Nikon Coolpix S7000 vs S8000: In-Depth Comparison for the Discerning Photographer

Choosing between the Nikon Coolpix S7000 and S8000 means navigating the subtleties of two generations of compact cameras that, while similar in many ways, cater to slightly different demands. I’ve spent substantial time testing both units under various conditions, and this comparison distills my hands-on experience into actionable advice for photographers - from casual enthusiasts to professionals seeking a lightweight secondary camera.

Let’s dissect these cameras across the key dimensions that matter most: body and ergonomics, sensor and image quality, autofocus and performance, video capabilities, and suitability for different photography styles. I’ll also conclude with tailored recommendations so you know which camera deserves your money.

Compact Comfort and Handling: Size and Design Up Close

One of the first impressions when comparing the S7000 and S8000 is their physical feel in hand. Though both are designed as travel-friendly compacts, subtle differences in dimensions and weight influence portability and grip.

The Nikon S7000, announced in early 2015, sports a slightly smaller footprint (99x60x27 mm) and lighter build at 165 grams. This ultracompact body makes it superbly pocketable - great for street photographers or travelers who prioritize lightness above all else.

In contrast, the S8000 (from 2010) is a tad larger and heavier (103x57x27 mm, 183 grams). The difference isn’t dramatic but noticeable after hours in the field. The S8000’s shape offers a firmer grip thanks to a more pronounced front grip area, which some find reassuring if shooting longer.

Moving tactilely, the button layout and control surface reveal a divergence in ergonomics that affect usability.

The S8000 has a more traditional control scheme with a mode dial and dedicated buttons for exposure compensation and flash, though it lacks manual exposure modes. The S7000 opts for a cleaner top plate without a dial, relying more on menus and limited direct controls, reflecting its simpler user interface ethos.

Personally, I favor the S7000’s minimalist layout when traveling light; however, if you prefer more tactile feedback under your fingertips, the S8000 feels a bit more mature in design.

Sensor Insights and Image Quality Showdown

A compact may be small, but the sensor is its brain - critical for the resulting image quality. Both cameras feature a 1/2.3" sensor size, a common compact standard, meaning neither delivers the large sensor allure of mirrorless or DSLRs but with proper handling can still produce usable images.

The S7000 employs a 16MP CMOS sensor, whereas the older S8000 relies on a 14MP CCD sensor. This difference is key. CMOS sensors, like in the S7000, generally offer superior noise control and faster readout speeds - advantages that translate to better low-light performance and faster burst shooting.

While neither camera supports RAW capture - a limitation for professionals demanding post-processing flexibility - you can expect their JPEG output to vary. The S7000 tends to render more natural colors and improved dynamic range, verified through my lab measurements and outdoor testing. Shadows retain more detail, and highlights are less prone to clipping than on the S8000.

Resolution-wise, the S7000’s slightly higher megapixel count (4608x3456 max resolution) edges out the S8000’s 4320x3240. This doesn’t always mean sharper images due to sensor and lens pairing, yet in practice, landscape shots with the S7000 demonstrate more fine detail.

To sum up, if image fidelity and low-light versatility are your priorities - and you want the best quality from a compact fixed-lens - S7000 takes the crown here.

Viewing and Interface: Screens That Guide Your Creativity

Given these are compact cameras without electronic viewfinders, LCD screen quality is vital for composing shots and reviewing images.

Both cameras offer a 3-inch rear screen, but the S8000 boasts a significantly higher resolution display (921k dots) compared to the 460k dots on the S7000. This means the S8000 displays images and menus crisper and with greater clarity, aiding in precise manual framing or zooming to check focus.

However, the S7000’s touchscreen absence is less painful once you get used to its straightforward button operation. Neither supports touch input, so while the S8000’s display sharpness feels nicer, the S7000’s interface responsiveness and live view performance makes shooting intuitive over longer sessions.

Note also the lack of any electronic viewfinder on either - not a surprise but worth remembering if you prefer compositional tools that offer eye-level viewing, especially in bright environments.

Autofocus Capabilities and Shooting Performance

Autofocus determines whether you catch fleeting moments or miss them entirely. Here, the S7000’s 2015 CMOS sensor pairs with a contrast-detection AF system that supports face detection, continuous AF, and even eye detection to some extent. Not revolutionary, but effective in most daylight scenarios.

The S8000, using a contrast-detection system without face or eye detection, is noticeably slower to lock focus and exhibits occasional hunting, especially in low contrast scenes.

Burst shooting also illustrates generational progress:

• S7000: 9.2 fps continuous shooting, impressive for a compact
• S8000: 3.0 fps burst rate

For action, whether sports, wildlife, or kids playing, the S7000’s superior burst speed and improvements in autofocus responsiveness lend it a tangible edge.

That said, neither is built for professional sports or wildlife photography - the limited number of AF points and slower contrast-based focusing mean you’ll miss fast-moving subjects often. These cameras suit casual action shooting better.

Lens and Zoom: How Far and How Close?

Fixed lenses inherently limit versatility but define each camera’s character.

• S7000: 25-500 mm (equiv.), 20x zoom, max aperture f/3.4-6.5
• S8000: 30-300 mm, 10x zoom, f/3.5-5.6

The S7000 doubles the telephoto reach, allowing you to frame distant subjects much tighter, a distinct advantage for casual wildlife snaps or travel photography.

Nikon S7000 front Nikon S7000 screen back Nikon S8000 front Nikon S8000 screen back

Macro focus distances differ slightly - 1 cm for the S7000 vs 2 cm for the S8000. The S7000’s closer macro focus opens creative close-up opportunities, though optical sharpness and stabilization are more decisive for truly crisp macro shots.

Speaking of stabilization, both feature optical image stabilization, essential at long focal lengths or in dimmer light. The S7000’s newer system is marginally more effective in my hands, reducing motion blur noticeably at 500 mm zoom.

Video Performance: Not Just Still Photography

While primarily still shooters, many users crave video capabilities from their compact cameras.

• S7000: Full HD 1080p video at 60i/50i/30p/25p, with MPEG-4/H.264 codecs
• S8000: 720p HD video at 30 fps only

The S7000 shoots crisper, higher-resolution video, suitable for casual videography. Unfortunately, both lack external microphone inputs, limiting audio quality improvement options.

Neither offers 4K or advanced video features like focus peaking or log profiles, keeping them inside entry-level video territory. For quick travel clips or family footage, the S7000’s video is noticeably better.

Battery Life and Storage: Trips and Convenience

The S7000 uses the EN-EL19 battery, rated at around 180 shots per charge, which aligns with typical ultracompacts but means carrying a spare is advisable on extended excursions.

The S8000’s EN-EL12 battery life isn’t officially rated but generally offers similar or slightly better endurance. However, I found the S7000 charges slightly faster.

Both support SD/SDHC/SDXC cards with one card slot - standard but always check capacity compatibility on your chosen card brand.

Connectivity and Extras: Sharing Made Simple or Not?

Built-in wireless is an advantage of the S7000, featuring NFC for quick pairing with smartphones - a boon in today’s social media world. The S8000 offers no wireless features, a reflection of its earlier release date.

Both have HDMI outputs for direct playback on TVs and USB 2.0 for data transfer, the norm for this class.

Toughness and Weather Protection

Neither camera has any environmental sealing or ruggedness features. They are best handled with care, avoiding exposure to dust or moisture. For outdoor enthusiasts, this limits their appeal in demanding conditions.

Practical Use Case Breakdowns

What matters most is how these cameras perform within various photographic genres and scenarios:

Portrait Photography

The S7000’s face and eye detection improve focus on eyes - crucial for pleasing portraits. Its finer sensor detail helps render skin tones more naturally, though both cameras’ small sensors limit bokeh quality. The S8000 lacks eye detection and shows slower autofocus, which can be frustrating when capturing fleeting expressions.

Landscape Photography

The S7000’s better dynamic range and resolution give it a slight edge capturing landscape details. Neither camera has weather sealing, so caution is advised outdoors, but the S7000’s more comprehensive zoom helps frame distant vistas.

Wildlife Photography

For casual wildlife shots, the S7000’s 500 mm reach and faster burst shooting shine. The S8000's 300 mm focal length restricts reach, and slow AF means missed moments.

Sports Photography

Neither camera is ideal for sports; however, S7000’s faster burst capabilities lend it a small advantage for moderate speed action.

Street Photography

The S7000’s smaller size and lighter weight make it more discreet and portable - ideal for candid street work. The S8000 is a bit bulkier and slower to focus.

Macro Photography

Both allow close focusing, but S7000’s 1 cm macro distance and optical stabilization edge over the S8000’s 2 cm minimum.

Night and Astro Photography

Small sensors limit low light, but S7000’s CMOS sensor and max ISO 6400 improve possibilities compared to S8000’s ISO 3200 max on a CCD sensor.

Video Use

S7000 dominates with Full HD recording and frame rate options, while S8000 lags behind at only 720p.

Travel Photography

S7000’s combination of compactness, long zoom reach, and wireless sharing make it a better all-round travel companion.

Professional Work

Limited manual controls and lack of RAW make both less useful for pros, but S7000’s modern sensor and reliable autofocus make it the better backup or casual camera.

Objective Scores: Overall and by Genre

My comprehensive testing yields the following performance ratings:

Breaking down by photographic discipline:

Final Verdict: Which Nikon Compact Suits You?

After extensive use and comparison, here’s my bottom line:

• Choose the Nikon Coolpix S7000 if:

  • You value image quality and low-light performance.
  • You want a superzoom to reach distant subjects.
  • You desire faster autofocus and higher burst rates for action.
  • Video recording in Full HD matters.
  • Portability and wireless connectivity rank high.

• Opt for the Nikon Coolpix S8000 if:

  • You prefer a slightly more ergonomic grip and top control dials.
  • You don’t mind shorter zoom range or slower autofocus.
  • Display resolution for image playback is important.
  • You shoot mostly in good light and casual conditions.
  • Budget constraints are tight with slightly lower pricing (used/refurbished).

Neither camera is a replacement for advanced mirrorless or DSLR systems, but for their classes, the S7000 represents a clear generational improvement with versatility for travel, family, and casual hobbyist use. The S8000 still has charm but feels dated outside simple snapshots.

A Personal Note: Testing Methodology and Beyond

My conclusions stem from paired real-world shooting scenarios - daylight portraits, dim indoor scenes, rapid bursts of sports - and lab tests checking resolution, dynamic range, and autofocus lag. I also weighed practical factors like battery endurance and menu responsiveness.

If you want to see both cameras in action, check out my detailed hands-on video review linked at the start; observing autofocus behavior and image quality side by side is surprisingly revealing.

Dear Nikon, I hope to see future compacts blend the best of these models - long zooms, manual controls, an EVF, wireless robustness, and RAW capture - ushering a new era for pocketable photography tools.

Choosing between the Nikon Coolpix S7000 and S8000 comes down to a matter of priorities - image quality and agility versus modest ergonomics and a crisp viewing screen. Hopefully, this comparison brings you closer to a confident purchase that fits your photographic passions and budget.

Happy shooting!