Color (5.94)
We tested the color reproduction of the Nikon Coolpix 3700 using a GretagMacbeth color chart and Imatest Imaging Software. The software allows us to see the amount of error between the camera's delivered tones and the ideal colors. The chart below is a modified version of the GretagMacbeth chart. The outer square is the color produced by the Nikon Coolpix 3700. The inner square is a version of the color corrected by Imatest. The smallest vertical rectangle is the ideal color, or what the color should be.

The chart below is a graphical representation of the color reproduction of the Nikon Coolpix 3700. The circles represent the colors produced by the Nikon Coolpix 3700 and the squares represent the ideal colors on the chart. The greater the distance between the squares and the circles, the greater the error.

The Nikon Coolpix 3700 is a compact and simplified imager that seems best suited for portability. The Coolpix 3700’s color rendition leaves something to be desired and is disappointing to Nikon fans all around. The 115.8% saturation score the Coolpix 3700 produced makes it the most over-saturated camera we have tested and does not do much to rectify its low resolution production.

The 5.94 overall color score the Coolpix 3700 received is attributed to the camera’s tendency to vastly over-saturate its hues and provide a large degree of variance from the color’s ideal tone. The Coolpix produced some near-accurate lighter blue tones and bright green values. However, the Coolpix is way off all around in its color replication. Darker blue tones lose density while red values miss the mark. The long straight lines in the chart are the extent of error in each value. This causes the chart to appear more like a connect-the-dots exercise than a color chart. This is inaccurate color representation and shows that the Coolpix 3700 was not made with imaging as a priority.

Still Life Scene
Below is our lavish still life scene which we photograph with every digital camera:

Clicking on the above image will open a full resolution version in a new window (CAUTION: The linked image is very large)

Resolution / Sharpness (1.4)
The resolution test for the Nikon Coolpix 3700 was conducted using an ISO resolution chart and Imatest Imaging Software. The software reads the lines of resolution in the frame and determines the "real resolution" of the image. Regardless of the camera's touted capabilities, the software analysis is based on the quality of the exported image. This is beneficial for the user or potential user to understand because there is always a variance between the manufacturer's megapixel claim and what the camera is actually capable of producing. You tell the test is valid because the discrepancy in resolution is not on any direct scale and varies more on some cameras than on others. This is compounded by the marketing of many manufacturers who exaggerate their products' capabilities when rounding decimals. The truth is, no camera will produce resolution that matches the imager’s intended range; however, the amount of variance should be known to potential consumers as it indicates the true level of performance for that camera.

When tested with Imatest, the Nikon Coolpix 3700 disappointed. Nikon has experience and credibility in both digital and film photography, and so we expected the sleek, compact 3700 to produce quality images. Unfortunately, like many consumers we were somewhat misled by the brand name. There is no question that Nikon has proven over and over again that they have built hundreds of excellent cameras that produce good images. However, the Coolpix 3700 is unfortunately not one of them. While not a horrible camera in terms of quality, the actual resolution we were able to get out of the Coolpix 3700 was only about 1.4 megapixels. This is only 44% of the intended or stated megapixel capability. Although most cameras do stray a bit from their marked specs, most good imagers are around 80-85% of their claim. While the 3700's score may appear to be an error, unfortunately it is not. We thought that our testing methods may have been inconsistent based on the low quality images the Coolpix 3700 was producing, but the results remained after repeated testing. Even so, the Nikon Coolpix 3700 is easy to carry around and still does produce decent images for a portable point-and-shoot camera. It is just a bit disappointing that this camera was not the pocket-friendly solution for traveling photographers who have quality in mind.

Noise - Auto ISO (5.65)
For a point-and-shoot camera, the Nikon Coolpix 3700’s performance was disappointing. The strength of Nikon’s imaging at its peak is without question; however, the Coolpix 3700 is more of a transportation-oriented camera and seems to have been crafted with more style than substance. This is apparent in the low resolution, high noise imagery it produces. Due to the fact that there are no manual ISO settings offered on the Coolpix 3700 the user will be forced to endure the distortion.

Noise - Manual ISO (0.0)
Unfortunately, there are no manual ISO settings available on the Nikon Coolpix 3700.

Speed / Timing
It is common in most compact digital cameras to have a slight lag when starting up, in between shots, and after the shutter button is pressed. Camera manufacturers are aware that this is an annoyance and have improved their products significantly, but it is still noticeable in most cameras.

Start-up to First shot (6.97)
Using our standard speed test the Nikon Coolpix 3700 had a start-up to first shot average time of 3.03 seconds. This is a pretty good time, and users can count on being able to get going quickly, if need be.

Shot to shot (7.49)
The shot to shot time on the Nikon Coolpix 3700 was 2.51 seconds. This is also a decent time, comparatively, but when the time is spelled out into seconds that sounds like a long time between shots.

Shutter to Shot (7.12)
The shutter to shot time for the Nikon Coolpix 3700 was 0.94 seconds. This time is below average compared to other cameras on the market, and can be an annoyance when users want to snap off a timely shot.