Nikon COOLPIX P7100 Pro Reviews

The Nikon Coolpix P7100 and cameras like it represent a quirky in-between-breed — even more so than the mirrorless, interchangeable lens models taking over the market. You’re buying a point and shoot without the convenience of fitting it in your back pocket, and most of the complications of a DSLR without the benefit of a large sensor. Yet with all that in mind, Nikon has managed to make the P7100 a really attractive option. Nikon’s P7100 is simple where it should be and complex where it needs to be. Those who prioritize image quality, customization and fine shooting controls will find exactly what they’re looking for. And nothing more: No waste on flash-in-the-pan features like GPS or touchscreens. The handful of buyers looking for that rare combination will be impressed with what the Nikon P7100 offers.

The P7100 is not particularly compact, especially when compared to cameras like the LX5, the TL500, or the S100, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. Larger cameras provide a more stable shooting platform than smaller cameras. The P7100's impressively logical control array allows most primary functions/settings to be accessed directly - I only rarely needed to delve into the menu system. Based on my experiences with the P7100 it appears that Nikon has actually made significant improvements in operational speed and function ergonomics over the P7000. Canon's "G" series compacts have been the top dog in the P&S digicam game for more than a decade. Excluding the new big-sensor GX1, the "G" PowerShot series is getting a little long in the tooth and is now facing some really stiff competition from the Panasonic LX5, Olympus XZ-1, Samsung TL500 and the new Nikon P7100. Today's upper tier point-and-shoot digital cameras are capable of consistently delivering near pro quality images and enlargements (up to 8 x 10 inches) from top tier point-and-shoots are essentially indistinguishable from images of the same size shot with entry level DSLRs like the Canon T3 or CSCs like the Panasonic GF3.

It was with some trepidation that I approached this review of the Nikon P7100. While there was much to like in the previous model including its good image quality and excellent built-in zoom lens, it was a slow and frustrating camera to use. When you look at the specs and features of the P7100, it may not seem that much has changed. This slightly chunky flagship Coolpix camera has pretty much the same look and feel as its predecessor and much of the same functionality. The one glaring improvement -- and it's an important one -- is the 3-inch, 921,000-dot LCD screen, which is now a vari-angle display that can be tilted up or down for help in composing shots from unusual angles. While that's great, the important changes on the P7100 have occurred, as they say, "under the hood." While this camera is no speed demon and, in fact, is still slower to use than some competing models, it's a massive improvement over the P7000. The only time I felt I had to stop and wait for the P7100 was when shooting RAW images while using a less-than-ideal SD memory card. Potential buyers take note: if you plan to purchase the Nikon P7100, also get the fastest SD card you can find. Overall though, where the P7000 could be maddening to use the P7100 was just plain fun.

The Nikon P7100 is a well-rounded camera which offers a huge amount of manual control that is both quick to access and intuitive in use. The large command dials on the front and back of the camera are well positioned and easy to locate by touch, which helps to keep your eyes on your subject. As such, although the P7100 is perfectly capable when used as an auto-everything point and shoot, its true potential is more evident when shooting in PASM modes. Nikon has done a lot to make the P7100 a more genuinely usable enthusiast compact than its predecessor. Everything from image capture to accessing and navigating menus is quicker than it was in the P7000 and the camera as a whole is snappy and a pleasure to use. While these much needed improvements are a welcome change we still feel there is some room for improvement, especially in the P7100's video capability. Video footage is very nice (and slightly improved over the P7000) but the P7100's video specification lags behind an increasing number of compact cameras at similar (and in some cases lower) price points. Many cameras in this price range offer movie recording at 1080p with frame rates as high as 60p. On the plus side, the P7100 is a more versatile video camera than the Canon PowerShot G12, which lacks either AF or optical zoom during video capture.

That said, the price tag on this camera will by itself exclude most happy snappers, but you do get what you pay for, as the Nikon Coolpix P7100 has no major flaws and delivers very satisfying images. With the PowerShot G12 over a year old now, the pressure is on Canon to match Nikon’s accomplished well-designed rival, but why wait?

The Nikon P7100’s feature set is excellent, as is its image quality. On its own, the powerful P7100’s full complement of features and image quality make this camera worthy of strong consideration for photographers who want control over their picture-taking. While we’d still like to see performance advances in shot-to-shot times and video resolution, the P7100 is a big step forward from the P7000. It’s definitely the best competitor we’ve seen for the Canon PowerShot G12, but the G12 is likely to be a better fit for casual photographers. The P7100's complexity means that it has a far more difficult learning curve than most point-and-shoot cameras do.

Nikon’s Coolpix P7100 is as complex as it is powerful, with excellent image quality and a feature set to please even the fussiest photographer. Just make sure you’re up for the challenge.

Nikon have sensibly retained all the best features of the P7000 and made sensible improvements to processing times, added a more flexible monitor and some extra effects, plus increased customised settings and rapid change options.

A welcome refinement to the P7000 and a pleasure to use, but the sensor isn't up to current standards at this price

The Nikon Coolpix P7100 is big on image quality and manual controls, although it comes at the cost of size and weight. The camera will appeal to you if you are an enthusiast who doesn’t always want to lug a D-SLR around, but is a tough sell if you’re looking for a compact and sleek point-and-shoot.

Not only is the Nikon P7100 the equal of the Canon PowerShot G12, in many ways it's superior. For a start it's cheaper, offers a wider focal range, while the LCD monitor is larger and sharper too. Of course it's not perfect; the 720p HD movie mode is a bit measly, the optical viewfinder a bit poky, and while the sluggish performance issues of the P7000 have been improved on, the P7100 still isn't going to win any prizes for speed. That said, it's a very good camera that offers plenty of physical control and solid image quality. If you're looking for a compact camera with the feel of a DSLR but without the bulk, you should definitely take a look at the Nikon P7100.

The previous P7000 was a great advanced compact, but it fell down with its slow Raw capture speed. The P7100 manages to cut waiting time right down and, although it's still not the fastest on the market, it's definitely quicker. Other additions, including the tiltable LCD screen and front control wheel, are welcome and improve the usability of the camera, although others, such as the introduction of ‘Special Effects', bring little to the party. Overall, Nikon's latest produces great images and is an improvement over its predecessor but is far from revolutionary.

The Nikon Coolpix P7100 is a more refined and crucially faster version of the model that it replaces, with an even better handling experience, quicker startup and autofocus times, and much more responsive RAW mode than before. Put the P7100 side-by-side with the Canon PowerShot G12 and you'd be hard-pressed to tell the difference. Nikon's design team have taken advantage of the P7100's larger footprint to implement a winning combination of dials and wheels, with the second Function button and the rotary command dial in particular boosting the P7100's intuitiveness even further. There are so many ways of customising the camera to your own way of working that make the P7100 a photographer's dream from a handling point of view.

The number of upgraded features in comparison to the older model it replaces may not be numerous, but the changes that have been made are very significant. The combination of superb image quality and total manual control, along with a much-improved - dare we say - snappy performance, leaves a lasting impression. In short: the Nikon Coolpix P7100 is the camera that the P7000 should have been.

The P7100 does a great job in addressing the previous P7000’s issues. While the latest Coolpix is faster in use and has all the controls a demanding user could ask for. We do have to question whether the age of this type of camera is coming to an end, with Compact System Cameras dominating in recent months this Nikon may find its large build and high price pushes it to the sidelines.

It's the kind of camera that you may need to spend a little time getting to grips with, and perhaps even a couple of hours in the manual reading how to get the best from it. The camera has quick focusing and shutter response, although continuous shooting is a little slow. With baggy pockets the camera will fit in your trousers which makes taking it with you easy, and the amount of zoom available and ability to shoot RAW is a nice bonus.