The Nikon Coolpix S9100 is a camera that has been recently launched by Nikon. Nikon did not stray too far from the S8100's overall design when crafting the Coolpix S9100. The lens has been migrated closer to the left side of the camera, and we now get a quick release popup flash switch. Nikon also do-si-do'd the Mode Dial and Shutter button, allowing us to attain a better grip on the right side of the camera. Other than that, the Nikon Coolpix S9100 is approximately the same dimensions and weight as its predecessor. We like the 4-way directional pad that doubles as a circular Control dial, and the S9100's oval Video Record button is handy to have for on-the-fly capture.

But the highlight of our investigation centered on the Nikon Coolpix S9100's 18x optical zoom lens—an 8x increase from the Coolpix S8100. With nearly double the zooming action, the Nikon Coolpix S9100 was more versatile, and certainly proved itself as a powerful tourist tool at the end of our testing journey. The Nikon Coolpix S9100 has Electronic Image Stabilization in Video mode, but we'd rather have optical. Despite its inferior shake reduction system, the S9100 managed to stave off enough jitter at full 18x optical zoom, and the camera's 5-way Hybrid VR system in still shooting worked very well. Compared to the recently reviewed Nikon Coolpix P500, the Coolpix S9100 managed full telephoto video capture far better.