Overview
The Nikon Coolpix S8000 offers plenty of zoom power in a compact body. The Coolpix S8000 offers 14 megapixels and a 10x optical zoom lens. It will fit into a large pocket. Features include High Definition movies, images stabilisation and I like the fact Nikon have found room for a 3 inch LCD screen. There are also a number of features to help improve the quality of your portrait shots. These include the ability to soften skin and eliminate blinking.
When it comes to picture quality the Coolpix S8000 can more than hold its own against the direct competition. I was happy with my test shots and there are no areas where the camera really struggles. If you are looking for a camera that is relatively straightforward and easy to use this camera ticks most boxes there too. Shutter lag times were also very good leaving the Coolpix S8000 as one of my recommendations in this category.
Main Features
Megapixels:
Zoom:
LCD Screen:
Dimensions:
Weight:
14
10x
3 inches
57 x 103 x 27.3mm
183g
Macro:
HD Movies:
Manual Controls:
Batteries:
Memory Cards:
1cm
Yes
No
Lithium Ion
SD/SDHC
Image Quality - See Sample Images Below
Outdoor Scenic Shots in Good Light
On the whole the Coolpix S8000 performs very well. Colours are deep and the shots are sharp. I am also impressed by the level of detail showing in my photos. As with any digital camera there are a few flaws, but in this case they are minor. These include a small amount of purple fringing and darkness just starting to creep into the corners of the shot when the lens is zoomed all the way out.
I also found the zoom was difficult to fine tune and capture the image exactly how I wanted to.
Portraits
The outdoor portrait shot is full of colour and brightness. I often say that this is a fairly straightforward shot and more or less any digital camera can produce a decent portrait shot in good light. In this instance I think the Coolpix S8000 goes beyond that and I prefer this portrait shot to those taken by the majority of cameras I review.
My test shot taken using flash is very impressive too in terms of colour and brightness. The photo has a very natural look to it when compared to the results I am used to seeing. The light is evenly spread throughout the shot too.
Without flash the Coolpix S8000 does not fare quite so well. The shot is darker than that taken by any other camera that I tested at the same time. There is also a slight colour caste to the shot.
Macro, Colours and Noise
If you choose to buy a stylish, compact digital camera the quality of the close up shots it takes is unlikely to be one of the main points you have in mind when making your selection. Even so the Coolpix S8000 performs very well in this area.
There is plenty of depth of colour on show both in my outdoor scenic shots and also in the portrait photos. The colours certainly suit my own personal tastes.
I can see very little difference between the leading brands when it comes to noise appearing in shots. With the Coolpix S8000 noise is confined to the shady or darker areas of a photo and in my view is not really an issue.
Summary
On the whole the Coolpix can take very impressive pictures. As ever there are one or two points that niggle, but these are minor issues.
Style
The Coolpix S8000 has a pretty standard design. The biggest attraction is the way Nikon has incorporated such a long lens in a compact body. The camera is available in black, red, champagne and bronze.
Shutter Lag Times
Single Shot
Five Shots
Single Shot With Flash
Five Shots With Flash
Turn on Time
0.18 seconds
15.28 seconds
0.22 seconds
15.38 seconds
1.98 seconds
Ease of Use
Considering the features Nikon have included the Coolpix S8000 is very easy to use. I find the menu system on all Nikon digital cameras to be as clear and easy to read as any brand.
Points I Like
Ease of use - 3 inch LCD screen - High Definition movies - colours - shutter lag times
Where it Could Improve
Difficult to fine tune zoom
Product Shots
Front View
Back View
Top View
Sample Menus
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Read Review: Nikon Coolpix S9300 Review
Canon Powershot SX260 HS Rating 86/100
The Canon Powershot SX260 HS is one of the very best digital cameras in this category. In fact if you are happy to miss out on features such as 3D photography and 360 degree panoramas it is very hard to beat. It has a great set of features packed into its relatively compact body size and picture quality helps to make it stand out from the competition. Although it is one of the more expensive cameras in this field it still offers good value for money.
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Sony DSC HX20V Rating 85/100
There is a lot to like about the Sony Cybershot DSC HX20V. As well as being crammed with features it is a very reliable when it comes to taking pictures. It can handle most photo opportunities without breaking sweat. The amount of zoom power and other features available gives you a great deal of flexibility. Competition between similar cameras is very tough, but this model performs very well when put up against its main rivals. I would happily own this camera.
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Related Pages
Nikon Coolpix S8000 Review Nikon Coolpix S8000 Specification Nikon Coolpix S8000 Sample Images Nikon Coolpix S8000 Features Nikon Digital Cameras
Review Date
April 2010
