Nikon Coolpix P7000 at a glance:
- 28-200mm equivalent lens
- Maximum aperture range f/2.8-5.6
- 10.1-million-pixel, 1/1.7in CCD sensor
- Raw and JPEG capture
- i-TTL hotshoe
- Electronic virtual horizon
Over the past few years, photo enthusiasts and professionals looking for a high-end compact camera offering controls akin to an SLR have had only a limited choice, with the Canon PowerShot G series long dominating this ‘serious’ part of the compact camera market. Although the competition has of late muscled in with, for instance, the Samsung EX1 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5, so far there hasn’t been a Nikon compact camera that matches the performance of these models.
Its recent P5000, P5100 and P6000 Coolpix P-series models have had a modest reception, primarily down to the fact that they just couldn’t quite live up to their rivals. However, with the introduction of the Nikon Coolpix P7000, Nikon now seems intent on making its presence felt.
Any doubters will have to think twice, because even at a first look the Nikon Coolpix P7000 appears to be a completely different camera from the previous P-series P5100 and P6000 models. The question, however, is whether it has improvements as drastic as its change in looks, and whether these can give Nikon a firm place in the top-end compact camera market.
Features
The differences between the Coolpix P6000 and the P7000 do not just end at the ergonomics; there are changes right across the board. Nikon follows the trend of reducing the number of pixels, in this case from 13.5 million pixels in the P6000 to 10.1 million pixels, in favour of lower levels of noise and potentially greater resolution at higher sensitivity settings. With a sensor the same size as that in the P6000 (1/1.7in), this means the photosites in the P7000 are larger and less densely packed together.
Image: The P7000 boasts the largest focal range in its class, so fine detail can be obtained from a good distance
Nikon has opted for a lens with a longer 7.1x optical zoom, giving a focal range of 6-42.6mm, which is the same view as a 28-200mm lens on a 35mm camera. This offers greater flexibility than all the P7000’s competitors and predecessors, but with such a vast focal range it will be interesting to see the impact this has on image quality. The lens construction consists of 11 elements, two of which are ED glass elements to reduce chromatic aberrations. To help prevent camera shake there is an optical lens-shift Vibration Reduction (VR) system. There is a 60-1/4000sec shutter speed range, which is good for a compact, although the 1/4000sec is only available in manual and aperture priority modes.
Image: The built-in 4-stop ND filter allows slower shutter speeds. This scene was captured at 1/8sec at f/8 and ISO 100, whereas without the filter it would have been 1/100sec
New features in the P-series range include an internal neutral density (ND) filter equivalent to around 4 stops, which enables slower shutter speeds in bright conditions, such as those used to blur moving water in daylight. Nikon has introduced an electronic virtual horizon in all its latest DSLR releases, and this is also present in its top-end compact model. This nifty feature indicates whether the camera is level, shown when the line in the compass-like circle turns green. It works in both landscape and portrait orientation. Perhaps surprisingly, Nikon has opted not to include GPS this time round, which was present in the P6000.
For the enthusiast photographer, the P7000 offers a host of features enabling manual control and creativity. Further to this, it is compatible with the optional extra of a flashgun and can be used with any of Nikon’s Speedlight flashguns. There is also a wideangle converter that can be attached by removing the metal ring around the lens. This extends the 28mm wideangle to 21mm.
What is included with the camera, however, is the View NX2 software to transfer and view images. This is compatible with the new NRW+raw format.
Hotshoe flash
A built-in flash is restrictive in output and direction. This is particularly the case with compact cameras. The restrictive output means that only subjects within a couple of metres can be lit effectively, although it can act as fill-in for objects slightly further away.
Direct flash can be harsh, unflattering and produce unwanted shadows. Having the option to attach a flashgun is particularly useful. Not only does it give a greater output, which expands the use of the P7000, but also the option to bounce the flash reduces unwanted shadows. This feature will be of particular use at weddings and parties.
Build and handling
As I mentioned, when compared to the previous P5000 and P6000 models, the Coolpix P7000 looks like a completely new camera. In fact, it is almost unrecognisable as a P-series Coolpix. Instead, there is a much greater resemblance, and one that is hard to shake, to the Canon PowerShot G series.At 360g (including battery and memory card) and measuring 114.2x77x44.8mm, it is larger and heavy than its predecessor, but the differences are minuscule compared to the Canon PowerShot G11.
The P7000 is a chunky compact camera, and while it can squeeze into a trouser pocket I would describe it as more suitable for carrying in a coat. Screw-fitted, black metal panels make up the exterior. It feels tough, but novice photographers may find its look classic and functional rather than slick and sexy.
Having both a viewfinder and an LCD screen affects the P7000’s ergonomics, with the left side of the body being taller than the right. There are all kinds of ridges to accommodate the buttons and the LCD screen slightly protrudes at the back. At first glance one assumes that it is a vari-angle screen, but it is not. There is a large rubber grip on the front of the body and a small rubber thumb pad on the back, so the camera sits nicely in the hand. A minor point is that the bottom right corner digs a little into the inside of my hand at the bottom of the thumb. A more rounded edge would help, without looking out of place on a body like this.
There is a host of buttons and dials on the top, back and front of the camera. A Function (Fn) button by the lens and an AV/TV button on the top can be customised as shortcuts to preferred settings, but the Fn button has limited application. Twin control dials are provided to select the exposure mode and the multi-function mode. I like the multi-function mode dial on the left-hand side, enabling white balance, ISO and image quality selections and an overall short cut to multiple preferred settings. This is operated by turning the dial to the desired function and pressing the button in the middle of the dial to bring up the separate menu on the LCD screen.
I would like to see a dedicated dial for ISO, to make access even quicker.There is a large dedicated dial for exposure compensation right next to the thumb. When shooting, it is easy to forget any changes made on this dial and consequently take several exposures at the incorrect setting. A nifty aspect of this dial is that an orange light indicates and reminds the user if the setting is not at 0EV. There is an autobracketing mode, too, and the number of shots in the sequence ranges from three to five.
The built-in pop-up flash is tiny and, as is standard for a compact camera, only powerful enough for close-range subjects, but there is also a hotshoe adapter that is compatible with any Nikon i-TTL flashgun.I used my Speedlight SB-600 and SB-800 flashguns and they were both compatible, but unlike when used with a DSLR the flashguns do not detect changes in focal range and so cannot adjust accordingly. However, flash compensation suffices. Purely on a size compatibility basis, I would recommend the smaller Speedlight SB-400.
In the P7000, Nikon uses its latest image-processing system, Expeed C2, making it possible to process raw and JPEG files simultaneously. However, possibly the most significant downside to the P7000 is the slow processing time when capturing and viewing images. I timed a delay of five seconds when shooting a raw and Fine JPEG using a Class 10 SDHC card. Similarly, I timed 4.5 seconds for a single raw file and two seconds for a single Fine JPEG.
In continuous shooting mode it is possible to capture six raw images, but there is then a consequent delay of around 30 seconds. This seems to be because the processor fully processes the image before allowing the next one to be taken, whereas other cameras allow shooting to recommence before the processing is complete. I found the wait rather frustrating so I tended to use JPEG capture.Despite the large number of controls and functions, I found that once I had spent time familiarising myself with the camera, all the controls and functions were right where I wanted them, making the camera quick and easy to use. With all the dials ready to hand, manual settings are encouraged and I had great fun experimenting and combining the colour settings, exposure compensation and metering modes.
White balance
Scrutinising my images taken in scenes of sun, shadow, using flash, indoor light and low light at a gig, showed the auto white balance to be so reliable that I felt comfortable using this as my default setting. The auto white balance is, as with most compact cameras, affected by a dominating colour in the scene. In this instance, using the correct white balance setting for the lighting or a custom setting is advisable. Creating a custom white balance setting is simple and quick, using the multi-function mode dial.
There are four colour modes: standard, monotone, vivid and neutral. I found that in standard mode, images are generally bright and punchy with vivid colour. Using the vivid setting makes for overly saturated colours that are not to my taste. Each of the four colour modes can be customised, changing contrast and saturation, and it is possible to have two custom settings.
I created one with the saturation and contrast pushed to its limit and one with softer, more neutral results, which was useful for quick access. In the monotone setting there are options of black & white, sepia (with seven options) and cyanotype. I had good fun playing with all these settings, combined with exposure compensation for creative results.
Metering
I used a combination of evaluative, centreweighted and spot metering when out shooting on a sunny day in Guildford, and then later on in the day indoors and in the night-time at a music gig. The evaluative metering is reliable, producing accurate results, even in scenes of a wide dynamic range.
Conveniently, the exposure compensation dial is right next to the thumb and instantly accessible for any speedy and necessary alterations. Although the evaluative metering is good, having the exposure compensation dial in such a prominent position on a compact camera body is favourable. In Live View mode there is the option to review the levels on a histogram, and when changing the exposure the histogram adjusts automatically.
Image: Combining the colour setting and exposure compensation, I shot Guildford high street in black & white at +1.7EV for creative results
Autofocus
There are two AF modes: single and full time. With single mode selected the camera focuses as the shutter button is depressed, while in the full time mode it continually focuses. Methods of AF point selection include auto, 99-point AF, 1-point AF (which can be adjusted as centre spot, normal and wide), face detection and subject tracking.
Face-detection mode responds both quickly and accurately. In scenes with low light, such as a music gig, while the focus is accurate it is not as responsive and can struggle a little to detect the subject.
Noise, resolution and sensitivity
Nikon has made significant changes from the P6000, opting for a lower pixel count and a higher maximum sensitivity setting in the Coolpix P7000. The new model has 10.1 million pixels rather than the 13.5 million pixels of its predecessor, and a sensitivity range of ISO 100-3200 rather than ISO 64-1600.
This follows the trend of offering fewer pixels in favour of a reduction in levels of noise. With 10.1 million pixels and good resolution, the P7000 can produce clean A3 prints, whereas a camera with a higher pixel count but poor noise control cannot. This explains the emphasis on better noise control at the expense of pixels.
Image: I shot this music gig at ISO 1600. Close inspection shows the P7000 copes with noise pretty well in this type of setting
At ISO 100, JPEG images reach around 20 on our charts, which is not quite as impressive as the Canon PowerShot G11, but good nonetheless. This resolution is consistent to ISO 400 and only has a minor drop at ISO 800 and ISO 1600. After this, the resolution drops significantly. Noise is evident to the discerning at ISO 400 and is significant at ISO 1600 and higher.
Left: These images show 72ppi (100% on a computer screen) sections of images of a resolution chart, captured using matching 105mm macro lenses. We show the section of the resolution chart where the camera starts to fail to reproduce the lines separately. The higher the number visible in these images, the better the camera’s detail resolution is at the specified sensitivity setting
Right:This graph shows the brightness values recorded by the test camera when it is used to photograph a stepped graduation wedge. The wedge has transmission values in 1⁄2EV steps ranging from 0 to 12EV. The camera’s exposure is set so the 12EV section in the wedge has a brightness value of 255. Software analysis of the image then determines the recorded brightness values of all the other steps and calculates the camera’s dynamic range.
Dynamic range
Being a compact camera with smaller photosites means the dynamic range is likely to be more limited, but with fewer pixels the photosites on the Coolpix P7000’s sensor are larger than those of the P6000. This means the dynamic range of the P7000 has improved, and at around 12.5EV is very respectable.
There is a lack of detail in the brightest areas, so underexposing by -0.3EV will help when shooting in sunny conditions. Shooting in raw mode does not necessarily help, because the burnout at the bright end is often not recoverable. However, I am generally pretty pleased with my images and the evaluative metering does a good job. Detail in the shadow areas is good, but in scenes of high contrast midtones can be marginally on the dark side.
Image: In this high-contrast scene the dynamic range is good, with detail maintained in areas of shadow and highlight
LCD, viewfinder and video
As the edges of the LCD screen protrude slightly it is easy to assume that it is a vari-angle screen, but unlike with the Canon PowerShot G11 and the G12 (yet to be tested), it is not. That aside, the screen is bright, and at 3in and 921,000 dots it is the largest and highest resolution LCD screen available in a high-end compact camera. It is a significant improvement on its 230,000-dot predecessor. There are options for viewing the electronic virtual horizon, histogram and nine-square grid, which are all useful pieces of information to aid shooting.
Upon looking through the viewfinder, one discovers that it has rounded edges and coverage of roughly 80%. This complicates shooting because several times when composing an image I found that what was right at the edge of the angle of view was in fact at the ideal third of the way into the frame. The focusing is not visible, either, so I needed to check the LCD screen. With such a crisp and bright screen, one has to question the inclusion of a viewfinder when, in essence, it is just a hole to look through. I found myself generally sticking to the LCD screen.
I would rather the camera was smaller, like the much more compact Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5, which has an equal-sized sensor but opts not to include a viewfinder. When using the P7000’s viewfinder, the LCD screen does not turn off automatically when your face is pressed up to the back of the camera, so the Live View mode needs to be turned off.At 720p, the HD video mode gives crisp and vibrant recordings. There is also a socket for an external microphone.
The competition
Image: Canon PowerShot G12
The competition for high-end compact cameras is heating up, with the latest models from Panasonic and Samsung tested and rated favourably by AP. Further to this, we can assume that the Canon PowerShot G12, which has been announced but not yet tested, will further enhance the PowerShot G11, also well rated by AP.
The G12 and Samsung EX1 are the most obvious competition for the P7000 as they are so similar in shape, size and performance. The Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5 is a more compact camera at around two-thirds the size. Nikon now seems to have a camera that matches its competition, but without necessarily breaking into new ground.
Image: Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5
Our verdict
There is no question that Nikon has moved in leaps and bounds from previous P-series models, making significant improvements across the board in handling, features and performance. The changes are significant enough that this feels like a completely new camera, not one in the Coolpix P series.The decision to reduce the number of pixels has paid off, because unlike its predecessor the resolution of the P7000 is consistent all the way through to high sensitivities, as demonstrated by my pictures taken at a music gig (see Noise, Resolution and Sensitivity). The larger photosites are more able to capture light, and as a result the dynamic range has been improved.
The slow image processing and viewing is a frustration and an issue that needs addressing. It renders the raw shooting mode suitable mainly for settings where the wait is not an issue. The decision to include a viewfinder will please enthusiasts, but its use is limited. However, Nikon users may have finally got what they wished for: a high-end compact camera that offers good handling, features and performance. The Coolpix P7000 stands its ground against increasingly stiff competition, and although it does not represent new ground at this level, it is certainly the best Nikon has offered to date.
