Nikon COOLPIX P7100 10.1 MP Digital Camera with 7.1x Optical Zoom NIKKOR ED Glass Lens and 3-Inch Vari-Angle LCD

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

Item arrived with a totally antique yellowed screen, so it renders the whole samera useless, despite everything else working

I currently own a Nikon D7000 DSLR and a Canon S90 point and shoot. Yes, there is a theme here as to the camera functions I like to use. I've been making an effort to learn the ins and outs of my D7k and enjoying photography. This led me to purchasing the Canon S90 which had some of the functions of a DSLR, but compact in size. Though I really enjoy this point and shoot function and features, I have found that the camera is really too small for me to use. My S90's primary use (along with an underwater case) is now for underwater photography.I was spoiled with the S90 and having the capability to take a small size camera everywhere I went. This led me into looking for another camera that was not quite a DSLR and not quite a compact point and shoot camera. I researched different camera models and read many reviews. I also perused camera forums for opinions, suggestions and searched for sample pictures straight out of the cameras. What I was looking for was what they called a "bridge camera".The results of my research led me to the Coolpix P7100. There were a few positives which led me to purchasing this bridge camera. The accessory/hot shoe enables me to use my existing Nikon speedlights with this P7100. The infrared receivers that are located in the front and back of the camera allows me to use my existing Nikon remote control. The optical viewfinder was a nice feature to have though not a necessity for me. The P7100 is still a point and shoot because of its fixed lens. The focal length, 28-200mm is a great feature as I'm used to using my Nikkor 18-200mm lens on my D7k. So, having a decent zoom was a requirement.Besides the P, S, A, and M function on the mode dial, there are other features like image quality, ISO, WB, bracketing and other control settings that are available on a separate quick menu dial. What can be set on the quick menu dial can also be set in the camera's menu. Also, there's a sub-command dial for setting the apertures and a dial for setting the exposure compensation. Really cool features on this camera.The menu is intuitive. I spent a few minutes going through each tab and then I was able to find my way around the settings and made a few changes. Most of the default settings I kept so I could see how the camera functions without too much tweaking.My initial battery charge took about an hour and twenty minutes to complete. I've taken over 200 pictures and still on the first battery charge. I've spent lots of time viewing the LCD and taken several pictures with the built in flash. I'm looking forward to seeing how many pictures I can take on a single charge.My initial outdoor shots were awesome. I started in Aperture mode, ISO 100, Auto AF, and Auto WB. I was happy with those results. WB is somewhat accurate most of the time. My outdoor pictures are sharp and I'm amazed that I don't have to do any serious post-production (PP) edits to my pictures. My P7100 is that good.Typically, the internal built-in flash on cameras are not that great. I used my compact SB-400 flash with this camera and I immediately fell in love with this combination. It felt well balanced and comfortable in my hand. This winning combination also produces beautiful pictures.I've only had this camera for less than two days and it's getting a good workout. I will be back to post updates and tips that I uncover. Stay tuned!** Update 05/27/12 **I've included two shots in the gallery (blue hydrangea and white Stewartia flower) taken with my new P7100 and SB-400 flash. The picture quality is outstanding. I believe they ended up on page 3 in the gallery. Enjoy!** Update 05/27/12 **I've been researching cases and bags for this camera. I didn't want to use a snug case since I've attached the included Nikon strap onto my camera and there wouldn't be any room to place the straps inside the case. There are not too many cases available and the next step up would be a bag. I was looking for a case to protect the camera and that I could throw in my purse. I knew I would not be able to find a slim case and I was avoiding cases with large "handles".I came across the Case Logic Compact Camcorder Case (DCB-303) at my local Staples. This bag is also available here on Amazon. I took my camera with me to Staples and tried it in several cases and bags. This was the best case for my use. I can even fold my camera strap and tuck it inside the bag. There are two side zippered pockets to store a small SDHC card reader, a thumb drive, and a cleaning cloth. There's a small zipper compartment inside the top part of the bag to store a media card.This case can be worn at the waist and attached to a belt. There's also an adjustable web strap where the bag can be worn as a shoulder bag.I've noticed that a few "camcorder" cases would fit this camera. It depends on what you are looking for (functionality and size).** Update 05/28/12 **I've been switching between the LCD and OVF for taking pictures. Coming from the DSLR world, I thought I would rely heavily on the OVF. So far, it hasn't been the case. While in macro mode, the OVR is useless and have to rely on the LCD to compose the shot. Once I switch out of macro mode, the OVF can be used if needed.I'm enjoying the tilting LCD screen. Being a petite person, I can tilt the LCD screen down, raise my camera over my head, and take a great picture from a "taller person" perspective. I've added another hydrangea picture (with a moth) to the gallery.** Update 06/02/12 **I've added another picture to the gallery (page 3): raspberries, blueberries and cherries. I took this picture in micro mode and used my compact SB-400 flash. I placed a tall white mug two inches behind the bowl of fruit. I flipped up the flash on my SB-400 so I could bounce the flash off the white mug and back onto the fruit. Playing with creativity.** Update 06/03/12 **I purchased a second/backup battery from my local Best Buy. I was finally able to use my rewards coupon. The battery took 1-1/2 hours to charge. I placed the extra battery at the bottom of my Case Logic case and the P7100 sits on top. I'm still able to zip the bag shut. I have to be careful when I remove or put the camera bag in the case that the battery doesn't fall out. Not a big issue.** Update 06/09/12 **My initial battery charge lasted 375 pictures! That's a big WOW for me. I took a lot of pictures both indoors and outdoors until the battery drained and the camera shut itself down. I would estimate that I used the built-in flash for about 20% of the pictures I took. Mostly experimenting with what the flash can do. Another 30% of the time, I used my compact SB-400 speed light with the camera. The remaining 50% of the time was used with no flash.I used the LCD a lot of the time to take the picture, review the pictures and to make changes between flash/no flash, normal and micro, experimenting with the autofocus points, and just enjoying what I was seeing on the screen. I would have expected the LCD to drain the battery quickly, but that doesn't appear to be the case.** Update 06/14/12 **Did I mention how much I'm enjoying this camera? I'm so happy to have a nifty P&S camera in my bag with me all the time. I've posted a picture of a turkey on page 3 of the gallery. It was taken in the late afternoon. Notice the details. Before getting this camera, I would have missed many photog opportunities like this because I didn't have my DSLR with me.

For a long time, I've searched for my perfect all-in-one camera: Not to big, not to small, optical viewfinder, external mic jack for video, manual control over shutter speed and aperature. The P7100 has all that, but my "lesser" Point & Shoot, Nikon 8100, has more megapixals and a larger (better?) Lens, hence, slightly sharper photos.The 8100 also will record 1080 HD, and 'slo-mo' video, which is a fun extra - P7100 doesn't.The P7100 has an 'exposure compensation' knob on the top right, and I've noticed it gets bumped/rotated easily, affecting the exposures and I'm not even sure HOW I've bumped it, I only notice it later. In my opinion, it's a pointless addition to any camera - the whole point of having shutter and aperature control IS TOO CONTROL THE EXPOSURE! What's the point of a redundant exposure knob?Also, like just about every digital camera these days, it has way to many (redundant) buttons, knobs, "scene selection" etc. Who is ever going to use a "Food" scene setting?I like taking 'action' pics of my dog, but to get 'continuous' shooting in Sports mode, it requires you reduce quality to 'normal' instead of the higher quality 'Fine' setting.This is a Good camera that could have been Great.