Nikon Coolpix S8000

A compact zoom which favors wide-angle screen

With a focal range starting at 30mm, this compact is silent on the very wide angle. But gets a nice screen.

Zoom (x10) optically stabilized and screen worthy SLR: This compact high zoom is also offered at reasonable prices. Too bad there are not very wide angle.

The category “queen” of the compact is undoubtedly that of devices with high zoom. Initiated by Panasonic and its TZ – whose TZ10 is the latest soldier – this niche has seriously undermined the influence of bridges. Nikon has understood and has, in turn, such a device, the Coolpix S8000.

Very wide-angle to the trap, movie instead

A device for which Nikon has made a choice: where the majority of manufacturers offer 28, 25 or 24 mm wide-angle, it “locks” to 30 mm, 10x zoom (300mm). A limitation that the mark Nippon offset by a 7.6 cm screen diagonal of incredible definition, ie 921,000 points. A definition that is not generally on which SLR and offers pure comfort and visualization. It remains to be seen whether, in your eyes, this comfort is worth the sacrifice of the very wide angle.

Optical Stabilization and high ISO

The stabilization process is, as with the Canon and Panasonic, optics. That is to say that in addition to digital processing chip, the optical unit which works to stabilize the images. A great addition since it is this process which is most effective. In this stabilization joins a rise in high ISO, Nikon announcing ISO 3200. A value for an optimistic 14.2 megapixel sensor. The compact sensors are much less efficient than those of reflex – although Fujifilm and its EXR (test F200EXR) And Sony’s Exmor (test WX1) Stand out – and Nikon is not the king of high sensitivity in the compact segment – although it is he who dominates the world of SLR (see test of D90 and those of D700 and D3s) !

Camera superfine

For a device with high zoom, the Coolpix S8000 is incredibly slim 27.3 mm with the optical block, which 21.6 per body. What makes an unobtrusive and easily transportable. Rather interesting that for a compact zoom grows to 300 mm!

HD Video 720

Evolution logic, the S8000 handles video in HD 720p (1280 x 720 pixels at 30 fps) compressed in H.264. It remains to Panasonic a little ahead with its AVCHD codec, which occupies half the space on the memory card for the same quality of images.
Argument for the S8000, the price: 279 euros a compact zoom is probably one of the least expensive in its class. We will see in the test if it is as good as the competition. It will be available later in the month of February in black or brown … forgiveness “Carbon” and “Bronze”. It’s more classy, sure.

Positive points

* Zoom performance
* Screen 921,000 points
* Case end
* HD Video
* Price

Negative points

* No large-angle

Specifications

Definition of sensor
14.2 Megapixel
Optical Zoom
10X
Memory
SD Card, SDHC Card