Nikon Coolpix P7700 - hands on

[ortega]

TOKYO, 9 AUGUST 2012 - Today, Nikon Corporation announced the COOLPIX P7700, a high-performance digital compact camera that represents the COOLPIX line’s most advanced flagship model to date, giving users an exciting and fulfilling photography experience similar to that of digital-SLR cameras in a more compact and affordable package.

lets take a closer look at what this camera can do

[h=3]Specifications[/h]

• Type Compact Digital Camera
  
  
• Effective Pixels 12.2 million
  
  
• Image Sensor CMOS
  
  
• Sensor Size 1/1.7 in.
  
  
• Total Pixels 12.76 million (approx.)
  
  
• Lens 7.1x optical Zoom, NIKKOR ED glass lens
  
  
• Lens Focal Length 6.0-42.8mm (angle of view equivalent to that of 28-200 mm lens in 35mm [135] format)
  
  
• Lens f/-number f/2-4
  
  
• Lens Construction 13 elements in 10 groups
  
  
• Lens Zoom 7.1x
  
  
• Digital Zoom Up to 4x (angle of view equivalent to that of approx. 800mm lens in 35mm [135] format)
  
  
• Vibration Reduction Lens-shift VR
  
  
• Autofocus (AF) Contrast-detect TTL AF
  
  
• Autofocus (AF) Focus-area selection
  Auto (9-area automatic selection)
  Center
  Face priority
  Manual with 99 focus areas
  Subject tracking
  Target Finding AF
  

 

[ortega]

• Focus Range
  [W]: Approx. 1 ft. 8 in. (50 cm.) to infinity
  [T]: Approx. 2 ft. 8 in. (80 cm.) to infinity
  Macro close-up mode: Approx. 0.8 in. (2 cm.) to infinity
  
• Focus Lock
  Yes
  
• Maximum Autofocus Areas/Points
  9 area automatic selection, 99 area manual selection
  
• Monitor Size
  3.0 in. diagonal
  
• Monitor Type
  Vari-Angle TFT-LCD with Anti-reflection coating
  
• Monitor Resolution
  921,000-dots
  
• Monitor Frame coverage (shooting mode)
  100% horizontal (Approx.)
  100% vertical (Approx.)
  
• Monitor Frame coverage (playback mode)
  100% horizontal (Approx.)
  100% vertical (Approx.)
  
• Storage Media
  SD memory card
  SDHC memory card
  SDXC memory card
  
• Internal Memory
  Approx. 86MB
  
• Storage File System
  DCF
  EXIF 2.3
  DPOF and MPF compliant
  
• Storage File formats
  Still pictures: JPEG
  Still pictures: NRW (RAW)
  Audio files: WAV
  Movies: MOV (Video: MPEG-4 AVC/H.264, Audio: AAC stereo)
  3D pictures: MPO
  
• Movie
  Audio file format: AAC stereo
  Full HD: 1920x1080p / 30fps
  HD: 1280x720p / 30fps
  HS (high speed) movie: 120 fps (640×480), HS 60 fps (1280×720) or HS 15 fps (1920×1080)
  Movie file format: MPEG-4 AVC H.264
  Standard TV: 640x480 / 30fps
  
• Voice Memo Function
  Yes
  
• Image Size (pixels)
  4000 x 3000 (12M)
  
• ISO Sensitivity
  ISO 80-1600
  ISO 3200, Hi 1 (equivalent to 6400) (available when using P, S, A or M mode)
  
• Lowest ISO Sensitivity
  80
  
• Highest ISO Sensitivity
  3200
  
• Exposure Metering
  224-segment matrix, center-weighted
  Spot
  
• Exposure Control
  Programmed auto exposure with flexible program
  aperture-priority auto
  exposure bracketing (Tv, Av, Sv)
  exposure compensation (-3.0 to +3.0 EV in steps of 1/3 EV)
  manual
  shutter priority auto
  
• Exposure Modes
  Aperture-Priority Auto (A)
  Manual (M)
  Programmed Auto (P)
  Shutter-Priority Auto (S)
  
• Scene Modes
  Back Light
  Beach
  Black and White Copy
  Close Up
  Dusk/Dawn
  Fireworks Show
  Food
  Landscape
  Museum
  Night Landscape
  Night Portrait
  Panorama
  Party/Indoor
  Pet Portrait
  Portrait
  Scene Auto Selector
  Snow
  Sports
  Sunset
  3D Photography
  
• In-Camera Image Editing
  Black Border
  Cross Screen
  Crop
  D-Lighting
  Fisheye
  Miniature effect
  NRW (Raw) Processing
  Paint
  Quick retouch
  Selective Color
  Skin softening
  Small Picture
  Soft
  Straighten
  Vignette
  
• Exposure Compensation
  ± 3 EV in steps of 1/3
  
• White Balance
  Auto 1 (Normal)
  Auto 2 (Warm)
  Choose color temp
  Cloudy
  Daylight
  Flash
  Fluorescent
  Incandescent
  Preset Manual
  
• Shutter
  Mechanical and CMOS electronic shutter
  
• Shutter Speed
  1/4000-1 sec.
  1/4000- 60 sec. (when ISO sensitivity is set to 80 - 400 in M mode)
  
• Top Continuous Shooting Speed at full resolution
  Up to 6 shots at approx. 8 frames per second
  
• Continuous Shooting Options
  Best Shot Selector
  Continuous H
  Continuous H 60
  Continuous H 120
  Continuous M
  Continuous L
  Interval Timer
  Multi-shot 16
  Single
  
• Aperture
  Electronically-controlled 7-blade iris diaphragm
  
• Self-timer
  Can be selected from 1, 2 or 10 seconds duration
  
• Accessory Shoe
  Yes
  
• Built-in flash Range (approx.) (ISO sensitivity: Auto)
  [W]: 0.5 to 10m (1ft. 8 in. to 32 ft.)
  [T]: 0.5 to 5.5m (1ft. 8 in. to 18ft.)
  
• Built-in Flash Control
  TTL auto flash with monitor preflashes
  
• Built-in Flash
  Yes
  
• External Flash Shoe
  Yes
  
• Interface
  Hi-speed USB
  
• Interface Data transfer protocol
  MTP
  PTP
  
• Video Output
  NTSC
  PAL
  
• HDMI Output
  Can be selected from:
  Auto
  480p
  720p
  1080i
  
• I/O terminal
  Audio/video (A/V) output; Digital I/O (USB)
  External microphone connector (Stereo mini-pin jack (3.5 mm diameter), plug-in power type)
  HDMI mini connector (Type C) (HDMI output)
  Accessory terminal
  
  
• Power Sources
  One Rechargeable Li-ion Battery EN-EL14 (supplied)
  
• Battery / Batteries
  Rechargeable Li-ion Battery EN-EL14
  
• Battery Life (shots per charge)
  Still pictures*: Approx. 330 shots
  *Based on Camera and Imaging Products Association (CIPA) standards for measuring the life of camera batteries. Measured at 23(-/+2)°C (73(-/+4)°F); zoom adjusted with each shot, flash fired with every other shot, image quality set to Normal, image size set to 4000 x 3000 (12M). Battery life may vary depending on shooting interval and length of time menus and images are displayed.
  
• Tripod Socket
  ¼ in.
  
• Approx. Dimensions
  Height: 2.9in. (72.5mm)
  Width: 4.7in. (118.5mm)
  Depth: 2.0in. (50.4mm) Excluding projections. Method of noting dimensions and weight is in accordance with CIPA DCG-005-2009 guideline.
  
  
• Approx. Weight
  13.9 oz. (392g) With battery and SD memory card. Method of noting dimensions and weight is in accordance with CIPA DCG-005-2009 guideline.
  
  

 

[ortega]

Lets take a closer look at the camera

it has an 3" articulating 921,000 dot LCD screen that is great for unusual angle of views

 

[ortega]

 

[ortega]

it uses a Rechargeable Li-ion Battery EN-EL14 with last around 300 shots
this is the bane of most of the non dslr cameras, the battery life does not really last long
it would be great if it uses the same battery as my dslr or at least use the same charger.

anyway it lasted slightly more than a day of intense shooting on my recent trip to korea
so it is best to charge it at the end of the day.

a lever on the top left releases a pop up flash but i personally would not be using it as this camera has a hotshoe on the top plate

and more importantly it can act as a commander for Nikon's Creative Light System

sample image taken with a SB400 and ceiling bounce

 

[ortega]

ok lets look at what this little camera can do

at maximum focal lenght

one thing the smaller sensor has is super depth of field, so make use of it

challenging lighting situation

 

[ortega]

this is as shallow the depth of field as it can go at normal focusing distances

and this is at macro distances

 

[ortega]

the built-in ND filter came in useful for slowing down the shutter speed in bright daylight

will show more pictures later

 

[ortega]

some food shots in dimly lit restaurants

Mandu

Kimchi

porridge

King Prawn Omelet Rice

 

[ortega]

blue blue skies

 

[ortega]

how does it perform in low light?

will post high ISO detail shots later

 

[ortega]

Mixed lighting

the vari angle LCD allowed me to shoot from the hip or in this case sitting down and camera on my lap

 

[ortega]

again in difficult lighting situations

thats me, face detection helps when you pass the camera to non photographers
this shot was taken by my wife

 

[ortega]

small cameras also do not intimidate as much as big DSLRs

again in difficult lighting situation

 

[ortega]

 

[ortega]

[video=youtube;jZDdVZVTeZU]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZDdVZVTeZU[/video]

sample video recording

 

[soeypixels]

was video using in-build mic or external mic?

 

[ortega]

was video using in-build mic or external mic?

Built-in mic, I am not very good with video so just press record and try to hold the camera still

 

[STTNP]

Very nice pictures. How much does it cost?

 

[luna_sea83]

Great photos and reviews on this camera, previously had read quite a number of reviews on DPReview site.

after looking at this thread, this camera would definitely make a great traveling portable camera.

(Mod: "comments on price deleted, sorry sorry")