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Artwork: Rick Rizner, Chris Manners
Nikon Coolpix P2 Digital Camera (5.1MP, 3.5X Opt, 16MB Internal Memory, SD Slot)
- Spec Navigator
- Digital Format
- Display
- Exposure
- Image Processor
- Included Hardware
- Included Software
- Lens
- Shutter
- Storage
- LCD Screen
- Exposure Controls
- Dimensions
- Power
- Flash
- Lens Features
- Connectivity
- Other Features
Image Processor
| Number of image sensor pixels | 5.1 megapixels |
| Image sensor | CCD |
| Maximum horizontal image resolution | 2592 |
| Maximum vertical image resolution | 1944 |
| Image sensor quantity | 1 |
| Image format | JPEG |
| White balance | 0 |
Lens
| Accessory Lens | No |
| Lens Model | 3.5X Zoom Nikkor 36-126mm |
| Telephoto Aperture Maximum | 5.2 mm |
| Wide-Angle Aperture Maximum | 2.7 mm |
Exposure Controls
| Maximum shutter speed | 2000 |
| Minimum shutter speed | 8 |
| Bulb setting | 0 |
| ISO equivalencies |
|
| Exposure settings | 0 |
| Exposure compensation range | 0 |
| Number of scene modes | 16 |
- Lab Tested
- How We Test Cameras »
Bottom Line
Wi-Fi connectivity and a good selection of advanced features make the P2 enticing--but it's pricey and battery life is low.
Nikon Coolpix P2
Coolpix P2 Digital Camera (5.1MP, 3.5X Opt, 16MB Internal Memory, SD Slot) Review, by Richard Baguley March 15, 2006
You'd be forgiven for confusing the Nikon Coolpix P2 with the Coolpix P1. Apart from the different paint job and smaller image sensor, the P2 is identical to its cousin.
It's a lot cheaper, though. While the 8-megapixel P1 is available for around $500, the 5.1-megapixel P2 sells for $400 (as of 2/6/06). Otherwise, everything else is the same: You get a 3.5X optical zoom, a 2.5-inch LCD, a 110,000-pixel sensor, and the same image-processing chip.
Like the P1, the P2 also includes an 802.11b/g wireless adapter that allows you to wirelessly transfer images to a PC. Although we had trouble with this feature in the P1, I found it problem-free in the P2. To connect the P2 to a wireless network, you have to install and run the Nikon Wireless Camera Setup Utility, which is a pretty simple process. (You need to use this approach each time you connect to a new network, however--you can't connect to a new network through the camera's interface.) You can then wirelessly transfer images to the included Nikon Picture Project photo management software. The wireless setup utility also allows you to arrange wireless printing, so you can output images over the network to any connected printer; once configured, the printing process can be done straight from the camera instead of through a PC.
But while the wireless image transfer is a nice feature to have, I found that the quality of the P2's images was not so appealing. They weren't particularly bad; they just weren't that good when examined alongside the images of other similarly priced cameras. The colors were acceptable (if a little dark) and the images were reasonably sharp. As the P2 is a point-and-shoot camera, its lack of a full manual mode is not surprising. You do get some control, though, via an aperture priority mode (no shutter priority) and both white balance and exposure bracketing.
The P2 lasted a disappointing 201 shots in our battery tests, compared with the average of 278 for recently tested point-and-shoot models.
The P2's case feels well built and robust, yet at 1.5 inches thick it's a little too chunky to comfortably fit in a pocket. But the P2 is a pretty simple camera to shoot with. It fits well in the hand, with a handle on the right providing a good, solid grip. Its shutter control falls naturally where you would place your index finger, while the zoom buttons fall under the thumb.
A dial on the top allows you to switch between modes, as well as adjust ISO and white balance settings. This design feature is a good thing, because otherwise those settings are buried in menus. Accessing the ISO through the on-screen menu took 14 button presses, which isn't conducive to quick shooting.
Eleven different scene modes are included--you access them by putting the mode dial into the Scene position and pressing the menu button--and they cover the usual range of shooting situations, such as portrait and night. One interesting mode, copy, shoots in black-and-white at high contrast for photographing text on a white background. It would likely prove useful if you are on a spy mission and need to shoot secret documents.
Despite the P2's wireless connectivity and some advanced controls, this camera's unexceptional image quality and limited battery life fail to justify its price.
Richard Baguley
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PCWorld Lab Results
- Rating Breakdown
-
71
-
76
-
78
- See Complete Lab Results »
71
70Performance
| Battery Life (minutes) | 110.75 |
| Battery Life Score | Fair |
| Image Quality Score | Good |
| Image Quality, Color | 66.6 |
| Image Quality, Distortion | 50.9 |
| Image Quality, Exposure | 63.8 |
| Image Quality, Exposure--Flash | 49.3 |
| Image Quality, Exposure--Normal | 70 |
| Image Quality, Overall | 54.8 |
| Image Quality, Sharpness | 34.2 |
| Number of Batteries | 1 |
| Number of Shots | 201 |
User Reviews
Review Now! Already own it? Tell us What You Think
User Reviews From Around the Web
-
Reviewed by: mrwater
Strengths: Sharp pictures, video, display, wireless connection
Weaknesses: battery life
Overall: The P2 has a plethora of features packed into it. It is a great value for the features and for the fact that it is a Nikon. The menu selections through the display even have help screens to make it easier to use. There has been no real downside to the camera yet, except that understanding some of the advanced features requires reading the manual. The battery life could be better, but it is not surprising that large display and numerous features use up the power.
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Reviewed by: rocks1999
Strengths: Small. Image quality over average.
Weaknesses: none
Overall: The camera is outstanding at high ISO. Even at ISO 200, the noise is still not apparent, at least it's hard to tell at a 4x6 prints. I've used many P&S DCs and this one is really good at high ISO. Now I'll set the ISO to be 200 all the time, no matter whether the flash fires and no matther whether it is indoor or outdoor. However, the image quality is not as good as Olympus DCs, enve the older C-3000 is better. But you won't see the difference on a 4x6 print. Don't set the ISO to be AUTO. If so, the ISO will be 64 when the flash is going to fire. That means, you can only have ISO of 64 when you shoot in low-light locations. Not too slow in focus and shoot. Wi-Fi is a bonus. I don't use it at all because I don't want it mess up my laptop.
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Reviewed by: bargainbudy
Strengths: Great pictures,Good build, Nice features
Weaknesses: Not any as of now
Overall: The camera is really great for the price paid.The design is really good and the pictures are great. I donot test the wireless feature but a great camera if I get the wireless to work. Interesting feature for the price. I have not seen any camera with this feature for the price paid. Finally a great camera withh great design
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Reviewed by: shrikvaish
Strengths: value for the price
Weaknesses: short battery life, memory 16 mb
Overall: good didgital camera, handy, good zoom power, manual gives good details. Picture quality is excellent. I also have a laptop connected to the wireless network. overall it is a good buy
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Reviewed by: huangw
Strengths: Compact size. Very good picture quality
Weaknesses: difficulty Wireless connection setup. Flimsy connector (camera port side) for the USB cable.
Overall: I got the camera today. Very satisfied with the compact size and picture quality. The wireless setup is difficult. I still can not set up it right. My main desktop PC is connected to the back of my broadband wireless router via an ethernet cable. The software wouldn't recognize this connection because there is no window network connection icon. I also have a laptop connected to the wireless network. Unfortunately, its operating system is not Windown XP that the software was looking for. I will have to read a lot to solve this problem. I can however, always use regular USB connection to download pictures and movies to my PC.
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