Nikon CoolPix 3700

Value (6.0)
The Nikon Coolpix 3700 has some decent offerings, is easy to use, and is priced appropriately. Other cameras in the price point are comparable, but tend to have slightly better manual control and image quality offerings. The Nikon Coolpix 3700 handles as well as any other point-and-shoot digital camera in the price point. For the value score to be increased, the price would have to come down a bit.

Comparisons
Within the $400-$500 price point, there are several digital cameras that can be compared to the Nikon Coolpix 3700.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LC50--Panasonic’s LC50 is a 3.2 megapixel digital camera with a 1.5-inch 114K LCD and a 3x optical zoom. Somewhat less expensive than the other 3 megapixel cameras in this comparison section, the LC50 gets kudos in the value section for the inexpensive offering. With a small handful of manual controls, the LC50 is poised to please the beginner. However, with this price tag, and with the lack of real manual controls, there are noticeable limitations to image quality. Bottom line, this is an easy to use point-and-shoot digital camera with average performance across the board.

Fuji FinePix F700--The Fuji FinePix F700 is a 6 megapixel digital camera ideal for the point-and-shoot enthusiast who likes to tinker a little. The price point has dropped almost by half since this camera’s introduction on the market, hence the comparison. The Fuji FinePix F700 has a sleek design and handles well, with buttons and dials placed intelligently. The CCD SR functions as two 3 megapixel CCDs by interpolating the images captured. Many users report that they prefer the 3 megapixel images over the 6 megapixel images for this very reason. There are enough manual control settings to keep the enthusiast happily tweaking with exposures and making other minor adjustments. This is a digital camera that a beginner could grow into, but for a 6 megapixel camera, its performance is subpar.

Canon PowerShot A75/A80--The Canon PowerShot A75 and A80 are two seemingly similar cameras that are close in style and feature sets to the Nikon Coolpix 3700. The PowerShot A75 is just one step down in the PowerShot line from the Canon PowerShot A80. Similar in design, style, and appearance, some noteworthy differences between the two should be mentioned. The most glaring difference is the megapixel count: the A75 has 3.2 and the A80 has 4.1. The major difference externally is the LCD screen: the Canon PowerShot A75 has a stationary 1.8-inch LCD screen, whereas the A80 has a 1.5-inch LCD screen that can be pulled out and rotated. Both Canons handle well and are easily navigable. The A80 is a highly recommended camera by many sites, as well as this one, for its improved image quality and processor speed. If users plan on checking out the A75, certainly check out an A80 as well. You may be pleasantly surprised.

Sony Cyber-shot P100-- Because it is a 5 megapixel camera, the Sony DSC-P100 is not a direct contender. However, it is a small package to be reckoned with within the $400-$500 range and can carry its weight among comparable 5.0 megapixel cameras. The Sony DSC-P100 boasts a Carl Zeiss lens and competitive image quality. The Sony DSC-P100 is very small in size which may dismay some users, but the number of options crammed inside this package makes it worthy of close investigation. Definitely a great camera for vacation or for the front pocket or small purse, the Sony DSC-P100 has enough geek chic appeal to go around.

Who It’s For
Point-and-Shooters-- This is a great camera for the point-and-shoot crowd, as even in manual mode, the number of options available are limited.

Budget Consumers-- A decent choice for the consumer on a budget, but perhaps lacking in the extra options department.

Gadget Freaks-- Not really a great camera for the gadget freak, as the Nikon Coolpix 3700 is pretty straightforward in its approach to capturing images.

Manual Control Freaks-- Definitely not a camera for the user who craves control. Look to higher-end models, as the manual controls available will likely frustrate.

Pros / Serious Hobbyists-- It could suffice for vacation snaps, but it’s not a pro camera at all.