Body/Design
 | This image shows off the articulated LCD screen of the P7100 (foreground) compared to the P7000's conventional, fixed display. The P7100's LCD screen folds out, which aids low and high-angle shooting, but cannot swivel. Impressively, the articulated screen does not appreciably increase the camera's bulk. |
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Unusually for a modern digital compact (but again, like the Canon Powershot G series), the P7100 features an optical viewfinder in addition to its 3inch fold-out LCD screen. It also has socket for an external microphone, and a flash hotshoe which allows any of Nikon's current range of Speedlight flashguns to be attached with full i-TTL compatibility. To the right of the hotshoe is the exposure mode dial, and next to that, the P7100's on/off switch, shutter release and collar-type zoom control. On the far right is the Fn button (previously 'Av/Tv' on the P7000), which can be customized to access a range of different functions, and a large exposure compensation dial. Just behind these is the uppermost rear control dial.
Looking at the camera from the rear, at the top left you can see the flash activation button, and to the right of the LCD screen an AEL-/AF-L button, image review button, and 'menu.' Just above the LCD screen, to the right of the finder is the display mode button. At the base and to the right of the 4-way controller is the delete button, and on the cardinal points of the controller itself are direct access points for macro/normal AF, self-timer, flash modes and AF area modes.
Handling
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| The P7100 is one of the chunkiest compact cameras available, and notably by its generous number of external control points. A substantial hand grip makes it very comfortable to hold, and the new front-mounted command dial is very well-positioned for operation with the right index or middle finger. | |
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Like its predecessor, the P7100 is a solid camera that feels great in the hand. However, the price you pay for such a powerful zoom and such a substantial grip is bulk. The P7100 is considerably less 'compact' than competitive models like the Panasonic Lumic DMC-LX5, especially as regards its height. This isn't necessarily a bad thing though - most of the key shooting settings can be accessed using dedicated control points, and the twin command dials make for almost DLSR-like ergonomics, which certainly encourages manual control over your photography. Also, we don't want to overplay the size aspect - the P7100 is still smaller than a typical Micro Four Thirds or Sony NEX-series interchangeable lens camera with standard zoom, and of course with the P7100 you get a 28-200mm (equivalent) lens.
Although we have only used a preproduction camera, we're happy to report that in our brief time with a sample unit, it appears as if Nikon has made genuine improvements to the P7100's speed and operational ergonomics compared to the P7000. In the P7000, everything from summoning a menu to changing an option using the quick menu dial was a struggle, but the P7100 feels much faster and more responsive. In fact, our brief experience of using the P7100 suggests that in general, its operational speed is much closer to the impressively snappy P300 than to its predecessor, and although shooting in .NRW raw mode still slows the camera down, our initial impression is that the P7100's processor is significantly more capable.
This is great news, because it potentially addresses our single most serious criticism of the P7000. We had few serious complaints about the P7000's design, and even less about its image quality, and based on our experience of the P7100, we're optimistic that it could be a genuinely tough competitor for Canon's Powershot G12 in the way that it predecessor just wasn't.
Although we have only used a preproduction camera, we're happy to report that in our brief time with a sample unit, it appears as if Nikon has made genuine improvements to the P7100's speed and operational ergonomics compared to the P7000. In the P7000, everything from summoning a menu to changing an option using the quick menu dial was a struggle, but the P7100 feels much faster and more responsive. In fact, our brief experience of using the P7100 suggests that in general, its operational speed is much closer to the impressively snappy P300 than to its predecessor, and although shooting in .NRW raw mode still slows the camera down, our initial impression is that the P7100's processor is significantly more capable.
This is great news, because it potentially addresses our single most serious criticism of the P7000. We had few serious complaints about the P7000's design, and even less about its image quality, and based on our experience of the P7100, we're optimistic that it could be a genuinely tough competitor for Canon's Powershot G12 in the way that it predecessor just wasn't.
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