Nikon Coolpix P7800 review

IMAGE QUALITY – CLICK SAMPLES TO ENLARGE

Photo quality is this camera’s saving grace. Details in brightly lit shots were impeccably sharp and smooth, with no hint of noise. Focus was sharp right into the corners of frames, too. Comparing JPEG and RAW versions of the same shot, it’s clear that Nikon is using digital processing to eliminate chromatic aberrations, and it’s doing an extremely good job of it too.

These crisp, noise-free JPEGs would be impressive from an SLR or CSC – it’s a superb result for a compact camera

Focus is extremely sharp right into the corners of the frame

The P7800 has the edge over its main rival, the Canon G16 for the fidelity of fine details

Comparing its JPEG and (unprocessed) RAW output, it’s clear that Nikon is using some sophisticated processing to make its JPEGs look so sharp. The results don’t look excessively processed, though

Noise levels were good rather than excellent for a given ISO speed. We’d use ISO 1600 at a push, but faster speeds are only really suitable for sharing at small sizes. However, the wide-aperture lens helps to keep the ISO speed down. Its f/2 maximum aperture for wide-angle shots and f/4 for telephoto aren’t as bright as various competing cameras that use the same 1/1.7in sensor size. However, the others offer small zooms that the P7800’s 28-200mm (7.1x) range, so it’s swings and roundabouts.

This wide-angle shot, taken at dusk at ISO 640, stands up to scrutiny. The shadows look a bit scruffy but it’s not too intrusive

This shot was taken in shutter-priority mode at 1/500s to freeze motion. This has pushed the ISO speed up to 1600, and details look messy as a result

There’s not much to separate the P7800 and G16 for noise in low light

VIDEO QUALITY

Video quality can’t quite live up to the standard of the P7800’s photos. Clips looked decent enough in isolation, but comparisons with the G16 made details in the P7800’s videos look slightly coarse, and diagonal lines had a pixelated appearance. It struggled in low light, too, with a constant fizz of noise in shadier parts of the frame. It’s a shame, as the camera is well specified for video with a choice of automatic, aperture-priority or manual exposure modes, clips up to 29 minutes and an external microphone input. The articulated screen is a great asset for video, too.

CONCLUSION

The P7800’s performance is a problem, but a bigger one for Nikon is the strength of the competition. There are some outstanding compact system cameras (CSCs) available for around the same price, such as the Sony NEX-5T and Panasonic GF6. Meanwhile, the Panasonic LX7 is closer to the P7800 in terms of specifications, but it’s much faster and it costs just £300.

None of these cameras match the P7800 for the sheer number of controls, though, and they lack an electronic viewfinder and fully articulated screen (the 5R and GF6’s screens only tilt up and down and their viewfinders are expensive optional extras). That makes it a solid choice for landscape photographers who value manual control and a generous zoom range but who aren’t in any rush to take photos.