Nikon Coolpix S100 vs Olympus TG-310: Compact Travel Companions in Close Comparison

As a professional camera reviewer with over 15 years’ experience capturing everything from sweeping landscapes to intimate street moments, I often find myself reaching for compact cameras on quick outings where lugging a heavy rig isn’t an option. Today, I’m diving into a detailed, side-by-side exploration of two such compacts from the early 2010s: the Nikon Coolpix S100 and the Olympus Tough TG-310. Both phones home to niche points - the Nikon with its OLED touchscreen and longer zoom range, the Olympus ruggedized for adventure - making this direct comparison a fascinating exploration into how feature focus shapes versatility and performance.

I personally tested each in identical controlled and real-world settings over several weeks, from urban street festivals to nature hikes where versatility and reliability are put to the test. Let’s break down what makes each unique, where compromises arise, and most importantly, which photographer profiles each best serves. Throughout, I’ll weave in practical tips and honest assessments to help you decide if either of these cameras deserves a place alongside your gear.

First Impressions: Size, Ergonomics, and Design Intuition

When you’ve handled hundreds of cameras, physical design elements tell a story. The Nikon Coolpix S100 and Olympus TG-310 are both true pocket-sized compacts but with distinct ergonomic philosophies.

The Nikon S100 measures 99x65x18 mm and weighs 175g, featuring a slender, elegant profile that feels classically sleek in hand. The slightly rounded corners and narrow depth make it effortless to slide into a jacket pocket or purse - a boon for discreet street photography or travel days with limited bag space.

In contrast, the Olympus TG-310 is a more robust 96x63x23 mm and lighter at 155g. The extra thickness is immediately noticeable, a consequence not only of weather sealing but also an emphasis on ruggedness. The rubberized grip areas and chunkier buttons provide confidence when using the camera with cold or wet hands. This is no delicate urban gadget but a steadfast companion ready for rougher outdoor use.

From hands-on feel alone, I found the S100 better suited for users prioritizing portability and sleekness, while the TG-310 telegraphs its adventurous intentions with user-focused durability and a grip that firmly anchors it in hand.

Control Layouts and Handling: Intuitive or Confusing?

Beyond shape and size, the control interface dictates how naturally a camera fits into your workflow.

I appreciated Nikon’s embrace of modern UI trends on the S100. The 3.5-inch OLED touchscreen is responsive and bright with 820k dots resolution - an industry-leading spec for 2011. Touch AF, touch-to-shoot, and easy menu navigation make selecting focus points or adjusting settings almost intuitive. The lack of a viewfinder may be a downside but the bright LCD more than compensates.

Conversely, the TG-310 sticks with a classic button-driven layout on its smaller 2.7-inch TFT LCD with just 230k dot resolution, no touchscreen option. The physical buttons are satisfyingly clicky and weatherproof, but navigating menus requires patience, especially for users accustomed to modern interfaces. Given the camera’s focus on outdoor robustness, this control scheme feels like a deliberate tradeoff prioritizing reliability over speed.

I personally preferred the S100’s handling for casual and indoor shooting, while the TG-310’s buttons earned my respect for tough environments where screen visibility is compromised and gloves are on.

Sensor and Image Quality: Peeling Back the Layers

Sensor technology is the foundation of every photo, dictating resolution, dynamic range, noise performance, and overall image quality.

Both cameras use the same 1/2.3" sensor format measuring roughly 6.17x4.55mm but diverge in core sensor tech and resolution. The Nikon S100 captures 16 megapixels using a CMOS sensor with the Expeed C2 image processor, while the Olympus TG-310 features a 14MP CCD sensor powered by the TruePic III+ engine.

From my lab testing, the CMOS sensor in the Nikon S100 edges out the TG-310 in noise control and high ISO usability - Nikon’s engineering enables a cleaner image at ISO 800 and an impressive 3200 max ISO (versus the TG-310’s ISO 1600 maximum). The TruePic III+ processor imbues richer but sometimes oversaturated color rendition on Olympus, which enthusiasts may love for landscape scenes but less so in tricky lighting.

Nikon’s higher resolution sensor provides a slight edge for large prints or cropping and benefits from faster readout speeds supporting burst modes up to 6fps, while the Olympus caps at just 1fps.

One surprise: both cameras include an anti-aliasing filter to combat moiré patterns, but I observed the Nikon’s images retain slightly more detail - especially in textured fabrics and leafy foliage. That subtle sharpness advantage plays well for portrait and wildlife shooting where crisp detail is prized.

Screens and User Interface: OLED vs TFT

Image review and framing rely heavily on screen quality, especially without a viewfinder.

The Nikon’s OLED display is vivid, with excellent contrast and color depth. It significantly outperforms the TG-310’s smaller TFT screen, which shows washed-out colors in bright light and is less sharp for checking fine focus. The S100’s touchscreen further boosts ease of use for focus point selection and on-the-fly adjustments in menus.

The TG-310’s interface, while basic, provides useful exposure and white balance information clearly, helping users in the field quickly gauge lighting conditions. Its rugged design and anti-reflective coating offer some advantage in bright outdoor scenarios where fingerprints and scratches are concerns.

In the real world, the Nikon’s vibrant screen makes it a dream for quick checks and composition on the fly. Meanwhile, the Olympus’s more pedestrian screen is a tradeoff given its waterproof construction.

Autofocus and Shooting Speed: Tracking vs Precision

When deciding between compacts, autofocus capability often distinguishes frustration from satisfaction.

The Nikon S100 features contrast-detection AF with face detection and multi-area tracking, in addition to touch AF for pinpoint accuracy. I found it reliable indoors and outdoors, with quick lock-on for portraits and decent performance in low light. Continuous AF is unfortunately absent, which limits its appeal for action tracking but that’s common in this class.

The Olympus TG-310 incorporates single-shot contrast AF and face detection plus surprisingly effective AF tracking for a tough camera. However, its autofocus is noticeably slower than the Nikon and prone to hunting in dimmer conditions. Still, the TG-310's focus accuracy in macro mode up to 3cm - though narrower than the Nikon’s 1cm focus capability - was solid thanks to sensor-shift image stabilization.

Continuous shooting speed is where the Nikon pulls ahead with a 6fps burst mode, enabling decent chance shots of moving subjects. The Olympus’s 1fps burst rate is markedly slower, discouraging fast action but sufficient for casual wildlife observations.

For wildlife and street shooters prioritizing decisive autofocus and rapid capture, the Nikon is better suited. Adventure photographers wanting ruggedness and moderate AF will find the TG-310 acceptable but less responsive.

Lens Versatility: Range and Aperture Considerations

Lens focal range and maximum aperture define creative possibilities - wide landscapes, detailed macros, or portrait compression.

• Nikon Coolpix S100: 28-140mm equivalent, f/3.9-4.8
• Olympus TG-310: 28-102mm equivalent, f/3.9-5.9

I found the Nikon’s longer 5x zoom range more versatile, especially for telephoto shooting such as wildlife or street candids. Its slightly brighter maximum aperture range across the zoom helps in low light. The Olympus TG-310’s shorter zoom with narrower aperture results in less reach and dimmer images at tele ends.

In macro scenarios, the Nikon’s 1cm close-focus distance allows impressively detailed large-format shots of small subjects like butterflies or textured petals, better than the TG-310’s 3cm minimum.

Both have fixed zoom lenses, unsurprisingly, considering their compact form - but the Nikon’s extra reach and faster aperture makes it a slight favorite for photographers craving all-in-one capability in the pocket.

Built to Endure: Weather Sealing and Durability

If adventure is on your agenda, ruggedness is non-negotiable.

The Olympus TG-310 shines here with ISO-rated waterproofing, dustproofing, freezeproofing down to -10°C, and shockproofing from up to 1.5m drops. This all-weather protection allows worry-free shooting on snowy hikes, rainy beaches, or dusty trails.

In contrast, the Nikon S100 lacks any environmental sealing or rugged features. It’s a delicate urban and travel companion needing shelter from the elements.

I personally put the TG-310 through cold rain and trail dust and observed no performance issues. Its robust build is invaluable for active outdoor photographers or families seeking carefree use around kids and water.

Battery Life and Storage: Getting the Most Shots

Both cameras accept SD/SDHC/SDXC cards in single slots and rely on proprietary battery packs (Nikon EN-EL12, Olympus LI-42B).

Battery life is modest on both, rated roughly 150 shots per charge under normal conditions - low by current standards. Nikon’s touchscreen does not help conserve power, while Olympus’s smaller screen partially mitigates this. I recommend carrying spare batteries or a portable charger for a full day of shooting.

Storage options are straightforward; both accept standard memory cards and record to JPEG with no RAW file support, limiting post-production flexibility - typical for compact cameras aimed at casual users.

Video Recording: Capabilities and Limitations

Video capture remains a useful feature even in compact cameras.

The Nikon S100 records 1080p Full HD video at 30fps in MPEG-4 and Motion JPEG formats, offering solid quality for online sharing. It includes optical stabilization during video but lacks an external microphone port, limiting audio control.

The Olympus TG-310 maxes out at 720p HD at 30fps, also in MJPEG, and uses sensor-shift stabilization to steady footage. Audio recording is again basic with no external inputs. Its rugged body is advantageous for swim or adventure videography where water resistance is essential.

In practical terms, if HD video is secondary but still important, the Nikon’s 1080p mode is superior. For capturing adventures where water and drops threaten equipment, the Olympus is the safer bet.

Real World Images: Comparing the Results

I put the two cameras head-to-head in diverse scenes, from urban portraits to mossy forest close-ups.

Nikon S100 front Nikon S100 screen back Olympus TG 310 front Olympus TG 310 screen back

The Nikon delivers cleaner, crisper images with richer detail retention and more natural skin tones - a boon for portraits. Its longer zoom caught distant subjects with more finesse.

Olympus images have a slightly warmer, punchier color palette, which may appeal for landscape lovers seeking vibrancy straight from the camera. Despite slower autofocus, photos retained good sharpness outdoors.

Both struggled in very low light, with noise becoming evident, but the Nikon pushed usable ISO a stop higher.

Scoring Overall Performance: Which Excels Where?

Based on tests using standardized benchmarks and real-world evaluations:

• Image Quality: Nikon S100 leads with better noise control and resolution
• Handling: Nikon preferred for touchscreen and smooth controls
• Ruggedness: Olympus TG-310 wins hands down
• Autofocus Speed: Nikon superior, especially in low light
• Video: Nikon supports higher resolution (1080p)
• Battery: Tie, both limited endurance
• Value: Nikon priced at $240 (at launch), Olympus price variable but rugged feature add-on

Specialty Photography Types: Tailored Recommendations

Looking deeper at genre-specific applications:

Portraits: Nikon’s skin tone rendering and touch AF excel.
Landscape: Olympus’s ruggedness and warm color palate help but Nikon edges in detail.
Wildlife: Nikon’s zoom and burst rate favored.
Sports: Neither ideal, but Nikon’s faster AF wins.
Street: Nikon’s portability and quick AF better for discretion.
Macro: Nikon’s 1cm focus distance wins.
Night/Astro: Neither excels, but Nikon’s higher ISO extends possibilities.
Video: Nikon preferred due to 1080p.
Travel: Both work, Olympus more adventurous; Nikon more versatile daily.
Professional: Neither meets pro demands fully, but Nikon’s image quality slightly more reliable.

Final Thoughts: Which Camera Fits Your Life?

Both cameras represent solid engineering for their era, yet they appeal to largely different user priorities.

Choose the Nikon Coolpix S100 if:

• You want a sleek, easy-to-use compact with a bright OLED touchscreen
• Image quality and HD video are your priorities
• You value longer zoom range and better low-light autofocus
• You mostly shoot portraits, street, or travel photography where portability counts

Choose the Olympus TG-310 if:

• You need an ultra-durable waterproof, dustproof camera for adventures
• You shoot in rugged environments and want peace of mind against drops and weather
• You prioritize vibrant colors and straightforward controls without touchscreen fuss
• You’re fine sacrificing zoom range and burst rate for durability

Practical Tips From My Testing

• Both cameras lack RAW shooting, so exposure and settings should be perfected in-camera.
• Battery life is limited - pack spares for trips longer than a few hours.
• The silicone grip on the TG-310 shines when hiking with gloves or wet hands.
• Use Nikon’s touch AF to quickly nail shots in fast-paced street and event settings.
• For underwater or snow scenes, the Olympus’s sealing is invaluable - most compacts lose out here.
• Neither camera replaces dedicated professional gear but both can be superb secondary companions or entry options for enthusiasts.

Wrapping Up

In sum, the Nikon Coolpix S100 and Olympus TG-310 are thoughtfully engineered compact cameras, each strong in distinct niches. My direct experience reveals the Nikon as the superior all-rounder for image quality and handling, balanced by the TG-310’s unmatched durability and outdoor readiness.

Choosing between them ultimately hinges on your personal shooting style, environments, and priorities. Whichever you pick, each camera offers an accessible gateway to capturing memorable moments with surprisingly dependable quality for their compact class.

If you have questions or want advice on specific scenarios, feel free to reach out - I’m always keen to help fellow photographers find their ideal match in gear.

Happy shooting!

Images courtesy of official product materials and field shoot comparisons