Nikon COOLPIX L100

Much like the Nikon COOLPIX P100 that was previously reviewed here on UrbanWire, the Nikon COOLPIX L100 is the camera of choice for users who are looking for something more than the typical point-and-shoot, but are unwilling to make the giant leap to a DSLR.

The Nikon COOLPIX L100 marries great features like a 15x optical zoom and HD movie recording functions with user-friendliness with an Easy Auto mode.

While the Nikon COOLPIX L110 doesn’t have the powerful zoom of its cousin the Nikon COOLPIX P100, it manages to maintain the quality of its images throughout the zoom range. The pictures still have stunning color and clarity even at full zoom, which is more than what most cameras in this playing field can say.

Recording with this camera is a breeze as well. With just a press of a button on the back, you can start. To zoom while filming is hardly an issue and the camera maintains its auto-focus the whole way. Even though its audio capability does leave something to be desired, this camera easily beats any low-end camcorder.

Another thing that UrbanWire likes so much about the Nikon COOLPIX L110 is that even those with the most basic knowledge of cameras can easily use this. Despite all the great features, the camera doesn’t require you to constantly adjust the settings. It does everything for you, leaving you to choose between Shooting, Movie and Set Up.

One can further adjust the ISO and white balance, but that’s about it, making it a blissful lack of problems for those who are intimidated by the various settings on a DSLR.

The LCD screen on the back of the camera is another appeal of the camera. With its 460k-dot resolution, the screen is twice as good as the other models in the same market.

The Nikon COOLPIX L110 is also a powerhouse of efficiency, giving you up to 7 hours of recording with the supplied Energizer® Ultimate Lithium AA batteries. Even if you manage to drain those, it’s hardly a hassle to find replacements.

This camera is the perfect choice for users who want a bit more out of a point-and-shoot, but still love the simplicity of a point-and-shoot.

Nikon COOLPIX S4000

The other camera is the Nikon COOLPIX S4000, clearly the paternal twin of the Nikon COOLPIX S3000 UrbanWire had reviewed earlier. They both offer up a pixel count of 12 megapixels. They have the same scene auto selector mode.

However, there are a few differences, mainly the touch screen interface.

It’s a beautifully sleek operation with the Nikon COOLPIX S4000. Besides a playback button and another one that brings up the record modes, everything is left up to the touch screen interface, which is refreshingly straightforward.

The main controls are easily accessible via the touch screen and there is even the option to simply take a picture by double-tapping the screen. Yes, there is a shutter button, but hey, it’s cool.

For those with big fingers, however, there might be some issues. It seems that the screen is more sensitive to the resistance of, say, a fingernail rather than the large surface area of a finger. But that’s rather in line with how this camera seems to be geared more towards the ladies.

The camera can go up to ISO 3200, but it’s advisable to stop at ISO 400 as image clarity is sacrificed for noise reduction. It’s best to just use the flash.

There aren’t many touch screen cameras around in the market, so the Nikon COOLPIX S4000 does lie in a rather comfortable niche. Furthermore, with all the potential buyers who are looking for a fashionable camera, UrbanWire can see this model doing very well.

The S4000 is exclusively available at Courts.