Nikon Coolpix P100

Design & Appearance

The P100 isn't a particularly beautiful camera: it has a somewhat industrial look. But the design is certainly not unattractive, with rounded edges and a rubber coating on the grip that makes it easier to hold onto. Our only concern from our limited time with the camera is that the articulating arm of the LCD screen feels a little flimsy: if you were to drop the camera with this extended, it is unlikely to survive the subsequent impact with the ground. 

Size & Handling

For an ultrazoom, the P100 is a small camera. But it is still a bulky thing compared to the waif-like compacts that are available, and the P100 is not going to fit into any pocket other than a large anorak. You'll inevitably be carrying this around either on a neck strap or in a large bag.

The P100 in the hand from the front and back

We found that this camera did fit pretty well into the hand, though, with the large grip on the right side providing plenty to hold onto. The thumb also falls natrually onto the record button, so you can shoot still images and video quickly and easily. Using the mode dial and other controls requires two hands, though; one to hold the camera and one to work the controls.

Menu

The P100 has a pretty standard menu that is accessed by pressing the menu button on the back of the camera. This is divided into 4 tabs: one for the mode controls, one for video, one for playback and one for setting up the camera. That's a pretty standard structure that puts the most commonly used controls (such as image size, ISO, etc) within quick reach, but it is not as convenient as the dedicated buttons that some cameras offer (such as the Fujifilm HS10) or the quick menus that others offer.

The main menu of the P100

Ease of Use

We found that the P100 was a pretty easy camera to use; shooting both stills and video is easily done with the well-placed buttons. Controlling the camera is a bit more of a complex process; things like changing the ISO level involve a lot of button pressing as there is no dedicated button for quick access. Instead, you ahve to go into the on-screen menu, scroll down, go right and select the ISO level you want.