 mm) vs compact (111×64×34 mm)), is thinner (0.8" vs 1.4") and is slightly lighter (121 g vs 214 g).
However, on average it has significantly less zoom (5x vs 30x), has a slightly narrower wide angle lens (26 mm vs 24 mm), doesn't have a built-in GPS, has a slightly lower resolution screen (230k dots vs 920k dots) and has worse image stabilization (digital vs lens).
Generally, some of the advantages of the Nikon S2600 compared to super zoom competitors include: it has a much wider wide angle lens (26 mm vs 36 mm), has a slightly larger screen (2.7" vs 2.5"), is slightly smaller (super compact (94×58×20 mm) vs prosumer size (117×80×78 mm)), has a slightly longer battery life (220 shots vs 170 shots) and is newer (february 2012 vs may 2007).
However, on average it has a slightly narrower aperture (f/3.2 vs f/2.7), has worse image stabilization (digital vs lens), doesn't have a screen which flips out, doesn't have a viewfinder (none vs digital) and doesn't support an external flash.
