A Mixed Impression

[Lightpath48]

The P7800 would have been a great camera in 2009, when its 1/1.7 sensor and Expeed C2 processor would have competed in the Advanced Compact segment. Currently selling at $349.00 refurbished, it seems a good investment, with reservations. But better responsiveness and image quality can probably now be found in 1" and four-thirds market segments. So why would someone buy and keep a P7800, going into 2015?

The 28-200 lens is excellent. The fully articulating RGBW LCD is improved. Its broad selection of programmable body controls rivals DSLRs. The NRW raw format is broadly compatible for image editing. A new EVF, though not up to current four-thirds and APS-C EVF standards, is helpful in glaring sunlight. Dynamic range and low light performance are good for a 1/1.7 sensor working with a f/2.0-4.0 lens. But the P7800 now seems dated. The Expeed C2 processor badly lags in write times. ISO 80-400 is pretty much the limit for clean images, though some would be happy with 80-800.

Among other offerings in its price segment the P7800 wouldn't be my main camera. But with its really fine 28-200 equivalent lens, fully articulating LCD, and body controls the P7800 at its lowered price is still a good value while supplies last. Will a much-needed P8000 upgrade be forthcoming? Nikon isn't saying.

 

[KJaay]

Nice honest review, everyone is waiting for the gost P8000.

 

[Paul Kersey Photography]

Relative to smartphone cameras, this camera would be great if only the WiFi was integrated. One as to wonder whether the small sensor advanced compact is dead going forward.

 

[JGoodard]

With the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX100 now available, going forward that would appear to be the case.

 

[camerosity]

With the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX100 now available, going forward that would appear to be the case.

Completely different camera. Bigger sensor, smaller zoom range. I prefer the P7800 for the zoom range and the compact size. And the lower price!! $900 is too high for a camera with a fixed lens (would rather shoot with my Nikon 1 V1) I find the image quality of the P7800 to be superb for such a small point and shoot, easily better than the P7000 I had a few years ago. And it shoots full HD 1080P 30 video, which is also excellent. I love having an EVF, that was something I really wanted with the P7000. This is going to be a great travel cam. And $349 for the refurbished P7800 is a great price.

 

[Osvaldo Cristo]

With the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX100 now available, going forward that would appear to be the case.

At the same pixel count this camera from Pana cost the double of P7800 with a reach only from 24 to 70 mm equivalent to FX. No built in flash for a compact? No fully articulated LCD screen? I cannot understand how you can compare both of them. No, thanks, I prefer Nikon D810!

I think Nikon P7800 is (yet) the choice of its class. I bought mine more than one year ago and I am plenty happy.

All the best,

 

[JGoodard]

A comparison is actually very appropriate. With Panasonic now dropping a m4/3 sensor into a fixed lens body, in addition to Canon now offering a new 1-inch sensor compact alongside the approx. 1.5 inch G1X Mk 2, and with Fujifilm trailing just behind with a 2/3 inch sensor in the x10-30, how can Nikon possibly offer a potential high end compact sporting anything smaller?

Now, I did not make a relative quality comparison, nor did I offer a comment on the LX100 itself. The positive reception to that particular camera, in contrast to the rather cold one to the P7xxx should be a concern at Nikon, IMO.

Myself, I would not pay $900 for a fixed lens camera with such a limited focal range. Not this year, anyway. When the price drops....well that's different. I am very intrigued by the Lumix DMC fz1000. Again, not at the current price. But drop that cost by, say, $150...now we're talking.

I love the all manual control on my P7700. I am a bit constrained and frustrated in real world use by the dinky screen resolution, and the lack of an EVF. Certain other software limitations owing to the aged processor are also holding back this wonderful little cam from its true potential.

I would love to be sporting a P7800 in its place, except for the fact the P7800 is the exact same camera offered at a whopping $546 brand new. $300 is a fair asking price. Right now.

 

[JGoodard]

Regarding user experience, I am in complete agreement. The P7700 and P7800 cameras are just FUN to shoot with. One cannot underestimate the shooting freedom enabled by the depth of manual control via physical buttons and dials. I would NOT buy a camera offering anything less than an equivalent experience.

That's why I am BEGGING Nikon to upgrade the cameras all ready! Like two years late now!

 

[Lightpath48]

After almost a month of ownership, I'd probably write a more positive review and upgrade to four stars now. The slower performance seems a little less critical, after accommodating my technique to it. The IQ still amazes, for this sensor size. Menus and Fn button/dial custom settings now feel more intuitive.

 

[Greynerd]

Good to hear that. It made me think how everyone would categorise cameras if there was no way of knowing what size sensors were in them. I reckon the results would not necessarily correlate to sensor size.

After almost a month of ownership, I'd probably write a more positive review and upgrade to four stars now. The slower performance seems a little less critical, after accommodating my technique to it. The IQ still amazes, for this sensor size. Menus and Fn button/dial custom settings now feel more intuitive.

 

[R Johns]

After almost a month of ownership, I'd probably write a more positive review and upgrade to four stars now. The slower performance seems a little less critical, after accommodating my technique to it. The IQ still amazes, for this sensor size. Menus and Fn button/dial custom settings now feel more intuitive.

I agree. I would say 4-stars is a fair assessment...

Pros: Lens, Sensor Performance is class leading, oodles of External Controls, Rugged Body, 5 Image AE Bracketing, Wireless Flash Control and Fully Articulating LCD

Cons: Mediocre EVF, Vewy Slow Write Times, Limited Continuous Frames and nowireless remote control /via smartphone

IMHO, there will always be a need for a high end enthusiast travel camera in the $550.00 and under class. $850.00-950.00 is just way too high of a price to pay, as many have already suggested. My hope is Nikon will continue to make a P-series camera, such as the P7800, in the price range, even if it means staying with the 1-1.7" sensor. If the P7800 just had a better EVF, a snappy write time and wireless remote control it would be the perfect travel camera for me.

Regards,

Russ

 

[camerosity]

I first bought in to this series with the P6000, bought second hand for $199. I really liked it but poor battery life made me sell it off when the P7000 was introduced. Problem was that the P7000 had less resolution and I thought the P6000 had better ergonomics, with the sticky rubber grip that the P7000 lacked. Then the P7700 came out and I bought one for my nephew, and was pretty blown away by the image quality. The P7800 had an EVF and I knew I had to have one. Found a refurbished one recently for $349 and went for it and I've enjoyed it ever since. When I just want a small portable camera to bring with me, the Coolpix P7800 is the one (when I want a big serious camera it's my D700 or my Df). Overall the P7800 offers a fantastic feature set with the articulated screen and the EVF, and a great zoom range with superb performance at wide open apertures. Nikon also makes the P600 with a similar superb lens. I think both cameras beat Canon's similar offerings.

I disagree with those who want a 1" sensor in the next Coolpix. That would make the camera too large, and increase the cost a lot. I know the Panasonic LX100 is a great camera but I don't want one that big, frankly, as my go-anywhere digital.

 

[Bev81 from France]

I don't understand thoses who say they don't want a LX100 due to size ???

The P7800 is larger in every way except the depth !!!

Anyway none of thoses 2 is small. If you want compactness, look at RX100 or P340 for example

I had a P7100 (I've now a P330) and I've been looking to upgrade to P7700 or P7800

Main problem ? Price !!! Still today, the P7800 is roughly 400 Euro here... There is so much other possibilities with 400 Euro. And on the higher scale the LX100 can now be found at 700 Euro, and the Sony RX100 II at less than 500 Euro. A few month earlier there was great bargains on the Oly XZ2 at 200 Euro, and I don't even speak of small ILC at absolute bargain prices... So make the P7800 available at less than 300 Euro and I'll might be tempted.

Don't get me wrong, I think they are good cameras. But I also try to keep my mind open, there are other choices available...

 

[inverness lad]

Interesting post, Like you I also had the P6000 and in terms of image quality it was superb, agreed the battery life was an issue. There are a lot of people, much more knowlegeable than me on this forum who still use it. I like the look of the Coolpix A but would prefer it with a 35mm (equiv) lens. I still use my P7100 and like it a lot, the coolpix P range has produced some gems over the years.

 

[André BARELIER]

I don't understand thoses who say they don't want a LX100 due to size ???

The P7800 is larger in every way except the depth !!!

Anyway none of thoses 2 is small. If you want compactness, look at RX100 or P340 for example

I had a P7100 (I've now a P330) and I've been looking to upgrade to P7700 or P7800

Main problem ? Price !!! Still today, the P7800 is roughly 400 Euro here... There is so much other possibilities with 400 Euro. And on the higher scale the LX100 can now be found at 700 Euro, and the Sony RX100 II at less than 500 Euro. A few month earlier there was great bargains on the Oly XZ2 at 200 Euro, and I don't even speak of small ILC at absolute bargain prices... So make the P7800 available at less than 300 Euro and I'll might be tempted.

Don't get me wrong, I think they are good cameras. But I also try to keep my mind open, there are other choices available...

Agree. The P7800 is way overpriced now. It should sell for less than 300 EUR.

I was tempted by a 2nd hand P7800 on LBC (Le Bon Coin), for less than 250 EUR. But I'm reluctant to buy a 2nd hand camera without having tested it.

 

[Lightpath48]

Interesting post, Like you I also had the P6000 and in terms of image quality it was superb, agreed the battery life was an issue. There are a lot of people, much more knowlegeable than me on this forum who still use it. I like the look of the Coolpix A but would prefer it with a 35mm (equiv) lens. I still use my P7100 and like it a lot, the coolpix P range has produced some gems over the years.

Spending a few hours every day shooting and processing raw files from my P7800 (I'm in retirement), it occurs to me that I'm working with a classic design in advanced P&S cameras that might be coming to an end. The paucity of uploads and discussions on the P7800 on the Web is telling. Flickr lacks a listing of any P Series camera after the P7000 on its cameras page. There are only three P 7 _ _ _ Flickr groups, and two haven't been active for months. A Twitter search for P7800 tweets brings up a very limited number.

Not to say that I'm disappointed, as much as feeling that I hold a classic that might be the end of the line for an advanced Nikon 1/1.7 sensor/Expeed C2 offering. My conclusion (hoping for your discussion) is that Nikon has possibly reached a plateau for developing further offerings with a 28-200 equiv. range, and current body size. To pursue a 1" sensor design for this body concept would probably lead in a parallel direction with Canon's G1X and its successors, they not being very popular either.

In light of camera phone and small tablet technologies taking off for the millions or billions of shared photos daily, the shrinking base of consumers left over for cameras of more technical sophistication are being divided up between small systems cameras and DSLRs. This might explain why Nikon's heavier, fixed lens compact with a small sensor might be waning.

Still, as each day brings increasing familiarity with what my P7800 can do, I see it as a sort of treasure. Here are two samples from a nature walk, recently. One is a converted raw file from the D3300 and 35mm 1.8 Nikon prime lens (equiv. 52.5 mm), the other from the P7800 set at the 50mm equivalent.

 

[JGoodard]

It's definitely time for Nikon to step up to a larger sensor. With a shorter focal length, hopefully they will open up the aperture even more. The Pxxx series can take conversion lens for those who desire a longer reach.

 

[JGoodard]

Sadly, you may very well be right. I just checked out the leaked cameras notice on Nikon Rumors for the upcoming CP+ show.....nothing, nada, regarding a P7800 successor. :-(

 

[Bev81 from France]

I don't understand thoses who say they don't want a LX100 due to size ???

The P7800 is larger in every way except the depth !!!

Anyway none of thoses 2 is small. If you want compactness, look at RX100 or P340 for example

I had a P7100 (I've now a P330) and I've been looking to upgrade to P7700 or P7800

Main problem ? Price !!! Still today, the P7800 is roughly 400 Euro here... There is so much other possibilities with 400 Euro. And on the higher scale the LX100 can now be found at 700 Euro, and the Sony RX100 II at less than 500 Euro. A few month earlier there was great bargains on the Oly XZ2 at 200 Euro, and I don't even speak of small ILC at absolute bargain prices... So make the P7800 available at less than 300 Euro and I'll might be tempted.

Don't get me wrong, I think they are good cameras. But I also try to keep my mind open, there are other choices available...

Agree. The P7800 is way overpriced now. It should sell for less than 300 EUR.

I was tempted by a 2nd hand P7800 on LBC (Le Bon Coin), for less than 250 EUR. But I'm reluctant to buy a 2nd hand camera without having tested it.

 

[Bev81 from France]

It's definitely time for Nikon to step up to a larger sensor. With a shorter focal length, hopefully they will open up the aperture even more. The Pxxx series can take conversion lens for those who desire a longer reach.

The sensor of the V3, and EVF, and a a 24-100 lens would be fine for me

Yes, I prefer 24mm to 200mm