Long term opinion from an amateur travel photographer. I’ve been using this Coolpix as my main camera for 7 years now and it’s awesome! I still have some menus and configurations to lear but it worked perfectly just out of the box. Pros: - it’s small and light. Very easy to carry. As much as I understand a SLR is superior I just can’t picture myself hauling a lot of equipment and interchangeable lenses. - the zoom is very good. On my first use it took awesome close ups of the Statue of Liberty from the ferry. - the preset modes are very useful -image quality is superb. As expected from Nikon Cons: - at some point the selecting dial became rather unstable at selecting options on the menu. It jumped back and forth instead of selecting what I wanted. I was about to bring it to the service shop but it corrected itself all of a sudden. Have absolutely NO IDEA what happened. The dial still acts up from time to time - the rubbery surface from the grip part started to detach slowly. It became very loose and slippery to hold. I ended up reglueing it myself and cutting off the excess rubber. It’s almost as good as new now but still unacceptable from a brand like Nikon
Just purchased the P7800 on Sunday and I'm happy I did. I was inclined to want to purchase the Sony RX100 III instead, but the fact that when the viewfinder is pushed back down, resulting in the power shutting off, that was a red flag for me. Also, the grip is slippery. The P7800 has an awesome grip. I also purchased a Sensai screw on lens cap to replace the one that came with the camera since it was not very secure. Works like a charm! It has great image quality, not as good as the RX100III, but that is hardly evident when producing smaller prints. And I purchased a Lens Coat pouch that fits it like a glove. It may not fit in all jeans pockets, but it will fit in cargo shorts, sweat shorts, or sweatpants pockets.
Great review. I saw this model in best buy today while shopping for a good pocket camera that can do youtube videos well. Your video popped up first and I learned what I needed to learn. The fact that I cannot adjust whit balance and aperture or zoom on the fly while I'm recording is a deal breaker. So off to look at the P9900 and the canon 60HS.
This camera have great features that I love that's why it is my everyday camera. But there is one thing that I hate about it, it is very very sloooooooowww... to focus. Now I am thinking of Panasonic LX 100 as a new everyday PS cam.
WCecogo Understandable. What's funny, is that when you first get something, you tend to not notice how slow it is. Then you use it for a while, try a newer product and suddenly it feels old and slow. The same happened to me with my first gen iPad.
Question for you: I'm a videographer by trade, but this camera sparked my interest because my wife's been wanting a point-and-shoot and I want a cheap camera that takes decent video for personal use. When I was playing around with it in the store, the video function didn't seem to have active (automatic) focus, and the manual focus ring didn't seem to do anything. Is this true, or was that camera maybe broken or on a different setting?
Oh darn it, the camera really seemed appealing to me when I looked on the quality of the videos and photos. But what really throws me off is the abilitiy to zoom and adjust your settings in Manual mode while filming :( I'm already annoyed with my DSLR because I can't change the apparature whilst filming. Anyway, how's the inbuilt microphone in this one? Can you adjust the microphone settings for it in automatic mode? I'd like to have it with me to concerts and film with it but if I can't adjust the inbuilt microphone it probably won't work very well.
Linnea Olsson Hey Linnea! So we haven't gotten our hands on to too many newer portable cameras like this - so I don't have a solid recommendation. I know the Sony NEX series are pretty damn nice as well. Those though have interchangeable lenses. The audio out of the camera was as good as it can get - that being said - it's never great.
***** Thank you! And no ofcourse it's never the great quality as if there would be a extern microphone :) But could you change the settings to the microphone? Like audio levels, I know from experience that like my DSLR when I forgot to change the microphone settings wouldn't catch any of the actual sound at a festival gig haha :)
Linnea Olsson I hate to give you this type of answer - but I am pretty sure you can. That wasn't something I actually tested when I had the review unit, but will make sure to check for the next camera! I have to assume you would be able to because there is no way they would give you the option for an external mic and not allow you to control the levels.
Mazzazza123 Sorry I don't have that answer for you. We were only to keep the camera for a couple weeks so I wasn't able to take note of that. For the most part I don't remember having any issues with the battery
+Goja Gabol Hey - I would still recommend this camera, but sadly since the review has been over a year old - I have no doubt newer and better cameras have come out. If I can get my hands on some new cameras I can most certainly give you some more feedback!
Hey Amrit! Sadly they did make us send it back. And from what I remember - You could zoom and record in AUTO mode only. But if you were in manual mode - you had to stop the recording - zoom and then continue recording after.
The image results from the lens is astonishing. It wipes the floor with other cameras around the same price range and higher. But sadly the rest of the camera's performance is poor. It seem's as if it's two generations behind it's competitors (notably the Canon PS G16). Very geriatric which, in it's price range, is bad show from Nikon - shame on them.
Long term opinion from an amateur travel photographer. I’ve been using this Coolpix as my main camera for 7 years now and it’s awesome! I still have some menus and configurations to lear but it worked perfectly just out of the box.
Pros:
- it’s small and light. Very easy to carry. As much as I understand a SLR is superior I just can’t picture myself hauling a lot of equipment and interchangeable lenses.
- the zoom is very good. On my first use it took awesome close ups of the Statue of Liberty from the ferry.
- the preset modes are very useful
-image quality is superb. As expected from Nikon
Cons:
- at some point the selecting dial became rather unstable at selecting options on the menu. It jumped back and forth instead of selecting what I wanted. I was about to bring it to the service shop but it corrected itself all of a sudden. Have absolutely NO IDEA what happened. The dial still acts up from time to time
- the rubbery surface from the grip part started to detach slowly. It became very loose and slippery to hold. I ended up reglueing it myself and cutting off the excess rubber. It’s almost as good as new now but still unacceptable from a brand like Nikon
I too have had the dial issue. Only knock on the camera for me besides the terrible EVF. Otherwise its great.
me too have both issues mentioned above😅
I bought my P7800 recently. As you said, I can do just about everything I can do with my SLR. I love this camera!
Just purchased the P7800 on Sunday and I'm happy I did. I was inclined to want to purchase the Sony RX100 III instead, but the fact that when the viewfinder is pushed back down, resulting in the power shutting off, that was a red flag for me. Also, the grip is slippery. The P7800 has an awesome grip. I also purchased a Sensai screw on lens cap to replace the one that came with the camera since it was not very secure. Works like a charm! It has great image quality, not as good as the RX100III, but that is hardly evident when producing smaller prints. And I purchased a Lens Coat pouch that fits it like a glove. It may not fit in all jeans pockets, but it will fit in cargo shorts, sweat shorts, or sweatpants pockets.
Rufus Leakin Congrats! Glad to hear it was a good fit!
One correction to your review: manual focus during video actually can be done, using the AE-L/AF-L button. Thanks for the review!
This is a great little carry around camera, I'm glad I bought it.
+tomlew55 Glad to hear! I definitely had a good time with it.
Great review. I saw this model in best buy today while shopping for a good pocket camera that can do youtube videos well. Your video popped up first and I learned what I needed to learn. The fact that I cannot adjust whit balance and aperture or zoom on the fly while I'm recording is a deal breaker. So off to look at the P9900 and the canon 60HS.
I'm also a fan of knobs! I won't buy a camera without 'em - so much faster than navigating the menu.
you are a fan of knobs,you dirty devil .. ha ha .. jeff ..
This camera have great features that I love that's why it is my everyday camera. But there is one thing that I hate about it, it is very very sloooooooowww... to focus.
Now I am thinking of Panasonic LX 100 as a new everyday PS cam.
WCecogo Understandable. What's funny, is that when you first get something, you tend to not notice how slow it is. Then you use it for a while, try a newer product and suddenly it feels old and slow. The same happened to me with my first gen iPad.
+WCecogo But, its 24-75mm. P7800 up to 200mm
Great Camera, I can confirm it. Half year in use.
+cobbvd Great to hear!
Question for you: I'm a videographer by trade, but this camera sparked my interest because my wife's been wanting a point-and-shoot and I want a cheap camera that takes decent video for personal use. When I was playing around with it in the store, the video function didn't seem to have active (automatic) focus, and the manual focus ring didn't seem to do anything. Is this true, or was that camera maybe broken or on a different setting?
I'm gonna differ to Gabe on this on.
What was the camera you used for this video?
Great review. Thanks for this!
Oh darn it, the camera really seemed appealing to me when I looked on the quality of the videos and photos. But what really throws me off is the abilitiy to zoom and adjust your settings in Manual mode while filming :( I'm already annoyed with my DSLR because I can't change the apparature whilst filming.
Anyway, how's the inbuilt microphone in this one? Can you adjust the microphone settings for it in automatic mode? I'd like to have it with me to concerts and film with it but if I can't adjust the inbuilt microphone it probably won't work very well.
Do you have any recommendations on a camera similiar that would be good for concert photos and videos?
Linnea Olsson Hey Linnea! So we haven't gotten our hands on to too many newer portable cameras like this - so I don't have a solid recommendation. I know the Sony NEX series are pretty damn nice as well. Those though have interchangeable lenses. The audio out of the camera was as good as it can get - that being said - it's never great.
***** Thank you! And no ofcourse it's never the great quality as if there would be a extern microphone :) But could you change the settings to the microphone? Like audio levels, I know from experience that like my DSLR when I forgot to change the microphone settings wouldn't catch any of the actual sound at a festival gig haha :)
Linnea Olsson I hate to give you this type of answer - but I am pretty sure you can. That wasn't something I actually tested when I had the review unit, but will make sure to check for the next camera! I have to assume you would be able to because there is no way they would give you the option for an external mic and not allow you to control the levels.
Cool. Thx 4 review
If I had to select a Nikon, would you recommend this camera for VLOGGING?
I know this is old but can you attach an external mic and if it does, what type of jack does it need?
Regular headphone jack, this was actually shown in the video
how fast is the autofocus on that camera?
Hi, can you please make a timelapse using this camera? can you play timelapse in this camera? just like canon G13 i believe. thanks... ^_^
I just really love watching timelapse... :) thanks for your response... ;)
What's the battery life like? If you were filming that is.
Mazzazza123 Sorry I don't have that answer for you. We were only to keep the camera for a couple weeks so I wasn't able to take note of that. For the most part I don't remember having any issues with the battery
Batery life is really good, I am very happy. Just the lens don't like dusty surroundings , you should avoid them.
Does this work good when you're vlogging?
Katherine Cacho Ya, it can most certainly do the job. I focused on doing short pieces with it and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Just fished it shot 23.98
i want a compact for recording. which do you recommend? thank you
+Goja Gabol Hey - I would still recommend this camera, but sadly since the review has been over a year old - I have no doubt newer and better cameras have come out. If I can get my hands on some new cameras I can most certainly give you some more feedback!
+Gadget Review Don't think there any better camera to replace P7800 till today in this category, sensor size, price range.
It is able to zoom while recording video. Nikon P7800 Zoom
Hey Amrit! Sadly they did make us send it back. And from what I remember - You could zoom and record in AUTO mode only. But if you were in manual mode - you had to stop the recording - zoom and then continue recording after.
The P7700 is better ~ Opinion
The image results from the lens is astonishing. It wipes the floor with other cameras around the same price range and higher. But sadly the rest of the camera's performance is poor. It seem's as if it's two generations behind it's competitors (notably the Canon PS G16). Very geriatric which, in it's price range, is bad show from Nikon - shame on them.