This is a typical screen view when in Program AE mode. The same information is displayed on the EVF or color LCD display. The zoom lens indicator is displayed for several seconds whenever the focal length is changed.

The Coolpix 8700 uses a 5-area AF system that can automatically select the focus area (default) or you can manually select a focus area using the 4-way selector. The AF point turns red when active. Instead of using LED indicators located next to the viewfinder, the Coolpix 8700 puts these indicators on the screen itself. The "SB" icon indicates the condition of the speedlight and the "AF" icon indicates the auto focus status.

In Manual record mode the user has full control of both the shutter speed and aperture. To assist you in getting the exposure correct there is an onscreen metering display. Change the shutter speed or aperture until you get the center box lit to insure proper exposure.

In Shutter speed priority, you select the desired shutter speed to freeze rapid action or to blur movement and the camera selects the proper aperture. Or use Aperture priority to increase or decrease the depth of field (range of focus), you select the aperture and the camera picks the appropriate shutter speed.

Pressing the Quick Review button brings the last picture captured up onscreen in the upper left hand corner of the screen. Press the Quick Review button again and it is displayed full screen. You can quickly go back to record mode by tapping the shutter release at any time.

The Scene Mode options are: Portrait, Party/Indoor, Night portrait, Beach/Snow, Landscape, Sunset, Night landscape, Fireworks show, Close up, Copy, Close up, Copy, Back light, and Panorama assist

As with all Coolpix cameras, the 8700 features exceptional macro closeup coverage down to an amazing 1.2 inches from the lens.

In addition to still images the Coolpix 8700 can record motion video sequences as follows: TV movie (640 x 480 pixels) with audio at 30 fps; up to 35 seconds, or Small movie (320 x 240 pixels) with audio at 15 fps; up to 180 seconds, Time-lapse movie (640 x 480 pixels) at 30 fps; up to 35 seconds, or Sepia movie (320 x 240 pixels) with audio at 5 fps; up to 180 seconds.

The optical zoom can not be used while recording movies but you can use the digital zoom.

Shooting Menus

Page 1 of the Shooting Menu:

White balance - Auto, Preset, Fine, Incandescent, Fluorescent, Cloudy, Speedlight or Shade (at settings other than Auto or Preset the white balance can be "fine tuned" +/-3 steps)

Metering - Matrix, Spot, Center-weighted averaging or Spot AF Area

Drive Mode - 1) Single, 2) Continuous H (2.5 fps; up to 5 frames), 3) Continuous L (1.2 fps; up to 12 frames), 4) Multi-shot 16 (consecutive 16 frames at 1.5 fps), 5) Ultra HS (high-speed) (640 x 480 pixels; 30 fps, up to 100 frames), 6) 5 shot buffer (1 fps), 7) Interval Timer Shooting, 8) Movie: TV movie (640 x 480 pixels) with audio at 30 fps; up to 35 seconds, or Small movie (320 x 240 pixels) with audio at 15 fps; up to 180 seconds, Time-lapse movie (640 x 480 pixels) at 30 fps; up to 35 seconds, or Sepia movie (320 x 240 pixels) with audio at 5 fps

BSS - Best Shot Selector (up to 10 images are captured and only the "best" one is saved)

Image Adjustment - Auto, Normal, More Contrast, Less Contrast or Darken

Saturation Control - Maximum, Enhanced, Normal, Moderate, Minimum, B&W

User Setting - Select Auto, Scene, Custom 1 or Custom 2 settings

Page 2 of the Shooting Menu:

Image Sharpening - Auto, High, Normal, Low, Off

Lens - Auxiliary lens settings for Wideangle, Fisheye or Telephoto adapters

Exposure Options - AE Lock, Set maximum Bulb duration

Focus Options - AF Area Mode, AF Mode (Continuous or Single), Focus Confirmation

Zoom Options - Enable/disable digital zoom, enable/disable fixed aperture, set zoom speed

Speedlight Options - Auto/manual popup, flash exp. compensation, internal and external speedlight control

Auto Bracketing - Set the step value and the number of frames for the AEB or enable white balance bracketing

Page 3 of the Shooting Menu:

Noise Reduction - Enable noise reduction for exposures longer than 1/30 sec

Reset All - Reset all parameters to default values.

My Menu - Configure the items displayed on My Menu screen

CF Card Format - Format the CF card

Setup Menus

Language - Menu language

Date - Set the time and date

Folders - Select the active image folder on the CF card

Monitor Options - Select the EVF or LCD as initial display, EVF or LCD review/preview, Shutter release speed

Seq. Numbers - Enabling sequential numbering of images. Reset the numbers.

Shutter Sound - On, Off

Auto Off - Set the Auto Off time value (30s default or 1, 5 or 30 min)

CF Card Format - Format the CF card

Controls - Set the camera features that should be memorized from power on to power off.

Shot Confirmation -

Info txt - Enable creation of the info.txt file on the CF card

USB - USB mode, PTP or Mass Storage device

Video Mode - NTSC or PAL

Reset All - Reset all parameters to default values.

Date Imprint - Enable time/date stamping.

Firmware Version - Display camera firmware revision number.