Nikon Coolpix P3

Model Design/Appearance
Aside from a small metal bulge on the left side of the P3 to accommodate the WiFi antenna, both cameras are identical, with smooth silvery aluminum bodies rounded at the edges for an easy grip. These are simply designed cameras that scream understated elegance much like a compact European roadster.

Though the P3/P4 is made largely out of light-weight aluminum, its construction seems solid and fits nicely in the hand. The chrome elements on the top and sides of the camera are a nice touch, giving the camera some class. Unlike some stainless steel housed models that are prone to scratching, the P3/P4 with its less expensive aluminum body seems like it would hold up to being stuffed in a book bag or coat pocket with only a few abrasions resulting. A longer time with the camera would be necessary to determine if this holds true.

Size / Portability
Our one gripe about the camera might be construed as a plus for other users – the P3/P4’s tiny size. Some people love that cameras are getting smaller and smaller and sleeker to the touch. While we admire this design style on principle, tiny cameras always seem hard for big hands to manage, not to mention easy to drop. At approximately 3.6 x 2.4 x 1.2 inches (w x h x d) in size and 5.9 ounces in weight without the battery, the P3/P4 is small, especially when you consider that it houses a huge 8 MP chip, vibration reduction and, in the P3 model, WiFi capability. (The P3 is slightly thicker than the P4 on the left side to house the WiFi antenna.)

Handling Ability
Having mentioned our problems with small-sized digital cameras in general, the P3/P4 handles well, is nicely balanced and has the feel of a high-end product. More extensive time with camera would be necessary to see if there are any major design flaws, but at the outset the camera seems to have a highly functional design. Aside from the tiny buttons which unavoidably come with a tiny camera, shooting with the P3/P4 is a breeze and changing functionality on the multi-control buttons is not difficult.

Control Button/Dial Positioning/Size
Button layout is kept simple on the P3/P4, if a bit too simple for such a higher-end model. More buttons and less menus to navigate has been the creed of the more advanced shooter in recent years. Will they go for a camera like the P3/P4, which has a total of four buttons on the back and just three more across the top?

One other minor quibble with the Spartan layout – smaller buttons are simply harder to push, particularly when trying to engage such vital features as VR. The same can be said for the Aperture Priority setting on the mode dial. Blink and you might miss it. Again this might be a matter of taste – and finger size – but we think it’s worth mentioning.

Menus
The P3/P4 features a new graphical user interface (GUI) with a color scheme that lets the user choose functions as either names on a list or as individual icons. The new interface also has a help button to explain the camera’s basic functions. Moving around the menus was fairly easy thanks to the new GUI, which highlights selections in yellow.

In the new Live Histogram menu, shadows are graphically represented on the left of the histogram and highlights on the right to assist the user in exposure. However, accessing the histogram is tricky at first; you must engage the camera’s Aperture Priority Mode, toggle right on the multi-controller, and then left to adjust the exposure.

Overall, the new GUI improves on Nikon’s already easy-to-navigate system. Fonts are easy to read in dark gray and the yellow highlight makes selection of features clear.

Ease of Use
Overall, the camera is fairly easy to use, thanks to the new interface. Controls seem intuitive and layout will not be complicated to use even for a first time camera user. It’s an interesting tack Nikon has taken by exploiting such higher-end features as Live Histogram and Aperture priority in a camera that could just as easily be enjoyed by an amateur.

It would have been nice if physical navigation of the camera was a little easier, but as stated earlier, small buttons are a consequence of small cameras, and users will smaller hands and fingers may not have any problems.