In summary
Nikon’s 8-megapixel Coolpix P1 and similarly-featured 5.1-megapixel Coolpix P2, along with Kodak’s EasyShare-One, are the first Wi-Fi cameras to go on sale in Australia. With the growing popularity of home wi-fi networks, the concept looks appealing: a camera that can be wirelessly connected to your computer from anywhere in your home. However, making it happen isn’t as easy as you might think! . . [more]
Full review
Rating (out of 10):Build: 8.5Ease of use: 8.0 (camera); 5.0 (wi-fi)Image quality: 7.5Value for money: 7.5
Nikon’s 8-megapixel Coolpix P1 (pictured right) and similarly-featured 5.1-megapixel Coolpix P2, along with Kodak’s EasyShare-One, are the first Wi-Fi cameras to go on sale in Australia. With the growing popularity of home Wi-Fi networks, the concept looks appealing: a camera that can be wirelessly connected to your computer from anywhere in your home. However, making it happen isn’t as easy as you might think!
For starters, the camera must first be connected to your Wi-Fi-enabled computer via the supplied USB cable (which can also be used to download shots) to set up the Wi-Fi connection. The network address and security codes/key must then be logged in the camera and a profile name and icon established (up to nine profiles can be logged for computers and networked printers). Then comes the task of getting the camera to ‘talk’ to the PC wirelessly!
But first the bad news: you have to disarm the computer’s security systems and you can’t send image files to your PC without first installing Nikon’s PictureProject software. Nor can you upload images directly to the Internet. Once connected, the best feature is being able to take pictures and have them transferred to your PC on-the-fly. After that, the excitement dissipates. Downloading image files after a shoot isn’t significantly easier than downloading them via the USB cable or a card reader, although it was significantly slower and using Wi-Fi drained each camera’s battery in less than an hour. Further development of this feature is clearly needed to improve its functionality.
Wi-Fi aside, the two P-series cameras are nifty little models with lightweight bodies and retracting lenses with a focal length range equivalent to 36-126mm in 35mm format. Aside from the resolution differences, the two cameras are almost identical. Each has a top-mounted mode dial with settings for full auto, P and A exposure modes, scene and movie modes plus quick access to the set-up, resolution, ISO and white balance menus. The LCD monitor is large and bright, but there’s no optical viewfinder. Both cameras include Nikon’s D-Lighting and Face-priority AF functions plus In-Camera Red-Eye Fix.
The P2 (below) has a slightly faster frame rate in burst mode but only 16MB of internal memory, and its lowest ISO setting is slightly higher at ISO 64, whereas the P1 has 32MB and a low sensitivity setting of ISO 50. Both cameras can record VGA movie clips with sound at 30fps and seven movie mode settings – including Time Lapse – are provided to make this function more rewarding.
Both cameras include a handy Date Search function that lets users search of shots taken on specific days, allocate print settings and select images for wireless transfer. But you need a high-capacity SD card to make it worthwhile.
On test both cameras delivered similar results, although the P2 model had a slight edge over the higher-resolution model in resolution and colour accuracy. This is probably due to differences in photosite sizes. Whereas the imaging area is the same for both cameras; the surface area of the P1’s photosites is only 2.2 microns square, while in the P2 it’s 2.8 microns. In-camera processing delivered images with slightly elevated saturation and contrast and highlight detail was lost in shots taken in bright sunlight.
Close-up performance from both cameras was generally good and the small sensors provided plenty of depth-of-field. Digital zoom shots were slightly soft and ‘grainy’ looking but low light performance was above average, with well-controlled noise at ISO 400. The white balance controls in both cameras were above-average performers, correcting all but the most extreme colour casts. Flash coverage was also very good, even at ISO 100 sensitivity.
Imatest detected low-to-moderate chromatic aberration with both cameras, although, in the main it should not be visible in snapshot-sized prints. However, poster-sized enlargements would probably show noticeable image degradation. Both cameras were quick to start up and shut down but average capture lag was slightly longer on the P1 at 0.8 seconds than the P2’s 0.55 seconds. Shutter lag after pre-focusing averaged 0.1 seconds for both cameras and both cameras’ burst modes performed to specifications, the P2 turning in a top rate in ultra-high-speed mode of 25 frames/second. [26]
Imatest Charts for Nikon P1:
Imatest Charts for Nikon P2:
Specifications
Image sensor: 7.18 x 5.32 mm CCD with 8.31 million photosites (8.0 megapixels effective) in the P1: 5.3 million photosites and 5.0 megapixels effective in the P2.
Lens: 7.5-26.3mm f2.7-5.2 Zoom-Nikkor (36-126mm in 35mm format)
Zoom ratio: 3.5x optical, up to 4x digital
Dimensions (wxhxd): 91 x 60 x 39mm
Weight: 170g (without battery and card)
Image formats: Stills – JPEG (Exif 2.2); Movies – (VGA AT 30/15 fps, QVGA/QQVGA at 15 fps)
Shutter speed range: 8-1/2000 second
Focus system/range: Contrast-detect TTL AF with AF-assist illuminator; range 50 cm to infinity; macro to 4 cm
Exposure metering/control: 16 scene modes
White balance: Auto, direct sunlight, incandescent, fluorescent (x2), cloudy, shade, Speedlight.
Flash modes/range (ISO auto): Auto, Auto with Red-eye Reduction (In-Camera Red-Eye Fix), Flash Cancel, Anytime Flash, Slow sync and Rear Curtain Sync; range 0.5-2.6 m
ISO range: Auto (ISO 64-200), ISO 64, 100, 200, 400.
Sequence shooting: Hi-speed at 2.3fps; Low-speed at 2.0 fps for 5 shots
Storage Media: 32 MB internal memory plus SD card slot; internal memory holds 7 high-resolution images or up to 358 VGA shots.
LCD monitor: 2.5-inch type, 110,000-dot TFT LCD with brightness adjustment
Power supply: EN-EL8 rechargeable battery
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