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Nikon S4100 Review

  • Overview
  • Alternatives
  • Nikon S4100

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    Main Features

    • 14MP - 1/2.3-inch CCD Sensor
    • ISO 80 - 3200
    • 26-130 mm F3.2-6.5 Zoom Lens
    • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
    • 3.00" Fixed Type Screen
    • 1.0fps continuous shooting
    • g. 95 x 57 x 20 mm
    CHECK PRICE
    CHECK PRICE

    Nikon S4100 Overview

    Launched in February 2011 , Nikon Coolpix S4100 is a 14.0MP Ultracompact camera with a 1/2.3-inch (6.17 x 4.55 mm ) sized CCD sensor, built-in Image Stabilization and 5.0x zoom 26-130 mm F3.2-6.5 lens.

    Nikon S4100 Review - Click for Table of Contents

    1. Overview
    2. Pros and Cons
    3. Sensor and Photography Features
    4. Physical Specs
    5. LCD and Viewfinder
    6. Connectivity, Storage and Battery
    7. Video
    8. Other Features
    9. Lens
    10. Photography Type Scores
    11. Alternatives
    12. Popular Comparisons
    13. Frequently Asked Questions
    14. Detailed Specifications

    Nikon S4100 is a member of Nikon's Ultracompact class cameras. Below you can see the latest models in this class and how their main specs have changed with each new model.

    Nikon Ultracompact Series History
    Model Release Date Sensor Max FPS Dimensions Weight
    Nikon A10
    Compare
    2016 16.0MP - 1/2.3' 1.2 fps 96 x 59 x 29mm 160g
    Nikon A100
    Compare
    2016 20.0MP - 1/2.3' 1.1 fps 95 x 59 x 20mm 119g
    Nikon S7000
    Compare
    2015 16.0MP - 1/2.3" 9.2 fps 99 x 60 x 27mm 165g
    Nikon S6900
    Compare
    2015 16.0MP - 1/2.3' 9.0 fps 99 x 58 x 28mm 181g
    Nikon L31
    Compare
    2015 16.0MP - 1/2.3' fps 96 x 59 x 29mm 160g

    Check the link below to compare specs of the latest cameras in this series side-by-side:
    Nikon A10 vs A100 vs S7000 vs S6900 vs L31


    **This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

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    Nikon S4100 PROs and CONs Review

    Now let's get in to more details of our Nikon S4100 review by analysing its specs and features and listing out its pros and cons compared to average competitor cameras in its class.

    PROs
    Image Stabilization
    Touch Screen
    Face Detection Focusing
    Face Detection Focusing
    20 MB Internal Storage
    26mm Wide Angle Lens
    Report a correction

    Buy Nikon S4100 from AMAZON or B&H PHOTO


    CONs
    No Wireless Connection
    No Articulating Screen
    No External Flash Shoe
    No Full HD Video
    No Built-in Viewfinder
    No RAW Shooting
    Low Resolution Sensor: 14.0MP
    Max Sensitivity only ISO 3.200
    Only 9 Focus Points
    Low Screen Resolution ( 230kdots )
    Slow Continuous Shooting: 1.0fps
    Low Battery Life: 190 shots
    No Manual Focusing
    No Manual Exposure
    No Environmental Sealing
    Slow Lens at Wide: f3.20
    Slow Lens at Tele: f6.50

    Report a correction


    Nikon S4100 Physical Specs
    Nikon S4100 weighs and has external dimensions of 95 x 57 x 20 mm (3.74 x 2.24 x 0.79″). Considering that the average weight of Compact type cameras is 188g, Nikon S4100 is a remarkably light camera for its class. Even better, with a thickness of only 20mm, it is also quite small, 8mm thinner than the average of its class.
    Weight Comparison

    Compact Cameras

    Nikon S4100
    Min
    Average
    Max
    Thickness Comparison

    Compact Cameras

    Nikon S4100
    Min
    Average
    Max

    Here is the front and top view image of Nikon S4100 with the dimensions:

    Nikon S4100 Body Size Dimensions
    Front and Top View External Dimensions and Size of Nikon S4100 Camera Body


    In order to give you a better idea about the real life size of Nikon S4100, we have added an image of how it looks next to a credit card and an AA type battery.


    Nikon S4100 Body Size Compared to a Credit card and a Battery
    Physical size of the Nikon S4100 Body Compared to a Credit Card and an AA Battery



    Below you can find the comparison of the weight and thickness of Nikon S4100 with its main competitors:

    Nikon S4100 Size Compared to Main Competitors
    Model Weight vs S4100 Thickness vs S4100
    Nikon Coolpix S4100 Camera Nikon S6100
    Compare
    175g 175g heavier 27mm 7mm thicker
    Nikon Coolpix S4100 Camera Nikon S3700
    Compare
    118g 118g heavier 20mm equal thickness
    Nikon Coolpix S4100 Camera Nikon S3500
    Compare
    129g 129g heavier 21mm 1mm thicker
    Nikon Coolpix S4100 Camera Epson R-D1x
    Compare
    620g 620g heavier 40mm 20mm thicker
    Nikon Coolpix S4100 Camera Nikon S4300
    Compare
    139g 139g heavier 21mm 1mm thicker
    Nikon Coolpix S4100 Camera Nikon A100
    Compare
    119g 119g heavier 20mm equal thickness
    Nikon Coolpix S4100 Camera Sony RX10 IV
    Compare
    1095g 1095g heavier 145mm 125mm thicker
    Nikon Coolpix S4100 Camera Nikon S9100
    Compare
    214g 214g heavier 35mm 15mm thicker

    Weather Sealing

    Nikon S4100 doesn't have any environmental sealings on its body so you got to be extra careful to protect it against water and dust. If you shoot under these conditions very often, consider checking Top Compact Cameras with Weather Sealing page.

    Nikon S4100 Lens

    Nikon S4100 features a 26-130 mm F3.2-6.5 5× zoom lens. Lens has a good wide angle capability starting at 26mm, and 130mm on the tele end means that the medium telephoto angle is also well covered, only lacking the reach for wildlife and sports.

    Wide Coverage

    Compact Cameras

    S4100
    Widest - Olympus TG-850 iHS
    Average
    Telezoom

    Compact Cameras

    S4100
    Longest - Canon SX520 HS
    Average

    With a max aperture of f3.20 at 26mm, we can not consider this lens fast on wide end, and it is slow at the tele end with its max aperture of f6.50.

    Max Aperture at Wide

    Compact Cameras

    S4100
    Fastest - Leica D-Lux 6
    Average
    Max Aperture at Tele

    Compact Cameras

    S4100
    Fastest - Ricoh GR Digital IV
    Average

    S4100 is equipped with Sensor-shift image stabilization system which is very handy especially at lower shutter speeds.

    Nikon S4100 Sensor and Photography Features

    Nikon S4100 has a 14.0MP 1/2.3-inch (6.17 x 4.55 mm ) sized CCD sensor and features Expeed C2 processor. You can shoot at maximum resolution of 4320 x 3240 pixels. S4100 has a native ISO range of 80 - 3200 but unfortunately, Nikon S4100 doesn't have RAW file support. If you need a Compact camera with a RAW support, consider Canon PowerShot S90 or in the same price range.

    Nikon S4100 is not the highest resolution Small Sensor camera. GoPro Hero11 Black with its 27.0MP sensor is leading in this class. Check the comparison of Nikon S4100 vs GoPro Hero11 Black or take a look at Highest resolution Compact cameras list.

    Let's look at how the size of the Nikon S4100's 1/2.3-inch sensor compares with other standard sensor sizes.

    Nikon S4100 Sensor Size Comparison
    Comparison image of Nikon S4100 Sensor Size with other standard sensors



    Nikon S4100 LCD

    Nikon S4100 has a Fixed Type 3.00-inch LCD screen with a resolution of 230k dots. Both the screen size and the screen resolution is up to the standards of this class.

    LCD is Touch screen type, so you can change the settings and set the focus point with your fingertips.

    Nikon S4100 back view and LCD

    Unfortunately Nikon Coolpix S4100 doesn't have a Selfie friendly screen. If this feature is important for your shooting style, check here the list of Best Compact Cameras with Selfie Friendly LCD screen.


    S4100 doesn't have a viewfinder and no option for external viewfinder. Lack of a viewfinder can be problematic especially under strong light where visibility of LCD screens goes down dramatically. If you need a Compact camera with a built-in viewfinder in a similar price range, consider Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS100 (Lumix DMC-TZ100) (Compare) or Nikon Coolpix P7800 (Compare).
    Alternatively, check here the list of all Compact cameras with viewfinder..

    Nikon S4100 Connectivity, Storage and Battery

    Nikon S4100 has a USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) port to connect your camera to other devices.

    Nikon S4100 Battery

    Nikon S4100 is powered by EN-EL19 battery which provides a battery life of 190 shots according to CIPA standards. Considering that the average battery life of Compact type cameras is 256 shots, Nikon S4100 has a short battery life for its class so we strongly recommend S4100 owners to invest in some extra batteries.

    Battery Life Comparison in Ultracompact Cameras

    Nikon S4100
    Min
    Average
    Max

    Nikon L32 with its 320shots is the model with longest battery life among Ultracompact cameras. Check the comparison of Nikon S4100 vs Nikon L32 or take a look at Longest Battery Life Compact cameras list.

    Nikon S4100 Features Compared to Main Competitors
    Model Max Video Battery Life Wi-fi Bluetooth NFC
    Nikon Coolpix S4100 Camera Nikon S6100
    Compare
    1280 x 720 210shots No No No
    Nikon Coolpix S4100 Camera Nikon S3700
    Compare
    1280 x 720 240shots Yes No Yes
    Nikon Coolpix S4100 Camera Nikon S3500
    Compare
    1280 x 720 shots No No No
    Nikon Coolpix S4100 Camera Epson R-D1x
    Compare
    None shots No No No
    Nikon Coolpix S4100 Camera Nikon S4300
    Compare
    1280 x 720 180shots No No No
    Nikon Coolpix S4100 Camera Nikon A100
    Compare
    1280 x 720 250shots No No No
    Nikon Coolpix S4100 Camera Sony RX10 IV
    Compare
    3840 x 2160 400shots Yes Yes Yes
    Nikon Coolpix S4100 Camera Nikon S9100
    Compare
    1920 x 1080 270shots No No No

    Nikon S4100 Video Features

    With Nikon S4100, you can record your videos at a highest resolution of 1280 x 720 at 30 fps and save in and Motion JPEG formats. 1280 x 720 is a low video resolution by todays standards. If video quality is important for you, we recommend you to look at cameras with Full HD, even better 4K / Ultra-HD resolution .

    Video Resolutions Comparison Chart



    Microphones, Speaker and Headphone Connections

    Nikon Coolpix S4100 has a built-in Mono microphone but no speaker. On the other hand, Nikon S4100 doesn't have any connections for external microphones and headphones. If you need a Compact camera with external microphone connectivity, consider or in a similar price range.

    Also read:

    • Best Compact Cameras with Microphone Port
    • Best Compact Cameras with Headphone Port

    If you are getting into videography and want to know what are the must-have video accessories for your camera, read our article:
    Essential Videography / Filmmaking Accessories for your Camera

    Nikon S4100 Other Features

    Max Shutter speed

    Nikon S4100 can shoot continuously at max speed of 1 fps and has max shutter speed of 1/2000 sec.

    Flash

    Unfortunately S4100 doesn't have an external flash shoe so you are limited with the built-in flash.

    Focusing

    Nikon S4100 features a Contrast Detection autofocusing system. The AF system has 9 points to choose from.

    Nikon S4100 also features Face detection AF where it intelligently detects the faces in the frame and locks the focus automatically.



    What type of Photography is Nikon S4100 Good for?
    In this section, we review and score Nikon S4100 in 5 different photography areas.

    Nikon S4100 for Portrait Photography

    Nikon S4100 has a score of 28 for Portrait Photography which makes it a POOR candidate for this type of photography. If Portrait We strongly recommend you to check our Top Compact Cameras for Portrait Photography list and consider these alternatives over theS4100.
    Image Stabilization
    Average Resolution Sensor: 14.0MP

    Read the details of how we scored Nikon S4100 for Portrait Photography

    Nikon S4100 for Street Photography

    Nikon S4100 has a score of 55 for Street Photography which makes it an AVERAGE candidate for this type of photography. If Street is important for you, we recommend you to check our Top Compact Cameras for Street Photography list.
    Live-view
    Face-Detection Focusing
    Image Stabilization
    26 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
    Small Body

    Read the details of how we scored Nikon S4100 for Street Photography

    Nikon S4100 for Sports Photography

    Nikon S4100 has a score of 18 for Sports Photography which makes it a POOR candidate for this type of photography. If Sports We strongly recommend you to check our Top Compact Cameras for Sports Photography list and consider these alternatives over theS4100.
    Image Stabilization
    Average Max shutter speed: 1/2000s
    130 mm Tele Lens

    Read the details of how we scored Nikon S4100 for Sports Photography

    Nikon S4100 for Daily Photography

    Nikon S4100 has a score of 47 for Daily Photography which makes it an AVERAGE candidate for this type of photography. If Daily is important for you, we recommend you to check our Top Compact Cameras for Daily Photography list.
    Compact Body
    Body Thickness 20mm
    5.0X Optical Zoom

    Read the details of how we scored Nikon S4100 for Daily Photography

    Nikon S4100 for Landscape Photography

    Nikon S4100 has a score of 17 for Landscape Photography which makes it a POOR candidate for this type of photography. If Landscape We strongly recommend you to check our Top Compact Cameras for Landscape Photography list and consider these alternatives over theS4100.
    26 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
    Average Resolution Sensor: 14.0MP

    Read the details of how we scored Nikon S4100 for Landscape Photography
    Nikon S4100 Alternatives
    In this section, we analyse how Nikon S4100 compares with other Compact cameras within a similar price range.
    Read a more detailed analysis of Nikon S4100 alternatives.

    Popular Comparisons of Nikon S4100

    Here are the eight most popular comparisons of the Nikon S4100 amongst Camera Decision readers.

    Nikon S6100
    Nikon S6100
    Compare
    Nikon S3700
    Nikon S3700
    Compare
    Nikon S3500
    Nikon S3500
    Compare
    Epson R-D1x
    Epson R-D1x
    Compare
    Nikon S4300
    Nikon S4300
    Compare
    Nikon A100
    Nikon A100
    Compare
    Sony RX10 IV
    Sony RX10 IV
    Compare
    Nikon S9100
    Nikon S9100
    Compare

    Nikon S4100 Alternatives in Cameras

    It would also be interesting to compare Nikon S4100 with Cameras. Below we have listed 4 highest ranked cameras in Nikon S4100's price range.

    Nikon S4100 Conclusion and Scores

    Currently, Nikon S4100 has an Overall Score of 33/100 which is based on our evaluation of 69 different technical parameters. Our scores are dynamically updated whenever a new camera is added to our database or when we change our ranking algorithm and the maximum score is always 100. Nikon Coolpix S4100 is ranked #333 out of 631 in Compact cameras (Top 20 Compact), and ranked #949 out of 1260 in all Cameras (Top 20 Overall).

    #949 out of 1260 in Top Ranking Cameras
    #333 out of 631 in Top Ranking Compact Cameras
    #40 out of 152 in Top Ranking Ultracompact Cameras
    #440 out of 740 in Top Ranking Small Sensor Sensor Cameras
    #0 out of 536 in Lightest Compact Cameras with Small Sensor sensor(g)
    #609 out of 918 in Top Ranking Cameras with Fixed Type Screen
    Geek Score: 0

    Main Scores
    Imaging
    Features
    Value for Money
    Portability
    Overall Score
    Check our Smart Finder Tool to filter, sort and compare all digital cameras.

    Frequently Asked Questions about Nikon S4100
    Does the Nikon S4100 have Image Stabilization?
    Does the Nikon S4100 have RAW support?
    Does the Nikon S4100 have Weather Sealing?
    Does the Nikon S4100 have built-in GPS?
    What is the Max ISO of Nikon S4100?
    What is the Sensor Size of Nikon S4100?
    is the Nikon S4100 a Full Frame (FF) camera?
    Does the Nikon S4100 have Touch Screen?
    Does the Nikon S4100 have built-in Wireless?
    What is the Max Continuous Shooting Speed (fps) of Nikon S4100?
    What is the Weight of Nikon S4100?
    What are the Dimensions of Nikon S4100?
    Nikon Coolpix S4100 Detailed Specifications

    General
    Brand Nikon
    Model Nikon Coolpix S4100
    Announced 2011-02-09
    Body Type Ultracompact
    Lens
    Manual Focus
    Lens Mount fixed lens
    Lens Focal Range 26-130 mm (5×)
    Max Aperture F3.2-6.5
    Macro Focus Range 10cm
    Screen
    Screen Type Fixed Type
    Screen Technology TFT LCD
    Screen Size 3.00"
    Screen Resolution 230k dots
    Live View
    Touch Screen
    Viewfinder
    Viewfinder None
    Viewfinder Resolution no electronic viewfinder
    Viewfinder Coverage n/a
    Viewfinder Magnification n/a
    Photography Features
    Min Shutter Speed 4s
    Max Mechanical Shutter Speed 1/2000s
    Max Continuous Shooting 1.0 fps
    Shutter Priority
    Aperture Priority
    Manual Exposure Mode
    Exposure Compensation n/a
    Custom White Balance
    Image Stabilization
    Built-in Flash
    Flash Range 4.50 m
    Flash Modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye
    External Flash
    AE Bracketing
    WB Bracketing
    Exposure Modes
    Multi-Segment
    Average
    Spot
    Partial
    AF-Area
    Center Weighted
    DxO Sensor Scores
    DxO Overall Score not tested
    DxO Color Depth not tested
    DxO Dynamic Range not tested
    DxO Low Light ISO not tested
    Report a correction

    Sensor
    Sensor Type CCD
    Sensor Size 1/2.3-inch
    Sensor Dimensions 6.17 x 4.55 mm
    Sensor Area 28.07mm2
    Sensor Resolution 14 megapixels
    Max Image Resolution 4320 x 3240
    Max Native ISO 3,200
    Min Native ISO 80
    RAW Support
    Autofocus
    AF Touch
    AF Continuous
    AF Single
    AF Tracking
    AF Selective
    AF Center
    AF Multi Area
    AF Live View
    AF Face Detection
    AF Contrast Detection
    AF Phase Detection
    Number of Focus Points 9
    Number of Cross Focus Points Unknown
    Video Features
    Video Resolutions 1280 x 720p (30fps), 640 x 480 (30fps)
    Max Video Resolution 1280 x 720
    Video Formats Motion JPEG
    Microphone Port
    Headphone Port
    Connectivity
    Wireless Connectivity None
    HDMI
    USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
    Physical
    Environmental Sealing
    Water Proof
    Dust Proof
    Shock Proof
    Crush Proof
    Freeze Proof
    Weight n/a
    Physical Dimensions 95 x 57 x 20mm
    Battery Life 190 shots
    Battery Type Battery Pack
    Battery Model EN-EL19
    Other Features
    Self Timer Yes (10 or 2 sec)
    Timelapse Recording
    GPS None
    Storage Type SD / SDHC/SDXC
    Storage Slots 1


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