Manual Control Options
The Nikon Coolpix P1 has more manual control than the other consumer wireless digital cameras currently on the market. Right now, the two other models only have automatic and scene modes. The P1 and P2 add a little manual functionality with an aperture priority mode. This lets users choose among ten steps in the aperture. Other than that, users can manually set the white balance and manually select the ISO, focus mode, exposure compensation, and metering.
Focus
Auto Focus (7.5)
The Nikon Coolpix P1 has a contrast detection auto focus system that works in conjunction with the auto focus illuminator. The default mode is the 9-area auto focus but there are infinity, focus limit, and macro modes as well. The focus limit is used for subjects farther than 2 meters from the lens and works faster than the regular 9-area auto focus. The P1 can focus from 19.6 inches to as far as the lens can see or as close as 1.6 inches in the macro mode.
The focus modes can be selected on the bottom of the multi-selector, but the auto focus area modes can only be selected within the shooting menu. The center auto focus mode was the fastest of the modes, although it still resulted in some shutter lag as the auto focus system as a whole is a bit slow. The manual mode isn’t really manual – it only allows manual selection of the auto focus point. Using the multi-selector, users wander around 99 onscreen points to choose where the sharpest focus should be. Single and continuous auto focus is available just as it is on most compact digital cameras. The continuous system makes a barely audible noise that is not nearly as bad as most digital cameras’ continuous AF systems. But it still takes the Nikon P1 a moment or two to focus in the continuous mode, so it’s almost pointless.
Perhaps the coolest auto focus mode is the Face Priority auto focus mode that can be found in the scene mode (Portrait: Face AF). This mode constantly searches for faces and puts yellow boxes around them on the LCD when it finds them. It does this for up to three faces. The P1 then focuses on them to ensure they are sharp and clear in the picture.
Manual Focus (0.0)
The Nikon Coolpix P1 does not have manual focus.
Metering (7.5)
This Nikon Coolpix has the three standard metering options as well as an option that links the metering mode with the auto focus system. Like all other Nikons, the P1 has the 256-segment matrix metering mode that acts as the camera’s default. Center-weighted and spot options are also available for backlit subjects. They work well as long as the subject is in the middle of the frame. For those rare occasions when the subject is backlit and not in the center, there is a spot auto focus area option that utilizes the P1’s 9-area auto focus mode and meters from that particular spot.
Exposure (7.5)
The Nikon Coolpix P1 has a standard exposure compensation range of +/- 2 EV with 1/3 increments. If users don’t have time to adjust and readjust within this scale, the P1 has an auto bracketing option. This shoots three pictures: one at the selected exposure value, one a half step below, and one a half step above. The Nikon Coolpix P1 has other features to ensure that pictures are properly exposed. The Best Shot Selector takes pictures for as long as the shutter release button is held down and then saves the sharpest image. A white balance bracketing option takes a single picture and saves three copies of it: one original, one a shade more red, and one a shade bluer. Histograms are available in both recording and playback modes. If all of these precautions still produce a less than perfect exposure, Nikon’s D-Lighting can be added in the playback mode. The D-Lighting is like an automatic enhancement that brightens the image a bit. The Coolpix doesn’t delete the original image file though; it creates a new file with the enhancement. Overall, the Nikon Coolpix P1 has a lot of features to make sure that photos are well lit and sharp.
White Balance (7.5)
The white balance option also has its own space on the mode dial. When selected, the white balance menu appears with text on a gray background instead of a live view. I am a bit disappointed that there are no live views. I expected that because the white balance had its own position on the dial, it would come with some more features than most, but I assumed wrongly. Auto, White Bal. Preset, Direct Sunlight, Incandescent, Fluorescent, Cloudy, Shade, and Speedlight are the available white balance options. The manual white balance is quite easy to set, which is vital because this camera will be used mainly by point-and-shooters.
ISO (7.0)
The Nikon Coolpix P1 has its ISO option directly on the mode dial. Auto, 50, 100, 200, and 400 manual options are available. The Auto ISO option has a truncated range from 50-200. This is typical of compact models. Check out the testing sections to see how much noise the P1 allows in its ISO ratings.
Shutter Speed (0.0)
The P1’s mechanical and charge-coupled electronic shutter can snap just as fast as other compact models and can go as slow or slower than most compact digital cameras. The P1 has a shutter speed range from 8 seconds to 1/2000th of a second and can display a red blinking blur warning that users will see often. The shutter speed cannot be adjusted manually, but certain scene modes invoke specific speeds. For instance, the Fireworks Show scene mode uses a 4-second shutter speed at all times – even if the fireworks happen to be during the day. Luckily, the shutter speed in scene modes is always displayed at the bottom of the LCD screen.
Aperture (6.5)
The Zoom-Nikkor lens has a three-blade hexagonal iris diaphragm that can open as wide as f/2.7. This is a bit better than the average compact models’ aperture of f/2.8. The Nikon Coolpix P1’s aperture priority mode lets users adjust the aperture manually in ten steps between f/2.7-f/7.6 in the 7.5mm wide focal length and in four steps between f/5.2-f/7.3 in the 26.3mm telephoto focal length. The extra wide angle range is nice, but the maximum aperture shrinks considerably when the telephoto portion of the Nikkor lens is used.
