Nikon's Coolpix S2900 arrived in early 2015 as an entry-level ultracompact for style-conscious shooters who wanted a capable point-and-shoot without any fuss. Part of Nikon's Style series, it packed 20 megapixels and a 26mm wide-angle zoom into a 20mm-thin body that came in five colors. Built for everyday photography, it emphasized simplicity and portability — Scene Auto Selector handled the shooting decisions, and you just had to show up.
NO FILTER: SHOT ON S2900
THE LOOKS
In silver, the S2900 has a clean, metallic finish with a straightforward, functional design. The body is remarkably slim at 20mm deep, with smooth rounded edges that make it easy to slip into a pocket or bag. The lens sits completely flush when retracted, keeping the profile minimal. At 95 × 59 × 20mm and 119g, it disappears into daily carry without complaint. Also available in red, black, purple, and purple lineart.
THE SPECS
20.1-megapixel 1/2.3-inch CCD sensor, ISO 80–3200. Nikkor 5× optical zoom, 26–130mm equivalent, f/3.2–6.5. No optical stabilization. EXPEED C2 processor. 2.7-inch LCD (230k dots). 720p HD video at 30fps. Eight Special Effects filters including Toy Camera, Pop, Cross Process, and Selective Color. Scene Auto Selector, Smart Portrait System with Smile Shutter and Blink Warning. Built-in WiFi with NFC. SD/SDHC/SDXC storage. Weighs 119g.
DESIGN HIGHLIGHTS
- 20mm slim body with a 26mm wide-angle lens: At 20mm deep with a flush-retracting lens, the S2900 achieved a genuinely shirt-pocket profile — and the 26mm equivalent starting focal length was wider than most entry-level compacts could manage.
- Eight Special Effects with live preview: Toy Camera, Pop, Cross Process, Selective Color and four others previewed in real time on the LCD and recorded at full resolution — no post-processing needed, no quality compromise.
- Built-in WiFi and NFC: Wireless transfer to a phone or tablet via Nikon's SnapBridge-era connectivity was unusual at this price point in 2015, making sharing straightforward without cables.
THE VERDICT
The Coolpix S2900 is exactly what it set out to be: a light, slim, uncomplicated camera that fits in a pocket and gets out of the way. The CCD sensor produces warm, pleasant images at base ISO, the 26mm wide end gives you genuine compositional flexibility, and the five color options made it feel like a considered accessory rather than a generic gadget. No optical stabilization was a real limitation, but for bright-light everyday shooting, it delivered the goods without asking anything complicated of you.