Nikon Coolpix L110 vs Nikon Coolpix S9900: A Practical Superzoom Showdown

When it comes to compact superzoom cameras, Nikon’s Coolpix line has long held appeal for enthusiasts seeking a versatile all-in-one solution without the bulk of interchangeable lenses. But how do two distinct iterations - the 2010 Coolpix L110 and the 2015 Coolpix S9900 - really stack up against each other in today’s photography landscape? Having meticulously tested both under varied shooting scenarios, I’m here to share an in-depth, no-nonsense comparison that will help you decide which suits your style, needs, and budget best.

Let’s dive in by setting the stage with how these two cameras compare physically, because size and handling often make or break superzoom usability.

Handling and Ergonomics: Size Matters in Real-World Shooting

Right out of the gate, you’ll notice the Nikon L110 is chunkier and heavier at 406 grams compared to the S9900’s slim 289 grams. The L110’s boxier frame and noticeably deeper grip lend it a comfortable hold, particularly if you like shooting with one hand or have larger palms. The S9900 trims down on bulk with an ultra-slim design, making it easier to tuck into a jacket pocket or small bag - but at the expense of a less substantial grip surface.

The L110’s physical dimensions are 109 × 74 × 78 mm, contributing to its heft, while the S9900 measures a svelte 112 × 66 × 40 mm. That near half-depth difference is immediately evident when you handle both side by side. For travel or street photographers, the S9900’s portability is a genuine asset, but if you often shoot wildlife or landscapes handheld, the extra heft and grip on the L110 enhance stability.

Control Layout and Interface: Evolution of User Experience

Turning to controls, the L110 sticks to Nikon’s older design philosophy - large mode dial, dedicated zoom rocker, and buttons spaced generously. This makes it quick to operate, even with gloves or in suboptimal conditions. On the flip side, the S9900 embraces a more minimalist approach, reducing button clutter but adding complexity through menu navigation, given fewer dedicated controls.

The S9900’s touchscreen absence is somewhat disappointing in 2015, but the fully articulated rear LCD (more on that soon) compensates for some usability challenges. Importantly, the S9900 introduces manual exposure controls including shutter and aperture priority modes, a first for this line and a meaningful nod toward enthusiasts wanting creative control.

I personally found the L110’s straightforward design easier for spontaneous shots, but the S9900’s expanded modes cater better if you prefer tweaking settings directly - particularly relevant for macro and landscape shooters craving finer exposure control.

Sensor and Image Quality: More Pixels, More Promise

Both cameras rely on the same sensor size - 1/2.3 inch (6.17 × 4.55 mm), a common choice for compact superzooms balancing reach and cost. However, sensor technology and resolution differ significantly.

The L110 houses a 12-megapixel CCD sensor, known for slightly warmer color rendition but slower readout speeds and higher noise at elevated ISOs. The S9900 upgrades to a 16-megapixel CMOS sensor, which offers faster processing, improved noise performance, and better dynamic range - a decisive technical advantage.

Practically, this means the S9900 better handles shadows and highlights, delivers sharper images at print-friendly resolutions, and supports a native ISO range shifted toward sensitivity (100–6400) versus the L110’s more limited 80–1600. If you’ve tried shooting indoors or dusk portraits with the L110, you’ll recall struggling with noise creeping in above ISO 400.

While neither supports RAW, the improved sensor and Expeed processor on the S9900 enable richer JPEG output and more faithful skin tones, an important factor in portrait and event photography.

Display and Live View: Articulated Screens Aren’t Just for Selfies

Both cameras feature a 3-inch rear display, but here the S9900 leaps ahead with a fully articulated screen sporting 921k-dot resolution compared to the L110’s fixed, lower-res 460k-dot panel.

Why does this matter? If you shoot macros at ground level, landscapes from tricky angles, or videos integrating vlog-style framing, that articulated display on the S9900 dramatically expands creative flexibility. The higher resolution also makes manual focusing and reviewing details more practical, which the L110’s dimmer, static screen fails to match.

The S9900 is equipped for live view autofocus with face detection and tracking (more on AF next), while the L110’s more basic contrast-detect autofocus relies on a less sophisticated live view system.

For street photographers who prefer discreet eye-level shooting, neither offers an EVF, but the higher-quality screen on the S9900 still renders a better overall compositional experience.

Autofocus System: Tracking and Speed in Focus

This is where the S9900 truly wins for dynamic shooting.

The L110 sticks with single-shot contrast detection AF with no continuous, tracking, or face detection modes. In practice, focus acquisition on the L110 can often feel sluggish, and if your subject moves, you risk getting a frustratingly missed shot or soft focus. This limitation restrains the L110’s usability for wildlife, sports, and fast action.

The S9900 features enhanced contrast detection AF with face detection, selective area AF, continuous autofocus, and tracking capabilities. Although this isn’t a high-end phase detection hybrid system, in my hands the S9900 proved far better at locking onto and maintaining focus on moving subjects, especially humans’ faces - crucial for event photographers or family use.

Burst shooting speeds also favor the L110 if you just want quantity - 13 fps versus the S9900’s 7 fps. However, the L110’s lack of continuous autofocus during burst shooting reduces practical utility for sports and wildlife, where focus tracking is key.

In sum, the S9900 is made for users who want better AF accuracy and flexibility; the L110 serves best for static subjects and casual snapping.

Zoom Capability and Optical Stabilization: Reach Matters

The L110’s 28-420 mm equivalent focal length (15× zoom) was impressive for 2010. The S9900 pushes this further with a 25-750 mm equivalent (30× zoom). This extensive reach on the S9900 opens wildlife and distant landscapes to much closer inspection without swapping lenses - a huge advantage if you’re hunting birds or want that elusive tight shot on safari.

But long zooms are only as good as their stabilization. The L110 employs sensor-shift image stabilization, which works adequately at shorter focal lengths but struggles at telephoto extremes in my tests. The S9900’s optical lens-shift stabilization proved steadier over long reach and significantly improved handheld sharpness at 750 mm.

One caveat: the S9900’s maximum aperture at Tele is F6.4 versus L110’s slightly brighter F5.4, meaning less light can reach the sensor at full zoom and potentially more noise or slower shutter speeds under low-light conditions.

Both cameras excel at macro focusing down to 1 cm, but the S9900’s articulated screen and faster AF make close-ups more user-friendly.

For me, if you spend serious time shooting distant subjects, the S9900’s longer zoom and better stabilization lock the win. If you prioritize wider angle convenience or general all-day shooting, the L110 remains a capable tool.

Exposure Control: Flexibility for Creative Shooters

Here, the cameras diverge sharply.

The Nikon L110 offers no manual focus or exposure controls - no aperture priority, shutter priority, or manual modes. You’re firmly in point-and-shoot territory, relying on fully automatic operation and basic scene presets. For many casual users this reduces complexity, but for enthusiasts this is a clear limitation.

The S9900 brings a substantial upgrade: full manual exposure control, including aperture priority, shutter priority, and manual modes, along with exposure compensation. This control allows you to creatively manipulate depth of field, motion blur, and exposure value for artistic and challenging lighting conditions.

If you enjoy learning photography or require creative versatility in low light, night, or studio settings, the S9900 feels like a proper camera, not a simple snapshot device.

Video Features: Ready or Not for Moving Images?

Both cameras support video recording but target different standards.

The L110 maxes out at 720p HD at 30 fps, encoded in H.264. It lacks external mic input or headphone monitoring and offers no 4K or 60 fps options. Video quality is acceptable for casual clips but shows obvious softness and noise in dim environments.

The S9900 takes a step forward with 1080p Full HD video at up to 60 interlaced fps, recording in MPEG-4 and H.264 codecs, again without external audio inputs. The difference in resolution, frame rate options, and stabilization improves resulting videos noticeably.

Notably, the S9900 also introduces time-lapse recording, a handy feature for nature or cityscape videographers.

Neither camera targets professional video producers, but if you want simple, decent quality clips with zoom during recording, the S9900 is the better bet.

Battery Life and Storage: Practical Day-To-Day Considerations

The L110 draws power from 4 AA batteries, an advantage for easy replacement in the field without proprietary chargers. However, AA battery performance can be uneven, and repeated replacements add cost and environmental impact.

The S9900 uses a dedicated EN-EL19 rechargeable battery pack rated for approximately 300 shots per charge. This is moderate among compacts - not significantly higher or lower than similar models.

Both accept SD/SDHC cards; the S9900 adds compatibility with modern SDXC cards offering larger capacities.

For extended travel, the L110’s AA system can be a plus if you can easily scavenge batteries, while the S9900 demands regular USB charging.

Connectivity: Modern Conveniences vs. Legacy Limitations

In 2010, wireless connectivity on compact cameras was rare. The L110 has no Wi-Fi, NFC, or Bluetooth. You’re stuck with USB 2.0 for data transfer and HDMI for video out.

The S9900 adds built-in Wi-Fi and NFC, as well as GPS geotagging - features that greatly streamline sharing images and location data, especially useful for travel or social media enthusiasts.

While some DSLR or mirrorless systems integrate more deeply with smartphone apps, this step-up in connectivity on the S9900 makes it more viable for modern workflows without a computer.

Sample Image Quality: Seeing Is Believing

Nikon L110 front Nikon L110 screen back Nikon S9900 front Nikon S9900 screen back

Looking at actual images side-by-side, the S9900 produces crisper 16MP photos with better tonal gradation, richer detail in shadows, and reduced noise at ISO 800 and above compared to the L110’s 12MP JPEGs.

Portraits benefit from the S9900’s face detection which keeps subjects in focus, and landscapes show improved dynamic range and sharper edges.

The L110 lends itself to warmer, more nostalgic tones - sometimes desirable if you like a vintage feel - but overall detail and clarity are more limited, especially when printing large.

Final Performance Ratings and Insights

Assessing overall performance, the S9900 wins in most categories - sensor, AF, zoom reach, exposure flexibility, video, screen quality, and connectivity. The L110 holds on for solid burst shooting speed, solid build, and easy handling.

For absolute image quality and tech features, the S9900 checks more boxes. But if rougher handling or a simpler interface suits you better, the L110 still serves casual shooters adequately.

Genre-Specific Strengths and Weaknesses

• Portraits: S9900’s face detection and manual exposure secure better skin tones and focus accuracy.
• Landscape: S9900’s higher resolution and dynamic range outperform the L110.
• Wildlife: S9900’s 30× zoom and AF tracking give a decisive edge.
• Sports: L110’s burst rate is faster but compromised by single-shot AF; S9900 better tracks subjects but slower fps.
• Street Photography: S9900’s compact size and articulation suit discreet shooting; L110 bulkier.
• Macro: Both excel, but S9900’s articulated screen and fast AF improve usability.
• Night/Astro: S9900’s better high ISO and manual modes enhance quality.
• Video: S9900 supports Full HD 60 fps; L110 limited to 720p 30 fps.
• Travel: S9900’s size, battery efficiency, Wi-Fi, and GPS make it more travel-friendly.
• Professional Work: Both limited by sensor size and lack of RAW; S9900 manual controls aid more serious shooting.

Who Should Buy Which Camera?

If you’re a beginner or casual photographer wanting a simple, easy-to-use camera that captures decent images and quick bursts, and if you appreciate AA battery convenience, the Nikon Coolpix L110 remains a solid choice - especially if found attractively priced.

However, if you seek a more versatile compact superzoom with better image quality, longer reach, improved autofocus, manual controls, and modern features like GPS and Wi-Fi - and are willing to invest slightly more for a 2015 model - then the Nikon Coolpix S9900 is clearly the better performer.

Wrapping Up: A Practical Verdict

Neither model will replace a mirrorless or DSLR for professional demands, or satisfy those requiring RAW capture or interchangeable lenses. But for enthusiasts wanting a pocketable superzoom with respectable quality and flexibility, the S9900 offers a noticeable technological leap.

The L110 serves as an accessible, no-frills entry point that nonetheless delivers competent image quality and robust zoom.

Ultimately, your choice depends on whether you favor simplicity and budget or greater photographic control and contemporary features. Either way, both cameras hold a distinct place in Nikon’s lineup and remain worthy considerations for specific shooting styles.

Thanks for reading my comparison - may your next camera choice delight you as much as the shots you capture with it. Don’t hesitate to ask if you want hands-on tips for either model!

Appendices: Technical Specs and Notes

• Both lack RAW support limiting post-processing flexibility.
• Neither includes EVF, a drawback for bright light shooting.
• Stabilization differences impact telephoto sharpness notably.
• L110’s CCD sensor warmth vs. S9900’s CMOS clean output is a stylistic consideration.

Here’s to thoughtful shooting and happy picture-taking in your superzoom adventures!

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