COOLPIX S8100
3.7
5
518
518
Good when it works
it takes good crisp pictures, however on some days for no obvious reasons, pictures looks shaky and blurry. Anybody else experienced it. I have to find if Nikon can fix it or I can get a replacement product.
April 22, 2012
Worked great for a few months.
We bought this camera to take great pics of our first born. We were super careful with it and used it rarely. This camera was awesome until it stopped working. After turning it on it would take a single pic and then the whole thing would freeze up. All functions would stop working there after. So disappointed. Now gotta see what kind of warranty this thing has so it's not a total waste of money. I'm curious if the makers of this camera ever read the bad reviews on their website's forum. If they did, they'd see they obviously have a problem with this camera.
April 15, 2012
For the most part, this camera is decent
Bought the camera in September 2011, and everything on it worked great until a nice but supposedly common error developed. Lens error: which corporate Nikon told me was a common issue.....My lens never retracted back to closed. I turned it off then back on as tech support instructed, but nothing worked. I sent it off to be repaired about 2 weeks ago, and still havent heard anything. Thank God it is still under warranty.
April 10, 2012
Rapid flash is annoying.. Not good for newborn/ infant pics!
My husband got me the S8100 for Christmas. We have a new baby and my old kodak was on it's last leg. The stupid flash on this camera is AWFUL for taking pics of babies and animals. It flashes three times before it takes the pic causing them to squint and look away. My little guy used to be such a ham and now HATES to get his picture taken! I thought I could make it work and now it's too late to return it! 200.00 down the drain! We're not rich.. It's not like I can just go buy a different camera. It really makes picture time a drag. I hate this stupid thing! The pop-up flash is exactly where your left hand would be. It's simply an uncomfortable waste of money. Also the flash is so bright it washes out the pic half the time!
January 16, 2012
Great little Point and Shoot Camera!
I love this camera. The zoom has allowed me to identify birds from several feet away and most all the pictures it takes are very clear and true to color thanks to the simple to use adjustments. It's one of the best point and shoot cameras on the market in my opinion that allows for high quality and ease of use. I've had mine for a year now and use it to document all my year long travels throughout the west capturing panoramic views from desert to the Pacific, and on mountain tops of the cascades and sierras. As well as birds, butterflies and mother natures wonderful display of wildflowers in an amazing array of vibrant styles and hues. And not to forget the full moons and sunsets or sunrises that awe my heart and soul. And in low light, it's unlike anything I've ever used before. The camera captures it all, with ease of use and great quality. I highly recommend it!
January 14, 2012
Takes great pictures when its not back at Nikon being fixed
I bought in Dec 2010 just in time for a month vacation in the USA. One week in the camera froze "lens error". Nikon USA said "too bad you'll have to talk to Canada." Uopn return home I sent it away and Nikon repaired#?# it. In Dec 2011, just in time for family visits the camera froze "lens error". Nikon still has it.
How good a camera works doesn't really matter if its broken when you really need it.
January 12, 2012
Point and Pray.
The camera takes beautiful photos when operating as designed. Flash is a little hot, washing out details. The unit often has issues with the SD cards, sometimes rendering photos inaccesible by fouling the file allocation info making it unreadable by PC's or the camera. Nikon's solution is to format the card in the camera only, but every few months the camera will freeze up until it decides 5 minutes or so later to access the card or a new card is swapped in. These issues are troubling since they turned up within the first year. Was hopeing for a firmware update but unit has been on market over a year and still is on firmware version 1.1.
December 31, 2011
Best Camera Ever
I bought this camera 2 days before Christmas to replace my Sony digital camera I had, I will say this is the best purchase I have made. The pictures are clear, and having the 10 optical zoom lens makes it all better and worth it.
December 26, 2011
Great camera when it actually worked
I got this as a gift and I loved the camera when it was working, then I seem to run into problem after problem. My main concern was the battery power and charging aspect of it. After charing the camera as directed with in a few months i could maybe get 2 mins of video and 40 pictures ... really was a bummer at concerts, since I was getting great quality just no time to actually enjoy the camera.
Some times the lens get frozen open, usually when the battery dies.
It doesnt always charge either, and when i read the warranty nothing was offered in regards to the battery. Pretty disappointed
I have also gotten errors when going from turning it off and on.
I dont know if i would buy this camera if I didnt get it as a gift, sadly to say
I really wish it worked better
December 16, 2011
Surprising performance with a few buts...
Overall, after a few outings, I have been surprised by the s8100's ease of use and results.
I settled on this model because reviews for newer models were mixed and there seemed to be too many quality/build issues in them.
I like the 10x zoom and ability to zoom in video mode. It is enough for most P&S jobs. No, I don't like the popup flash so close to where a finger may grip, stupid, but I'll adjust. No, I don't care for the video button also where a finger may go, but I'll adjust. No, I don't care for the placement of the tripod socket on the left bottom edge, stupid! But not often used in a P & S. Oh, and no, I don't like that you have to charge the battery in the camera., stupid and cheap, but I'll adjust. Don't care for the little rubber cover on the a/v out or the goofy hdmi cover either. Why can't I set the camera to save pictures in date format so it doesn't keep creating so many folders with duplicate pic numbers?
I am amazed by the lack of thought on these cheap, quirky and just plain stupid aspects. C'mon Nikon, been making cameras long?
On the other hand, the team working on what's in the camera seem to have more on the ball.
I can start the camera, point, shoot and most likely, get a decent shot, that when viewing on the computer, has good detail and definition as well as color. Most day shots have been surprisingly good and low light and night shots have been good as well. The macro's I've taken have been also surprisingly good. I can bump the subject with the lens and it's still in focus. Full zoom shots have been equally surprising, in that, the detail is easily above average with a simple hold and shoot. Anti-shake works. Yay.
I'll update this if I am able, when i have more experience with it, but if like me, you're looking for an above average P&S camera, the s8100 is an easy choice....
December 5, 2011
Lens Error problem is ruining this camera's rep
This camera takes gorgeous pictures. For the brief time that I was able to use it, I was very happy with it. Low light shots are great, video is good, and the automation level is just right for a not-too-serious-but still-appreciates-a-quality-photo photographer. Mine quit after 3 mos. of use with a "lens error" that renders the camera inoperable. I had read many other reviews complaining about the problem before purchasing, and always handled the camera very carefully. I'm very disappointed to be stuck with a practically new, useless piece of equipment. Nikon should offer a low cost fix for the many, many users experiencing this problem.
December 5, 2011
Very good unless using flash.
This camera works very well and produces very good pictures unless you are using the flash and then it usually overexposes very badly, sometimes to the extent that the picture is almost pure white.
December 5, 2011
Very disappointed in S8100
I have owned Nikon products since my "F" model, and many more.2020, N65, D70S and several others.
We recently had a party and everybody was taking pictures (cheap and expensive camers). It was my job to put them all together.At this point it became apparent that my S8100 had the worst performance.
Very disappointed
December 5, 2011
Super loved it!
I love the camera. It's perfect for every day use. I love all the features and is easy to use. I would definitely recommend it to friends. Another great thing from Nikon.
December 4, 2011
Great product- Small Package
I have only had this camera for a few day, but I is so compact and easy to always to have on hand.
The picture quality is exceptional and is almost comparable to my D-90 in quality.
This is a great addition to any photographers tool kit.
November 28, 2011
Not worth it
I needed a camera to take to soccer games and all the other places you take pictures of kids. It worked great for four months the lens then would not go back in. Had it fixed and now I can't download any pictures to the computer. I also bought one for my daughter, her camera didn't work for more than 12 hours before it quit working. It does take great pictures when it works.
November 23, 2011
I WISH THIS WERE A GOOD CAMERA!
This camera has all of the features of being the perfect camera. But, after about 6 months I had a problem. After about 1 month, I got the camera back. Two months later, the lens stopped working. I really wished it were a good quality camera, because the first 1-3 months were amazing. One year later, I had to get a new camera... VERY ANGRY!
November 22, 2011
I Love my CoolPix S8100
Being a former professional Photographer and using larger cameras with interchangeable lenses, I never thought that I would ever consider a shirtpocket size camera. But with adorable grandchildren always around, I thought that I needed something I could keep close at hand. After evaluating what was available for the investment, I chose the CoolPix S8100 for it's 10X Zoom, size convenience and Video option. I later discovered the Night shots and Backlight features as an added bonus. I am extremely happy with the CoolPix S8100. People always asked me what was the best camera to buy and my "Professional" answer was always "one that you will take the time to study the handbook and learn how to use it's features. That's still true but the S8100 does a great job with just the press of the shutter release, even if it's set on auto. The 10X Zoom allows a close up without physically geting close to the subject. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS CAMERA.
November 22, 2011
I can't seem to get the flash adjusted and most of my pictures are way too bright or like a blast of light covering half or all of the picture. I lost my manual, so downloaded and printed the 205 pages and I can't seem to find the right adjustment or maybe there is none, I'm very disappointed in the camera.
November 21, 2011
Scratches
When brand new this camera was awesome. Now that I have had it for 10 months, the lens cover has begun to scratch the lens! Sent back to Nikon. We'll see....
November 21, 2011
Not to happy with this camera.
I bought this camera seven months ago and it starting acting up after five months. It started with a ticking sound (almost as if the timer was set) and now its shutters will not open and close all the way.
November 16, 2011
Great camera
Love the camera even though charger was defective when purchased. Fits in shirt pocket, zoom is great, easy to use & has nice features.
November 14, 2011
Has some good points but not worth the money
This camera had such potential but it fails to meet them. It is expensive for a P&S and the one we have failed after just a few months. Nikon service has been less than satisfactory in getting this resolved. The problem is with the stabilization it appears. The manual says to reset the camera as did the tech support. It has not made any difference.
The good points are it does have D-lighting, the movie capability is nice when it works and the auto functions work pretty good. I have been a Nikon customer for over 35 years and expected good quality photographs.
It has some problems as listed by others and they are correct. A newer model came out quickly so I would go with that if they fixed the concerns or look into the competition for a simple P&S as this one is just not up to par for the money. I do not like the in camera battery charging so I purchased a second battery and charger so she could have backups.
I have another P&S that has been very good and cost half. The Nikon S560. Just so you do not think I am a complainer about Nikon. I have many thousands of dollars of Nikon professional equipment including D300, D700, 70-200 VRII, a 400mm Nikkor Prime. The D300 and this are the only cameras and lenses that I have had any problem with since 1975. I even mention on my websites that I am a proud Nikon professional. This camera is just not up to the Nikon name or the standards I have been accustomed from Nikon.,
November 10, 2011
Needs a view finder
It's difficult to see images on the view screen in bright sunlight, but pic quality very good.
November 8, 2011
TAKES BEAUTIFUL PICTURES...BUT !!!!
AFTER VERY LITTLE USE THE MEMORY CARD HOLDER BROKE.. We have had it for 11 months but did not use it extensivly until our wedding two weeks ago..pictures were very nice and easy to use. If you buy one do not remove card to download pictures to computer... I heard the repair is around $140..we will see how good the warranty is.. Bill
November 7, 2011
Great features, hardware doesn't hold up
This unit is great on paper but doing all that it is supposed to do is such a strain on the intricate electronics that sooner or later, something is almost bound to go wrong.
As with most point-and-shoots, the problem of course is with pixel density. The camera compensates with electronics but only to a point. Beyond that, the chips are performing at the fringe of their capability. Nikon seems to know this because when mine started to flash through its images on play back whatever button is pressed, Nikon wouldn't (or couldn't?) repair it.
Curiously, I have noticed that the focusing isn't great either in that all photos seem to have to be enhanced in Photoshop (or iPhoto) to get maximum sharpness. And I get the impression that the F stop isn't fast enough to let the camera focus properly so if you see a (for example) child and have to get a photo immediately for fear that he will have moved out of the frame or blinked, don't necessarily expect him to be in focus. And don't be surprised if bits of the picture which aren't necessarily important are in pin-sharp focus! This seems to happen a lot and the problem can be alleviated a bit by always shooting in burst mode if lighting allows.
In the old days when Nikon was geared towards the professional, they would happily repair anything, sometimes even while you waited in their Rockefeller Centre retail location. Now they send the camera back unrepaired having make you wait months for the privilege (and, - tellingly, promised me that they would repair it!). They cite cosmetic problems as a reason for doing this, saying that they aren't responsible for cosmetics; but wont repair what is actually wrong unless you pay about the new cost of the camera to repair the cosmetics. [And don't ask why a piece of plastic on the side of the camera developed a minuscule crack on it: If it can crack so easily, why are they using this plastic on the camera in the first place?]
Let's be fair about this: They sell millions of these pointandshoots and cant really give personalised service to all customers who buy them, ,can they? Secondly, where it counts, for professional photographers, they do still give remarkably good service and stand by their warranties.
Lastly please note that the very nature of digital photography mandates that all manufacturers have to use their electronics at the very fringe of usability and I DO NOT think that Nikon is any worse than any other manufacturer at this. They ALL use the same pixel density and all have to enhance it with fancy electronics which only more-or-less works. And don't look for any better pixel density from other manufacturer's point-and-shoots: No one is developing the Sigma chip to improve pixel density and the size of the sensor seems to be governed by the distance between the lens and that sensor.
TO SUM UP: If you want to buy the best pointandshoot, you are probably going to have to buy a Nikon.
November 7, 2011
Nice camera but problems
I have had the camera for 2 months and have a problem that can't be fixed without sending it back. The camera is under warranty but should have held up better in my opinion. It is a pain to be without a good camera at Halloween with my grandchildren
November 7, 2011
bought the camera for my new baby. action mode is terrible. you have to specific cable and batteries to charge and dont like that. everything else is fine.
November 7, 2011
takes great pictures when working
This camera was awesome the first 2 months I owned it. Took great pictures both still and moving. The zoom is phenomenal. After 2 1/2 months the lens would not retract. I had not dropped it or gotten anything in it. It took a picture and then just stopped working.
November 7, 2011
Horrible camera. Never worked correctly. Flash is in a bad place cause when you go to take a picture your finger is on the flash. The lens would keep getting stuck and error messages would come on the screen. Worst camera I've ever bought!!!
November 7, 2011