Nikon - Coolpix P100 10.3-Megapixel Digital Camera - Black

Never having used any camera other than a Kodak Insta-matic, I selected this camera because I wanted to explore the world of digital photography without committing to $1,000 or more for a DSL. I must say that this camera is wonderful. It is loaded with almost everything you would get in a DSL, with the exception of interchangeability of lenses. I am currently enrolled in a college digital photography class and am able to compare my Nikon P100 to the Nikon D40 and the Nikon P100 stacks up quite well. In some cases it has advanced features that the Nikon D40 doesn’t. I have had no problems with any aspect of the Nikon P100. It takes remarkably beautiful pictures on the automatic settings, if you just want to point and shoot, but it also offers the ability to take manual control of all aspect of getting the shot. Some reviewers have suggested they had a problem with the zoom feature – having the lens stick when in the fully extended position and not being able to even get the camera to turn off. I did experience this twice when I first started using the camera. I found that I only had to tap the side of the lens and it released. Again, this only happened a couple of times when the camera was brand new. Possibly the lens just needed to seat in, so to speak. Also, regarding the ability to control the zoom, some have suggested they had a lot of trouble here. I found that I could get the zoom to approximately where I wanted it and then just flicking the zoom lever ever so quickly (gently) it was like nudging it to where I wanted it to be. Obviously, the zoom control on a DSL is much more accurate and easier to use but then this is a $350 camera not a $1,000 camera. Some concession should be expected. The other major area where some concession must be accepted is with the manual focus. This is very easy with a DSL but with the Nikon P100 it is less than a study in focus accuracy. I absolutely love the adjustable LCD. This has made getting shots from the more unusual angles very doable. I would like to have the LCD have the movement capability of the Nikon D5000 but, here again, the price dictates a concession. Regarding the video, this is absolutely amazing. It is full 1080p and allows for 30 minutes of continuous record time. Most of the DSLs offer only 720p and 15 minutes. And, with the variable angle LCD (with Live View – something else most DSLs don’t have), I was able to record a very camera shy two year old at her birthday party without her even knowing there was a camera anywhere around, because I was able to hold the camera at my waist height instead of in front of my face (as those who must view through the viewfinder have to do). Live View provides the ability to view what the camera sees through the LCD or the viewfinder, optionally by the push of a button located conveniently next to the viewfinder. With aperture settings of 2.6 to 8, the Nikon P100 is limited to some degree in the manual control flexibility but it is up to most user requirement, unless you are attempting to do professional grade work, in which case you should pony up for a DSL. And, did I mention the macro shots. It has been so easy to take some of the most beautify flower shots. The bottom line is that this is an excellent camera for the price. Even when I move up to a DSL (Nikon D5000), I will continue to carry its little brother (Nikon P100) as it is very light and quick. I have read many pros who suggest this two camera approach so they don’t have to always pull out all of the gear to use the DSL when they have a really good alternative at hand and they don’t need all of the power and refinement of the much heavier DSL. Pros:  Inexpensive (comparatively speaking)  Light weight  All of the manual controls found on most DSL camera  26x optical zoom (with 4x digital providing a maximum 678mm total zoom on a 35mm comparable basis)  Tremendous flexibility in shutter speeds  Adequate aperture control  Multiple pre-configured scene settings  Vari-angle LCD with “Live Vew”  1080p video with 30 minute record time  Good battery life, even when using the LCD a lot Negatives: Not many, but, ignoring the price differential between the Nikon P100 and a DSL, I wish the Nikon P100 had a better focus system and aperture settings to include F-11, F-16, and F-22.

Background: I’ve used in the past the Nikon Coolpix S6000 (at 14.2MP), the L12 (at 7.1 MP) and another Coolpix at 3.1 MP for which I can’t remember the model. All excellent cameras that lead me to the P100. Main reason for selecting the P100 was the 1080p video capability while still producing pictures with high MP. I’m just a normal dad and fisherman who wants memories of decent quality considering today’s technological advancement in photo and video. I got the camera 3 months ago and since then has been used for family gatherings and a fishing trip as well as many experimenting pictures. In summary, this is what I can say about the camera. I like its video capabilities more than I do its pictures. I have taken many pictures and I still haven’t come up with the bright, crisp pictures that my previous Nikon’s used to produce. The video is outstanding and so is the zooming. You can take pictures and video from subjects really far from you and get decent results. This a good compromise between video and picture capabilities from the same device. But if you make a living out of your camera, then you probably already know this not the right camera for you. If you just want to have decent video and pictures without the expense of 2 pieces of equipment, this might be a good camera for you. Then again, so is something like the S6000. The advantage you’d get from the P100 is then the zoom and 1080p stereo video. I have read many negative comments from people dissatisfied with this camera. What I’ve noticed is that a lot of those are disappointed that they’re not getting DSLR quality out of the P100. Well, the P100 is NOT a DSLR, it looks like one, but it’s essentially a point and shoot for the common folk, hence the disconnect between expectation and delivery. Being overly happy with the results of the camera, my only suggestion for Nikon would be to revise the MP in the pictures to maybe 12MP. Also, the camera produces inconsistent picture files in size. Some can be 3MB while others can go to 4.7MB or 2MB. The S6000 almost always produced files of about 2.7MB in daylight illuminated conditions.

What would I say about this Camera, if you know how to take pictures, and you want a great camera buy this one. I bought the Nikon Coolpix P100 to replace my aging Nikon Coolpix 5700. I have had the 5700 since the first year they came out I have taken over 10000 pictures with it. Some I have had published in travel brochures and on Calendars. I wanted something with the same one camera system that addressed some of the 5700’s short comings. The first thing was quick adjustment of the program settings the P100 has a dial on the top of the camera that allows you to switch between all of the pictures taking modes. This enables you to quickly switch from Automatic to Shutter priority then to User settings. That makes it easy to get really good pictures in changing light. You also have complete control of the flash it stays off until you want it. One of the things I like about this camera is it is fast, it comes on fast and is ready to shoot fast. The zoom is also fast as well as the autofocus, I have on occasions used a friends D80, the P100 is much easier to use and takes just as good of picture. The other issue I have with the D-SLR’s is lenses. I used a 35mm SLR for years it was a Nikon FM-2. Great camera for its day and I took thousands of great pictures with it. I always had to carry 5 lenses with me, and lost a few great shoots because I had the wrong lens on the camera. With the P-100 its light and you never have the wrong lens; it also has electronic stabilization witch will allow you to get that picture with the zoom that would have been blurred with other cameras. If you are looking at the L-100 which is similar to the P-100 one feature puts the P-100 over L-100 its view finder. It has a very clear eye piece view finder. Other makers of the near SLR type camera like Kodak have a less than realistic eye piece view finder. The Nikon has a crystal clear eye piece view finder. This is invaluable in bright light situations were the LCD screen is impossible to view. A word of advice to any Camera buyer, learn how to take pictures, the Camera is a tool. To get those stop in your tracks shots and I have to see that picture, learn how to use your tool. Happy shooting!

My primary reason for purchasing this camera was to replace my aging Canon S2IS super zoom. The Canon is a 5mp camera with one of the first "super zoom" lenses. It's taken great pictures over the years, but I was looking for something that was going to give me a step up in image quality. I was hoping for something closer to "SLR" quality without moving up to an interchangeable lens system. I hoped the Nikon back lit CMOS sensor would provide better picture quality, not just more mega-pixels. I had been waiting for this kind of sensor to come to a point and shoot style camera hoping it would bring with it a true improvement in image quality. Cramming more pixels into the same amount of space may sell more cameras (more mega-pixels = more camera sales) it doesn't help the picture quality. So I compared identical shots from my 5 year old 5mp Canon to this Nikon P100. I was really disappointed to find that while there were more pixels in the image, the picture quality was no better. Images were either too soft or were too noisy. Even in bright daylight conditions, the images were soft and lacked any real "punch". The menu systems were also overly complex. This camera tries too hard to be too many things to too many people. High speed video was a nice feature but hardly worth the trade-off. The "Best Shot Selector" feature also seems kind of pointless. With an 8GM SD card, I can shoot over 1000 photos and then select the best shot myself when I upload them to the computer. Why do I need the camera to do this for me? If you want a nice, compact long zoom camera that can do HD video and are just looking for "snapshot" quality images, this might be a great camera for you. If you're looking for a step up in quality images, this is no better than any other CCD based camera out there. For truly better quality images you're going to have to either wait for true SLR style CMOS sensors to come to point and shoot cameras or take the step up to an interchangeable lens. In the end, I ate the 15% restocking fee and returned this for an Olympus E-PL1 with kit lens which I'm VERY happy with. Although it doesn't have the zoom lens the Nikon does, I can buy one later and the image quality is far better.

I was looking for a good value in a camera with a lot of features, AND excellent picture quality. The Nikon P100 does it with a vengeance. The zoom is fast, the macro is closeup, the manual controls are... present. It has surprisingly good low-light response (I was at first upset by the meager 8-second max shutter until I realized just how much light it captures in 8-seconds) It appears to have a very high near-IR (infrared) response - while I do not have an IR filter, I have captured some fascinating photos of very hot things exhibiting a purple glow. This is good and bad. Pictures with lots of IR will not appear the same as they do to your eye, but to many people the IR is a good thing indeed! The major problem with the camera is the user interface / software. Adjusting manual settings involves switching between several menus - it is hard to tell which setting will be in which menu, and it likes to hide settings depending on your mode. It also likes the save changes globally across modes some of the time, and reset to defaults other times. It's just too inconsistent and confusing. The preview screen is not bad... unless you zoom in and want to zoom back out. It takes FOREVER! Not a huge deal, but it really slows you down if you are trying to check details on several pictures. I have no complaints about the video quality - the 1080p looks beautiful, the zoom is quiet enough, and the sound is great. My only complaint is the 30-minute time limit regardless of space. Finally, the camera doesn't allow you to take repeated pictures with the same focus and exposure settings (that is, you must fully release the shutter button between photos, no half-releasing). This means the camera must re-focus for each photo, making thinks very slow. I've also managed to lock up the camera, requiring removing the batteries to fix. I list all the issues to get them out there, but I really feel the positives outweigh the negatives, and highly recommend this camera.

First of all, I will never purchase again from my local Woodbridge VA store again. I ended up buying a Nikon P100. No it's not a pocket camera, but captures great pictures and full HD video (not 720p). I've tried several cameras over the weeks Panasonic GF1, Olympus EPL-1, Sony HX5V, Panasonic Lumix (several models), Canon sx210, Canon sx20 and Panasonic Z35. I wanted to test the Fujifilm HS10, but no one has it around here. I know I'm forgetting a few other models. Something I realized while testing all of these cameras. There is a wierd banding (purple-ish streak in video mode from light sources ) the mauals do warn you of this. I haven't see the banding in the video so far. You will hear the noise of zooming and autofocusing in audio of video. The more your camera is zoomed out (most of the cameras had a 10 plus zoom) the more jello effect (video) and blurred pictures will be. Use a tripod for pictures when taken in full zoom ( the in camera stabilization is good, but use a tripod). I think I made a great choice. I went to the zoo yesterday and recieved some great pictures and video. About 2% of my pictures came out blurry, due to being rushed by wife and daughter. The details on fur and feathers were detailed. Pictures taken in auto mode were good and but manual and scene mode were better. If you recieive blurry pictures, use your other focusing options. The maual focuse was great when taking pictures of animals behind metal fences, the camera focused sometimes on the fence, but I used the manual to shoot pass the fence. Theres so much to say, I might do a video review.

I am replacing a Kodak z740 with this camera. The Kodak was the first camera that I owned with the P.A.S.M. settings.... since I lost that camera in a divorce I wanted to replace it. Thought about going with a digital SLR but after seeing the prices on those changed my mind very fast. I knew I wanted a camera with lots of zoom, at least 8MP, and that had enough "usable" features, and had a fast picture capture rate. I am so far way more than impressed with this camera. The tilting screen is awesome. If you have ever watched a professional photographer they get some of their best shots down low to the ground and the tilting screen makes this easily possible. The low light ability far surpasses that of my... well my wifes now... Kodak. I took a picture of my kid in total darkness with the only light coming from a star wars toy, and the picture turned out good. I was blown away. Apparently the camera takes many shots quickly in the dark then layers them on top of one another to give you the best shot possible. The image stabilization works incredibly well. Even at the full 26x zoom I can get a good crisp picture... thats while holding the camera, no tripod. The ability of the camera to snap off pictures fast is very nice. Now i know its not SLR fast, but its fast enough for the money. I have only owned the camera for a day but I am hoping it will live up to my hopes. I do wish the camera had a metal body though. I hope it lives long and prospers :-) By the way... I knew I had a winner on my hands when my 7 and 8 year old boys were playing with the display model and were laughing about the pictures they were taking, shaky hands and all. The pictures were crisp and bright in the store... the pictures were of people on the other side of the store at full zoom!!!!! If a kid can get those pictures what could a competent adult with patience do. So far I like it a lot.

Value for price - wow - so many features on this thing. I havent even gotten into a lot of the manual settings yet but it really takes me back to the days of my old Olympus OM. Appearance - some may not like the fact you cant plunk it in your pocket, so if you want something to carry around in your shirt pocket, try something else. If you appreciate a nice looking "standard" or SLR'ish appearance, this one is pleasing to look at. Durability - Well, I havent dropped it yet so I cant speak for durability. I would hope its capable of withstanding a few minor shocks to the system here and there...not that anyone ever really plans on dropping an electronic device. Comfort - The one thing that makes this camera "comfortable" to me is that it has a digital viewfinder. I dont remember the other model Nikon I was looking at but it had no viewfinder and to me its sometimes easier to get the shot correctly when using it rather than the large lcd display on the back. For someone not interested in that piece of the review, its easy to hold and functional to its shape for someone used to an SLR or old style film camera. The zoom is awesome by the way. It takes really great shot on the automatic settings. Some say that the auto-focus is a little slow but those folks must be using top shelf SLRs because it was fast enough for me to take clear pictures of birds flying overhead and to stop them in flight as well as a Coast Guard helocopter's blades. It has a fast shutter if need be. The automatic settings would be great for most folks. It has the abilities to satisfy the "manual-setting-hungry" users if need be, Im sure. I know Im glad I got this camera.