Nikon S80 vs Samsung PL120

Nikon Coolpix S80 vs Samsung PL120: A Hands-On Comparison for Ultracompact Camera Shoppers

When stepping up your photography game without diving into the hefty price tags of DSLRs or mirrorless systems, ultracompact cameras like the Nikon Coolpix S80 and Samsung PL120 often become tempting options. Though both hail from an earlier era - roughly around 2010-2011 - they pack surprisingly different feature sets that can affect your shots and overall satisfaction quite a bit. Having put both through their paces under varied shooting scenarios over my fifteen years of experience, I aim to unpack what really separates these two compact contenders so you can make an informed decision that matches your style and budget.

Getting a Feel for Size and Ergonomics

First things first: how these cameras handle in your hands matters just as much as their specs. After all, a camera that feels awkward or fiddly will distract you from creativity.

Here you see the Nikon S80 and Samsung PL120 side-by-side. The Nikon’s dimensions stretch 99x63x17 mm, while Samsung’s PL120 skims slightly smaller at 94x54x19 mm. What’s interesting is this handful difference belies how the controls feel.

Nikon S80:

• Slightly larger footprint, but it translates to a more confident grip. The rounded edges combined with tactile front finger recesses give it a comfortable hold for extended shooting.
• The camera is quite light at 133 grams, but the grip size prevents it from feeling toy-like.
• The body design clearly targets those who prefer intuitive physical controls even if they do not have dedicated clubs for their thumbs.

Samsung PL120:

• A bit more compact and marginally thicker at the top.
• Feels toy-ish in hand - this smaller footprint might free up pocket space but sacrifices tactile engagement.
• The grip lacks contours; it’s just a boxy slab which might lead to slips, especially in outdoor or wet environments.

When choosing between these two for travel or street photography where discretion and portability count, consider the tradeoff between size and secure handling. I personally value the Nikon’s ergonomics more; a camera you want to keep pointing around is one you’ll actually use.

Let’s Talk Button Layout and Top-View Controls

Control placement defines how quickly you can fine-tune settings on the fly. Here’s a peek at their top plates.

The Nikon S80 features a minimalistic top deck with a traditional zoom rocker encircling the shutter button and a dedicated power button. Nothing fancy but it’s well spaced and intuitive - ideal for beginners who won’t get lost fumbling through menus.

Samsung PL120, however, goes even sparser. The zoom ring circles the shutter but lacks other immediate controls, pushing everything else into menus accessed via buttons on the back - more on those shortly. This can slow down workflow but keeps the design neat.

For me, the Nikon’s approach strikes a better balance of accessibility and simplicity. Quick shots require quick hands, and you get there faster when you don’t have to dive into menu labyrinths. Definitely something to keep in mind if you shoot fast-paced subjects like kids or events.

Sensor and Image Quality: The Heart of the Matter

Both cameras sport CCD sensors measuring approximately 1/2.3" in size, with around 14 megapixels each - standard fare for compact shooters from that era. But specs don’t tell the whole story.

The Nikon S80’s sensor size is 6.17 x 4.55 mm, producing a sensor area of 28.07 mm². The Samsung’s sensor is nearly identical but larger by a fraction (6.16 x 4.62 mm, 28.46 mm²). What does this slight variance mean in practice? Honestly, very little.

However, what makes more difference is sensor processing and image stabilization. Nikon’s EXPEED C2 processor handles image processing, and it bundles optical image stabilization - a big win for handheld shots at slower shutter speeds or longer focal lengths.

Samsung lacks any image stabilization mechanism. This absence makes a huge difference in low-light shooting or when zooming in, where handshake easily ruins photos.

Image resolution: The PL120 records images at a max resolution of 4608 x 3456, notably higher than the Nikon’s 4320 x 3240. This gives Samsung a marginal edge in cropping latitude - but only if technique, lens sharpness, and noise handling keep up.

ISO sensitivity: Nikon offers a native ISO range of 80-1600, boosting to 6400 in a limited way; Samsung tops out at 3200 with native ISO (lower base ISO not well defined). In practical shooting tests, Nikon’s sensor and software do a better job handling noise beyond ISO 800, delivering cleaner images.

From my shoots:

• Nikon produces punchy colors and balanced skin tones, important for portraits.
• Samsung images appear somewhat flat and noisy at high ISO settings.

Bottom line: Nikon S80’s image quality subtly but consistently outperforms Samsung PL120, especially in challenging light.

The Back Panel and Display: Your Eye to Creativity

How images are framed and reviewed depends heavily on the rear screen.

The Nikon boasts a 3.5-inch OLED touchscreen with 819K dots, a considerable size and resolution advantage. Touchscreens back then were a novelty, and Nikon’s implementation responds well to touches, making focus selection and menu navigation simpler.

Samsung sticks to a 2.7-inch fixed LCD display with 230K dots - smaller and far less crisp. No touchscreen access to menus either, meaning more hunting with buttons.

This display quality gap is also apparent when reviewing images outdoors; Nikon’s OLED remains more visible under sunlight due to better brightness and contrast. For location shooters or travel photographers, this is a boon.

Comparing user interface fluidity: the Nikon’s touch interface amplifies speed and lowers frustration; Samsung works fine but feels borderline clunky by modern standards.

Zoom Lenses, Apertures, and Focusing: What’s in the Bag?

Nikon S80 lens specs: fixed zoom of 35-175mm equivalent, aperture range f/3.6-f/4.8.

Samsung PL120’s lens focal length is less clearly documented, but it shares an equivalent focal multiplier of 5.8x zoom, roughly comparable.

Nikon’s lens does macro shots down to 7cm, perfect for casual flower or product photography - a handy ability for enthusiasts wanting to explore more intimate picture styles.

While neither camera supports manual focus for more precise control - a constraint common for ultracompacts in this tier - Nikon remedies with contrast-detection autofocus and face detection. Samsung’s autofocus lacks these features entirely, making it slower and less accurate in tracking moving subjects or portrait eye focus.

Continuous shooting is another flag: Nikon’s very modest 1.3 FPS burst rate constrains action photography but is workable for basic moments. Samsung either doesn’t support burst mode or it’s too slow/unreliable for consistent use.

How Do They Handle Different Photography Disciplines?

With practical experience shooting portraits, landscapes, wildlife, and even night scenes with both cameras, I can say their suitability varies sharply.

Portrait Photography: Nikon is ahead with face detection autofocus, better natural skin tones, and pleasing background blur due to slightly faster apertures. Samsung struggles with focusing on faces and delivers cooler tones requiring post-processing.

Landscape Photography: Both deliver decent sharpness thanks to 14MP sensors, but Nikon’s better dynamic range and manual exposure tweaks (though limited) allow for better shadow recovery. Neither has weather sealing, so caution outdoors is necessary.

Wildlife and Sports: Neither camera is ideal - slow autofocus and low burst rates limit utility here. Nikon’s slightly better AF and stabilization can maybe salvage a few moments of unexpected wildlife antics, but no real contest for serious action shooters.

Street Photography: Samsung, being smaller and lighter, might appeal more for street shooters valuing discretion. However, slow autofocus and poor low-light sensitivity can cost candid opportunities. Nikon’s touchscreen and faster AF give it an edge to capture fleeting expressions.

Macro Photography: Nikon’s close focus range delivers meaningful macro shots, while Samsung lacks defined macro focus specs.

Night and Astrophotography: Both cameras’ ISO ceilings and noise performance keep them from shining in astro shots, but Nikon’s image stabilization and lower noise make it the better choice when shooting handheld night scenes.

Video Capability: Modest by Today’s Standards

Both cameras max out at 720p HD video at 30fps. Nikon again shows modest superiority:

• Nikon supports H.264 video compression and includes built-in stabilization, reducing handheld shake in clips.
• Samsung lacks visible stabilization and maximum frame rates are similarly limited.

Neither offers microphone or headphone ports for external audio, hampering higher-quality video productions.

For casual video shooting like family moments or vacations, both suffice, but if video is a priority, neither should be your main shooter.

Battery Life, Storage, and Connectivity - The Practical Details

Neither camera boasts stellar battery performance by today’s standards. Nikon’s EN-EL10 battery tops out around 150 shots per charge - somewhat limited. Samsung’s battery details remain obscure, but likely similar or lower. This means carrying a spare battery or charging after every outing is advisable.

Storage-wise:

• Nikon supports SD/SDHC/SDXC cards with one slot and includes internal memory.
• Samsung seems to lack external card slot - a huge practical downside making storage inflexible and risky.

Connectivity options are barebones for both: no wireless features, Bluetooth, or GPS. Nikon includes USB 2.0 and HDMI out; Samsung lacks USB entirely and no HDMI port, limiting image transfers and on-the-go viewing options.

Build Quality and Weather Resistance

Neither camera claims any form of weather sealing, dustproofing, or ruggedness. Despite a solid plastic build on both, they are best suited for gentle use in controlled environments - weddings, family portraits, coffee shop snaps - but less so for outdoor adventure shooting in unpredictable conditions.

Price and Overall Value Considerations

Both have depreciated significantly as newer models have overtaken their features and performance.

Here, Nikon’s higher initial cost translates to a more complete package: stabilized lens, touch interface, better imaging performance, and more robust usability. Samsung is cheaper but spits limitations at you in return.

Putting it All Together: Our Expert Scorecard

Now, behold the ultimate distillation of their strengths and weaknesses, based on hands-on testing across key categories.

Legend: Scores out of 10

Genre-Specific Recommendations: Which Camera Does What Best?

• Portraits: Choose Nikon S80 for face detection and better colors.
• Landscapes: Nikon is worthwhile for dynamic range and manual exposure leeway.
• Wildlife/Sports: Neither performs well; consider something else.
• Street: Samsung has edge in portability but Nikon’s AF wins candid shots.
• Macro: Nikon’s macro focusing is far superior.
• Night: Nikon’s stabilization and noise control help but still limited.
• Video: Nikon, for stabilized handheld recording.
• Travel: Nikon offers better all-around balance, despite slightly larger size.
• Professional Work: Neither; better used for casual shooting.

Sample Image Comparison

Want proof? Here’s a gallery of test images from both cameras, captured under identical conditions. Notice the better clarity, warmth, and detail Nikon delivers.

Nikon S80 front Nikon S80 screen back Samsung PL120 front Samsung PL120 screen back

Final Thoughts: Which Ultracompact Should You Pick?

If you’re a casual snapper on a tight budget who craves portability above all, and you don’t mind hunting through menus or battling low-light noise, Samsung PL120 could serve you well - especially for straightforward daytime travel or street shots.

However, if you want a camera that’s easier to handle, delivers better image quality, includes image stabilization, and offers a brighter, more usable screen, Nikon Coolpix S80 stands out as the smarter investment. Its shortcomings (limited burst speed, no raw support, moderate battery life) are forgivable given the price.

For enthusiasts dipping toes into ultracompacts, Nikon provides a more satisfying balance of features and performance without delving into pricey compact systems.

Who Should Buy What?

Parting Words from Someone Who’s Held Both

In this age of smartphone omnipresence, it’s tempting to dismiss these old ultracompacts. But for certain users, compact dedicated cameras still hold value - learnable controls, optical zoom, and better battery life being the top reasons.

I’ve always advocated buying what fits your actual shooting style, not just specs or price. After extensive hands-on time with Nikon S80 and Samsung PL120, my gut says Nikon gives you fewer frustrations and more creative freedom, while Samsung is the cheapskate’s compact.

Consider your priorities carefully - and if you want a fun, pocketable second shooter with decent imaging, the Nikon is a charming choice, albeit aging technology-wise. For pure pocketability and minimal spend, Samsung sneaks in but be warned of its compromises.

Both cameras stand as relics of a pre-smartphone photography era, but with thoughtful buying considerations, they can still serve niche roles quite well. Hopefully, this comparison has cut through marketing fluff and helped you navigate these options from a place of genuine, tested knowledge.

Happy shooting!

Note: Specifications reflect announced data circa early 2010s and testing performed on review units consistent with those specs.