Nikon S8100
- 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
- 3" Fixed Screen
- ISO 160 - 3200
- Optical Image Stabilization
- 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
- 1920 x 1080 video
- 30-300mm (F3.5-5.6) lens
- 180g - 104 x 60 x 30mm
- Revealed September 2010
- Read full specs
- Alternatives
- Size Comparison
- FAQ
93 Imaging
35 Features
36 Overall
35
Nikon S8100 overview
Nikon S8100 is Nikon's Small Sensor Compact digital camera initially announced on September of 2010. It has got a 12 MegaPixel, BSI-CMOS 1/2.3" sized sensor and has a peak resolution of 4000 x 3000.
The S8100 comes in at #96 out of 261 in Small Sensor Compact cameras & all around #925 out of 1465 for cameras in our list. You can check out our Smart camera search to see camera listings based on your custom requirements.
Here is a graph of various criteria used in the scoring system.
Nikon S8100 history
The Nikon S8100 has a history of related cameras. Below, you can check out all earlier and most recent models as well as important specifications.
F3.5-5.612MP1/2.3"2010
Nikon S8100 Gallery
You can see the S8100 from several angles in the gallery underneath.
Nikon S8100 Pros and Cons
Below is a selection of positives and negatives of the Nikon S8100 based on features which are often seen as useful in a digital camera.
Nikon S8100 Sensor info
The Nikon S8100 houses the Expeed C2 processor. The sensor specification in the Nikon S8100 is 6.17mm x 4.55mm (1/2.3"). The 28 mm² sensor has the ability to resolve 4000 x 3000 pixels at aspect ratios of 4:3 and 16:9. The camera features Image Stabilization (Optical). Sensor stabilization is preferable than digital stabilization as the latter might produce cropping.
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or banThe BSI-CMOS sensor has 12 megapixels and provides a standard ISO range of 160 - 3200. Sadly, RAW format is not supported which means that you have less margin for error.
The picture underneath illustrates the S8100's sensor dimensions compared to other popular sizes. The S8100 sensor has a crop factor of 5.8 and is shown in green.
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firmsTo get an idea of specific aspect ratios, you can refer to the graphic below.
Nikon S8100 dimensions
Nikon S8100 weighs in at 0.40 lbs (180 grams or 6.35 ounces) & has external size of 104mm x 60mm x 30mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.2"). The weight of general Small Sensor Compact camera is 174 grams so the Nikon S8100 is very similar when compared with various rivals.
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music videoHere is a shot of the Nikon S8100 besides a softdrink to help you get a feel for its scale.
The top view under will illustrate the button design on the S8100.
Nikon S8100 Lens info
The S8100 has a fixed lens providing a focal range of 30-300mm giving it a 10.0 x zoom which might not be great but it may be handy in some cases.
At the widest 30mm, the lens features an aperture of f3.5 which will be somewhat slow and not very good for low light occasions and you will probably find it difficult to get good bokeh. You might also have to up the ISO setting resulting in noisy photos. With the tele end, 300mm is superb zoom and comes at f5.6 making it really sluggish and you would need to set slower shutter speeds.
Nikon S8100 Connectivity
The S8100 has the following connectivity:
- USB Yes
- HDMI Yes
Cameras that include NFC or Bluetooth support can easily be used wirelessly by smartphones. You can copy files and oftentimes alter settings without the hassle of connecting straight to the camera.
Certain applications even stream a Liveview and press the shutter in case you aren't close to the camera. If the camera boasts a HDMI port, it could be attached to an external screen. Almost all cameras enable you to charge the battery through the USB port.
Nikon S8100 Video info
The highest video resolution in the Nikon S8100 is 1920 x 1080 and you can capture in H.264 file format. 1080p resolution delivers a great balance in video quality versus file sizes but FULL HD won't leave you with any room to downsample. The camera doesn't include a microphone or headphone socket which means you get no control over the audio. It is probably a better idea to shop for a different model should you need decent audio for your videos.
Nikon S8100 Weather Sealing
There is no weather proofing in the Nikon S8100 so you need to be cautious in wet or dusty situations.
Nikon S8100 Screen and Viewfinder
The Nikon S8100 has got a 3" fixed display screen boasting a resolution of 921k dots.
Please note that the display has no touch support.
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modesThe View Finder specifications for Nikon S8100 are below:
- ViewFinder None
Viewfinders can be pretty helpful in sunny outdoor situations which can make the camera screen washed out and very difficult to see.
Nikon S8100 Shutter info
Nikon S8100 continuous shooting rate is 10.0 frames per second. The highest shutter speed is 1/8000 sec.
Nikon S8100 Flash and Hot shoe info
Nikon S8100 features only built in flash lacking external flash ability.
Nikon S8100 Autofocusing info
Nikon S8100 features just Contrast Detect Autofocus & is missing Phase Detect Autofocus. Phase Detection autofocusing is a lot more snappier and precise when compared with Contrast Detect autofocusing. The camera has got Face detection which can be helpful for portrait photography.
It also comes with Tracking Autofocus for subjects on the move. Nikon S8100 has not got manual focus. Manual focus is useful in low light or you need more exact control on focus.
Nikon S8100 Battery life
The battery power (EN-EL12) in the Nikon S8100 is fashioned to last for 220 shots according to the CIPA measurements making it about the same as it's competition. The typical Small Sensor Compact camera battery life is 241. Fujifilm X30 has got the highest (470) battery life in this class of cameras.
Below is a number of Small Sensor Compact cameras that have the best battery life:
Nikon S8100 for various styles of photography
The following illustration gives a overview of the Nikon S8100 for various styles of photography. To check out more, go to the specific paragraph underneath.
Portrait photography with Nikon S8100
The Nikon S8100 gets a points tally of 26 which is low, and means the camera is simply not suitable to use for portrait photos. Shooting portraits leans greatly towards sensor dimensions, RAW support plus the ability to work with off-camera lighting.
Street photography with Nikon S8100
Coming in at a reasonable points total of 56, the Nikon S8100 is relatively suited for street photography. A very good street photography camera gives a fine balance of image quality plus portability.
Nikon S8100 Sports photography advice
A low sports photography rating of 38 indicates the Nikon S8100 is simply not suitable for photographing sports. A camera must have great tracking and continuous shooting for sports photography.
Nikon S8100 as a Travel photography camera
Weight is very important when getting a camera for travel. In general, the Nikon S8100 gets a average 55 as a travel camera which is fairly adequate to purchase for your holidays.
Nikon S8100 Landscape photography information
If you find yourself planning to choose a digital camera for landscape photos, the most essential factor is going to be image quality. The Nikon S8100 with it's low score of 32 as a landscape camera is simply not suitable among it's competitors.
Nikon S8100 Vlogging info
A camera for vlogging should posses a articulating display screen, microphone input and preferably image stabilization. Taking everything in to account, the Nikon S8100 is simply not suitable for vlogging as it delivers a low score of 30.
Nikon S8100 Alternatives
If you are searching for alternatives to the S8100, below is a collection of the top placed cameras that fall within the family of Small Sensor Compact.
The diagram here shows you a bird's eye view of the S8100 vs it's top ranked competitors listed above.
Following are additional cameras you may look into as alternative options. To read through a complete comparison, just click on the "compare" link.