Nikon Coolpix S8100

Nikon Coolpix S8100
Travel zoom Travel zoom
September, 2010

Summary Nikon S8100

Prices Price
Camera only $100
all S8100 prices
Score Snapsort rank
Within its price range #1 of 1 Among similar cameras #32 of 83
details details
Specifications Key specs
Zoom Help 10x Screen size Help 3.0"
Aperture Help f/3.5 Screen resolution Help 921k dots
Wide angle Help 30 mm Movie format Help 1080p @ 30fps
see all specifications
Nikon Coolpix S8100Nikon Coolpix S8100

Replacement

Nikon has replaced the Coolpix S8100 with the S8200 and S9100.

Nikon Coolpix S8200
Nikon Coolpix S8200 announced July, 2011
Wide angle Much better wide angle
Zoom More zoom
Panorama Can create panoramas in-camera

Compare the new Nikon S8200 vs the S8100
Nikon Coolpix S9100
Nikon Coolpix S9100 announced February, 2011
Zoom Much more zoom
Wide angle Much better wide angle
HDR Has in-camera HDR

Compare the new Nikon S9100 vs the S8100

reviewsWhat are people saying about the S8100

"The Nikon S8100 is very quick to find focus, locking onto your target in less than 0.2 seconds, regardless of the lighting conditions or which end of the zoom range you're using."
photographyblog.com | talking about the camera's auto-focus
"the metal body finished in a glossy black coating that's now helpfully rubberised on the front half."
photographyblog.com | talking about the camera's feel
"metal body finished in a glossy black coating"
photographyblog.com | talking about the camera's build-quality

Pros

The Nikon S8100 vs other recent compacts

High-speed framerate High speed movies Help
240 fps
Sensor type CMOS Sensor Help
Better in low light
Macro focus Good macro Help
1 cm
Fastest shutter speed Fast shutter speed Help
1/4000 of a second
Movie format Full HD Help
1080p @ 30fps
Screen resolution Very high resolution screen Help
921k dots
Image stabilization Image stabilization Help
Sensor shift, Lens
Continuous shooting Rapid fire Help
10 fps

The Nikon S8100 vs other recent travel zooms

Lowest price Very inexpensive Help
$99.99

Cons

The Nikon S8100 vs other recent compacts

Aperture Slightly narrow aperture Help
f/3.5
Size Slightly large Help
Compact 104x60x30 mm
Thickness Thick Help
1.2"
Weight Heavy Help
209 g
Longest exposure Short exposures Help
4 seconds
GPS No GPS Help
Missing geo-tagging
Touch screen No touch screen Help
More buttons
Announced Old Help
September, 2010
Light sensitivity (boost) Lacks boost light sensitivity Help
None

The Nikon S8100 vs other recent travel zooms

Panorama Lacks in-camera panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
HDR Lacks in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
3D Doesn't take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Wide angle Very poor wide angle lens Help
30 mm
Zoom Poor zoom Help
10x

Appearance

front photo of the Nikon Coolpix S8100back photo of the Nikon Coolpix S8100angle photo of the Nikon Coolpix S8100

Discussion What do you think about the Nikon Coolpix S8100?

Speech is free, but discussion at Snapsort is moderated! Please discuss your opinion of this camera here, and discuss feedback for Snapsort at our support community.

Showing 16 comments

Tuananh291189 (7:09 AM, October 05, 2011)
Excellent quality picture from point and shoot camera. Some of my friends thought those picture taken by S8100 was from DSLR camera.
 
Diego :D (3:19 PM, August 16, 2011)
It shoot 5 pictures, but at the speed of 10fps :)
 
Imps (2:45 PM, August 05, 2011)
I bought my Coolpix s8100 in April, 2011at BestBuy - the flash is no longer working, stopped about a month ago. I bought the separate battery charger thinking that the battery wasn't getting enough charge through the ac cord plugged into the camera. Any suggestions?
 
Bobbylou (2:10 AM, July 24, 2011)
Bought this camera a few days ago.  It's an amazing camera. excellent pictures. I did a manual white balance indoors and turned the flash off. Took some pictures  in the evening in my livingroom and they came out just fantastic.
 
Danofindia (9:24 AM, April 01, 2011)
All those people having a problem with the S8100 Flash Position please look at the most stable way to hold a Point and shoot camera http://jpmccormac.smugmug.com/Other/In-Box/Holding-LX3/1035066804_wPuUf-M.jpg
 
Guest (7:59 PM, March 28, 2011)
I actually am trying both this camera vs the canon sx210 is. While I would love true hd video in the Canon, I find that it out performs the nikon on almost every front. I love the Nikon form factor. Zoom button, flash etc, but at the end of the day it is what truly gives the best product. I love shooting video and the canon captures low light better but with noise. I cannot get the Nikon to even come close. Even using the limited night shot settings for the Nikon, no luck. To date as stated the Canon is in the lead regarding photo and video quality.
 
Avatar for Snapsort Snapsort (3:22 AM, February 28, 2011)
Sorry for the delay, we've now got the Nikon S9100 added.
 
Santi-xj (3:40 AM, February 22, 2011)
Do that camera or the s9100 have manual controls??
 
Avatar for Snapsort Snapsort (9:07 PM, February 21, 2011)
Hi Mohammed, just noticed your comment now. We read this on Nikon's site:

"Users can enjoy high-speed continuous shooting of up to five 12 megapixel photos with superior image quality at approximately 10 fps (at a continuous setting of "Continuous H")
 
Avatar for Snapsort Snapsort (9:05 PM, February 21, 2011)
Yes, we'll get that added this week!
 
Ctown (2:27 AM, February 20, 2011)
Are you guys going to add the new nikon s9100 with the 18x zoom? Be great to compare thanks
 
Avatar for Snapsort Snapsort (11:03 PM, February 14, 2011)
Hi cameragurl, that sucks, sorry to hear you're not impressed with the S8100. Maybe check the settings, see if there is a way to dial down the flash? My old Canon S1 IS takes horrible shots with the flash, but if you go into the menu you can decrease the flash power and get a nicer shot.

Indoor shots (low light) are always challenging for cameras. You should check out the Panasonic ZS7, its similar to the S8100 (in size and zoom), but I think you'd be a lot happier with its indoor image quality.

If you do want to take indoor shots without a flash, its really tough. The best you can do in a compact camera is the Canon S95 or Panasonic LX5, both have larger sensors (more light) and wider apertures (more light). They're the best you can get in a small package, but to do really well in low light you need a DSLR and wide aperture lens (f/1.8 say).
 
cameragurl (10:42 PM, February 14, 2011)
I bought this camera after reaseaching LOTS of cameras. Im very disappointed. Design is nice and screen is brilliant. But the indoor pictures are horrible. The pictures come out blurry if theres any movement what so ever, and the flash just washes all the pictures out like a bad cell phone. Outdoor pics in broad daylight are beautiful, tempting me to keep it, but I usually take pictures at night and low light situations and of my baby who is constantly moving, so unfortunately Im taking it back it just doesnt meet my needs and for the price its not worth it.
 
Mohammed_s57 (1:03 PM, January 11, 2011)
###price###
 
Mohammed_s57 (1:02 PM, January 11, 2011)
in my opinion its the best camera i have ever seen and its are unbelievable .
but nikon company said its 5 fps not 10
 
Chillin2k1 (4:39 PM, December 03, 2010)
don't buy! did everything I could to get a decent pic while zoomed in... nadda blurry every time perfect lighting scenarios too. just no luck not user friendly doesn't tell you how much battery is left and all the on screen menus are like a-whole-nother language... flash is in extremely inconvenient place! I took it back and even ate the restocking fee at best buy... bought the samsung hz30w... and glad I did!!!! crystal clear pics at every zoom level and all lighting... super user friendly and intuitive!! don't even need a users manual! convenient flash location, shows battery life, on screen displays, menus, and settings are very quick and easy to access and change!!!