Nikon Coolpix P3

Viewfinder
Like a lot of compact digital cameras these days, there is no optical viewfinder on the P3/P4. Then again, such a thing might ruin the sleek aesthetic on these cameras.

LCD Screen
The P3/P4 features a 2.5-inch TFT LCD with 150,000 pixels which is a decent amount of resolution for this size of the screen but is not extraordinary. Images, however, appeared sharp in the screen without the wavering moiré patterns and random artifacts of lower resolution screens. The screen also tracked well when panning about a room without the annoying lag found in some cheaper models.

We also liked the camera’s LCD brightness adjustment for gaining up and gaining down under varied lighting conditions – i.e. shooting outdoors in bright sunlight or in dark rooms. The screen also had a wide viewing angle with little clipping when tilting up and down. With this wide viewing angle, the screen worked well for over-the-head shots in large crowds despite, being fixed to the back of the camera. Another plus about the screen is an easy-to-read live histogram in the lower left hand corner for analyzing exposure.

Flash
The rectangular flash is in the upper left hand corner of the camera – from the user’s perspective – housed in an oval hole of recessed aluminum. The flash has a reported range of 1’4” – 13’/0.4-4.0m (W), 1’4” – 6’7”/0.4-2.0m (T). Further testing to verify this range will occur in the follow-up full review. Flash modes include Auto, Auto with Red-eye Reduction, Flash Cancel, Anytime Flash and Slow sync. Like a lot of compact cameras in this class, the flash is dangerously close to the lens and can lead to frequent “red-eye” in images, but the P3/P4 includes Nikon’s In-Camera Red-Eye Fix to alleviate the problem. The effectiveness of In-Camera Red-Eye Fix will be examined in a follow-up full review.

Zoom Lens
The P3/P4 uses a 3.5x optical Zoom-Nikkor lens with a focal equivalent to 36-126mm in 35mm format. Aperture on the lens ranges from f/2.7 to 5.2. While most models in this class offer at least a 3x optical zoom, the P3/P4’s slightly wider focal range is a plus. Macro shooting on these models can go as close as 1.6 in. – not bad for shooting close-ups of flora and fauna. Normal focal distance ranges from 1 ft. to infinity and 1.6 in. to infinity in macro mode. The lens includes seven elements in six groups and digital zoom – for those who care about digital zoom – of up to 4x.

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