Nikon Coolpix S9100 user reviews (Black)

Pros 18x optical zoom works quite well
Full HD recording

Cons Image stabilisation is average

Summary The camera comes loaded with features with the 18x optical zoom being its USP but inexplicably it just freezes up without a reason.You could be taking a snap on the auto mode or the scene selector mode or the night mode or maybe operating the full HD video and bang in the middle of it,the camera is dead-something like a laptop or a computer hanging up in which the only solution is ctrl+alt+del...Regrettably nikon doesn't has those buttons and believe it or not you have to take out the battery and reinsert it again for the camera to regain its consciousness..Its something like Tony Soprano passing out in "The Sopranos":)

I bought this camera because my first digicam was a nikon which I bought in 2005 and still use without a problem..and I love the natural image quality of it..Alas the mighty have fallen and how!!!

I want a refund and not a replacement because after researching on the net I have found hundreds of similar cases whereby even replacements of the same model S9100 have been having the same problem.Nikon R U LISTENING!!!

Pros Good battery life
Very bright display
Very good photo quality (if you use the right setting)
Good control placement
Good exposure results
Good selection of burst settings

Cons VR or IS vibrates and makes noise (just like the DSLR Nikkor lens) - is somewhat distracting
AF has some trouble searching when shooting landscapes... but much better in landscape mode
Noise in low light situations, even at low ISO

Summary I compared both the Nikon S9100 and Lumix ZS8, and the Nikon was superior in all aspects. Something bad has happened to the ZS8. The photo quality of the earlier Lumix models like the ZS5 was close to the Nikon... and perhaps a little better in marco mode...but the Nikon is still pretty good.

Pros 1. It was cheaper than most pocket zooms (but for a reason)
2. Quite a brick in the hand - felt solid
3. Fast "on".
4. Menu system better than average.
5. Pretty screen - but it didn't help see image flaws.

Cons 1. Excessive, destructive noise reduction.
2. Poor auto-exposure; chooses 1/10s but IS can't handle it.
3. Features like panorama don't work well.
4. Heavy, large, corners too sharp - not a "pocket zoom"
5. IS can't handle 18X; blurry.

Summary The reviews I read didn't prepare me at all. I used this cam for about 400 pics over a couple weeks - I thought it was going well, the preview on the back seemed to show decent images. Then I tried to print a bunch - they were AWFUL. Grainy and blotchy, even at base ISO poor resolution with noise in the shadows. By ISO 400 hair looks plastic, colors become blotchy and washed out.

I sent it back, got a Panasonic ZS15 and I'm quite happy. The Canon SX260 would be a good choice too.

Pros Good shots when carrying a DSLR and a bag of lenses is inconvenient

Cons Freezes up requiring the battery to be removed in order to reset, eventually just dies altogether.

Summary After purchasing this and seeing an astonishing lack of firmware updates for it from Nikon (given the huge amount of similar freezing problems among the user base), I will not be purchasing any Nikon point-and-shoot devices again.