Nikon Coolpix P7700 Hands-on Preview: Digital Photography Review

Body & Design

Looking at the P7700, the family resemblance between it and the P7100 (and P7000) is clear. In fact, despite the lack of an OVF, and the redesigned, fully-articulated rear LCD, the control layout of the P7700 is effectively identical to its predecessor. For the most part we like the 'hands on' ergonomics of the P7100 and the P7700 continues in the same tradition. The fully-articulated rear LCD screen is a welcome addition, being much more flexible than the tilt-only design of the P7100, and it's so slim that it doesn't appreciably add to the camera's bulk.

To the right of the P7700's hotshoe is the exposure mode dial, and next to that, the on/off switch, shutter release and collar-type zoom control. On the far right is an 'Fn' button, 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 is the 'DISP' 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.

Like the P7100 the new camera features a socket for an external microphone (one of the few compact cameras to do so), and a flash hotshoe which allows any of Nikon's current range of Speedlight flashguns to be attached with full i-TTL compatibility. New in the P7700 is compatibility with Nikon's diminutive GP-1 GPS unit, and the ability to control a group of Speedlight flashes from the built-in flash. It's pretty clear that Nikon is trying to make sure that the P7700 offers a lot of compatibility to anyone who's been buying accessories to go with a Nikon DSLR.

The P7700 that we had access to when preparing this preview was a pre-production unit, and as such it isn't possible to comment confidently on the camera's user interface and control logic (it is not unusual for changes to be made before production). That said, all signs point to the P7700's UI being basically the same as the P7100's - the same controls in the same places, serving the same or very similar functionality. This is by and large a good thing, since on the whole we liked how the P7100 handled.

Although when we reviewed it last year we concluded that the P7100 arguably had one too many control dials, we enjoyed the amount of direct manual control possible over exposure and shooting parameters, and appreciated the inclusion of two customizable 'Fn' buttons. The P7700 retains all of this versatility, which is a good thing.

In Your Hand

The P7700's deep, squarish grip is almost Sony NEX-esque, but curvier and more sculpted and with a nice, thick rubberized coating. We haven't spent long with the camera but our first impressions of handling are very positive. The P7700 is well-built and comfortable to hold.

Body Elements

	The P7700's lens offers the same 28-200mm span as its predecessor the P7100 but is much brighter, offering a maximum aperture of F2 at the wide and and F4 at tele. Nikon is calling the vibration reduction 'Second Generation VR', as distinct from the Lens-Shft VR system used in the P7100.
	The P7700's tiny flash pops up from the left-hand shoulder of the camera (as viewed in-use). As well as close-range portraits and 'fill-in' the P7700's flash can also be used to wirelessly trigger a group of Speedlight flashguns.
	On the right of the P7100's top plate is the exposure mode dial, and integrated lens zoom control and shutter release. Like its predecessor, the P7700's zoom spans 28-200mm (equivalent).
	The P7700 features a 'quick menu dial' on the top of the camera, for direct access to frequently-used shooting settings like white balance, ISO and picture styles.
	The P7700 features two control dials, one on the front, on top of the grip (shown here) and one on the rear. If the P7700 behaves like the P7100 (which is very likely) then in manual and aperture priority exposure modes the front (or 'main') command dial sets the aperture value.
	The second of the two control dials is positioned on the upper right of the P7700's rear, ideally positioned for operation with the thumb. We would expect the rear (or 'sub') command dial to control shutter speed value in manual and shutter priority modes. In program mode it shifts exposure in 1/3EV increments.
	A third dial comprises the four-way switch on the rear of the P7700. At its cardinal points you will find direct access to self-timer, flash, AF mode and macro focus mode settings.
	HDMI and USB ports are hidden under a hinged flap on the right of the P7700's body.
	The P7700's supplied EN-EL14 lithium-ion battery (the same as was used in the P7100) and memory card sit behind a latched door on the base of the camera, inside its hand grip.

Comments

Total comments: 193

It seems they believe they have reviewed it....go look for the camera here:
http://www.dpreview.com/products/Nikon/cameras
it has the familiar cyan "Read review" link which takes you directly to the "Roundup: Enthusiast Zoom Compact Cameras" article... so between that single-page "review" and this "preview" that's all we are going to get.

It's interesting that they have a link from that roundup-review to this preview but no link here to the actual "review" and no update here to reflect the impressions there.

1 upvote

Here under "Product Timeline": http://www.dpreview.com/products/nikon/compacts/nikon_cpp7700
It says "Nikon Coolpix P7700 review - Review, Dec 18, 2012"

Most of the smart-phone reviews we are getting thrown at us are more in-depth then that "Review"

1 upvote

yup... they want to transition us all to smartphone news

1 upvote

Eight months and the preview is still preview, not review. Maybe DPR will review P7700 after the next Canon G launch with an articulated screen ^_^

0 upvotes

They are so arrogant so don´t even expect an answer!
If it wasn´t for the forums this website would be nothing!

Comment edited 4 minutes after posting

0 upvotes

one of the best reviews of this camera (which i own) that i found so far is here http://www.cameralabs.com/reviews/Nikon_COOLPIX_P7700/

1 upvote

So much for the preview. How about that REVIEW?

3 upvotes

Hey it's only been 6+ months...no need to be impatient...the fact is it's not a phone/cam so there is no real rush...

2 upvotes

no movie record button?

0 upvotes

no offence intended but its been over 5 months since this preview was published...are we going to get a "Review"?

2 upvotes

I purchased P7700 as a Christmas gift to my wife to replace her old 'travelling' compact camera and was so impressed with it's image and build quality that I came to conclusion to leave it to my own needs. (My wife received instead P510 and happy with it).

P7700 is able to replace in most of situations including low light conditions (up to ISO 1600-3200) any enthusiast level DSLR (like D7000 or Canon 7D). It is practically much much better than one could expect from it's price. But you need to pay additionally for fast card (like Lexar Professional x400 or faster) and high quality protective filter 40,5 mm.

2 upvotes

Luckily I'm not your wife !

1 upvote

There's only one reason I'm here -
The Articulated Screen.

8FPS, that's better than 7D.

Comment edited 12 minutes after posting

2 upvotes

AnyOne that Adds a Full Articulated Screen Camera to their already full load DSLR setups will find they use this option first every time.

I'd bet 1/4 of all shots - you cannot physically get behind the camera.

Try to capture view of SN tag & ports with your head & body behind the 52" TV, w/o moving it - I dare Ya.
I have 12K in Canon Gear -
Using flex screen every chance I get for the hundreds of views not possible.

0 upvotes

Man, bummer about the viewfinder.

0 upvotes

I was hoping for an actual review before the end of the world, since this camera has been in your hands for so long, but I guess it's not to be.

2 upvotes

So what if it doesn't have a VF? Before buying my DSLR I used a Sony point&shoot which has a small VF but I have actually never used it. Being so small it's kinda useless!

1 upvote

Size of VF is one parameter and to see aprox.70% of scene is about nothing, but from my poit of view there is more important parameter and it is exposition parameters. P7000, P7100 has VF without any exposure information, about where is AF point etc. The same VF has G15 and the others competitors. So why is this "optical tunnel" important for some people? Someone talks that the display is bad when back lighting. Of course it is, but how can I take picture without knowing where the camera focused? I'd like to say, than only VF is not enough.

Comment edited 4 minutes after posting

1 upvote

Critical focus is a bit less "critical" with such a small sensor. And it also allows you to squeeze out a bit more battery life.

And some of us just absolutely despise the arms reach shooting position. I will never own a camera that doesn't at least have an option for a to-the-eye viewing.

3 upvotes

Just bought this last week, and post some pics in:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/johnun/sets/72157632180823725/
A very nice DC indeed, although its limitation in DOF. High ISO 1600 is useful too.

1 upvote

Wow, these pics look really good. Usually I'm underwhelmed by the lack of discernable difference in quality from similarly sized cameras but my old Lumix might just be on it's way to ebay....

1 upvote

Camera Labs have just reviewed the P7700--results show a clear superiority over the G15. Maybe Canon are resting too much on their laurels and presuming too much on loyalty.
l

3 upvotes

The Canon G15 was announced a month after the Nikon P7700, yet the G15 already has a full review posted. I've noticed dpreview has had a pro-Canon bias for years. When will they give Nikon a fair shake? Image test results show the Nikon superior to the G15.

7 upvotes

I think that's mainly because the Coolpixen have traditionally been underdogs with few exceptions, mostly following the trends not taking the lead, unlike their DSLR brethren. P7700 specs are not particularly outstanding.

1 upvote

The specifications may not be "particularly outstanding," but I've owned and used every iteration of the P7--- series as well as Canon G series from G6 to G12. The P7700 is a terrific performer; IQ beats the G15 and the ergonomics are generally superior. The letdowns are slow RAW shot-to-shot speed and the lack of even a vestige of an OVF. This is the camera Canon should have built ... and the one Nikon should have introduced in late 2010 rather than the heavily flawed P7000.

2 upvotes

I can live with Coolpix if the review is great. I'm still waiting...

2 upvotes

Ain't we all. :(

0 upvotes

I really want to buy this camera but seriously how can you continue to give cameras of this quality a name like coolpix. It's something someone's dad dreamed up in 1998 and even then his teenage daughter rolled her eyes in embarrassment

3 upvotes

I sincerely hope DPR will clearly address operational performance in the P770 review. The P7000 was criticised harshly for being slow compared to its peers. The P7100 was noted to be improved, but I don't remember a clear message about whether the problem was truly resolved or if the P7100 was still slow for its class. Please answer this for the P7700!

1 upvote

Any word on a full review??

2 upvotes

Not yet. I'm waiting for detailed test too.

0 upvotes

What is the ISO from DSCN0983 (billiard balls) and DSCN0980 (boots) ?

The values do not appear in the image details, even downloading the originals.

1 upvote

Nikon cameras use blank ISO when they use ISO HI.

0 upvotes

Somehow the real world samples look flat , neutral . Good thing for RAW shooting but no sense as JPG .

0 upvotes

How does one determine the image quality difference between G12 and P7700 when DPReview's images show JPEG Fine for P7700 and JPEG Stnd for G12. Apples to oranges. . .appears quite biased in favour of P7700.

0 upvotes

I agree, the Sony shots are are out of focus, or focusing at the front of the assembled objects, unlike the Canon which is sharper on the back objects.

0 upvotes

The RX100 shots all look slightly out of focus. Who else sees this?

Comment edited 50 seconds after posting

0 upvotes

Will the full review be coming out on this one soon?

3 upvotes

It looks to me like the Nikon 7700 and the Sony RX100 are focused on different planes. For example, if you place the rectangular crop on the playing card at the back of the collage the Nikon seems sharper and superior to the Sony in most respects. Then if move the rectangle to the watch at the bottom right the opposite happens, and the Sony is sharper.

0 upvotes

Wait a minute, where's the automatic retracting lens cap?
Seems it's no longer there.

0 upvotes

Did you see how big is the frontal lens? ;)

0 upvotes

Yep, that must be the reason for omitting the automatic lens cap. Now it will take some more time before 'ready to shoot'.

0 upvotes

But the thing is there's a standard thread round the lens. I just leave a filter on and no lens cap - same as my other cameras.

1 upvote

Same here; I just leave the filter on and the cap off. I use a standard 8$ Tiffen, which is no more expensive to replace than a brand-name cap. Thus far, I have no indication of vignetting.
I think the fact that you can attach a standard filter is a pretty important feature. Your optics are protected 100% of the time. I'll leave it up to y'all to decide whether the lens justifies paying for a B+W filter ;)

0 upvotes

I think these camera makers are really missing the boat by not putting an OVF in an upper level P&S. I agree that they are near useless, but they are extremely valuable to have in bright light when you can't see the LCD. I am a Canon DSLR shooter, but own the excellent Nikon P7100. If I wanted a P&S without a viewfinder I would just use my iphone.

0 upvotes

Whatever viewfinder (OVF/EVF) is the reason why I don't have this camera in my pocket. I'm Nikon DSLR shooter and I feel taking pictures without viewfinder as when I'm naked in the bush.

0 upvotes

I'm impressed how bad the LX7 performs in RAW mode. Even at ISO 200.

0 upvotes

The studio shot of the LX7 is out of focus (front focussed). Take a look, everything close to the camera is sharp, al the rest gets out of focus.

0 upvotes

Would be interesting to hear about the zooming speed and AF speed.

The RX100 focus is fast but zooming in an out not quite.

In terms of versatility, p7700 seems to have a slight edge especially the lens range and the flip twist LCD.

0 upvotes

Again it shows a good camera, and run very near the RX100, and even higher in some details. My option is getting closer with this cameras. Waiting for the full review. And mainly the Noise review.
ps- I made a comparison between both models, 7700 with the RX100, and still missing some details on the specifications of 7700, compared to the officially announced by Nikon.

12.8 megapixels vs 20.9 megapixels

Comment edited 4 minutes after posting

1 upvote

Was comparing the raw high ISO images between P7100 and P7700 but they looked almost identical.....not upgrading right now.........will wait for next release......

0 upvotes

The Nikkor lens seems quite good, at least as good as the Leica lens on the LX7, at least at the tested aperture and focal length. Interesting camera.

0 upvotes

Looks really good and quite amazingly sharp, in fact the best when compared to LX7, S100, XZ-1. Details are as good as the RX100.

It seems like its a very capable camera but somehow got drowned in the midst of other releases.

Comment edited 11 minutes after posting

0 upvotes

Hi could you tell what are the maximum aperture you can achieve between 28mm and 200mm film equivalent?
Like 50mm? 85mm? 135mm? film equivalent.
regards

0 upvotes

28mm = f2.0
35mm = f2.2
50mm = f2.8
85mm = f3.2
105mm = f3.5
135mm = f3.5
200mm = f4.0
(all up to 1/2000s)

At 28mm:
up to 1/2000s: f2.0 max.
1/2500: f2.8 max.
1/3200: f3.5 max.
1/4000: f4.5 max.

At 200mm:
up to 1/2000s: f4.0 max.
1/2500: f4.5 max.
1/3200: f5.6 max.
1/4000: f7.1 max.

Cheers, guzolany

Comment edited 9 minutes after posting

13 upvotes

A tip of my hat to you, Guzolany.
Thanks for your collaboration.
You KNOW how to answer a question, bro.
I'll keep your name for the future, when, if you'd allow me, I could ask you for an INTELLIGENT answer to a question of mine.
:)

4 upvotes

Thanks very much guzolany!
This helps me a lot comparing it with other in this range from Canon and Panasonic etc

0 upvotes

Looks a great camera, but if I was replacing my NEX5N + the Electronic Viewfinder I wouldn't go back to a camera without that feature. When I first got the NEX, the first day I went out with it was a brilliant sunny day and I couldn't see a thing on screen (especially as I wear specs that turn in to sunglasses in sunshine). The viewfinder is a gem to be able to use, but in the NEX5 case if I fit this then I cannot fit the flash. Anyway its a pity Nikon omit this item so for me, I'm out ...

Comment edited 2 minutes after posting

0 upvotes

looks like an amazing cameraand there is no doubt in my mind that it will deliver incredible images. I was allready to pre-order one untill I saw the exclusion of a View finder. That is unfortunately a deal breaker for me as a pro. This is the ideal camera to use as a second or even third camera when photographing events as it size is not too intrusive and you have all the control of an SLR. It would have made a nice addition to my SLR cameras but unfortunitely the lack of a viewfinder is a crucial mistake in my opinion and will cost Nikon a a fair amount of sales from traditionalists like myself who insist on having a viewfinder.

0 upvotes

Yeah, I thought this too until I bought one. For me the swivel screen makes it OK because you can hold it on your chest and look down like you would with a TLR or I used to with my RB67. Even more traditional than an SLR!

0 upvotes

European English User Manual now available:

http://nikonsupport.eu/europe/Manuals/p7700/p7700rm_en_01.pdf

2 upvotes

I picked one up today and I must say I'm pretty impressed.
I've shot a studio scene at various ISOs. Given the form factor I think the ergonomics are pretty good too.

Quick thoughts - http://www.davidhume.net/p7700/

5 upvotes

David ... thanks!! Great information and good to see the samples!!

1 upvote

No worries. After an initial positive experience, I'm looking forward to getting to know it fully.

I hope that I'll be able to use it in situations where I used to have to carry the D70 + 3 lenses.

For example today I need to shoot some interiors for real estate, and it occurs to me that because of the high flash sync I'll be able to balance interior/exterior light with a low powered off camera flash in a way that my DSLR cannot because of its limited sync speed. This could end up being a very useful camera!

2 upvotes

When the review come out?

0 upvotes

Had the G15/7700 introduced a Contax G2-style OVF it would be my next camera. I owned a Coolpix 5400 a few years ago and despite it being slow to fire up and shoot with it was a gem and produced wonderful 5MP pictures and had a great swivel LCD too. Since then I have gone through a G11 (destroyed by a rogue wave) and a G12 which was great but for the awful OVF which I used a lot in bright sun and when a LCD would have been a distraction in a darkened settting or if I did not have my glasses. Years on and they still don't have it quite right. The Coolpix looks better than the G15 overall because of the tele capabilities and the swivel screen which is essential for macro and when you need to shoot above a crowd. Hmm, I wonder if we might see a rebirthed Contax "GD" with a full sized or DX sensor and that Leica beating OVF? Probably not so it looks like the Nikon for me but not from the UK where it costs as much in £ as it costs in $ from the US where I visit regularly.

Comment edited 2 times, last edit 14 minutes after posting

2 upvotes

IMHO, it's a pity (and a big loss for Nikon) that there's no camera in Nikon 1 system with the same level of user controls (and a standard hot shoe). V1 (not to mention J2/J1) look very... pitiful in UI department compared to this.

Comment edited 39 seconds after posting

7 upvotes

The G15 review settled it for me. The P7700 will be my first Nikon since I gave away my F2. Supposedly they'll be in stock on the 28th.

3 upvotes

This seems like the perfect camera for my needs. Looking forward to the user reviews.

0 upvotes

Same goes for me.
The G15 was eagerly awaited but received with great disappointment. Canon took a step back in time. What on earth possessed them to get rid of the vary angled screen. There was practically nothing we didn't expect given the market. The lens only brighter than the Nikon by ƒ0.2. We expected the Digic 5 processor because it had already been used on other Powershots. CMOS sensor, well they had to keep up with the competition. Now the G15 is just another P&S with the added disadvantage that it's bigger than most even without the old screen. Bad move Canon it's a bummer.

My last Nikon was an S10 my next Nikon the P7700 as soon as I can get my hands on one.

0 upvotes

I own all canon gear, so I was pretty bummed when the g15 was announced. This will be my first nikon. Who knows, with the new addition of this camera to my gear bag, maybe all my gear will eventually become Nikon... bad move canon.

1 upvote

Can't agree. The Nikon P&S range just don't do it for me. Never like their colour range.
Will keep my eye out though...

0 upvotes

Can you point me in the direction of the G15 review please? I can't see it listed to compare in this studio scene. I can only see the Preview, with no samples. Thanks.

0 upvotes

Such a small and dark viewfinder noone needs, except cases you have low battery left. A good high res. tilting display is much better. I wonder, why nobody cares about native support of filters? To me this is a very strong argument to buy new P7700. No other premium compact accept filter use without converter. A built in ND filter is also welcome feature. And, ofcourse, 28-200 f/2 - f/4 equivalent lens is most usefull among peers.

3 upvotes

Just looked at the G15 preview...having owned 4 G-series and eager for my next.
Hello Nikon P goodbye Canon G!

3 upvotes

Repeat after me: an LCD can never be a viable alternative to an OVF, no matter how bad, in bright daylight.

Unless it's a transflective display, and I don't see anyone using those anymore.

R.I.P., usability, you are sorely missed.

3 upvotes

I will much rather take a camera (well, the P7700) with a more compact body + swivel LCD than a larger camera with a pointless optical tunnel. The OVF:s from past Canon G series and Nikon P7000 are useless to the point of being ridiculous.

10 upvotes

Agreed. IMO, @ngollan, seems to be stating an edge case. Even in that edge case of bright sunlight, the articulating displaying can be manipulated to mitigate. Why give up size to accommodate this edge case?

3 upvotes

Well to be fair the p series and the g series models that had both swivel screens and viewfinders wern't that large to begin with. The P series were a little larger than the canon but they were reasonably compact for the camera you got. Yes the viewfinders arnt fantastic but still very usefull. If size is such a big issue then buy a smaller compact. Both the Nikon P7700 and Canon G15 are disspointments in my opinion as they left out crucial components that made them so popular with both enthusiasts and semi-pros. The enthusiasts will more than likely by the P7700 because of the swivel screen and the pro or traditionalist will more than likely buy the G15 for the viewfinder.

Comment edited 43 seconds after posting

0 upvotes

I think you have to be realistic aout what you are getting.
12,2MB is way plenty for a small consumer lens. Also, less pixels means better low light reproduction, not less.
I must say this F2 lens sounds like a huge step up from other point and shoots, but remember that the pro Nikon 200mm F2 lens costs $ 5000 and this package is $ 500!
I have a D3 with a 12mb full frame sensor which takes stunning photos which I can easily print on my A2 printer.
In this case, less is more! The speedlight commander function makes this camera punch way above its weight. Unless I can have a true TTL large bright viewfinder like we can have on a pro camera, why bother when you are going to get a better idea of the image from the screen anyway?
I need a camera I can keep in the glovebox or in my pocket but which can light my products and reproduce commercial quality images when I'm not carrying around a big heavy camera bag full of pro lenses. There isnt another camera that can do all this for me.

Comment edited 3 times, last edit 5 minutes after posting

10 upvotes

XZ-1 Olympus is a great little camera.

4 upvotes

> remember that the pro Nikon 200mm F2 lens costs $ 5000 and this package is $ 500

But that pro Nikon 200mm F2 lens covers a much larger sensor area than this compact, doesn't it?

1 upvote

Among the worst aspects of Nikon's UI philosophy has been and remains the inconvenience of ISO control. DSLRs and compacts require two hands to change ISO. It's almost as if they assume photographers will just set Auto ISO and for the most part be done with that pesky control. Maybe most folks do, but I shoot manually 99% of the time–manual everything, including spot metering and ISO– and it frustrates the hell out of me that I have to change my hold on the camera to adjust the ISO setting when so many less-used controls seem to be clustered on the top right shoulder where they are easily changed single-handedly. Canon's gotten this right for a while with its ISO button behind the shutter release. Why Nikon hasn't replaced the exposure compensation button (+/-) with the ISO control–especially now that they are make Easy Exposure Compensation and option in AE modes–I will never know. How they can effect such positive change in evolving their UI, yet still bungle ISO I'll never know?

3 upvotes

Rather use your DSLR than complaining... this is NOT a DSLR though...but a Coolpix

2 upvotes

No Nikon pro camera has an ISO dial, so to change ISO you need two hands. Personally, I much prefer easy +/- EC access than ISO control. There is normally no need for hysterical ISO changes but the EC must be changed often, especially outdoors and in changing light. Never the less, if you like Canon cameras more than Nikon then get a Canon. There are plenty to choose from.

2 upvotes

Press and twirl, that is your birthright if you use Nikon. Exposure comp is also a more important control to keep close... if you are flicking through the ISO range, something is wrong, it ought to be the first variable that you've set. (Unless you shoot manual all the time... but why? its a compact) I hardly ever touch the ISO button on any camera wile the camera is up to my eye... it's something to do beforehand. If you want to keep a specific aperture and shutter speed combination, then you're only choice is to vary ISO.

1 upvote

No viewfinder? No problem. Go old school and make your own wire frame viewfinder like on the old press cameras. Or buy an optical viewfinder; there are a million used and vintage ones on Ebay and you can buy them new from Panasonic or Olympus.

6 upvotes

Total comments: 193