Nikon Coolpix S5100 - A Lot Of Camera For Under $200 • Camera News and Reviews

Nikon Coolpix S5100 – A Lot Of Camera For Under $200

The new Nikon Coolpix S5100 is a lot of camera for under $200. Like last year’s S570, which it replaces, the Coolpix S5100 has a 5x optical zoom lens and 12-megapixel sensor. The S5100 looks almost exactly the same as the Coolpix S570 but inside the camera body there are a bunch of improvements, including Nikon’s new EXPEED C2 image processing, faster startup, better VR Vibration Reduction and improved low light shooting ability. Video is longer optional so Nikon also added 720p HD video and a dedicated movie button.

For me, the most notable enhancements to the new Coolpix S5100 are the improved VR image stabilization, enhanced speed and new video features. Photographers with kids and pets as well as anyone who ever wants to get off a quick shot will be very pleased with the new 0.52-second startup time and 0.35-second shutter-lag. That’s significantly faster than the S570 and it’s even getting close to digital SLR reaction times.

Nikon Coolpix S5100 digital camera

The S5100′s improved VR image stabilization is also significant -especially for a camera this affordable. The previous model had electronic VR, which increases sensitivity (ISO) to freeze action and minimize camera shake. The result is compromised, grainy image images. The S5100 has optical Vibration Reduction, which compensates for camera shake by moving the lens elements, with no image degradation. Personally, I disregard electronic image stabilization because of the poor image quality it produces. Optical image stabilization, on the other hand, is something I don’t want to live without.

To compliment the new optical VR, there’s also a new tripod detection feature, which senses if the camera is mounted on a tripod and adjusts ISO, shutter speed and shooting mode accordingly. Camera sensitivity has been increased to ISO 3200 and the new EXPEED C2 image processing is supposed to have better noise reduction for low light shooting. Combine the optical VR, increased sensitivity, improved processing and the new tripod detection feature and the S5100 has the potential to be a great low-light pocket camera.

The Nikon Coolpix S5100 will be available in October at a suggested retail price of $179.95 – a great price for a camera with 720p video, minimal shutter-lag and optical image stabilization. For the fashion-conscious, the S5100 will be available in multiple colors, including blue, pink, purple and of course – serious photographer black.