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Nikon S2900 vs Nikon S3100

Portability
96
Imaging
46
Features
32
Overall
40
Nikon Coolpix S2900 front
 
Nikon Coolpix S3100 front
Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
23
Overall
31

Nikon S2900 vs Nikon S3100 Key Specs

Nikon S2900
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Digital Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 26-130mm (F3.2-6.5) lens
  • 119g - 95 x 59 x 20mm
  • Announced January 2015
Nikon S3100
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 26-130mm (F3.2-6.5) lens
  • 118g - 94 x 58 x 18mm
  • Announced February 2011
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Nikon S2900 vs Nikon S3100 Overview

Following is a extended assessment of the Nikon S2900 and Nikon S3100, both Ultracompact cameras and both are built by Nikon. There exists a considerable gap among the resolutions of the S2900 (20MP) and S3100 (14MP) but they possess the exact same sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The S2900 was announced 3 years after the S3100 which is a fairly large difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of these cameras come with the identical body type (Ultracompact).

Before delving through a in-depth comparison, below is a brief summary of how the S2900 grades versus the S3100 for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Nikon S2900 over the Nikon S3100

 S2900 S3100 
AnnouncedJanuary 2015February 2011More modern by 48 months

Reasons to pick Nikon S3100 over the Nikon S2900

 S3100 S2900 

Common features in the Nikon S2900 and Nikon S3100

 S2900 S3100 
Manual focus No manual focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimension2.7"2.7"Identical screen sizing
Screen resolution230k230kSame screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Lack of Touch friendly screen

Nikon S2900 vs Nikon S3100 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is intending to carry around your camera often, you'll have to consider its weight and measurements. The Nikon S2900 enjoys outside measurements of 95mm x 59mm x 20mm (3.7" x 2.3" x 0.8") having a weight of 119 grams (0.26 lbs) whilst the Nikon S3100 has proportions of 94mm x 58mm x 18mm (3.7" x 2.3" x 0.7") accompanied by a weight of 118 grams (0.26 lbs).

Look at the Nikon S2900 and Nikon S3100 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are working with at that moment. The following is the front view proportions comparison of the S2900 and the S3100.

Nikon S2900 vs Nikon S3100 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the S2900 and S3100 is 96 and 96 respectively.

Nikon S2900 vs Nikon S3100 top view buttons comparison

Nikon S2900 vs Nikon S3100 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is very difficult to see the difference in sensor sizes merely by checking out a spec sheet. The picture underneath will help provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the S2900 and S3100.

As you can see, the two cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements albeit not the same megapixels. You can expect the Nikon S2900 to provide extra detail with its extra 6MP. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop photographs much more aggressively. The more recent S2900 will have an advantage with regard to sensor innovation.

Nikon S2900 vs Nikon S3100 sensor size comparison

Nikon S2900 vs Nikon S3100 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon S2900 vs Nikon S3100 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon S2900 as a Portrait photography camera
Nikon S3100 as a Portrait photography camera
39
megapixel count good (20MP)
comes with face detection focusing
focusing manually not possible
lack of manual exposure
external flash not possible
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
33
MP count good (14MP)
provides face detect autofocus
manual focus not available
lack of manual mode
no external flash support
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Street Comparison

Nikon S2900 Street photography information
Nikon S3100 Street photography information
59
has image stabilization (Digital)
screen is fixed
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
48
no articulating screen
lack of image stabilization
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Nikon S2900 Sports photography advice
Nikon S3100 Sports photography advice
51
has image stabilization (Digital)
megapixel count good (20 megapixels)
comes with tracking autofocus
great battery pack (250 per charge)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
32
MP count good (14 megapixels)
provides tracking focus
slow frames per second (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
lack of image stabilization
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Nikon S2900
Travel photography with Nikon S3100
70
great battery pack (250 CIPA)
megapixel count good (20 megapixels)
flash built-in
relatively wide (26mm)
does not have Timelapse function
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.2)
65
MP count good (14MP)
built-in flash
fairly wide (26mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.2)
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon S2900 Landscape photography factors
Nikon S3100 Landscape photography factors
44
relatively wide (26mm)
has image stabilization (Digital)
megapixel count good (20MP)
great battery pack (250 CIPA)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.2)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
lack of manual exposure
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
does not have Timelapse function
33
fairly wide (26mm)
MP count good (14 megapixels)
manual focus not available
cannot swap lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.2)
screen is small (2.7 inch)
lack of manual mode
lack of image stabilization
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
doesn't have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon S2900 Vlogging features
Nikon S3100 Vlogging features
32
relatively wide (26mm)
has image stabilization (Digital)
comes with face detection focusing
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.2)
display is not selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have external microphone port
28
fairly wide (26mm)
provides face detect autofocus
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.2)
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have mic support
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Nikon S2900 vs Nikon S3100 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon S2900 and Nikon S3100
 Nikon Coolpix S2900Nikon Coolpix S3100
General Information
Brand Name Nikon Nikon
Model Nikon Coolpix S2900 Nikon Coolpix S3100
Type Ultracompact Ultracompact
Announced 2015-01-14 2011-02-09
Physical type Ultracompact Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Processor Expeed C2 Expeed C2
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 3:2 and 16:9 -
Full resolution 5152 x 3864 4320 x 3240
Max native ISO 3200 3200
Min native ISO 80 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 26-130mm (5.0x) 26-130mm (5.0x)
Largest aperture f/3.2-6.5 f/3.2-6.5
Macro focus range 10cm 10cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.7 inches 2.7 inches
Resolution of display 230k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display technology - TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 seconds 4 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate - 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 4.00 m 4.50 m
Flash settings - Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30p) 1280 x 720p (30fps), 640 x 480 (30fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 119g (0.26 pounds) 118g (0.26 pounds)
Dimensions 95 x 59 x 20mm (3.7" x 2.3" x 0.8") 94 x 58 x 18mm (3.7" x 2.3" x 0.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 250 photos 220 photos
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model EN-EL19 EN-EL19
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (10 or 2 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD / SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One One
Retail cost $117 $139