The mid-range segment in Nikon’s vision is characterized by pretty, discreet designs, slim bodies, and a pleasing amount of functionality. The S4100 and S3100, representing what might be called the middle segment in the Coolpix mid-range class, demonstrate the intelligent approach of the developers in a particularly striking way.
14 mp 26-130 5x 2.7-3″ $170
The technological platform of the cameras is almost completely unified: they both look about the same with the slight difference that the S3100 is 18 mm thick, while the S4100 is slightly “fuller” at 20 mm , both have 14-megapixel CCD sensors 1/2.3 inches and without much speed capability , 5x zoom lenses 26-130 mm , flash units that work from 0.5 to 4.5 meters, HD video recording in the same average as themselves, 1280×720 pixels format.
A suite of software technologies like face detection, as well as cat and dog detection, portrait enhancement system, digital filters like miniature effect or fisheye simulation also on two cameras in common.
For the difference in price of about a thousand and a half Dollars – the actual retail price of new products is not yet known precisely – you can get or, respectively, to abandon the currently fashionable touch-sensitive display and control system based on taps and gestures.
Three-inch touchscreen S4100 with 460K resolution. Dots take up a significant portion of the camera’s back panel. The buttons for quick start of video recording, scene selection and switching to playback mode are the only ones left.
The touch screen, like in the more expensive cameras, adds the functions of pressure photography and autofocus control of the indicated object. In S3100, on the contrary, the display was spared – only 2.7 inches at a resolution of 230 thousand. points.
If the display is not very important to you, it turns out a good way to save, for example, for a roomy memory card or a handy case. However, the difference is not that big, and a clear screen is pleasing to the eye anyway. Another small but fun fact: the red version of the S4100 if you can find it on the market also has red colored optics. It looks very unusual!
As it should be an amateur camera, both models offer a wide choice of body colors: the S4100 has five options, including a notable purple and red with tinted lens block, and the S3100 as much as seven. But, as usual, not all are available.
What are some distinct features of the Nikon Coolpix S3100/S4100 compact cameras that set them apart from other cameras in the mid-range segment?