Introduction

Nikon has finally done it! Avid Nikon fans have long hungered for a worthy compact model with both automated capabilities and full manual controls, and at last all the features you need most have been stuffed into the tiny, pocket-sized confines of the Nikon Coolpix P7100 camera. Your new camera is loaded with capabilities that few would have expected to find in a “point-and-shoot” digital camera. The P7100 gets the most image quality out of its 10-megapixel sensor with excellent high-sensitivity performance that tops out at ISO 6400 (or 12800 in low-light mode!).

The P7100 is an evolutionary descendent of a line of high-grade P-series Coolpix models, the P5000, P6000, and P7000. It’s worth noting that the P6000 employed a 13.5 MP sensor while the newer cameras have been equipped with 10 MP sensors. This was a logical change because it allowed for larger pixels on the sensor chip and for better quality at high ISO levels such as ISO 1600 and ISO 3200. While this latest model may look identical to the P7000 at a glance, it does provide some improvements, including a second control dial on the front, an LCD screen that flips out and tilts instead of a fixed LCD, four extra Special Effects modes, and superior image quality at high ISO levels. The P7100 is faster too in terms of autofocus, processing of....