Nikon COOLPIX P7100 10.1 MP Digital Camera with 7.1x Optical Zoom NIKKOR ED Glass Lens and 3-Inch Vari-Angle LCD
Nikon COOLPIX P7100 10.1 MP Digital Camera with 7.1x Optical Zoom NIKKOR ED Glass Lens and 3-Inch Vari-Angle LCD
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- Superior Nikon image quality with 7.1x Zoom-NIKKOR ED glass lens and large 10.1-MP, 1/1.7-in. CCD sensor
- Fast and responsive with Nikon's EXPEED C2 image processing engine; shoot RAW files for added image control and flexibility
- Versatile manual controls, including front command dial and exclusive quick menu puts the photographer in charge of camera operation
- HD movie (720p) with stereo sound recording using built-in microphone; optical zoom control and autofocus are available during recording
- 3-inch ultra-high resolution (921,000-dot) Vari-Angle monitor with Clear Color display and anti-reflective coating; for added viewing convenience an optical viewfinder is also provided
Brand : Nikon
Category : Electronics,Camera & Photo,Digital Cameras,Point & Shoot Digital Cameras
Rating : 3.8
ListPrice : US $640
Price : US $640
Review Count : 133
Auto Focus Technology : Center, Selective single-point, Face Detection, Tracking, Multi-area, Single, Continuous, Contrast Detection, Live View
Photo Sensor Size : 1/1.7-inch
Photo Sensor Technology : CCD
Effective Still Resolution : 10.1 MP
Camera Flash : Built-In
Video Capture Resolution : 720p
Model Name : 26286
Model Number : 26286
Best Sellers Rank : #76,405 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics) #390 in Digital Point & Shoot Cameras
Color : Black
Included Components : Battery
Expanded ISO Maximum : 3200
Lens Type : Zoom
Optical Zoom : 7.1 x
Compatible Mountings : Nikon 1
Screen Size : 3 Inches
Display Type : LCD
Batteries Required? : No
Number of Batteries : 1 Lithium Ion batteries required.
Are Batteries Included : No
Rechargeable Battery Included : No
Battery Cell Composition : Lithium Ion
Battery Weight : 1 Grams
Target Gender : Unisex
Connectivity Technology : USB, HDMI
Continuous Shooting Speed : 1.2
Special Feature : Travel
Skill Level : Professional
Form Factor : Compact
Hardware Interface : AV Port
Display Resolution Maximum : 921,000
JPEG quality level : Fine
Image Stabilization : Optical
Video Capture Format : AVC
Viewfinder Type : Optical
Display Fixture Type : Tilting
Assembly Required : No
Item Dimensions LxWxH : 4.6 x 1.9 x 3.1 inches
Item Weight : 14 Ounces
Zoom Type : Optical Zoom
Focus Type : Autofocus & Manual
Maximum Focal Length : 200 Millimeters
Minimum Focal Length : 28 Millimeters
Expanded ISO Minimum : 100
Metering Description : Multi, Center-weighted, Spot
Shooting Modes : Fireworks Show, Landscape, Black and White Copy, Snow, Backlighting, Portrait, Dusk/Dawn, Night Landscape, Sunset, Beach, Panorama, Party/Indoor, Museum, Scene Auto Selector, Close Up, Food, Sports
Battery Description : DC 7.4 V, 1030 mAh
Flash Memory Type : SD/SDHC/SDXC
Memory Storage Capacity : 94 MB
Max Shutter Speed : 1/4000 seconds
Min Shutter Speed : 60 seconds
Processor Description : Expeed C2
Digital Zoom : 4
Autofocus Points : 99
Battery Life : 350 Photos
Removable Memory : SDXC
Audio Input : Microphone
Exposure Control Type : exposure bracketing (Sv), exposure compensation (-3.0 to +3.0 EV in steps of 1/3 EV), exposure bracketing (Tv), motion detection, Manual, Automatic
Nikon COOLPIX P7100 10.1 MP Digital Camera with 7.1x Optical Zoom NIKKOR ED Glass Lens and 3-Inch Vari-Angle LCD
- First, a little background: I\'m a longtime Nikon user since the days of film, but when it comes to point-and-shoot digital cameras, Nikon\'s offerings really haven\'t measured up to what the competitors were putting out. I have a Nikon D700 DSLR, which is awesome. But in searching for something more portable and convenient that wouldn\'t entail a huge sacrifice in image quality, I\'ve finally found what I\'m looking for in Nikon\'s Coolpix lineup: the P7100.This is, flat-out, the best compact camera in this price range that I\'ve ever used, and I\'ve tried plenty from various makers. I had considered the Nikon 1 series mirrorless cameras, but the price seems a bit steep for what they are, and the idea of having a second camera with interchangeable lenses undercut the convenience factor. So I gave the P7100 a try, and I don\'t regret it at all.Here are the pros and cons as I see them:Pros:Great image quality and the ability to shoot in Raw, which very few Coolpix cameras allow. If you don\'t know, shooting in Raw gives you much better control and more options in processing your photos. It\'s far easier to correct bad white balance, for one.A built-in neutral density filter allows you to use a longer exposure in bright conditions (good for waterfalls and seascapes).An interval timer for time-lapse shooting.A relatively fast aperture (2.8 at the wide end of the zoom) and good low-light performance (noise is very well controlled for a small camera).A real hotshoe and compatibility with Nikon\'s Creative Lighting System (you can use any speedlight in Nikon\'s lineup) for professional-quality lighting in portraits and other shots.Fast, accurate autofocus with subject tracking that really works.Vibration reduction (reduces blur from camera shake at slow shutter speeds).An optical viewfinder (I rarely use it, but it\'s nice to have when you do need it).A tilt-out LCD display (makes shooting from the hip, or ground level, much easier).Full manual controls for aperture, shutter, ISO, white balance and exposure compensation (You get to decide instead of the camera! What a concept!)Cons:The zoom range is good, but not great (optical zoom is 28mm to 200mm in 35mm equivalent. You can go wider, to 20mm equivalent, but the adapter and lens to do that cost about half what the camera itself does.) It would be nice to be able to hit 300mm with the optical zoom.It\'s on the large size for a compact camera (you\'ll need a big pocket if you want to keep it there).CLS functionality is limited to one remote group of speedlights. Just Group A, no B or C.Top video quality is 740p at 24fps, not 1080p, and like all small cameras, the built-in microphone picks up clicks and thumps as you zoom or operate the camera.If you\'re like me, you want the camera defaults always set on the highest quality settings. In order to do that, you must shoot Raw+Jpg Fine. That way if you\'re shooting Raw and you switch to a scene mode where the camera only shoots jpg, it will stay at Fine quality (the camera default, which can\'t be permanently changed, is normal quality). Just make sure you have a good sized memory card so it doesn\'t fill up with jpgs you don\'t need.The sensor count of 10 megapixels is a bit small by today\'s standards. I would have liked at least 12, but unless you\'re heavily cropping your photos, 10 is plenty. Honestly, the quality is so good, I keep being surprised when I remember that it\'s \"only\" 10 MP.The strobe effect of the redeye reduction on the built-in flash is painful. It\'s really bright. Use it if you like photos of people wincing. When I use the popup flash on my D700, I don\'t notice this. There\'s something different. Thankfully, you can always use a real speedlight.Other observations:There are a bunch of scene modes (most are jpg only, no Raw), including a backlit HDR mode, which automatically merges shots at different exposures) and a low-light mode, along with some special effects (I like the zoom exposure mode). Battery life is good for a day\'s shooting; you can shoot time lapses without worry.I absolutely love this camera.
- When Nikon released the Coolpix P7000 in 2010, I took a close, hard look at it. That camera seemed to have most of the features that I was looking for in a compact pro-level digital camera without the bulk of a DSLR. I had a chance to use one belonging to a friend for a few days, and though I liked it, the overall performance seemed a bit slow, especially compared with the Canon G12 owned by another friend.First, the P7000 was slower than the G12 in most every way, and the Canon had an excellent 2.8-inch Vari-Angle LCD panel, a feature that I had come to really appreciate with my own Nikon D5000 DSLR. The Canon was very tempting, but I decided to wait and explore other options in pro/enthusiast compact cameras. And while I was narrowing the field, Nikon announced a new camera in the fall of 2011.I\'m glad that I waited, because after doing plenty of research and comparison between the current offerings of cameras like this including some that were being announced, I bought the Nikon COOLPIX P7100 . Sometimes it\'s good to hold up on buying what one really needs.I had explored the new mirrorless cameras from Nikon and others, but for serious, practical photography with a camera smaller than a regular DSLR, this one fits precisely that role. The lens is fixed, but it\'s a Nikkor that equates to a 28-200mm on a 35mm SLR, a 7.1x zoom in fact. There\'s also a small optical viewfinder that may be tiny, but it\'s useful when needed.Getting down to the subjective nitty-gritty, here are my basic observations.Pros:* Substantial 7.1x optical zoom range; extra punch over 5x helps* Tilting 3-inch Vari-Angle LCD display is just what\'s needed* Excellent image quality, far better than anticipated* Superb ergonomics; rational array of controls* Very respectable battery life; averaging 320 - 350 shots per charge* Much faster operational speeds than the P7000* Uses readily-available SD card; SDXC support* RAW (NRW) support for when needed for serious images* Hot shoe accepts wide variety of Nikon Speedlights* Rubberized grip area on the bodyCons:* Wish the P7100 would go to 24mm wide angle, but a 28-200mm zoom is more important* f/2.8 maximum aperture limits it\'s low-light use; f/2.0 would be good* Only 720p HD video offered; subjectively not crucialMaking Choices:Besides the Nikon COOLPIX P7100, I had taken a realistic and objective look at a number of better digital cameras that I hoped would meet my own subjective individual needs, and then narrowed the list to the following: the Canon G12 10 MP Digital Camera with it\'s 5x optical image stabilized zoom and 2.8 Inch Vari-Angle LCD display, and the Fujifilm X10 12 MP EXR CMOS Digital Camera , which featured its f2.0-f2.8 4x optical zoom and a 2.8-Inch LCD display. Each of these cameras had very strong points, each with its own set of features that would be useful for the creative process.But even though the Fuji X10 had a very fast and sharp lens, it had the shortest zoom range and its LCD screen was fixed as opposed to the tilting screens of the Canon and the Nikon, so that left two. The Nikon had a significantly higher LCD screen resolution than the Canon (921k dots vs. 461k dots), and the Nikon\'s LCD at 3.0 inches was about 10% larger than that on the Canon. The Canon offered slightly more dynamic range (11.2 EV vs. 10.7 EV), about half a stop, and a bit better macro capability, but the Nikon\'s 7x optical zoom (28mm - 200mm) compared to the Canon\'s 5x (28mm - 140mm) was the final deal clincher for me.I would suggest to that anyone considering the Nikon P7100 that it\'s worth the time to take a close look at these three cameras that go many steps above the general point and shoot category in features and quality of images. We each have our priorities; choices are a subjective thing for each of us, and for me the Nikon offered the best balance of what I was looking for.First Impressions:There wasn\'t much about the P7100 that I wasn\'t aware of before it arrived and took it out of the box, as I had already played with a couple of them. When first unboxed, it was apparent that the Nikon attention to detail was all here. The first thing that\'s noticed is how solid this camera feels, and maybe that\'s partially due to its magnesium chassis. Followed the printed Quick Start Guide and charged the battery for the recommended 1 ½ hours while reading and going through the box contents. This camera came packaged with:- EN-EL14 Rechargeable Li-ion Battery- MH-24 Battery Charger- AN-CP21 Strap- Reference Manual on CD-ROM- NikonView NX 2 CD-ROM- UC-E6 USB Cable- EG-CP16 Audio/Video CableThe MH-24 Battery Charger blinks when charging, and glows steadily when the battery is topped up. Put the battery cap in a safe place for when it\'s needed. Once the battery was charged, inserted a Class 10 SDHC card and took the P7100 out for a trial run.Even though I had played with this P7100 before, I now had a chance to really put it through its paces. This one was mine. Larger than most compacts, this camera subjectively has a comfortable feel; everything seems to fit the hand quite easily. There are enough controls and options that can be set to customize it to ones individual preferences, and in my initial explorations, found that this was easy to accomplish.The P7100 In Use:The small quick menu dial on the top of the camera body quickly became my ally, and it made access of the various functions such as ISO settings, white balance, auto bracketing and such to be far easier than exploring the camera menus. Fiddled with various shots trying face detection, the various metering settings and such, all part of the learning experience. This method is far better than digging into the viewfinder menus to access the various features.The small optical viewfinder is useful under some circumstances, but be aware that you really getting about 80% of what will actually show in your resulting images. It\'s useful when needed, but the tilting 3-inch Vari-Angle LCD display is for this user where this camera really shines. It\'s a brilliant and very sharp monitor, offering very close to 100% of what your results will be, and for one who wears glasses, those 921,000 dots do help. It allows for creativity from some fairly awkward angles, and as I have made good and frequent use of this feature on my D5000, am happy to have it on this camera.Once one gets used to it, and that doesn\'t take long, the ergonomics and controls of the P7100 are excellent. Now that I\'ve spent some real time with it, there\'s nothing that I would change in that respect. Am not a much of a video shooter, but from the little that I\'ve done, the video quality is good. The 720p may be a bit dated for some, but if you need to shoot only the occasional video, then it should be adequate.The built-in flash does a better job than was expected, and within the abilities of how these function, have no complaints with the results. But when I attached and used the Nikon SB-400 , the resulting images were close to dazzling. I\'ve used my SB-400 and the older SB-600 on my Nikon DSLRs, but this combination on the P7100 helped produce some of my best flash images ever.Issues:As noted early, I\'m getting a very respectable 320 - 350 shots per charge with the standard EN-EL14 battery, but experience is a good teacher, so I usually try to get spares. When I went online here to get the second Nikon EN-EL14 battery, there was a shortage. EN-EL14 fits and is made specifically for the Nikon D3100, D3200, D5100, COOLPIX P7000 and COOLPIX P7100 digital cameras. I did find a genuine Nikon EN-EL14 battery for close to Nikon\'s suggested SRP of about forty bucks, but you have to dig. There are additional issues dealing with these Li-Ion batteries, and I keep the info updated in the comments to my review of the Nikon EN-EL14 Rechargeable Li-Ion Battery . In any case, don\'t waste your money on clone or third-party batteries for this camera.Summary:The P7100 is the type of compact digital camera that you may want to spend a little time getting used to, and maybe even a couple of hours getting into the manual reading how to get the most from it. The images straight from the camera look quite, with excellent details, bright colors, and very good performance at both the wide angle (28mm) and telephoto (200mm) settings, with surprisingly low noise. This is a highly-recommended 5-star compact digital camera worthy of the Nikon name. Prices keep trickling down on this model, and if you can get it for under $300, don\'t hesitate; grab it. You\'ll be glad that you did.6/20/2012
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