Nikon COOLPIX S9100 Review | 108 Data compared

The Nikon Coolpix S9100 is a solid compact megazoom digital camera highlighted by its impressive 18x wide-angle optical zoom lens (25-450mm equivalent) packed into a pocketable body. According to the CNET review, the major pros include its incredibly fast shooting performance—boasting a swift 1.1-second startup time, minimal shutter lag (0.3 seconds in bright light), and a high-speed burst mode capable of capturing up to 10 frames per second at full resolution. Additionally, it features a beautiful, high-resolution 3-inch LCD screen (921K dots) and a variety of fun, practical automatic multi-shot shooting options powered by its 12-megapixel backside-illuminated (BSI) CMOS sensor, such as Night Landscape, Night Portrait, and an Easy Panorama mode. On the downside, the cons focus heavily on image and video rendering constraints. Photos tend to look generally soft across all sensitivities and suffer from significant quality degradation, desaturation, and smeary noise reduction at high ISO settings (ISO 1,600 and 3,200) or in low-light environments. The 1080p full HD video feature is plagued by judder during fast movements, and the microphone unfortunately picks up the mechanical sounds of the...

" for focus at midrange focal lengths while composing photos, and video quality that becomes visibly grainy in low-light environments. Furthermore, the creative effects and post-shot filters are restricted strictly to still images and cannot be applied to video clips. Finally, the camera's minimal, sleek design includes a very slight handgrip that might not feel fully secure in every user's hand. Nevertheless, the reviewer concludes that the automated scene modes work so intelligently that most users will not miss manual intervention, making it a highly recommended value for casual and experienced shooters alike.

The Trusted Reviews evaluation of the Nikon Coolpix S9100 highlights the device as a sleek, pocketable camera featuring an impressive 18x optical zoom lens (24-450mm equivalent) and a 12.1-megapixel back-illuminated CMOS sensor that delivers vibrant colors. Key pros include its superior image sharpness compared to competitors, a high-resolution 3.0-inch 921k-dot LCD screen, and versatile, easy-to-use functionality for casual photography. However, the review notes the camera is strictly an "auto everything" point-and-shoot, lacking manual exposure controls, which may restrict advanced users. Cons also include noticeable softening of fine detail at higher ISO settings (ISO 800 and above) due to aggressive noise reduction.

In his review for Digital Photography School, Barrie Smith highlights the Nikon Coolpix S9100 as an impressive, travel-friendly compact digicam tailored for experimental photographers. The camera features a 12.1-megapixel Live View CMOS sensor capable of printing up to 34x25cm, backed by a high-resolution 7.5cm LCD screen. Smith praises its strong performance in diverse modes, noting that the images maintain excellent sharpness and accurate colours with virtually no drop-off in definition or noise up to ISO 800. Even at the maximum ISO 3200, the files remain surprisingly usable. Standout creative features include an in-camera HDR mode, high-speed shooting up to 240fps at reduced resolutions, and an Easy Panorama mode that automatically stitches panning shots into a large 6000×1024 pixel final image. However, the review outlines specific limitations regarding video capture and focal hardware. While the camera shoots Full HD 1920x1080p video with stereo sound, a major downside is the lack of autofocus functionality during movie recording, forcing users to preset focus before they start rolling. Additionally, the 18x optical zoom is described as moderate compared to bulkier maxi-zoom alternatives on the...

The Nikon Coolpix S9100, reviewed by ePHOTOzine, is a compact travel-zoom featuring an 18x optical zoom (25-450mm) and a 12.1-megapixel backlit CMOS sensor that enables a 9.5fps burst mode. The camera is praised for its high-resolution 3-inch LCD, ease of use, and effective Easy Panorama mode, making it a versatile option for travel. Cons identified include the requirement for bright light and high stability to maximize the 18x zoom, a poorly placed off-center tripod mount, and limited battery life rated at 270 shots. Furthermore, the video functionality is hindered by the need to lock focus before recording and a lack of manual exposure controls.

The What Digital Camera review identifies the Nikon Coolpix S9100 as a capable travel camera, highlighting its versatile 18x (25-450mm) optical zoom, 12.1-megapixel back-illuminated CMOS sensor, and effective seven-type anti-blur technology. Pros include Full HD 1080p video with stereo audio, a sharp 3-inch 921k-dot LCD, and generally accurate exposure metering, though colors can be highly saturated. Conversely, the review notes drawbacks, including a lack of manual PASM controls and Raw shooting, a plasticky build with a loose rear dial, and slow startup times. Despite its 18x zoom, it is considered bulkier than standard compacts, making it better suited for users prioritizing zoom range over manual control.

The HardwareZone review highlights the Nikon Coolpix S9100 as a sturdy and highly portable travel-zoom camera that fits easily into a handbag, weighing 214g with the battery and card loaded. A major pro is its expansive 18x optical zoom lens with a 25-450mm focal range, powered by a 12.1-megapixel backside-illuminated CMOS sensor. Reviewers praised the camera’s quick two-second startup time, snappy focus, and an intuitive user interface equipped with a dual scroll wheel/d-pad for easy navigation. It also supports Full HD 1080p video recording at 30fps and includes a mini-HDMI port for direct connection to big-screen HDTVs. However, the camera has notable cons, particularly regarding ergonomics and image quality. The placement of the dedicated video recording button is annoying, often causing users to trigger video recording accidentally while trying to steady the camera. In terms of performance, the out-of-camera images are on the softer side and require extra sharpening. Furthermore, the video shows signs of juddering when zooming or shifting focus, and the overall image stabilization mechanism requires improvement, making it difficult to shoot cleanly at the maximum 18x zoom...

The Nikon Coolpix S9100 is a highly portable superzoom camera featuring an 18x optical zoom lens, a 12.1-megapixel sensor, and Full HD video recording capabilities. Built with a stylish and solid metal body that weighs 214g, it offers an ergonomic finger grip on the front and a thumb rest on the rear, making single-handed operation remarkably stable. A major highlight of the camera's exterior is its 3-inch display screen, which delivers exceptional sharpness and contrast clarity even under bright light, thanks to a robust anti-reflective coating and a high 921,000-dot resolution. Furthermore, it boasts quick operational speeds, powering on and becoming fully ready to capture images in roughly two seconds. Despite these strengths, the review notes several practical and performance drawbacks. While the physical controls are generally within comfortable reach, the rear rotating navigation dial is quite small and can be fiddly for users with larger fingers. Additionally, because the "OK" button sits directly in the center of this small dial, users frequently risk accidentally nudging the wheel and making incorrect menu selections. The built-in flash must be popped up...

The Nikon COOLPIX S9100 is a compact, novice-friendly travel super-zoom camera distinguished by its standout 18x optical zoom lens, which offers a 25–450mm equivalent focal range that comfortably beats its main competitors from Canon, Panasonic, and Sony. Equipped with a 12.1 Megapixel back-illuminated CMOS sensor, it delivers fast full-resolution burst shooting, an Easy panorama mode, and high-quality 1080p30 Full HD video recording. To combat camera shake across its long focal length, the device utilizes a reliable sensor-shift image stabilisation system that provides up to four stops of compensation for hand-held stills. Furthermore, its 4:3 aspect ratio screen offers a high-resolution canvas well-suited for composing photographs. However, the camera falls short for enthusiasts due to a complete lack of manual or semi-automatic exposure controls, limiting its maximum exposure time to just one second for most shooting scenarios. It also misses out on built-in GPS capabilities, a major omission for travellers wanting to log positional location data with their files. While it performs well in low light using composite modes, real-life tests show its overall image detail throughout the ISO range is...

The PCMag review rates the 12.1-megapixel Nikon Coolpix S9100 as an "Excellent" 4-star product, earning it an Editors' Choice award as a top-notch compact superzoom digital camera. It is praised as an absolute speed demon, powering up and shooting in just 1.56 seconds, while offering an impressively fast 0.50-second shutter lag and a swift 1.58-second recycle time between shots. The core pros highlighted in the review include its massive 18x optical zoom lens (spanning a highly versatile 25-450mm equivalent range) and a stunning 3-inch LCD display packed with 921,000 dots, which keeps text sharp and images vibrant. Furthermore, it delivers excellent overall image quality, strong Full HD 1080p video recording options, and superior low-light sensor performance that safely keeps image grain under control up to ISO 3200. However, the camera does come with notable compromises. The main cons reported are its antiquated, plain text-based user interface that lacks modern graphics, and a proprietary USB port that restricts connectivity options. Additionally, the review notes a complete lack of manual exposure controls for shutter speed and aperture, and the total omission of...

The Nikon COOLPIX S9100 review by Camera Labs highlights a lightweight, user-friendly 12.1 Megapixel compact super-zoom camera featuring a standout 18x optical zoom (25-450mm equivalent) that out-ranges its main market competitors. Equipped with a back-illuminated CMOS sensor, it handles low-light shooting exceptionally well via composite scene modes and offers an efficient Easy Panorama pan-and-shoot feature. It also records 1080p30 Full HD video and rapid continuous burst sequences up to 10fps. On the downside, the camera relies on a sensor-shift image stabilisation system that works well for stills but cannot be enabled during movie recording, leading to shaky, unstable video footage during handheld shooting. Furthermore, the autofocus frequently struggles to maintain clarity when zooming while recording movies, and the camera lacks manual exposure controls or GPS tracking, which may deter photography enthusiasts looking for advanced technical flexibility. Key Pros and Cons Pros Cons Powerful 18x optical zoom (up to 450mm equivalent) No sensor-shift stabilisation during video recording High-speed continuous shooting at ~10fps at full resolution Unreliable video autofocus that struggles while zooming Excellent Easy Panorama mode and composite low-light HDR tools...

The ⁠Nikon Coolpix S9100 is highly praised as a compact, travel-friendly ultra-zoom camera that marks a significant improvement over its predecessor. Key pros highlighted in the review include its massive 18x optical zoom range squeezed into a pocket-sized body, a crisp 3-inch 910,000-pixel screen, and highly responsive performance, including a swift 1.6-second startup time and a lightning-fast 10fps burst mode. Crucially, the transition to a 12-megapixel back-illuminated CMOS sensor allows it to dramatically outperform its competitors by retaining smooth colors and fine details in low-light environments or at telephoto settings (ISO 400 and above). It also delivers impressive 1080p AVC video capture featuring functional optical zooming, crisp stereo sound, and entertaining slow-motion video modes.

The Nikon Coolpix S9100 is a competitive travel zoom camera featuring a 12.1-megapixel backside-illuminated CMOS sensor and an 18x, 25-450mm equivalent lens, offering excellent daylight image quality, high operational speed, and Full HD video, according to DPReview. It is recognized as a fast, responsive pocket-sized camera, though it primarily operates in automated modes with limited manual exposure control. Key limitations highlighted by DPReview include a significant loss of detail at high ISO settings in low-light conditions. Despite these, it remains a capable choice for users looking for a versatile, automated, and portable superzoom camera. DPReview