Nikon Coolpix 8700 Review

Click on the Coolpix 8700 to take a QuickTime VR tour

The Nikon Coolpix 8700 is for serious photographers who demand the highest level of quality and control from their compact digital camera. It features an 8.0 effective megapixel CCD (3,264 x 2,448-pixels) and an 8x Optical (35-280 mm) Zoom-Nikkor lens, with Nikon's Extra-low Dispersion (ED) glass elements. It has a high resolution (238,000 pixel) electronic viewfinder (EVF) for through-the-lens viewing and a 1.8" vari-angle color LCD monitor. The Coolpix 8700 is constructed with a compact, lightweight magnesium alloy body that has been designed for durability and portability.

The Coolpix 8700 digital has four exposure modes to give the photographer ultimate creative control over their image capture. These modes include Programmed Auto [P], Shutter-Priority Auto [S], Aperture-Priority Auto [A] and Manual [M]. The camera also offers an automatic mode, which makes the Coolpix 8700 an ideal tool in situations where operation needs to be 'point-and-shoot simple.'

For added convenience, the Coolpix 8700 now incorporates 12 preset Scene Modes taken from the existing line of award- winning Coolpix digital cameras. Scene Modes allow for striking images in practically any shooting situation. Simply select the mode appropriate to the lighting conditions, and the camera will automatically adjust focus, flash, contrast, sensitivity and white balance. The camera has ability to capture images in RAW recording mode (NEF format) for maximum image control and manipulation after the picture is taken using Nikon Capture software.

The Nikon Coolpix 8700 supports a complete series of affordable accessory lenses, which expand the camera's zoom range from 7mm-420mm. The Coolpix 8700 is compatible with Coolpix accessory lenses including the 1.5x ED glass teleconverter (TC-E15ED)(420mm), the 0.8x Wide Angle Adapter (WC-E80)(28mm) and the new Fisheye converter lens (FC-E9)(7mm).

Coolpix 8700 Features:

• 8-Megapixel resolution CCD imager (3,264 x 2,448-pixels)
• Nikkor 8x zoom (35-280mm in 35mm equivalent) with ED glass
• Macro focus with AF as close as 1.2"
• Fully articulating 270°, 1.8" color LCD monitor
• Electronic viewfinder (EVF) with 238,000 pixels
• CompactFlash Type II card slot (Microdrive compatible)
• Record images in TIFF-RGB (uncompressed), JPEG or NEF raw
• Programmed Auto (with Shift), Shutter-Priority, Aperture-Priority and Full Manual
• Drive modes: Single, Continuous H, Continuous L, Ultra High Speed Continuous, 16-Shot Multi (Continuous shooting of up to 5 full-size images at 2.5 fps)
• 12 preset Scene Modes, including the new Panorama Assist Mode
• Shutter speeds from 1/4000 sec. to 8 secs (Bulb to 5 minutes!)
• Movie 640 x 480 pixels; 30 fps) with audio, Small movie (320 x 240 pixels; 15 fps) with audio, or Sepia movie (320 x 240 pixels; 5 fps) with audio, or Time-lapse movie (640 x 480 pixels; 30 fps) without audio
• 7-bladed lens diaphram for true depth of field control
• Five-area multifocus system, user-selectable and Spot-AF
• 256-segment Matrix Metering, Center-weighted or Spot
• Noise Reduction for long exposures
• ISO sensitivity of Auto, 50, 100, 200, 400
• Matrix Auto White Balance plus Fine, Incandescent, Fluorescent, Cloudy, Speedlight and Custom Preset.
• Built-in flash with auto, fill, slow sync, and red-eye reduction.
• Hotshoe for external Nikon Speedlights
• PictBridge and Epson PRINT Image Matching Technology compatible
• USB 1.1 port for image download/remote control
• EN-EL1 Li-ion battery and charger included

The Nikon Coolpix 8700 is available now with an MSRP of $999.95.

Physical Views

The Coolpix 8700 compared in size to a standard CD

Coolpix 8700 Specifications