Nikon Coolopix P7000 Digital Camera

ReviewGist Report for Nikon Coolpix P7000

Overview

Out of the Nikon kitty in September 2010 came the Coolpix P7000, a Point and Shoot upgrade of the two-year-old, well-received P6000. This newer Nikon flagship offering in the Coolpix series is meant to be a travelling companion for professionals who regularly prefer DSLRs and a good gadget for advanced amateurs.

This report will help you get an in-depth look at this 12.64 oz cameraâ??s high performance features that nearly somewhat complement its compactness (or bulk, depending on how you look at it). We further dig into the reviews from as many as 45 gadget sites such as DCRP, Imaging Resource, DPexpert and CrunchGear who have put the P7000 through acid tests of performance and come up with plenty of comments. Finally, we give you some buying advice on the P7000 and look at other comparable camera options in the market.

What the Manufacturer Says

Nikon offers the Coolpix model P7000 as an advancement over the earlier P6000 in terms of image quality, shooting functions and operation.

Among the prominent features are an effective pixel count of 10.1 mega pixels, a large CCD image sensor, a 7.1X optical zoom NIKKOR lens that covers a broad range of focal lengths (28 mm to 200 mm), and the image-processing engine, EXPEED C2, for capturing high-resolution, tone-rich images. The lens additionally includes a lens-shift vibration reduction (VR) function as well as two ED lens elements that prevent chromatic aberration. Nikon also highlights that this product has a built-in ND (neutral density) filter to reduce the quantum of light, and decrease in shutter speed.

According to Nikon, the 1/1.7-inch CCD image sensor translates to pixels with greater pitch, which in turn enable a wider dynamic range which should result in superior image quality even in high-sensitivity photography. The image-processing engine EXPEED C2 that Nikon employs in quite a few of its models, is also meant to achieve better picture quality and quicker processing times.

The P7000 is also pitched to be having several high-sensitivity shooting functions and high-speed response and controls.

Additional attractions of the P7000 include functions which allow the user to apply camera settings very quickly, like

• 4 exposure modes: [P], [S], [A], [M]


• Three auto bracketing functions: Exposure bracketing (Tv and Sv), White balance bracketing


• Macro mode shooting with object at distance 0.8 in. from the lens


• Preset zoom memory and user-specific modes, low noise night mode, tone level information function, and noise reduction filter for long exposure.


• Quick menu and exposure compensation dials, and the reduction in number of menu layers


• Recording of HD movies with stereo sound.
  

What the Reviews Say

The Coolpix P7000 delivers DSLR-quality noise-free images, say experts writing in CNet and in Photography Blog. In fact all reviewers are happy with the sharpness of the images, the accuracy of the colours and the well-resolved detail even at the top-end ISO 3200. However, those same reviewers are unhappy with the rather sluggish RAW performance and the NRW format used for RAW images.

Experts are highly appreciative of the good 720p high-def video capabilities of this compact Point and Shoot. The P7000's video performance is commended by DCRP and ImagingResource on at least two counts. Firstly, the huge improvement in full-resolution burst shooting from predecessor P6000's 0.84 fps (for 6 frames) to 1.3 fps (for 45 frames) and secondly, the complete manual shooting capability.

Reviewers have found that the combination of 7.1X optical zoom lens and the bigger than usual 10.1 megapixel CCD do deliver as promised, not only in the Auto mode, but also in manual settings. MacWorld and PCAdvisor have found the macro mode feature to be outstanding, and PCWorld terms the optical viewfinder as quite superior. CNet further finds chromatic aberrations to be pleasingly low.

Quite a few experts like DigitalCameraReview and MacWorld have raised eyebrows over the 'compact' label tagged to the P7000. But others have been quite appreciative, even generous about the build quality, sturdiness and intuitive operation features. While InfoSync lauds the P7000 as an advanced compact that can decimate its peers, DigitalTrends, PocketLint and Steve's Digicam are appreciative of the creative control functions that will delight SLR fans and budding amateurs alike. The menu navigation however received mixed results and seems it would be hard to navigate by the newbies and is more convenient for the DSLR savvy crowd.

Rated for 350 shots / 2.75 hrs of video, with the LCD turned on, the rechargeable Li-ion battery life is sufficiently long, certify experts.

The 'ReviewGist'

The 10.1 effective megapixel, the 3" LCD screen, the 720p video recording features all contribute favorably to this Coolpix's certification as a luxury / high-end / top-notch compact.

P7000's image quality compare quite well with DSLR output, so much so that SLR fans might prefer to happily travel with it rather than lug the SLR around!

The full-manual shooting capability, reasonably good video output, the camera's handling and its multi-function offerings and the Scene Auto Selector modes receive definite thumbs-up from camera critics.

Buying Advice

Due to its slightly intimidating user interface the P7000 is best suited for the DSLR-savvy crowd looking for a compact on the go.

The Nikon Coolpix P7000 is a pretty close competitor to the Canon PowerShot G12. The Powershot G12 though is much easier to use than the P7000 and also offers superior video performance.