Check out our in-depth Nikon Coolpix P7000 review here. Is it the best compact camera to be had this holiday season?
Nikon Coolpix P7000 Overview
In a world where decent advanced fixed lens compacts are hard to come by, the Nikon Coolpix P7000 emerges from the boiling surface of quality. This is a very obscure genrea fixed lens camera that features DSLR-style features and a larger sensor than nearly every advanced point-and-shoot on the market. Nikon's Coolpix P7000 is ideal for the photography student, professional who needs a buddy for their D700 or 7D, or part-time photographer who needs a quick shot without messing with interchangeable lenses.
But the Nikon Coolpix P7000 is not alone, for the Canon PowerShot G12 wants a piece of the pie as well. In fact, both cameras are the only models of their ilk. You either go for the Nikon Coolpix P7000, or the Canon PowerShot G12. The Panasonic Lumic DMC-LX5 is similar when it comes to imaging, but it cannot compare to the external features flaunted by the P7000 and G12. So, our quest today is to determine which one is right for youan undeniably grueling task, since both cameras performed exceptionally.
Nikon Coolpix P7000 Design
Not only are the Nikon Coolpix P7000 and Canon PowerShot G12 the only cameras of their highly particular genre, but the dang things look identical from three feet away. Both have the same chunky, retro body design, festooned with dials and buttons. We're reminded of an old Nikon SP when we look at the P7000, which oozes class in every light. Was it the pronounced optical viewfinder hump, popup flash, or rubberized right-hand grip? We think it's the whole package.
The Nikon Coolpix P7000's 3-inch screen rocks a nice, crisp 921,000-pixel display, giving us an excellent monitor. This is a step up from the PowerShot G12's 2.8-inch 460,000-pixel screen, though the G12 has the mobility edge with its swiveling hinge that allows the screen to be rotated a full 270 degrees. If only the P7000's screen could rotate and the G12's screen had a larger pane with better resolution.
Like the PowerShot G12, the Coolpix P7000 has a lens mount for a conversion lens, rear spinning control wheel, accessory shoe on top, and an Exposure Compensation dial. However, the similarities stop there. The Nikon P7000 features a standard Mode dial, shutter button/zoom toggle combo, and a rear COmmand dial. The G12's function dial is located in the front, which we preferred for faster control. The P7000 also has a Quick Menu dial, which governs ISO, White Balance, Bracketing, Quality, My Menu, and Tone Level information. While this was a handy little dial to have, we liked Canon's ISO dial and fast, intuitive menus system better.
In addition to a programmable Function button, AV/TV button, and AE-L/AF-L (Lock) button, the Nikon Coolpix P7000 featured a large battery and SD/SDHC/SDXC card slot located under the camera. These are DSLR-style controls that we didn't see on the G12, and propelled the P7000 further into a more professional feel. But the cherry on the sundae was the Nikon Coolpix P7000's 7.1x optical zoom and 3.5mm Mic jack. The Canon PowerShot G12 is devoid of a mic jack and only capable of a 5x optical zoom. What a tight race!
Shooting with the Nikon Coolpix P7000
Here's where our preference shifted toward the Canon PowerShot G12. First off, both the Nikon Coolpix P7000 and PowerShot G12 as packed to the brim with features. In fact, we'd say the P7000 was slightly more advanced, offering a 60-second shutter compared to the G12's 15-second cap, and a highly customizable White Balance mode. The P7000 has Advanced D-Lighting while the G12 has Dynamic Range adjustment. Both cameras have an extensive ISO range, thought the G12 has a better fine-tuning ability. They also share a built-in Neutral Density filter, digital level meter, and designated High ISO Low Light mode.
But the road forks when we talk about navigation and maximum ability. You see, the Nikon Coolpix P7000 is stunted in one very important department. We do a lot of long exposure shooting in very dark environments, which requires long shutter speeds, higher aperture values and an ISO between 1600 and 3200. We do this not only because we love the style of long exposures, but it tests the camera's ability to the max in low light.
That's why it was a shock to find that the Nikon Coolpix P7000 cannot shoot at high ISO levels with a long shutter. We discovered this while reading the "Functions That Cannot Be Applied Simultaneously" section in the P7000's manual. Yes, we also have to read the manual in order to fully get a handle of this camera. Now, the Shutter Speed can only be set up to 15 seconds at ISO 800, 4 second at ISO 1600, 1/2 second at ISO 3200, and 1/8 second at ISO Hi 1. This is a major restriction that prevented us from shooting in the same environment that we did with the Canon PowerShot G12.
In addition, the Nikon Coolpix P7000 offers a standard, boring fleet of scene modes. There are no special digital filters or aspect ratios like on the G12we could only adjust the Sharpness, Contrast, and Saturation of each image. Menu firmware is sluggish when zooming in on an image in playback, and it lags when using the Quick Menu control. Although we loved shooting with the Nikon Coolpix P7000, we favored the Canon PowerShot G12 for its better menus, faster operation, and overall ease of use. Both cameras are tied in the Auto Focus, Metering, and Bracketing departments, but between the P7000's flawed Shutter Speed/ISO restriction and less inspiring menu interface, the G12 wins in the Shooting Features department.
Nikon Coolpix P7000 Still Image Quality
So far, the Nikon Coolpix P7000 and Canon PowerShot G12 have been trading punches, but the P7000 throws in an extra jab in the image quality ring when it comes to color. We're not talking about a mega knockout here, but just a slight edge. We shot side-by-side with both cameras and discovered that the Nikon Coolpix P7000 produces warmer, more natural colors while the G12's are slightly cooler and a tad saturated.
However, we noticed a difference in noise management. Both cameras perform very well at high ISO levels, but the Canon PowerShot G12 provided a more uniform spread of its noise in a less conspicuous pattern than the Nikon Coolpix P7000. Also, the P7000 produces blue noise at ISO 3200 and up, while the G12 did not exhibit this. Oddly enough, the P7000's RAW performance was equivalent to its JPEG performance while the G12's RAW performance was a definite improvement over JPEG. However, the P7000's JPEG performance is noticeably better than the Canon PowerShot G12's.
Between the ability to shoot at any ISO with any shutter speed, and the Canon PowerShot G12's better RAW performance, we'd have to give the slight edge to the G12 when it comes to image quality. This was not an easy choice, for both cameras perform beautifully in natural light and dim environments. We felt that we could achieve more with the G12, but the P7000 is still a machine that produced beautiful images. For many shooters, it will be a tossup between the two cameras, but discerning photographers will hone in on our discoveries.
We liked the Nikon Coolpix P7000's video mode because we could optically zoom at two different speeds, while we could not zoom on the PowerShot G12. The P7000's zoom motor was loud during recording, but the camera featured a Quiet Zoom mode that stifled the mechanical noise and zooming slower. The P7000 also had a 3.5mm mic jack, which was lacking on the G12, but the P7000 was lacking when it came to features. With only a Wind Cut and two Auto Focus modes, our options were even more shallow than the G12's.
In addition, the P7000's Auto Exposure went haywire in nearly any shooting environment, and was sluggish as anything to adjust. Although the Canon PowerShot G12 cannot zoom in video mode and it lacks a mic input, we liked the G12's video mode better. In still environments, the P7000 is excellent in video mode, as long as the exposure doesn't change. Low light is about comparable to the PowerShot G12, so we got a nice sensitivity in diminished lux situations. Both cameras seemed like video mode was just tacked on to fill the HD quota, so expect a lot more in the still image department.
Nikon Coolpix P7000 Final Answer
This was one of the most difficult choices we've had to make in a while, for very few cameras are as similar as the Nikon Coolpix P7000 and Canon PowerShot G12. The Nikon Coolpix P7000 has a better LCD display, though it doesn't rotate. It has a larger zoom and we can use it in video mode. The Nikon Coolpix P7000 also has a better flash with superior flash settings.
The Canon PowerShot G12 has superb menus, more shooting features, and an excellent RAW performance. Both cameras are plastered with advanced external controls, though we sided with the G12 for its ease of use and speed. This is a tight race, but we feel that the Nikon Coolpix P7000's Shutter Speed/ISO limits are a major deterrent for any advanced shooter when it comes to long exposure photography.
To put it this way, both cameras have their strengths and weaknesses, but we preferred the Canon PowerShot G12 in the greater scheme of things. The Nikon Coolpix P7000 is still a top-notch camera, and many Nikon fanatics will still opt for it over the G12. But until Nikon fixes that Shutter Speed/ISO limit, revamps their menus, and patches up the Auto Exposure seizures in video mode, it's the G12 in our books. But, at the end of the day, you can't go wrong with either camera.
Price and Availability
The Nikon Coolpix P7000 is available now for $500.
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