Unfortunately, there are so few "errors" in the design, which fell into the eye at first me. So is partly due to the compartment for battery and memory card right at the bottom. Once you are there the thumb, it can happen already times, that is accidentally releases the lid.
Furthermore, the glass of the large monitor is pleasing to the housing, so it is facing a little. If you put the camera on the back (the lens is not like they are indeed place), so is quite fast to expect the first scratches. Especially at parties or the like, its commitment his camera so happy times anywhere on the table. It would have been better if you had the monitor window sunk 1-2 millimeters in the case.
When AV connection has unfortunately resorted even with this camera with a rubber cover, which depends only on a small corner and can break quickly with frequent opening and closing. Also it is not easy, with short nails to remove this rubber cover.
The most negative though, and I am angry about it today, after a week still, is the hindrance mounted flash. Because these drives exactly high where you are usually his left index finger when holding the camera with both hands.
I tested this with a few people and really everyone wondered about the error message to flash, which announced that the flash can not boot. Why? Exactly !, because everyone had his index finger lying on the flash part.
The camera is no additional memory card, you have to, if you have at hand no memory card, once satisfied with the internal memory of 32MB, which is just enough for 4-5 photos at full resolution times.
There is also an AC adapter to charge the battery (also recharge via USB to the PC is possible). In my package this power adapter was the one then on a connector should set (also in the package). These two parts I could no longer separate from each other until today. In the description is only that one should not take by force the parts apart.
Now I wanted to make myself comfortable on the couch to read the instructions, but what I have to say, in the instructions for use is limited to only the most necessary. Who wants to know more, the detailed description as a PDF on PC / laptop must make. I would have been much prefer a proper manual.
Time turn on the camera, which was achieved only at the second attempt, because you have to press the small button to turn very deep. My wife I got even this, as she tried to push this purely with her fingernails. When the camera is turned on, it might as well already start basically, after having set region and date / time. A simple, almost self-explanatory display will light up and the few switch / wheel ensure no confusion. Anyone who has ever held a camera in his hands, gets along immediately.
In my case, nor was the fact that I own a Nikon for years, with whom I have always been very satisfied.
As clear is the display and so clearly the buttons and wheel are arranged so clearly is also the menu.
In addition, you have the option if you at one of a function not exactly know what to do to make flash a help. Unfortunately, I do not really felt these help texts as helpful as they often were limited to texts like; "Setting the ISO sensitivity of the camera". As if one does not itself would be clear. Only natural wonders of the ignorant, what is meant by ISO. One would therefore calm the terms / Glossary can explain to the help itself.
Otherwise, there are really quite a few settings; Image quality, white balance, metering, continuous shooting, autofocus, panoramic photos, etc.
Under white balance can be found so few presets (daylight, artificial, fluorescent lamp ...) which not always convinced me. Partly got my photos, for example, in "Tungsten" a slight green tint.
Really begeister I am with this camera on macro shots, so if you photograph something from very close up (1cm). Here really emerged fantastic, incredibly sharp images, so it is a great joy to take pictures in Macro mode. But even while zooming me get amazingly steady images, even if the trigger button in my opinion would calm can more gently snap. By some solid snapping you are traveling from and to a photo already.
There are many, many other settings, such as Indoor, Night Portrait, Sunset, etc., which I do often look just as nice game Erreien.
Also you can edit your photos directly on the camera, of course, only very slightly. But these are more game Erreien in my eyes. If you want to edit your photos, then it better with a reasonable graphics program like Photoshop or CorelDraw.
For this reason, for me the supplied graphics program as little of interest, particularly since this whopping 1GB (including memory) swallows.
Now while photographing really good going out of hand and also know to convince the results, so I'm a little disappointed with the video function.
Basically, one has only two settings that the "movie" (HD 720p 1280x720, VGA 640x480, QVGA 320x240) and the "Auto Focus" (single autofocus and time AF). To start / stop recording, simply press the red record button marked, that's it.
When my older Nikon is switched only in the Video mode and then the monitor display changes accordingly. This I miss in the new Coolpix S8000, because it is not a continuous time bar disappears. The bar, which one says how much memory a still available when shooting, only appears during recording. Stops one recording, so this bar will disappear again unfortunately.
Who can do without quality on other functions when shooting in HD, will definitely get an appealing image quality offered, if those are not to be compared with real HD recordings. The only digital zoom while recording you should also avoid better as it can be quite pixelated policy.
This pretty little kamere is for all those who want to capture quite straightforward really good photos and movies. Apart from a few, minor flaws, I am still very pleased with this camera.