The Nikon Coolpix P7700 ($499.95 direct)($333.33 at Amazon)(Opens in a brand new window) is the follow-up to final yr’s P7100($333.33 at Amazon)(Opens in a brand new window). It is a streamlined model of that digital camera’s design—it omits the optical viewfinder, so it isn’t as tall, and integrates the entrance management wheel into the grip. The lens covers the identical 28-200mm subject of view—but it surely begins at f/2 and solely closes to f/4 on the telephoto excessive, a full cease sooner on each ends of the spectrum. The 12-megapixel digital camera maintains the wonderful management structure of its predecessors, though photos aren’t fairly as sharp with the lens extensive open at f/2. The P7700 is an excellent digital camera, however even with a quick lens and larger-than-average 1/1.7-inch picture sensor, it may’t compete with our Editors’ Selection high-end compact—the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100($448.00 at Amazon)(Opens in a brand new window)—which incorporates a 1-inch sensor and a sharper lens.
Design and Options
The P7700 measures 2.9 by 4.7 by 2 inches (HWD) and weighs a bit shy of a pound at 13.9 ounces. It isn’t that far off in dimension from the Olympus XZ-2($449.99 at Amazon)(Opens in a brand new window)—that digital camera has an analogous picture sensor however a shorter zoom vary, and measures 2.6 by 4.4 by 1.9 inches and weighs 12.2 ounces. It additionally incorporates a scorching shoe, though one that may accommodate an non-compulsory digital viewfinder accent—you are restricted to utilizing the rear LCD to border photographs with the P7700.
Most 1/1.7-inch cameras supply a reasonably restricted zoom vary; beginning at 24mm or 28mm and lengthening solely to about 100mm is the norm for this class of digital camera. The P7700 has a lens that zooms from 28-200mm with a f/2-4 aperture vary. The one comparable digital camera that comes near protecting this subject of view is the Canon PowerShot G15, which has a 28-140mm f/1.8-2.8 optic.
The rear LCD is a vari-angle design that swings out from the physique to tilt up or down, and may be closed flat in opposition to the digital camera to face out or in. It’s 3 inches in dimension and very sharp at 921k dots. Clearly there is not any viewfinder inbuilt and there is not any EVF accessible, so folding it flat in opposition to the physique will not depart you with any method to exactly body a picture—it is extra to guard the LCD throughout transport. The P7700 will not even activate to take a shot when the LCD is closed in opposition to the physique. The one different cameras on this class with an optical viewfinder are the G15, the Canon PowerShot G1 X, and the Fujifilm X10. The latter might be changed by the just-announced Fujifilm X20, however continues to be accessible at retail.
Comparable Merchandise
4.5
Excellent
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100
The P7700 incorporates a management structure that might be acquainted to anybody who has shot with the P7000 or P7100 earlier than, however has one wrinkle which may throw you off in case you are new to the collection. Customary controls embody entrance and rear management dials, similar to an SLR, in addition to a Mode dial, EV Compensation dial, Publicity Lock, and management buttons to regulate Flash output, the Self Timer, the Focus Space, and Macro focus. There are additionally two programmable Operate buttons—one on high and one on the entrance of the digital camera.
The oddball management is a top-mounted wheel that permits you to modify sure settings with the press of its built-in activation button—it has detents for Picture High quality, ISO, White Stability, Publicity Bracketing, My Capturing Menu, and Coloration adjustment. The My Capturing Menu offers you fast entry to the Metering mode, Drive mode, and autofocus settings. Should you’re not accustomed to the digital camera you might hunt for these controls in different places, however when you practice your thoughts to make the most of this dial you will discover it to be a bit faster than scrolling by means of the standard on-screen show that controls these features on different cameras.
Regardless of a slightly excessive asking worth, there aren’t many non-imaging features constructed into the digital camera. The Samsung EX2F( at Amazon)(Opens in a brand new window) has built-in Wi-Fi, which is not even an add-on characteristic for the P7700. You need to use an Eye-Fi reminiscence card with the digital camera, and there’s additionally an add-on module for GPS accessible for Nikon to fulfill the wants of geotaggers—but it surely prices $265.
Efficiency and Conclusions
Efficiency and Conclusions
The P7700 begins and takes a photograph in about 1.8 seconds, data a burst of 6 photographs in a second, and data a 0.3-second shutter lag. These aren’t the very best marks on the earth—a 6-shot Uncooked+JPG burst requires a 14.6-second anticipate all the images to be written to the reminiscence card, a determine that drops to five.5 seconds when capturing solely in JPG. Should you’re capturing in single-shot mode, there’s a 3.4-second anticipate a Uncooked+JPG to jot down to a SanDisk 95MBps reminiscence card and a 1.8-second anticipate a JPG file to jot down to the cardboard—you will not have the ability to use the digital camera throughout this interval. The Olympus XZ-2 is quicker—it begins and shoots in 1.6 seconds, shoots repeatedly at 3 frames per second, and its shutter lag is barely 0.2-second.
I checked the sharpness of the brand new 28-200mm f/2-4 lens utilizing Imatest(Opens in a brand new window). The P7100 was extremely sharp at its widest aperture and focal size, 28mm f/2.8. The P7700 lags a bit behind, recording just one,755 traces per image top at 28mm f/2—only a smidge shy of the 1,800 traces required for a pointy photograph. This was largely as a consequence of edge efficiency, as scores have been good in the direction of the center of the body—we use a center-weighted algorithm. If edge-to-edge efficiency is necessary, you’ll be able to cease right down to f/2.8 when the sunshine permits—the lens notches a extra spectacular 1,935 traces at that setting. The Canon PowerShot G15 additionally has a quick lens—f/1.8 at 28mm—however does not undergo from the identical points. It manages 1,918 traces at that setting. There’s a noticeable 2.9 p.c barrel distortion on the widest zoom setting, however this may be corrected through software program or in-camera by enabling Distortion Management within the Capturing Menu.
Picture noise can be measured by Imatest. Noise can hurt picture high quality by making images seem grainy and by lowering the quantity of high-quality element captured—it will increase as you improve a digital camera’s sensitivity to mild, measured in ISO. The P7700 retains noise under 1.5 p.c by means of ISO 3200, however picture element does undergo at that setting when capturing JPG. At ISO 1600, JPG information are glorious when it comes to noise management and element. Capturing in Uncooked at ISO 3200 does a greater job at capturing element, however introduces an unbelievable quantity of noise. No matter which format you shoot, the P7700 is greatest saved at ISO 1600 or under. The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 has a sensor that’s bodily bigger, and that does a greater job preserving noise in verify—that digital camera is noticeably higher than the P7700 when it comes to noise and element at ISO 1600 and 3200, however they carry out equally at ISO 800 and under.
Video is recorded at 1080p30 high quality in QuickTime format. By default, the digital camera does not autofocus throughout recording with out handbook intervention, however you’ll be able to change this conduct through the menu system. It’s fast to reacquire focus, and general the video high quality is great; it is sharp, easy, and colours are correct. Audio leaves somewhat bit to be desired, as you’ll be able to hear the lens transfer out and in whereas zooming on the soundtrack—however there’s a customary mic enter port, permitting you to attach an exterior microphone if desired.
The P7700 is an excellent digital camera with a number of flaws. Its management structure is great, its picture sensor performs nicely by means of ISO 1600, and it options the longest zoom lens in its class. It isn’t as speedy as comparable cameras—the wait time between taking images in single-shot mode is a bit disconcerting—and it does not have an optical viewfinder just like the Fujifilm X10. Its lens is quick, however not the sharpest optic extensive open, making the Canon PowerShot G15—which has a barely much less bold 28-140mm f/1.8-2.8 zoom—a extra enticing possibility for anybody who does not want a 200mm attain. The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100, which incorporates a bigger 1-inch picture sensor, continues to be our Editors’ Selection for fanatic compacts, but it surely lacks a scorching shoe and articulating LCD, and its 28-100mm f/1.8-4.9 lens does not match the P7700 when it comes to vary, or in velocity on the telephoto finish.
Extra Digital Digicam Critiques:
The Backside Line
The Nikon Coolpix P7700 has the longest zoom lens of any point-and-shoot digital camera in its class, however the lens needs to be stopped down to extend sharpness.
Like What You are Studying?
Join Lab Report to get the newest opinions and high product recommendation delivered proper to your inbox.
This article could include promoting, offers, or affiliate hyperlinks. Subscribing to a e-newsletter signifies your consent to our Phrases of Use and Privateness Coverage. Chances are you’ll unsubscribe from the newsletters at any time.
