Nikon Coolpix Cameras Review

Finally the Zoomer’s dream come true with Nikon Coolpix P100 come with 26X ZOOM!

Coolpix P100 just released on  Feb 2010 with concept “ZOOM CLOSER & SHOOT FASTER“.

It is the incredible 26X Zoom with High Speed Action and HD Movie featured.

The launch price is $399 (see below for latest update price) which consider close to DSLR.

With Extraordinary 26x Optical Wide-Angle Zoom-NIKKOR ED Glass Lens .

You will get quality optics that provides exceptional images. The NIKKOR ED lens is built on a proud heritage of producing precision camera optics that delivers superb color and razor-sharp results.

Unbeatable compositional freedom is available with its wide-angle (26mm) to super telephoto coverage (678mm). Sweeping landscapes can be captured as well as zoomed-in close-ups of the action taking place on the baseball or soccer field!

Model: Nikon Coolpix P100

Megapixels: 10 MP Digital Camera

Optical Zoom: 26x Optical Vibration Reduction (VR) Zoom

LCD: 3.0-Inch LCD

User Review: 4 Star

Nikon Coolpix P100 Official Site: Nikon P100 Official Site

Best Feedback

This is a very versatile camera and responsive to most needs. It has a good macro range to go along with a super zoom range. It compares well to a Panasonic DMC-GH1 which has a much larger sensor and more expensive optics (the lens alone is twice the price of this Nikon). The Panasonic also produced higher saturation and contrast shots in default mode and this gives the appearance of higher resolution. The Nikon gave a truer auto outdoor color balance and more natural contrast. Even at ISO 800 it was very sharp. You can enlarge a few test shots at the DPReview forums by searching for “Nikon P100 test shots”. or if this works: [...]

The two highlights that amazed me were the Nikon’s focusing indicator system. It is so cool that when you shoot a bouquet of flowers the display shows you each blossom chosen by the matrix focusing system. You click the shutter with the knowledge that it is choosing what you want. Wonderful. The second highlight is the range of the optics from good macro, nice wide angle, and amazing telephoto. Please see the photos I uploaded showing how well this camera compares. What the Nikon lacks mostly comes down to smooth tones and fine detail at high ISOs; and this is only because it is being compared to a large sensor camera. The images would easily pass a fairly critical viewer on an 8×10 print and seem to be better than previous cameras with this size sensor.

Pros (so far):
Great focus indicator system, Display shows small green squares over selected objects for focus = ready to shoot, red square = not ready
Light, easy to hold good fit to my medium sized hands.
Articulated screen seems more natural than the swing out to the side screens (aligned with lens)
Quick access to shoot videos, focus tracking option, slow motion (lower res 240 fps),
Hugh zoom range and quite fast action, 1½ ++ second end to end
Outdoor sunlight colors quite natural
Very good resolution lens for this price range and favorably compares to much more expensive lenses (see above photos, several are pieces of 16 x 20 prints)
Very good macro versatility (see blowup of portion of terry towel above)
Adequate viewfinder but very contrasty, necessary info in viewfinder.

Cons (so far):
When shooting a video the focus is not able to keep up with the zoom (I reduced my rating because of this).
No RAW image option (less important with tools like Corel Image Adjustment Lab that gives me color temperature correction on jpg)
Lens cap rather than auto protect system, must remember to take it off before turning on camera (your notified when you forget)
Must use the menu system for several settings (ISO, color balance), slower but OK (hats off to the Canon G11, Panasonic)
Fast zoom over big range means it is tricky to accurately crop a shot (same with others though) Would love to see a ‘nudge’ feature for small changes.
Color balance with my photo fluorescent lights was tricky to dial in
Quick shutter in most situations but not all
No hot shoe for accessories and external flash
Only an adequate viewfinder
Minimum aperture of f8 (standard for cameras in this class, but would love to see it improved)
Screen does not ‘self protect’
Must manually switch viewfinder verses LCD, simple one push button though

Worse Feedback

When I spend this much money for a camera it should excite me – it doesn’t. I was enticed to buy this camera by the 26X zoom. I am returning it and will stay with my Panasonic FZ35 – 12mp/18X zoom. I took both cameras out to do a comparision, the panasonic pics were as good or better than the nikon – clearer, brighter, sharper.There also were some smaller things I didn’t like: 1) the battery has to be charged in the camera, that means you can’t use the camera with a second battery while the first one charges, 2)you have to go to the main menu to make small changes while the Panasonic has a “quick menu” that allows changes in seconds, 3) it goes off too quickly. Yes it can be set for 30 minutes but then everything stays on, I want it to just go to sleep so it only needs a touch of the button to wake up not go through a complete start up.I do mainly wildlife/bird pics and you need to be ready when they present themselves, by the time you go through starting up they are gone. I’m sure these are Nikon features but I don’t like them. I will stay a faithful Panasonic user and wait for them to come out with a larger zoom one of these days.

Sample Video By Coolpix P100:

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