Model Design / Appearance (8.0)
At the request of convenience-obsessed consumers clamoring for tiny digital accessories, digital camera manufacturers have answered the “call for small” by cramming cutting- edge technology inside a metal structure that fits snugly into the palm of your hand. The Nikon Coolpix 3700 is no exception; with its brushed-metal exterior, and a 3.2 megapixel imager on the inside, it’s able to please the eye with both its exterior and the images it helps to create.

Size / Portability (6.5)
The Nikon Coolpix 3700 measures 3.76 x 1.97 x 1.22 inches, or 9.04-inches³, and weighs just 4.6 oz. without the battery or SD card. It’s small enough to fit in the pocket or handbag of the most discreet digital consumer. Despite its metal housing, the Nikon Coolpix 3700 is quite lightweight, and the added weight of the battery and SD card help give the camera a more substantial feel when being held. Using the strap attachment on the right side of the camera’s body, the Nikon Coolpix 3700 is light enough to be worn around the wrist or the neck without risking a visit to the chiropractor after a week’s vacation. Comparatively, the Coolpix is right there with many of the other cams in its class.

Handling Ability (6.0)
Once loaded with its battery and an SD card, the Nikon Coolpix 3700 is well balanced and hefty enough to help remind users that they threw down a few Benjamins for this handy toy. The front of the Nikon Coolpix 3700 has the lens justified all the way to the left side (the right side, if looking at the front), well out of the way of roaming right hand fingers. On the right side (again, the left, if viewing from the front) is a handy half-inch-long metal grip that the right hand can use for better handling of the camera.

The back of the Nikon Coolpix 3700 has a voided space on the right side, where the thumb naturally rests. Presumably to help the thumb grip, the area has several raised bumps that form the shape of a triangle. The LCD, located on the lower left side of the back, stands out from the rest of the back side. This creates a small ledge where the thumb of the left hand can naturally rest. If not using a tripod, and if two hands are required to get a steady picture, the lens on the front has a similar available ledge, or metal lip, on which the left hand ring- or middle finger can be placed. With the lens pushed over to the extreme right of the camera (or left, if looking through the viewfinder), there is an increased likelihood of left hand digits wandering in front of the lens. While users are getting used to handling the Nikon Coolpix 3700, they should keep their left hand in check.

Control Button / Dial Positioning / Size (6.0)
The Nikon Coolpix 3700 is a pretty small digital camera, so on-camera real estate is in short supply. The few buttons on the back and top of the Nikon Coolpix 3700 are intelligently and intuitively placed. The main command dial, or mode dial, is at the bottom of the back of the Nikon Coolpix 3700. The mode dial has various mode icons dotting the circumference, with the playback mode button in the center of the mode dial. The dial has enough tension between settings that inadvertent mode shifting isn’t an issue. With a bit of effort from the right thumb, the mode dial can be rotated between any of six available options. Above the mode dial is the trash/delete button and the all-important menu button. Above these two buttons, users can access the multi-selector button/joystick, which gives users access to flash, self-timer, exposure, and macro features. On top of the Nikon Coolpix 3700 is the combined shutter/on-off switch. The shutter button rests inside the larger on-off toggle. The shutter is within easy reach of the index finger of the right hand, and the power switch has enough tension built into it that it would be difficult to accidentally turn off the camera.

Menu (6.0)
Accessing the menu is as easy as pressing the menu button. Unfortunately, the menu button has been allotted a somewhat cryptic icon that resembles a flag. Regardless, this is the button that will grant access to available options, depending on the mode. The menu button is located above the mode dial, just off to the right.

Each mode has its own menu. As one might expect, not all the options are available in each mode. The following paragraphs are straightforward descriptions of the available menus for the six separate modes. Users can use the multi-selector joystick, towards the top middle of the back, to navigate between options within the menu.

The green SLR camera indicates the Nikon Coolpix 3700 is in automatic shooting mode. When the menu button is engaged, the only option available is image mode adjustment, which adjusts the size of the image.

Skipping two modes, if the mode dial is rotated clockwise, users can access manual shooting mode. When the menu button is pressed within this mode, the options are displayed as horizontal yellow bars stacked upon each other. The menus cycle, so technically there isn’t really a top and bottom, or beginning or end, but when the button is first pressed, the following options (some with multiple submenus) are available: image mode, white balance, continuous, BSS, image sharpening, and AF area mode.

The playback menu is engaged when the camera is set to playback mode. The blue playback icon in the center of the mode dial will set the camera to playback mode. Available options within the playback mode are: print set, slide show, delete, protect, auto transfer, pic. enhance menu, small pic, movie trim menu.

When the Nikon Coolpix 3700 is set to movie mode, there are two options available when the menu button is pressed: movie options and autofocus mode. The first option allows users to choose a recording size, while the second allows the autofocus mode to be set.

The scene mode, which is spelled out on the mode dial, has an extensive menu, consisting of small pictures to represent the setting. Options include: portrait, party/indoor, night portrait, beach/snow, landscape, sunset, night landscape, museum, fireworks show, close up, copy, backlight, panorama assist, sports, and dusk/dawn.

There are no menu options for the audio mode on the Nikon Coolpix 3700.

Overall the menus on the Nikon Coolpix 3700 are easy to access, but are somewhat claustrophobic in their layout. It’s all very well organized, but there were many levels and submenu options buried within the main menu. To rid itself of any potential confusion, the main menu section is clearly labeled at the top of the page. Over time, I adjusted to the menu and layout, but there are other manufacturers that do menus a lot better.

Ease of Use (8.0)
The Nikon Coolpix 3700 is a moderately easy camera to use, especially for a novice or a point-and-shoot consumer who doesn’t have an interest in manually controlling image detail. Some of the most frustrating elements of the Nikon Coolpix 3700 come from trying to access manual options and make manual adjustments that simply can’t be made. The plethora of scene modes allows for a wide variety of predefined scenarios, making up for the lack of control options. This is a great and easy camera to use if you don't want to be burdened by manual features.

The Nikon Coolpix 3700 handles well, as the feature, menu, and other important buttons are placed well out of reach of clumsy fingers. The camera’s small size can be a detractor at first for users with larger hands, but the voided spaces provided for thumb and finger placement are a comfort for improving handling.

Menus are easy to navigate, but frustrating in their limiting number of options. It’s common for a manufacturer to adopt different names for otherwise standard features. Additionally, any camera has its learning curve. Over time, the Nikon Coolpix 3700 would be a point-and-shoot consumer’s dream. Over too much time, however, the beginner who craves more might think there’s a glitch in the matrix.

Bottom line, the Nikon Coolpix 3700 is easy to use, and is geared to point-and-shoot consumers.