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Nikon Coolpix P1 Easy Camera Review
by James Murray
Nikon claims that the P1 is the first consumer digital camera capable of wireless transfer to either computer or printer, though Kodak says the same of their WiFi capable EasyShare-one. Both digital cameras were released within the same week, but their features and wireless functions are quite different. The Nikon P1 offers not only WiFi transference but also a number of manual control options and 16 preset shooting modes. The P1 has an 8.1 MP CCD and a 3.5x optical zoom lens, an in-camera red-eye correction feature, a D-Lighting adjustment, and an auto focus mode that engages in face priority focal patterns. The Nikon Coolpix P1 retails for $549, but can be currently found online for less.
The P1 is available in a stylish matte black, rather than the standard silver. It isn’t a camera to pop into a back pocket at 3.6 x 2.4 x 1.5 inches; users will want a camera case or carrying strap. It is identical in size and shape to the WiFi enabled and less expensive Nikon Coolpix P2. There is no viewfinder on the P1, and although the LCD is well sized at 2.5 inches, the solarization and low resolution of 110,000 pixels make images hard to decipher.
The P1 has 16 shooting presets like Fireworks and Museum along with a full auto mode, but it also provides manual control features not always found on cameras intended for the point-and-shoot market such as an aperture priority mode. The Nikon Coolpix P1 has a maximum aperture of f/2.7 at the widest end of its zoom lens. It has manual ISO settings of 50, 100, 200, and 400. There is no manual focus, but there is a Face Priority AF mode that identifies faces and automatically focuses on them. Other manual controls include a standard exposure compensation scale of +/-2 EV, three metering mode options, and manual and preset white balance settings. The automatic shutter speed range is a functional 8 seconds to 1/2000th of a second - ample enough to shoot in most lighting conditions encountered during casual photography.
A blend of differing factors is responsible for the P1’s image quality. The Nikon Coolpix P1 displayed a tendency to dull colors in several areas of the spectrum. Despite 8.1 MP at its disposal, the actual resolution and sharpness was not very impressive. To its credit, the Coolpix P1 produced astonishingly low noise levels in both auto and manual ISO modes.
The movie mode on the P1 provides a nice maximum resolution of 640 x 480 at a solid maximum frame rate of 30 frames per second. There are also resolution settings of 320 x 240 and 160 x 120 which record movie clips at a frame rate of 15 fps. There is a microphone on the P1, so users can capture monaural audio with their video. There is also a time lapse feature in the movie mode which allows the camera to capture single frames at intervals of 30 seconds, or 1, 5, 10, 30, or 60 minutes. Once the sequence is completed, the camera compiles these images into a single movie clip for stop-action like flipbooks.
The P1 is slow. Though the burst mode shoots at 2 fps, the sloth-like startup to first shot time measures 4.42 seconds (though to be fair, the EasyShare-one takes approximately twice as long) and the shutter to shot time of 0.47 seconds left much to be desired.
The main feature of the Nikon P1 is its capability to wirelessly transfer images. But be warned: initial setup is a big headache. After the hair-pulling, transfer is simple. With the P1, images can be transferred to a computer or printer (with the optional wireless adapter) but cannot be emailed directly from the camera like the Kodak EasyShare-one.
The P1 ultimately distinguishes itself as being the only 8 MP WiFi consumer digital camera currently on the market. The P1 also has lower noise levels and a faster startup time than the Kodak EasyShare-one, and a larger CCD than the Nikon P2. If these things are priorities, this is your option. But there are benefits in all three models; the WiFi camera market is far from crowded, and any model can easily distinguish itself. For the money, either the P1 or the P2 should provide point-and-shooters with a great option.
| Nikon Coolpix P1- THE BOTTOM LINE.... Rating: 319.31 |
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| Likes |
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- Wireless shoot & transfer
- Impressively low noise in images (particularly at low ISOs) - Ergonomic handling - Wide f/2.7 aperture with manual adjustment - Intuitive interface - Expansive list of scene modes for snapshooters |
| Dislikes |
|
- Loss of detail in images due to noise reduction
- Limited flash range - Low resolution LCD solarizes easily - Wireless setup is complicated - Only connects to profiled computers and printers - No zoom in movie mode |
Nikon Coolpix P1 Compared to the...
| Nikon Coolpix P2 Rating: |
Nikon Coolpix 7900
Rating:296.02 |
Canon PowerShot SD430
Rating: |
Kodak EasyShare One Rating:308.64 |
Sony Cyber-shot N1 Rating: |
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| Better | Better | Better | Better | Better |
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-Lower Price Range/retails at $399.95
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-Smaller LCD has a higher pixel count and more overall resolution for clarity
-Slightly better overall color accuracy -A little quicker with startup to first shot -Lower retail price of $399.95 -Smaller and more compact camera body -A minimally faster shutter to shot time -Four metering mode options |
-My Colors digital effects
-15-1/500 sec shutter speed range is better for low light -Slow Shutter setting -Smaller LCD has higher resolution quality -Slender camera body -Lower Price Tag |
-Overall color reproduction accuracy
-3 inch LCD with 230K pixel count -Resolution/ Sharpness score
-Burst mode speed -Faster shutter to shot time -Rotating and flipping LCD -256 MB of included internal memory |
- 3 inch touch screen LCD
-Lower Price/retails at 499.95 -Slimmer camera body profile -64, 100, 200, 400, 800 ISO range -5 step MF system -230K pixel count on LCD -30 to 1/1000th shutter speed range |
| Equal | Equal | Equal | Equal | Equal |
| -2.5 inch LCD -3.5x optical zoom -WiFi capable like P1 -99 area Focal option -640x480 Movie mode with audio at 30 fps -In camera red-eye Fix -Face Priority AF mode -D-Lighting adjustment feature -Automatic shutter speed range -Aperture Priority mode -Max. Aperture setting of f/2.7 -Camera body size -16 scene shooting modes -110K pixel LCD -Same body design, not available in matte black |
-640x480 at 30 fps movie mode with audio recording capabilities
-D-Lighting feature -Face Priority AF setting -Option of matte black camera body -16 custom image preset opportunities -No manual focus setting -Manual white balance option -Manual aperutre control opportunity -Poor flash placement (off-axis) |
-WiFi connectivity -640x480 at 30 fps movie mode settings - Manual White Balance -EV Comp. scale and settings -ISO range in manual mode -Three standard manual metering pre-sets -Lack of manual focus options -Audio recording options in movie mode -Potential for burst mode |
-Capable of audio recording -No viewfinder -Is capable of WiFi image transferral -Max Movie resolution of 640x480 -Poor flash placement/off center from lens -16 custom image preset options -Also direct print capable -No manual focus option -3 metering mode options -EV comp scale and setting options |
-8.1 MP CCD -WiFi connected -Direct Printing also possible -Audio recording -Off axis in-camera flash placement -No manual aperture control -No shutter priority mode -Standard 3 metering mode options -Capable of shooting in burst mode -Movie Mode option -EV compensation range and settings |
| Worse | Worse | Worse | Worse | Worse |
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-16 MB of included internal memory
-5.1 MP CCD -Smaller max image resolution |
-3x optical zoom |
-2.0 inch LCD
-Small optical viewfinder (really only for when batteries are low) -Fewer preset scene mode options -5 MP CCD |
-Higher retail price of $599 -3x optical zoom -Auto and manual ISO noise levels are higher -Exceptionally slow start to first shot time of 7.89 seconds -4 MP CCD -Larger overall camera body -80, 100, 200, 400 ISO settings -Slightly slower movie mode frame rate of 24 fps -No manual white balance setting -Much smaller shutter speed range -f/2.8 max aperture setting |
-Slightly larger overall camera body -8 preset scene mode options -No manual white balance control -26 MB of internal memory -f/2.8 max aperture setting -3x optical zoom lens |