Nikon Coolpix S5100 Review

The Coolpix S5100 from Nikon is a compact digital camera with 12.2 MP, a 2.7 inch screen and an optical zoom of 5X. Some of the other things which the S5100 has to offer are the ability to record videos at 720p quality, the eighteen scene modes, optical vibration reduction, auto selector of scenes, tracking of subjects, detection of tripods, a new control system for the flash and a smart portrait mode. The Nikon Coolpix S5100 comes in black, red, silver, purple, blue and pink.

The S series of cameras from Nikon come with a decent style in mind (the S comes from Style after all), but it also has decent features, so it’s not just a pretty thing. The audience for this model is probably mostly composed of teenagers, women and families, since it looks good and it has a small size, easily carried around.

When it’s shutdown, the lens retracts fully inside the plastic and metal body and you get a model which is a bit longer than a credit card, with only 21mm of depth and a weight of 132 grams.

Nikon Coolpix S5100 12 MP Digital Camera with 5x Optical Vibration Reduction (VR) Zoom and 2.7-Inch LCD (Black)

The camera has an optical zoom of 5X and the range of it is between 28 and 140 mm, in 35mm terms. The camera also has a lens shift VR (Vibration Reduction), an auto ISO of up to 1600 and a manual ISO of up to 3200.

The LCD is a 2.7 inch model with an aspect ratio of 4:3 and the camera has no optical viewfinder on it. At the rear you will find a basic control layout which is quite functional and it’s comprised of a control pad and six buttons. One of the things we liked about it is the dedicated button which allows you to start the video recording at 720p quality.

Starting the camera requires just a short press of a button located at the top and it’s all over in just one second, with the lens barrel extending fully to the maximum length.

When looking at the camera’s front area you will notice a look that is clean, the AF assist and self timer lamp, plus the flashgun which is found at the top right area. Even though the camera doesn’t come with a handgrip, it’s still easy to use with just one hand, a good thing since when using it with two hands you might accidentally come in contact with the location of the flash.

Even though the features might not look much better than what the competitors offer, the Coolpix S5100 is actually a top snapshot camera, offering top image quality and sharpness. Another useful feature is the 28mm wide angle lens, which works especially well for taking photos of landscapes.

The Nikon Coolpix S5100 has a decent build quality and it looks like it will stand the test of time. You can easily carry it around in a pocket, thanks to its small profile, so you can take photos when you want to, not having to depend on the weak camera of a mobile phone.

The S5100 is a good model to choose if you’re on a budget and it offers plenty for the small price tag.

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