Nikon Coolpix S9200 Digital Compact Camera Review

Features
Handling
Performance
Verdict
Specification


The Nikon Coolpix S9200 is a version of the S9300, without GPS and is available from Currys Digital and PC World in black, silver and brown. It features a 16 megapixel backlit CMOS sensor, 18x optical zoom lens, full HD video with stereo sound and lens-shift vibration reduction.

Nikon Coolpix S9200 Features

The S9200 has a back-illuminated 16 megapixel CMOS sensor, designed to deliver clear images in any light. There is an 18x optical zoom lens, which is a 35mm equivalent of 25-450mm, with ED glass. Lens-shift VR is there to help keep images as sharp as possible. The camera shoots with a 99 point autofocus system, you can also choose Subject Tracking AF, which focuses on your subject, even if it is moving about.

There are 19 scene modes, where the camera will automatically optimise the camera settings. Other modes include Auto HDR (combining 2 shots at different exposure levels), Easy Panorama 360°/180° (panning vertically or horizontally), high-speed continuous shooting (seven shots at six fps) and 3D shooting mode. To select your desired mode there is a mode dial placed on the top of the camera. Images can be edited via the Retouch menu with a range of filter effects.

Videos are recorded at full 1080p HD (1080p) with optical zoom and stereo sound. You can also pause and continue filming, with the camera creating just one file for smooth playback. The S9200 can be connected to a HDTV via a HDMI cable for playback.

Key Features

• Back-illuminated 16 megapixel CMOS sensor
• 18x optical zoom lens (35mm equiv: 25-450mm)
• Lens-shift VR (vibration reduction)
• 3.0-inch 921k-dot LCD screen
• Mode dial
• Full 1080p HD movie recording
• ISO 125-3200
• 4cm minimum focusing distance
• Auto HDR mode
• High-speed continuous shooting at 6 fps
• Easy Panorama 360°/180°
• Available in black, silver and brown

Nikon Coolpix S9200 Handling

The S9200 is small enough to carry in your pocket and very easy to hold, thanks to the front of the camera having a rubber coating with a plastic ridge for extra grip. The rear also has a substantial rubber grip for your thumb. The flash pops up when required, although you do have to manually push it back when you switch the camera off. On the top of the camera is the on/off switch, shutter release, zoom rocker and mode dial which is sunk into the camera. The buttons on the rear of the camera are fairly typical, with dedicated video record and a rotating wheel d-pad.

The 3 inch LCD screen is bright, clear and easy to see from varying angles. The menus are laid out well and are simple to understand and navigate. The battery has a CIPA rating of 200 shots, we were able to take well in excess of this amount on one charge during testing. We tested the cameras performance at focusing, shutter response, shot-to-shot time, continuous shooting etc. and have posted the results below. To test this we took 6 or more shots and calculated the average, so that consistent results were produced.

Shutter Response		0.15 seconds
Wide - Focus / Shutter Response		0.4 seconds
Full zoom - Focus / Shutter Response		1.0 seconds
Switch on Time to Taking a Photo		2.1 seconds
Shot to Shot (without flash)		1.4 seconds
Shot to Shot with Flash		3.2 seconds
Continuous H		5.6 fps
Continuous L		2 fps

Continuous H and L both shoot at full 16 megapixel resolution. The S9200 also has 120 and 60 fps continuous shooting modes with image size restricted to VGA and 1 megapixel respectively.

Nikon Coolpix S9200 Performance

Additional sample photos and product shots are available in the Equipment Database, where you can add your own review and product ratings.

Nikon Coolpix S9200 Sample Photos

Sample Photos - Portraits have excellent skin tones and are free from red-eye. The S9200 also takes a very pleasing shot in landscape mode, particularly on a bright, sunny day. There is also HDR mode, which combines two pictures in-camera.

Nikon Coolpix S9200 Lens test images

Lens Performance - Images have a good level of detail at both ends of the lens and purple fringing is kept under control. Images are also well exposed with excellent colour reproduction. The lens has a minimum focusing distance of 4cm, this doesn't allow you to get really close to your subject, but you can still take a decent macro shot.

Nikon Coolpix S9200 ISO test images

ISO Noise Performance - With no noise at ISO 125, there is quite a bit appearing at ISO 200 and ISO 400, where images have lost a significant amount of sharpness. It doesn't worsen much when switching to ISO 800, but there is a much higher level of noise at ISO 1600, causing the images to be very soft. At ISO 3200, images are very soft with some detail lost.

Nikon Coolpix S9200 White-balance test images

White Balance Performance - Auto White-Balance copes well under our studio lighting, with the incandescent preset taking a very similar image under the incandescent lights, whereas the fluorescent preset takes an image with a magenta cast under the fluorescent lights.


180° Panorama | 1/1000 sec | f/3.7 | 5.2 mm | ISO 125


360° Panorama | 1/1000 sec | f/3.7 | 5.2 mm | ISO 125

Panorama mode - The S9200 takes both 180° and 36°0 panoramas, both modes give impressive images with no sign of any stitching issues.

Nikon Coolpix S9200 Other sample images

Above are images taken using some of the scene modes available on the S9200.

Nikon Coolpix S9200 Digital filters

Digital Filters - The S9200 also has a range of special effects which can be used when picture taking, with examples of each below. The camera also as filter effects which can be applied to your images in the playback menu, as well as other editing options such as skin softening and quick retouch.

Video - Below is a video shot at full 1080p with stereo sound. Optical zoom is also available during recording, an example of which can be seen on the ePHOTOzine Youtube Page.

Value For Money

The Nikon Coolpix is priced at around £245.00. For £260 you can buy the S9300, which has GPS. Other cameras with a similar specification include the Leica V-Lux 30 (£499.00), Sony Cyber-Shot HX10V (£329), Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ25 (£249), Sony Cyber-Shot H90 (£229), Fuji FinePix F660 EXR (£205), Samsung WB700 (£129) and Pentax Optio RZ18 (£120).

You'll also need to buy a memory card and a case or bag to keep your camera safe and protected - have a look at our complete guide to camera bags.

Nikon Coolpix S9200 Verdict

When shopping around you can find the S9200 for £245, but retailers such as Curry's are charging £270. This makes it more expensive than the S9300 which you can get from Warehouse Express for £260, which has GPS. Thankfully, the S9200 takes pictures with good detail and colour reproduction and can shoot full resolution images at a fast rate, although noise is a problem from ISO 400 upwards. If the S9200 was cheaper, we'd be happy to recommend it, but for the price, you might as well look at the S9300.

Nikon Coolpix S9200 Pros

Good zoom range
Compact, easy to grip body
360°/180° panoramas
Full 1080p HD video recording
Fast continuous shooting at full resolution
Good colour reproduction

Nikon Coolpix S9200 Cons

4cm minimum focusing distance is limiting for macro shots
Noise at ISO 400 upwards
Tripod socket not central
Only available in certain shops

FEATURES
HANDLING
PERFORMANCE
VALUE FOR MONEY
VERDICT

Nikon Coolpix S9200 Specifications

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