Nearly a year after introducing Coolpix P90 superzoom Nikon once again comes back with their newest Nikon Coolpix P100 camera. This camera brings 26x optical zoom with 26-678mm focal range.Nikon Coolpix P100 lowering the resolution to 10.3 megapixels from 12.1 megapixel on COOLPIX P90 superzoom. P100 is using backside Illumination (BSI) device which has a larger CMOS sensor.
BSI program also involving the placement of light sensors for each pixel on the back side of the sensor wafers, instead of the front side along with other circuits. The sensor circuit will increase the efficiency of the sensor (sends the signal to noise ratio), because less light that spread out before reaching the image sensor.
There are improvements on Nikon Coolpix P100, including doubling the LCD monitor resolution up to 3.0-inch. Meanwhile, the rate of continuous shooting can achieve 10 frames per second (fps) in full resolution, and 1080p HD video video recording capabilities at 30 frames per second (fps).
Inside there are about 43 MB of internal memory and the camera uses SD/SDHC, but not compatible with MultiMedia Cards. Including, battery and charger, USB and V cable, camera strap, lens cap, and CD-ROM software. P100 in ultrazoom class is configured as a mini DSLR camera.
The overall control layout is very simple and easy. There are four main menus that can be accessed via the menu button. If there are no pictures or videos taken both by the camera's internal memory or memory media, the playback menu are not available.Meanwhile, the shooting menu includes settings such as: size, white balance and ISO sensitivity, along with camera settings such as exposure bracketing, continuous shooting or the level of single shots, noise reduction, and AF mode area focus. Distortion Control and Active D-lighting feature is also located in the shooting menu.
Like other cameras in this class, the shooting mode has the superiority on automatic scene modes and pre-program. In addition, the Nikon Coolpix P100 has some interesting modes such as tracking a subject, backlit, and sports activities with continuous shooting modes.
3.0-inch LCD monitor has been upgraded to a 460,000 dot composition and can be adjusted to five levels of brightness. This can be articulated to approximately 160 degrees of motion along the horizontal axis when positioned away from the camera body.
Its electronic view finder has a 230,000 dot composition and offers an adjustment for vision variations. The coverage is about 97% to capture an image and 100% for playback.
Nikon Coolpix P100 video quality is good enough. Because this camera uses CMOS sensors, with the possibility of rolling shutter effects and lead to distortion of the vertical object when panning the camera.
There are two options for recording video auto focus, single AF lock focus on the middle screen when recording movies, and AF full-time. The camera can be enlarged during the recording but will lost its focus.
