Nikon Coolpix S8000 14 MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Vibration Reduction (VR) Zoom and 3.0-Inch LCD (Silver)

#1: Nikon Coolpix S8000 14 MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Vibration Reduction (VR) Zoom and 3.0-Inch LCD (Silver) Reviews!

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I bought the S8000 having had Olympus Stylus 740 and C50 Zoom camera's. The Nikon LCD view finder is BY FAR BETTER to see in bright light conditions than the 740 and C50. Yeah, it could be better, but it's night and day compared to Olympus.

Nikon recommends a Class 6 or higher SD card for the S8000 for faster data writing (within the camera). I bit the bullet with a Class 10 8GB SDHC by Sandisk (). To torment myself, I compared my classless regular 2GB SD card to see how much slower the data writing process was. With the camera at the highest setting (14M* 4320x3240) and outdoors, it took 1 picture every 3 seconds with either card. (For comparison, my 740 set at SHQ 3072x2304 took 1 picture every 11 seconds). Then I tried recording in HD. I'm not sure I can really see a difference using the fast and slow card! Maybe I'm not under the right conditions to see a difference, but now I question biting a bullet. The 2GB card was a freebie from my local MicroCenter store.....would have been purchased outright. I discovered 1 minute of HD video = 62MB for a quicktime movie. In my situation (basically shooting pictures), a slow card (less than Class 6) probably would have been fine. Live and learn.

Bought the "ZipKit" ( with shipping) to accessorize the camera....what a great deal! The kit comes with a USB2.0 SD Card Reader that boosts transfer time. 100MB of pictures took 16 seconds with the USB on the camera, but using the USB Card reader it dropped to 7 seconds with a Class 10 SDHC card, and 8 seconds for a classless SD card. The reader is the way to go. Obviously Nikon's recommendation for a Class 6+ SD card has nothing to do with getting pitures off of the camera.

CASES: the Olympus 202066 Neoprene Case fits this camera better than the 740 it was designed for! It's not tight and there's room for a couple extra batteries. I read concerns for the Nikon hard shell case and held off. Glad I did because I would get another 202066 if I ever wear out the Velcro.

Overall I'm happy so far. I'm wondering about battery life. With my 740, battery life was the weakest link. I was lucky if I got 3 hours (250 pics) per OEM battery (far less with non-OEM batteries). For the S8000, I'll know in August...

Nikon Coolpix S8000 14 MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Vibration Reduction (VR) Zoom and 3.0-Inch LCD (Silver) Features

• 14.2 megapixels for stunning prints as large as 20 x 30 inches
• 10x wide-angle optical Zoom-NIKKOR ED glass lens; 3.0-inch VGA (921k-dot) Clear Color Display
• 720p HD movie recording at 30fps; HDMI output
• Creative Slider creates pictures, in camera, by simply adjusting brightness, vividness and color hue
• 4-way VR Image Stabilization System; Smart Portrait System

Customer Reviews

S8000 No Nikon NO - Goldy -
Owning several Nikons in the past and using them with great success, I felt resonably sure that the S8000 would solve or exceed my current picture needs. Well it might if I was happy with the camera. Remember, I am aiming at the camera itself not the pictures. I'll get to the pictures later.

First of all, I went through two S8000 before the third one came from Amazon and charged the battery. When the thrid camera came, I call Nikon, directly. I had them walk me through the process of everything from opening the box to plugging in the charger. I found that I had completed the task correctly, as the instruction book stated, twice before. When the third camera came and the battery was charging, I realized I didn't do enough homework. You charge the battery in the camera unless you purchcase an additional external battery charger. Realize that if you don't have an external battery charger for an additional battery you can't use the camera.

I like to be able to hold the camera with one hand. The S8000 is too thin, at least for me, to hold comfortably. There is a small thumb pad in the upper right corner of the body for your thumb and your right index finger holds the camera in front. My right hand shape was not what Nikon used as a guide when making the plans for the S8000. It felt very uncomfortable holding it with just the right hand. Most of the time I used my left hand as well. I guess most of us put our left thumb under the camera and the left index finger on top. Not a good idea!! The flash is can't pop up if your finger is holding it down. Keep in mind that normally you would be holding the camera with the left hand while adjusting settings with the right hand as the camera is designed to do. Without thinking I would just frame and push the shutter release whereby loosing the picture as the flash couldn't open.

Lastly, how much more could it cost to have two connectors for a neck strape instead of one for a wrist strape? I like having the camera hanging down from my neck so I grab it quickly and have my hands free when not holding the camera. Think about walking around all day on vacation not being able to use two hands as one hand has to hold the camera unless you put it away.

I will say this, "it takes great pictures." The zoom is excellent. The 3 inch screen is great. Ok, so you can't zoom the lens in the video mode. It has more setting and adjustments than I would ever need to use but after all, it is a Nikon !