Connectivity
Software (6.25)
The Nikon Coolpix P1 comes with a PictureProject CD-ROM that has several software programs on it. PictureProject 1.6 for images, ArcSoft PanoramaMaker 3 for panoramas, and QuickTime 6 for viewing movie clips are included, along with the Wireless Camera Setup Utility. This software is required for the P1’s WiFi to work. The PictureProject program automatically imports photos wirelessly from the P1 when the camera is utilizing its Shoot & Transfer option, which puts the camera into auto mode and automatically transfers pictures that users take. When the camera is in its PC Mode, users control wireless image transfer from the PictureProject software on their PC with the Transfer button. Other buttons across the top of the program screen include Import, Print, Mail, Share, SlideShow, muvee, Burn, Auto Enhance, Auto Red-eye, and Help. Most of these options are self-explanatory; the “muvee” may need some explanation. This button lets users select photos and video clips to string together into a slideshow/movie production. There are classic sepia, over-the-top music video, and pro: medium style templates. Music can be added as well as captions.
Once pictures are uploaded, they can be viewed three different ways depending on the selected tab: Organize, Edit, and Design. In the Organize view, users can add captions, view shooting info, tag photos, and search for images with the search filter.
Users can either double-click on a single image or click on an image and then the Edit tab. This lets users adjust several image parameters. Brightness can be adjusted on a sliding scale that ranges from +100 to -100. D-Lighting can be set to None, High, Normal, or Low. The Color Booster has a sliding scale from 0-100 and two color modes: People and Nature. The People option enhances certain colors and makes pink lips even more red, for example. The Nature option more evenly saturates colors. The Photo Effects option adds either Sepia or Black & White coloring to images. Sharpening can be set to None, High, Medium, or Low. The Straighten option lets users tilt the image +/- 10 degrees.
The Design tab lets users create photo books or scrapbook layouts with photos and captions that can then be printed. This will be nice for consumers who want an album, and want it now.
The Nikon Coolpix P1 also comes with ArcSoft PanoramaMaker 3 software that complements the camera’s Panorama Assist scene mode. The software lets users choose between horizontal, vertical, 360-degree, and tile panorama templates. Users must select the camera lens used and the size of output image desired. Then multiple pictures can be selected to be dragged into the panorama maker. Individual images can be rotated and the brightness and contrast can be edited before stitching the pictures together. Once the images are lined up next to each other, users need only to click “Next” for the computer to automatically align the pictures into a single image. Users can fine-tune the final product if desired. Once the panorama is made, text can be added and the brightness and contrast can be tweaked. The image can then be exported or printed.
Jacks, ports, plugs (8.0)
Don’t throw out the wires with this camera. It’s not completely wireless. In the initial setup phase, the camera must be connected to the computer with the USB cable. The USB shares the same jack with the AV out cable, which is NTSC and PAL selectable. When users battle the technology and set up the wireless system, the Nikon Coolpix P1 uses IEEE802.11b/g technology that operates within a range of 100 ft. of the wirelessly connected computer or printer.
Direct Print Options (9.0)
The Nikon Coolpix P1 can print directly to PictBridge compatible printers via the USB cable or the optional Nikon PD-10 wireless print adapter. When users set up a profile with a computer, the Nikon P1 automatically adds a printer to the profile whether the network has one or not. Once users have hooked up the USB cable or established the wireless connection, a PictBridge menu can appear on the camera with these options: Print Selection, Print All Images, DPOF Printing, and Paper Size. From here, users can scroll through the pictures and mark which ones they want to print as well as how many of each picture they want – if they haven’t done so already. This is easy to do and doesn’t take long at all.
Battery (5.75)
A skinny Nikon EN-EL8 rechargeable lithium-ion battery comes supplied with the P1 as well as a charger that comes in two parts: the charger and power cable. The battery can take 180 shots before shutting the camera down. It takes about two hours for the battery to fully recharge.
Memory (4.5)
The Nikon Coolpix P1 has 32MB of internal memory and a slot for SD card. When the camera uses its full 8 megapixels at its finest resolution, the internal memory can hold 7 pictures. This certainly won’t be enough for even point-and-shooters, so plan on spending another $80 or so on an SD card.
Other Features (9.0)
Printer Rebate – If consumers purchase the P1 and select Epson printers between October 27, 2005 and January 7, 2006, they can receive a rebate for $50 or $100 depending on the model of Epson printer purchased.
Self-Timer – The orange LED on the front will flash a few times before the picture is taken. The self-timer can be selected to take a shot after 3 or 10 seconds.
Best Shot Selector – The BSS option takes up to ten shots as long as the shutter release button is held down, then selects and saves the sharpest one before deleting the others.
Built-in WiFi Port – Setting up the wireless capability is downright painful. The setup isn’t wireless at all, so don’t throw out the cables thinking they’re unnecessary on a “wireless” digital camera. Users must connect the Nikon Coolpix P1 with the USB cable to the computer and open the Wireless Camera Setup Utility software (from the included CD-ROM). This opens a wizard that prompts users to turn on the camera, set the mode dial to Setup, and so forth.
On my first try, my computer would detect the connected camera and would upload pictures into PictureProject, but the camera was not recognized by the wireless setup utility. I called up Nikon’s tech support hotline and made it to the “level three” tech support agents before they said my Dell Dimension 4800 with Windows XP Pro didn’t have the right driver; apparently Microsoft owns the driver to the Nikon Coolpix P1 digital camera so it can be opened on pretty much any computer. Nikon said my computer should have the driver and my computer must be screwed up. After an hour and a half, they told me to reinstall Windows. Not for me, thanks.
I decided to try another computer. My first try was on my home computer, so my next try was on a computer at work. The computer detected the Nikon P1 that time, but unfortunately no one knew our wireless encryption key.
Third time is the charm, right? I commandeered my husband’s IBM ThinkPad laptop and after several guesses as to what type of password (ASCII or hex?) I had and what type of network I had (peer to peer or access point?), the Nikon Coolpix P1 connected to my home wireless network.
I’m sure not everyone will have to suffer on the phone for an hour and a half with Nikon tech support, but let me say this – if you are good with computers, that knowledge will sure help you when you set up the P1. The Nikon Coolpix P1 can store several profiles of computers, each of which you must save when connected via USB. The profiles cannot be edited (for instance, if your wireless key is typed incorrectly and you need to change it), so I had to delete my computer’s profile and restart the process countless times. I would have rather edited just the password type. When the P1 builds a computer profile, it automatically assigns a connected printer – even if there is no printer.
Once the setup is complete, the Nikon Coolpix P1 can be a bit more wireless. Within a hundred feet (unobstructed, that is—I couldn’t get it to work two rooms away from my computer), the P1 can transfer images and movie clips quite quickly. The blue WiFi position must be selected on the mode dial, then the camera takes a few seconds to connect to the network. Once connected, the following menu options are available: Easy Transfer, Shooting Date, Marked Images, Selected Images, Shoot & Transfer, and PC Mode. Users can transfer images to the computer in many different ways: all at once, by certain dated albums, only images marked with the transfer marking, or users can scroll through images and select ones for immediate transfer. The PC Mode lets the PictureProject software control when to transfer images from the P1.
The Shoot & Transfer option is one of the coolest features on the Nikon Coolpix P1. It throws the camera into Auto mode and automatically sends the taken pictures to the PictureProject software on the computer. Users can decide whether to save the images on the memory card or to have them saved straight to the computer. This can free up space on the memory card.
When users are done with the Shoot & Transfer, they must move the mode dial and reconnect to the network to get back to the WiFi menu. Images cannot be emailed straight from the camera like they can on the Kodak EasyShare-one, but the wireless shooting and transferring is still very convenient. The initial setup gave me a few gray hairs and higher blood pressure, but the fun of wireless shooting and transferring almost made me forget that hour-and-a-half phone call. Almost.
