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Just posted: Hands-on preview of the Nikon Coolpix P330

Mar 5, 2013 at 04:01:00 GMT
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We've just posted a hands-on preview of Nikon's latest small form-factor compact, the Coolpix P330. Externally almost identical to its predecessor the P310, the P330 features a larger 1/1.7" BSI-CMOS sensor and raw capture mode - two additions that should make it much more popular with enthusiasts, as well as putting it in direct competition with Canon's popular PowerShot S110. We've spent a little time with the P330, and for more details, images and specifications, click the links below to read our hands-on preview. 

Nikon Coolpix P330

Nikon Coolpix P330

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Comments

Total comments: 37
peevee1
By peevee1 (2 months ago)

Is it a dial around the lens?

0 upvotes
Aroart
By Aroart (2 months ago)

Oops, my bad thought this was the cool pix a.

0 upvotes
Aroart
By Aroart (2 months ago)

I wonder if Fuji is going to fight back with a law suite for copying that style of sensor. This camera is clearly trying to copy the x series. Maybe Fuji is going to comeback and make a dslr.

0 upvotes
marike6
By marike6 (2 months ago)

P3300 "Test" Photos - Full res images

http://www.letsgodigital.org/en/35641/nikon-coolpix-p330/

0 upvotes
marike6
By marike6 (2 months ago)

Has anyone found full-sized sample images from the P330?

I found these, two of them are full res and they look fantastic, similar to the P7700 and nicer to my eyes than the S110.

http://www.cameraegg.org/nikon-coolpix-p330-sample-images/

0 upvotes
marike6
By marike6 (2 months ago)

If it has manual exposure control in video mode like the P7700 it should be an excellent all-around shooter. And if IQ is as good as the class leading P7700, I may just have to pick one up. I only wish they had made the lens faster like the one on the excellent MX-1, but then it could never be this small.

0 upvotes
peevee1
By peevee1 (2 months ago)

"class leading P7700"? ;)

You are true Nikon fan!

0 upvotes
nima6699
By nima6699 (2 months ago)

They need to make camera compete with rx100.

0 upvotes
marike6
By marike6 (2 months ago)

Unfortunately they can't because a 1" sensor Nikon compact would cannibalize their Nikon 1 line-up. It's tough when you have competitive products in a variety of sensor format.

0 upvotes
Lucas_
By Lucas_ (2 months ago)

Fine looking camera, but with the RX100 at just roughly $80.00 more, it's becoming very hard to be a pocket camera!

Comment edited 6 minutes after posting
0 upvotes
camcom12
By camcom12 (2 months ago)

RX100 appears to be selling for ~$650, while the P330 is expected to initially list for $379.

3 upvotes
Menneisyys
By Menneisyys (2 months ago)

"RX100 appears to be selling for ~$650, while the P330 is expected to initially list for $379."

It'll drop in price VERY quickly, as was the case with earlier P3x0 models.

0 upvotes
marike6
By marike6 (2 months ago)

And we know that the RX100 will NEVER drop in price. Sony doesn't play that.

Personally, I've owned an RX100 and it's an OK camera, but unless you need such small camera, spending $650 which is MILC, a used X100 or a mid-level DLSR type money on a P&S, is a tough sell.

And after spending hours editing 36 mp D800 files, the last thing I want to do is edit 20 mp RX100 RAW files. If the shooting experience were better, maybe. But when it shoots like a regular P&S, is slippery, and has no VF or tilt LCD, all the IQ in the world can't make up for it.

2 upvotes
chr1st1an
By chr1st1an (2 months ago)

Will be my next camera if it supports remote release for interval shooting. Sadly I don't think it will support that feature.

0 upvotes
WayneDB
By WayneDB (2 months ago)

Any chance we can get the P7700 review finished before this one is reviewed? Its only been 6+ months now...

1 upvote
camcom12
By camcom12 (2 months ago)

Looks like a great improvement over the previous model. Just got an S100 on deep discount though. A very nice cam also except for operational speed. Maybe the Nikon will be faster.
Aftermarket finger grips are available for these pocket cams and they work wonderfully.

0 upvotes
Menneisyys
By Menneisyys (2 months ago)

"Looks like a great improvement over the previous model. Just got an S100 on deep discount though. A very nice cam also except for operational speed. Maybe the Nikon will be faster."

Nikon's P3x0 series has always been pretty responsive and, in this regard, pleasure to shoot with (unlike with, say, the Canon G1X). Surely the P330 won't be an exception.

0 upvotes
camcom12
By camcom12 (2 months ago)

Thanks for the comment. I'll probably check one out.

0 upvotes
Retzius
By Retzius (2 months ago)

The picture you have posted above looks like the most uncomfortable grip I have ever seen...

5 upvotes
peevee1
By peevee1 (2 months ago)

Of course nobody holds light compact cameras like that...

0 upvotes
mugupo
By mugupo (2 months ago)

They need to make camera compete with rx100.

1 upvote
Cipher
By Cipher (2 months ago)

About time they brought RAW to this camera. Now it competes directly with the Canon S95, S100, S110 etc.

0 upvotes
Rachotilko
By Rachotilko (2 months ago)

f/1.8-f/5.6 ? I'm no Olympus fan, but XZ-10 will destroy it in low-light, despite the smaller sensor.

0 upvotes
marike6
By marike6 (2 months ago)

Perhaps, but you'll have better DOF control with the Nikon, at least at the wide end. And if it performs like the P7700, you should have better high ISO ability, but of course the faster max aperture at full tele on the Olympus will offset the high ISO advantage for the Nikon.

The XZ-10 does look nice, but it remains to be seen if IQ will be as good as cameras like the P7700 or MX-1. The samples from Olympus's website did not impress but I still have my eye on this camera mainly for it's size, and fast lens.

That said, I'm not the type who needs the smallest of the small. A camera like the MX-1 or X20 feels nicer in my hands than slippery little cameras like the RX100 or S110.

Comment edited 3 minutes after posting
0 upvotes
Rachotilko
By Rachotilko (2 months ago)

But for me, having f/2.7 @ 140mm eq is much more attractive than 50% larger sensor. The number f/5.6 is so unpleasant to read and think of.

Ad "smallest of the small": well, pocketability is the main point of both P330 & XZ-10. If the strict pocketability is not a hard constraint, then there are multiple options (P7700, MX-1, XZ-2, X10, X20, EX2F ...)

And then there is RX100

2 upvotes
iae aa eia
By iae aa eia (2 months ago)

you didn't get it. it's a fade-in effect.

0 upvotes
Mongkul
By Mongkul (2 months ago)

I waited for this type of camera from Nikon (APS-C). But I'm really disappointed to see the final product. Well, maybe Nikon wants it to look like ordinary point and shoot cameras out there. I love the sensor size but I hate the look of this camera.

0 upvotes
Barney Britton
By Barney Britton (2 months ago)

I think you're thinking of the Coolpix A.

3 upvotes
Spectro
By Spectro (2 months ago)

lol

0 upvotes
dpLarry
By dpLarry (2 months ago)

Finally Larger sensor .

0 upvotes
Mongkul
By Mongkul (2 months ago)

Yes, finally larger sensor in a toy housing. It will be better if the housing of this camera is something similar to Fujifilm X100. But that's Nikon.

Comment edited 1 minute after posting
0 upvotes
Nightwings
By Nightwings (2 months ago)

No hotshoe..... no viewfinder=no sale ;)

0 upvotes
tkbslc
By tkbslc (2 months ago)

I hope you are joking.

3 upvotes
dpLarry
By dpLarry (2 months ago)

There's a wink so maybe he's joking.

It's a subcompact camera.

Comment edited 2 times, last edit 1 minute after posting
0 upvotes
Mongkul
By Mongkul (2 months ago)

No view finder. so this camera is target at people who rarely shoot or shoot occasionally at school event or family gathering together. Not for people who are serious about photography.

0 upvotes
robmanueb
By robmanueb (2 months ago)

For people who care about photography, want to use something better than a cell phone and not have to carry a brick. IE competes with the Canon S range.

1 upvote
Hex144
By Hex144 (2 months ago)

"competes with the Canon S range."
Also with Olympus XZ-10. Things are looking good in this segment...

1 upvote
Total comments: 37