Nikon Coolpix S3100 Review

Nikon Coolpix S3100 reviews seem to be split down the middle about this camera's performance. According to Tech Radar, this is a simple camera that focuses quickly, but users will probably find some issues in the photos they take. Trusted Reviews reports in a Nikon Coolpix S3100 review that the camera's software-based Electronic VR, or vibration reduction feature, simply fails to reduce the effects of camera shake. Also, colors in the camera's default shooting mode are pretty flat, although switching to the "vivid" mode makes colors pop. CNET notes the camera's fast startup and ease-of-use in a Nikon Coolpix S3100 review but found slight blurring in several photos, even when using the camera's Electronic VR. A Nikon Coolpix S3100 review by UK gadget site Pocket-lint says the autofocus works well in decent lighting, but overall photo quality could be better; the site's tests revealed some graininess.

The Nikon Coolpix S3100 comes with a resolution of 14 megapixels. It offers 5x optical zoom, the highest among our picks, and 4x digital zoom. A 2.7-inch LCD screen graces the back of this camera, which supports SD, SDHC, and SDXC memory cards. The Coolpix S3100 doesn't have optical image stabilization, instead relying on Nikon's Electronic VR to help control camera shake. The S3100 draws power from a rechargeable lithium-ion battery.

Nikon Coolpix S3100 reviews reveal some drawbacks to this camera, but it has strong points as well. On the plus side, it has a fast autofocus and, if you switch the color mode to "vivid," it takes bright, clear photos. It's also a very easy camera to use, a big selling point among casual shooters who simply want to snap some decent-looking candid photos without a lot of hassle. Still, we wish the Nikon Coolpix S3100 used optical image stabilization rather than Nikon's Electronic VR, which just doesn't seem to work very well.