Nikon Coolpix 7900 First Impressions Review

Model Design / Appearance
Literally the black sheep of the Coolpix line, the Coolpix 7900 is cast in a black aluminum body, with silver reflective accents such as the lens barrel, and some silver slivers on the top and sides of the body. The right side of the Coolpix 7900 frame is contoured for easy gripping with one hand. The camera is small, roughly 4 inches across, and the buttons are easily accessible with the thumb of the right hand.

The black aluminum cast makes the Coolpix 7900 stand out from others in the Coolpix line, but the form and shape is essentially the same as the other Coolpix models. The Coolpix 7900 has a sleek and streamlined look, suitable for the fashion conscious amateur or the discreet photographic auteur.

Size / Portability
The Nikon Coolpix 7900 measures 3.5 inches wide by 2.4 inches high by 1.4 inches deep. The body is a little too girthy to slip in to the pocket of a tight pair of pants, but is small enough to hide away nicely in a coat pocket, or any variety of handbag, purse or oversized wallet. A great option for the photo enthusiast who doesn’t want to carry around an extra weight, the Coolpix weighs in at just 5.3 oz.

Both small and lightweight, the Coolpix 7900 appears to be a strong contender for individuals looking for a compact digital camera that combines a high mega pixel count, with overall operability, and an attractive look.

Handling Ability
The time I spent with the Nikon Coolpix 7900 provided a feel for the handling and the ease of use relative to button placement and overall design. The 2-inch LCD makes navigating through the menu a breeze, although with the limited real estate on the backs of these small compact cameras learning the multiple functions of various buttons will take some time. The zoom is easy to toggle with wide angle and telephoto buttons located on the top right corner of the body. The mode dial on top of the Nikon Coolpix 7900 is easy to access either with a thumb or with the left hand.

The camera body is small, but not so compact that it makes me feel clumsy while handling. One has to remain conscious of stray fingers on these compact digital cameras, to avoid obstructing the lens. It’s a little easier considering the retractable/extendable lens barrel. The buttons on the back are easily within reach and the overall feel of the Nikon Coolpix 7900 seems to handle pretty well.

Control Button / Dial Positioning / Size
The main control button is positioned in the lower right corner of the back of the camera body. This is ideal placement for accessing with the thumb. The button is contoured with dips and ridges, in the shape of a compass, with four arrows each pointing to a different feature. At the center of this control dial/button is the OK/Enter button. Directly above the control button is the all important menu button, which when pressed grants access to the manual control features and other important camera settings.

The mode dial is set atop the Coolpix 7900, and is easy to reach/rotate with the thumb. There is no confusion as to which mode the camera is set to, as the dial fixes into somewhat of a locked position for each. The coinciding icons further communicate to the user the current setting. The dial is well placed, adequately sized, and easy to rotate without being “too easy.”

Menu
The menu can be accessed by depressing the menu button, which is located above the control dial. The 2-inch LCD provides significant visibility for menu settings while navigation is controlled by the contoured control dial. Once inside the menu, depending on the mode, users can navigate to camera settings and make their final selection. The menu is well lit, easy to read, and easy to navigate. There appears to be two types of menu configurations, one based on a grid set up, and the other a vertical scroll system.

The menu is not overcrowded and most controls are logically dispersed. Scrolling is accomplished by using the control button. Pressing the OK button will make selections. Users can navigate in and out of selections by using the left arrow in the same way they might use a “back” button on an Internet browser. The menu is constructed with the function/setting name in a bar on the left (the options are stacked) with an accompanying icon on the right. The menu has a whole gamut of options laid carefully within its pages, and accessing any feature is very easy. I love the new help feature Nikon included on this model. If you feel stuck or lost or forget what an option or setting does, simply select the telephoto zoom button (T button on the top right) and a help dialogue box will appear – very handy for deciphering the occasional cryptic icon.

Then menu options available in automatic mode are in the following order: Image, White Balance, Metering, Continuous, BSS, Color Options, Image Adjustment, Image Sharpening, Sensitivity, Auto Bracketing, Saturation Control, AF Area Mode, Auto Focus Mode, Noise Reduction. These controls will be discussed in greater detail below.

Ease of Use
When it comes to ease of use, there are a few elements that are important to consider: Handling and automatic performance. With point and shoot digital cameras, too small of a body or too many menu options can make ease of use obsolete. The Nikon Coolpix 7900 is well built, decently sized and super easy to navigate (both buttons and menu). I like the way my fingers naturally fall on to the right buttons, in the right places. It’s not so small that I fumble with it to snap off a picture, and it’s not so big that I have to consult my chiropractor when I get home from vacation.

The menu systems, and automatic features, work in harmony to make a pretty seamless picture taking experience. I like the weight of the camera, and I believe it adds something to its value. When I pick up some of the other Coolpix cameras, not constructed of the aluminum body, have no real heft and cheap. This is not the case on the Nikon Coolpix 7900. It’s extremely easy to use, and users will find that they can zip through the menu system and make quick adjustments as needed.