The Nikon S8200 is a compact, solidly built pocket camera that takes the best features of other pocket cameras and puts them in a small, affordable package. The most interesting part of the S8200 is that it is not the best at any one thing. It cannot match the picture quality of the heavier mirrorless Olympus E-PL1, nor does it have the flash performance of the Panasonic ZS15, or the small size of the Canon ELPH 520 HS. But it does a better job of combining these weight and picture quality than any other camera in the shootout. Though it might be tempting to think of the S8200 as a compromise candidate, it is a capable performer in its own right.

The Good

Great pictures. The S8200 takes sharp, bright photos that are high in contrast and properly exposed. Fine detail is clear while the instance of JPG compression artifacts is low. That adds up to a camera that will capture all of your vacation shots and family memories with ease.

The higher sharpness and more apparent detail of the S8200 give it an edge over the ZS15, despite the latter's greater color saturation. The ZS15 also appears slightly underexposed by comparison, a trait that is somewhat common in Panasonic's cameras.

However, when put head to head against the Olympus E-PL1, the S8200 cannot compete with the larger sensor of the E-PL1. The higher detail and greater control over depth of field that the E-PL1 shows cannot be matched by any point and shoot, but that is not a limitation of the S8200 in particular. On the contrary, the fact that the S8200 holds up so well against the E-PL1's larger sensor is a testament to the camera's quality. For a point-and-shoot, the S8200 takes great pictures.

Easy to Use. The button layout on the S8200 is logical and Nikon's menu systems are easy to understand. The camera's controls are all easily reachable, and with the notable exception of the flash (more on this later), it never feels like there's a "wrong" way to use the camera.

Panorama mode. Somewhat unique is the S8200's ability to take both 180-degree and 360-degree panoramas. The in-camera stitching does a good job of lining up your photographs, but one should still be careful not to move the camera vertically while taking a horizontal pan. Also, as a usability note, it can be hard to find a scene worth photographing in three hundred and sixty degrees, and harder still to hold the camera stable throughout.

The Bad

Flash. No camera is perfect, but the S8200 was doing a good job of faking it until we had to use the flash. The camera's flash is a pop-up model, springing out of the case when needed. However, once the flash has deployed, you can't retract it again unless you turn the camera off. What's more, the flash pops up where most people want to put their fingers, making it more difficult to hold the camera.

You can disable the flash by selecting the "no flash" option from the menu, but you have to remember to do this before the flash deploys. It will not lock down again once it has come up.

No printed manual. Nikon has stopped including printed manuals with their Coolpix cameras. This reduces paper use and is arguably better for the environment, and most people don't read the manual anyway. However, even though a copy is included on a CD, people who actually read the manual and like to keep it with them will have to print a copy themselves.

No dedicated charger. The S8200's charger is a power brick and a USB cable which plug into the camera to charge the batter. Since the whole camera has to be plugged in to charge the battery, people who like to keep a spare battery on hand will find it more difficult to keep both batteries charged. An off-camera charger is available, but not included.

The Verdict

The Nikon S8200 is a great camera with a few annoying quirks. Were it not for the oddball behavior of the flash and its stubborn refusal to retract on command, the S8200 would be near to perfect for a compact camera. Most folks will find the S8200 to be a highly capable pocket camera, ideal for vacations and family photos. The 14X zoom lens has enough reach to catch a variety of shots. All in all, there's not much to find fault with. The Nikon S8200 is not the best at everything, but it provides the best combination of features, making it our Best Camera under $300.