Nikon COOLPIX S8000 14.2-megapixel black COOLPIX digital camera with 10x optical zoom

"AND"

With most digital cameras these days comes a trade-off. You can either have point-and-shoot size and convenience, OR you can have a decent zoom level. You can carry your camera in your pocket OR you can get close pictures of the game from the sidelines. Well, Nikon didn't like that idea. So, on the COOLPIX S8000, they put a 10x optical zoom on an incredibly-thin camera, bringing you the best of both worlds. That way, you can get great pictures from afar, AND not feel burdened when keeping your camera with you.

The answer is clear

Taking great pictures would be really tough if you tried to compose them blindfolded. No matter which way you spin it, you need a clear view of shot to get it right. So why keep trying to take great pictures without a great view beforehand? The viewfinder on most cameras gives you a rough approximation of what your shot will look like once it's taken, similar to someone legally blind who wears glasses trying to see the world without them. The viewfinder on the COOLPIX S8000, on the other hand, gives you a perfectly clear view of what's in front of the lens so that you know exactly what to expect when you press the shutter button. It's got a diagonal size of three full inches, a widescreen aspect ratio, and displays in full color. An anti-reflection coating allows you to view your shots just as easily in sunlight. But the most impressive thing about this Nikon's screen is the massive 921,000 dot rating, which ensures you don't miss even the smallest details when you preview your shots. Put on your glasses; go with the S8000.

Action!

Most digital cameras today have a movie mode. But most of those movie modes shoot dreadfully low-quality film that leaves you wondering what exactly you just saw. Unlike those underpowered cameras, this Nikon features HD video recording with sound. Using its movie mode, you can capture video at a great 720p HD resolution for up to 29 minutes. Then, you can play your masterpiece back on your HDTV using the mini-HDMI output port.

Right up close

Sometimes, the object you want to shoot requires you to be right up next to it to get a good shot. Take, for example, the dewdrop about to drip off a wildflower. Many cameras limit how close you can get, refusing to put the subject in focus at close range. This leaves you to rely on your camera's zoom. But the problem there is that trying to keep your hand steady while zoomed in on such a small subject is all but humanly impossible. Fortunately, the Nikon S8000 allows you to get 0.4" away from a subject in macro mode, so you can get a great close-up shot no matter how small your subject is.

The stability you crave

No one alive has a perfectly steady hand. Usually, the minute movements of our hands aren't an issue. But sometimes, like when trying to take certain pictures, even the slightest twitch of a finger can ruin an otherwise perfect shot. To make sure you capture those shots, the Nikon COOLPIX S8000 is equipped with a 4-way VR image stabilization system. This system includes optical vibration reduction, which actually shifts the lens so that your minor movements don't result in a blurred print. But the camera's movement isn't the only potential cause of blur in your shots. Motion in front of the lens can also lead to unclear results. The S8000 detects motion and adjusts the shutter speed and ISO setting accordingly so that you get a clear picture no matter how fast the action you're photographing is. Helping ensure that your shot is clear, ISO speeds up to 3200 are used. Finally, Nikon's original Best Shot Selector (BSS) automatically takes up to 10 shots when the shutter is pressed and saves the best image. With the help of these three features, you'll get a great, clear shot every time you press the shutter of the Nikon S8000.

Face the facts

While they're not the only subject you photograph, people are definitely one of your common subjects, and one of the most difficult to capture correctly. But getting good shots of your friends is essential; if you take a poor pic of your pal, next thing you know, he's untagging himself from the picture when you put it on Facebook. So Nikon wants to help you get good people pictures. Their COOLPIX S8000 camera is equipped with what they call their Smart Portrait System to help you get top-quality photos of human subjects. For starters, a Smart Portrait Mode Smile Timer and Blink Proof ensures that you always capture the picture while the subject is smiling with their eyes open. An optional Blink Warning lets you know when the person you're photographing might have blinked so you can re-take the picture. In-Camera Red-Eye fix automatically removes red-eye from your friends so you don't have to go back and edit it out on the computer later. Face-Priority AF finds up to 12 faces in your picture and adjust the focus so that those faces come out looking as great as they do in real life. And finally, Skin Softening smooths skin tones at three different levels for great, natural portraits. So now, instead of untagging himself, your friend might just decide to use the photo you snapped of him as his profile picture.