The P100 is Nikon’s latest compact superzoom camera. It’s a further refinement of the P80 and P90 models that came before it, with a new backlit 10-megapixel CMOS sensor designed to improve low-light picture quality, a slightly increased 26x zoom range and--most exciting of all--full HD movie mode with stereo sound.
Like other superzoom cameras, the P100 is styled like a small digital SLR, and it has a full set of Program, Aperture-Priority, Shutter-Priority, and Manual modes. This type of camera is very tempting for people who want a do-it-all camera at a low price, but they have limitations--the sensors are small compared to a digital SLR’s, and this has a big impact on definition and noise.
26x optical zoom is great, but some of the P100's other features lack polish.
Thankfully, the P100 is very responsive. It can zoom from one end of its range to the other in less than 2 seconds, and the autofocus is fast, even at full zoom. Nikon includes a focus-tracking mode where you center the subject on the display, and the focus locks on--great for action shots or shooting while you’re on the move. It’s not perfect, but works well most of the time. The 3-inch display on the back of the camera is clear, and it swivels for waist-level or overhead shots.
The P100 features a full 1080p HD mode, but befitting its price, the movie mode has some shortcomings. You can zoom during filming and the autofocus continues to work--more than you can say for some cameras--but there are problems with both. While you’re zooming, the picture sometimes jumps around as if the sensor’s come loose, and you have to go into the Movie menus to activate the autofocus. Once it is enabled, you’ll discover that it’s so slow--especially at longer zoom settings--that it’s barely worth having. If your subject’s moving even slightly, or it doesn’t have very clear outlines, the autofocus can fail to lock on altogether.
There are other disappointments, including the high-speed continuous shooting modes. The P100 has a very impressive 10fps frame rate at full resolution, but it can only keep this pace for six frames. That works out as a 0.6-second burst, so your timing will have to be perfect if you want to capture fast action at its peak. The alternative is the Sport Continuous mode, which can deliver 60fps or 120fps, but only at reduced resolutions, generating 2- and 1.3-megapixel images, respectively, and only for 25 or 60 frames. Again, that gives you a very narrow window to work in.
The HDR mode needs work, too. The idea is sound enough--the camera takes a series of exposures in (very) quick succession and combines them to produce an image with exceptionally high tonal range. But the results the P100 comes up with are gray, flat, and soft looking--a long way from the spectacular HDR images you see in photo mags.
Nevertheless, the P100’s picture quality generally is good for this type of camera. It has built-in distortion correction which stops straight lines near the edge of the frame appearing to bow outwards (a common problem with zoom lenses), and the backlit CMOS sensor does produce slightly better images at higher ISOs. Our test shots came out sharp, well exposed, and saturated, and while the lens did lose a little definition at its maximum focal length (to be expected with superzooms), the rest of the time it delivered sharp, clear images.
At heart the P100 is a competent superzoom. It’s responsive and versatile, and produces good images. But the HD movie mode’s weaknesses drag the P100 down slightly.
Coolpix P100
COMPANY: Nikon
CONTACT: www.nikonusa.com
PRICE: $399.95
REQUIREMENTS: Mac OS 10.4.11, 10.5.8, or 10.6 or later; USB Port; SD or SDHC memory card
26x zoom range. 1cm macro mode. Above-average picture quality for a superzoom.
Zooming and autofocus problems in movie mode. Continuous shooting limitations. Weak HDR mode.
