Nikon P7100 vs Nikon S640: An In-Depth Real-World Comparison for Every Photographer

Stepping into the compact camera world can be a bit daunting, especially when the offerings appear similar at first glance but diverge significantly once you dig deeper. Today, I’ll walk you through a detailed comparison between two small sensor compacts from Nikon - the P7100, announced in early 2012, and the older S640 from 2009.

I’ve spent extensive hands-on time with both of these cameras over the years, pushing them through various shooting scenarios, testing every corner of their specs and usability. In this 2500-word article, we'll unravel their differences - not just the specs on paper, but what really matters for you as a photographer: image quality, handling, focusing ability, and more. Whether you are a budget-conscious enthusiast, a hobbyist wanting better controls, or a professional in need of a solid backup compact, this guide will help you make an informed choice.

A Tale of Two Compacts: Size, Build & Ergonomics

At first glance, the Nikon P7100 and S640 occupy similar segments but cater to subtly different audiences.

The P7100, with its 116x77x48mm body size and a weight of 395g, feels chunky yet robust. It’s designed with more control in mind, targeting enthusiasts who want something pocketable without sacrificing handling. The S640, by contrast, is a featherweight at 130g and measures just 91x55x21mm, clearly emphasizing portability and convenience above all.

Personally, I find the P7100’s heft quite satisfying for longer photographic outings. It has clubs for your thumbs - molded grips and dedicated physical dials that let you change settings effortlessly without fumbling. The S640 feels more like a sleek travel companion, ready to slip inside a jeans pocket or purse, but it sacrifices tactile controls and comfort for that slim profile.

When shooting handheld for extended periods, the P7100’s more substantial grip wins hands down. For street photographers or casual shooters wanting minimal bulk, the S640’s ultra-slim design shines. But expect to adapt to a more cramped button layout due to its size constraints.

In the top view, the P7100 sports a beefy dial cluster that's pleasing to manipulate - a clear nod to its enthusiast DNA. The S640 goes minimalist.

Sensor, Image Quality, and Resolution: What Does the Tech Say?

Now, onto the heart of the matter - the sensors, arguably the most impactful component on image quality.

The Nikon P7100 houses a 1/1.7" CCD sensor measuring 7.44 x 5.58mm, giving it a total sensor area of 41.52mm² and offering 10 megapixels of resolution. Meanwhile, the S640 sports a smaller 1/2.3" CCD sensor (6.08 x 4.56mm, 27.72mm²) with 12 megapixels.

Don’t let the higher megapixel count on the S640 fool you. From my experience, sensor size often trumps resolution when it comes to low-light performance, dynamic range, and overall image clarity. The larger sensor in the P7100 means larger photosites (light-sensitive elements), which typically translates to better noise performance and richer colors.

In real-world testing, the P7100 clearly outperforms the S640 in dynamic range and high ISO usability - an important factor for shooting in challenging lighting conditions such as indoor events or twilight landscapes.

DxOMark data backs this up: the P7100 scores a respectable 41 overall, with a color depth of 19.4 bits and a dynamic range of 10.7 EV. The S640 - though not officially tested by DxOMark - uses a smaller sensor and an older processor, making it less capable in these areas.

The P7100’s native ISO tops out at 3200, which you can manually boost to ISO 6400 if necessary, while the S640 maxes at 6400 natively but struggles with noise above ISO 800 in practical use.

This difference is also represented in real shooting results: look at the sharpness, clean shadows, and subtle highlight retention in images from the P7100 compared to the noisier, less nuanced S640 shots.

LCD Screens and Viewfinders: Framing Your Shot

A camera’s usability greatly depends on how you compose and interact with it. The P7100 packs a 3-inch tilting TFT LCD with impressive 921k dots resolution and anti-reflection coating with brightness adjustments - a pleasure to frame shots on under various lighting.

The S640’s fixed 2.7-inch LCD with just 230k dots feels dated. In my years of shooting with it, outdoor visibility is a constant headache, and no tilt means you have to contort awkwardly for low or overhead angles.

Another difference - the P7100 includes an optical tunnel viewfinder covering around 80% of the scene, offering a convenient second framing method when glare frustrates the LCD. The S640 lacks any viewfinder, which limits compositional options.

If you value flexibility in shooting angles or find yourself frequently outdoors, the P7100’s superior screen and viewfinder combination is a worthy advantage.

Lens Reach and Autofocus: Speed, Accuracy, and Focal Versatility

Both cameras feature fixed lenses - a staple in compact models - but the P7100 offers a longer focal reach with 28-200mm equivalent (7.1x zoom) vs. S640’s 28-140mm (5x zoom). The wider telephoto on the P7100 allows tighter cropping or distant subject capture, crucial for wildlife or casual sports photography.

The maximum aperture range favors the P7100 too: f/2.8 at the wide end (vs f/2.7 on S640) but an appreciably brighter f/5.6 telephoto vs f/6.6 on the S640 lens. Faster apertures mean more light reaching the sensor and generally better depth-of-field control.

On focusing performance, the P7100 shines with 99 autofocus points and face detection, plus contrast-detection AF that supports continuous and live view focusing modes. The S640 offers no manual focus and has contrast detection AF limited to a single point - no face or multi-area AF.

In practice, the P7100’s AF feels snappier and more precise in a broad range of conditions, including low light and moving subjects. The S640’s slower autofocus and lack of advanced features make it more suitable for steady, well-lit scenes.

Shutter, Burst, and Stability: Capturing the Decisive Moment

The P7100 offers shutter speeds from 1/60s all the way up to 1/4000s with manual, shutter priority, aperture priority, and full manual exposure modes - a considerable step up from the S640’s limited 1/30s to 1/8000s range but no advanced exposure modes.

The continuous shooting rate is modest in the P7100 at about 1.3 frames per second, whereas the S640 doesn’t even officially specify burst capabilities, making action shooting less feasible on the latter.

Both cameras have optical image stabilization, essential for handheld shots at longer focal lengths or slower shutter speeds, reducing blur from hand shake. However, the P7100’s system feels more effective, allowing me to handhold sharp shots down to about 1/10s, whereas the S640 demands faster shutter speeds in practice.

Battery Life and Storage: Staying Powered and Ready

The P7100 uses a dedicated rechargeable battery pack with an estimated 350 shots per charge, quite respectable for an enthusiast compact. The S640 uses a smaller EN-EL12 battery with unspecified battery life but expected to be shorter given its size.

Both accept SD, SDHC, and SDXC cards, though the P7100 supports newer, higher-speed cards for better write performance - helpful if you shoot in RAW or video.

Connectivity and Extras

Neither camera offers wireless connectivity, Bluetooth, or GPS. The P7100 features a micro-HDMI port and an external microphone input - rare on a compact, useful if you plan light video work or want better sound capture. The S640 lacks any HDMI output or microphone port.

In terms of flash, the P7100 includes a built-in flash with manual modes plus hotshoe support for external flashes, making it a better choice for creative or low-light shooting. The S640 merely has an internal flash without user-selectable modes or external flash option.

Video Capabilities: What About Moving Pictures?

Both cameras record HD video up to 1280x720, but the P7100 films at 24 fps with efficient H.264 codec, yielding smoother footage and better compression.

The S640 is limited to Motion JPEG compression at 720p/30fps, resulting in larger files and less efficient video quality. Neither supports 4K, slow motion, or advanced video features - no surprise for compacts of their era.

The P7100’s microphone jack offers better sound recording options for vloggers or casual filmmakers.

Real-World Performance Across Photography Genres

Let me break down how these cameras hold up across popular photography styles, based on my testing and practical experience.

Nikon P7100 front Nikon P7100 screen back Nikon S640 front Nikon S640 screen back

Portraits

The P7100’s color depth and face detection autofocus deliver pleasing skin tones with natural rendering. The wider aperture and longer zoom allow some decent background separation for modest bokeh, enhancing subject isolation.
The S640 struggles with softer images, less natural skin tones, and no face detection AF, requiring more careful manual framing.

Landscapes

Higher dynamic range and aperture control on the P7100 help capture stunning landscapes with fine detail retention in highlights and shadows.
The S640’s smaller sensor and noisier results limit its appeal for print-quality landscapes.

Wildlife

The P7100’s longer reach and faster AF let you capture distant critters reasonably well, though the 1.3 fps burst rate is limiting for fast action.
The S640’s short zoom and slow focus blur wildlife chances outside very tame or close subjects.

Sports

Again, neither is a sports specialist, but the P7100’s manual controls and burst enable basic action sequences; the S640 lags behind completely.

Street Photography

The compact profile of the S640 shines here; its slim size and quiet operation make it a true pocket street shooter.
The P7100, while more capable, is bulkier and less discreet.

Macro

Both focus as close as 2cm. The P7100’s precise manual focus and tilt screen make framing tricky macro shots easier, whereas the S640 offers simpler fixed-focus approaches.

Night/Astro

The P7100’s superior noise handling and manual modes allow crisp long exposure astrophotography or night shots. The S640’s noisy high ISO and limited manual control make it a poor choice here.

Video

The P7100 is the clear winner with microphone input and smooth HD video, while the S640 serves as a barebones, shaky 720p recorder with no audio options.

Travel Photography

If weight and pockets space are paramount, the S640’s slender design is a winner.
If versatility and image quality matter more, the P7100 is worth carrying the extra bulk.

Professional Work

Neither replaces professional DSLRs or mirrorless cameras for demanding jobs, but the P7100's RAW support, manual controls, and external flash option make it a better field tool or second-camera for pros needing some compactness.

Build Quality and Weather Resistance: Toughness Factor

Neither cameras offer any weather sealing or ruggedness. The P7100’s more substantial build materials feel more durable and robust in hand. If you prioritize durability or plan rough outdoor shoots, you'll want to handle these carefully or consider more weather-sealed options.

Price and Value: Budget Matters

At current market prices, the P7100 commonly hovers around $750 used or new-old stock, reflecting its enthusiast status.
The S640 is often found near $225 new or used, an absolute budget cheapskate's companion.

Considering what you get for your money - superior image quality, manual controls, better autofocus, and more connectivity - the P7100 generally offers superior value unless ultra-portability and price are your only concerns.

Here’s a quick rundown:

Final Verdict: Which Small Sensor Nikon Compact is Right for You?

To put it plainly - the Nikon P7100 is hands-down the better camera in terms of image quality, controls, and versatility. It’s perfect if you want a compact camera to challenge your DSLR in certain situations, need manual control, shoot RAW, or want better video and flash flexibility. It holds its own across most photography genres except the most demanding sports and wildlife.

The Nikon S640 will appeal only to the pure cheapskates among us or those in absolute need of micro portability with basic snapshots in mind. It’s a straightforward point-and-shoot with limited controls, modest image quality, and no RAW support. Still, its slim profile and light weight make it an excellent backup camera that fits anywhere.

Who Should Buy the Nikon P7100?

• Enthusiasts seeking better manual control in a compact form
• Portrait and landscape photographers wanting richer colors and dynamic range
• Budget-conscious professionals needing a solid backup camera
• Casual videographers who want the flexibility of external mic input
• Travel photographers willing to trade some bulk for functionality

Who Should Consider the Nikon S640?

• Absolute beginners or casual users wanting easy point-and-shoot without fuss
• Travelers or street photographers prioritizing extreme portability
• Buyers with a tight budget who accept compromises on image quality and control
• Users who value snap-and-go simplicity over features

Closing Thoughts

Having logged dozens of shoots and thousands of images with both models, I can confidently say that the Nikon P7100 holds its own many years later, earning a well-deserved spot as a versatile, well-rounded enthusiast compact. The S640 does what it was designed for - grab-and-go casual photos - but struggles when you push it beyond snapshots.

Both cameras remain relevant for photography students, collectors, or budget buyers, but I recommend trying the P7100 firsthand if you want more creative control and better final images. Remember, gear is just a tool - know your needs, budget, and shooting style first.

Feel free to reach out if you want specific test examples or advice tailored to your photography goals. Happy shooting!

Images and in-depth specs courtesy of Nikon and DxOMark.