Economic Research: Nikon Coolpix S9100

Monday 31 December 2012

Nikon Coolpix S9100

The Nikon Coolpix S9100 is a step up from the S8100. That camera features a 10x 30-300mm-equivalent lens, whereas the S9100 has an 18x 25-450mm-equivalent lens. Otherwise, the cameras look the same (though the S9100 is slightly larger) and the shooting options are similar, too, due in part to their 12-megapixel backside-illuminated (BSI) CMOS sensors. They are both very good cameras with a lot of automatic shooting options to help get the best photos without dealing with settings other than changing shooting modes.

Basically, the reason to go with the S9100 over the S8100 is the longer, wider lens; shooting performance and photo and video quality is about the same. If you're a stickler for sharpness or fine details when photos are viewed at larger sizes, then this camera probably isn't for you. Also, I found it difficult to hold this camera still with the lens fully extended, and the image stabilization could only do so much. Without some sort of support, you may end up with a lot of blurry shots. But for its price and shooting flexibility, most people after a decent snapshot should be pretty happy with the results.