Nikon Coolpix P1100 Superzoom Digicam Evaluate: See Fowl Butts From 1,000 Ft
Execs
- Outstanding 125x optical zoom
- Bluetooth and USB-C
- Some use past its zoom
Cons
- An absolute unit of a digital camera
- Zoom is conspicuous (to place it mildly)
- Gradual lens and small sensor
The Nikon Coolpix P1100 is, to place it mildly, a singular digital camera. Distinctive, at the very least, within the fashionable period of point-and-shoot cameras. Its headline function, its solely main function actually, is a fully bonkers 125x optical zoom. That form of attain is extremely uncommon at any stage of images and particularly on the P1100’s value. You may sit within the stands of a soccer recreation and take pictures of the opposing group’s playbook. You may be within the low-cost seats for a live performance and see the conductor’s rating. You possibly can’t see the Apollo 11 touchdown website, however you will get pictures of the moon that rival some cheap telescopes.
Past that admittedly spectacular trick, the P1100 has some noteworthy limitations. Most notably, it makes use of a small picture sensor. That, paired with the slowness of the lens, means it struggles with something however brightly lit scenes. Even in broad daylight, getting a picture with out lens shake or blur is usually difficult. Additionally, its decision is barely 15.9 megapixels, which is okay however far decrease than most modern cameras. Picture high quality on the whole is not dangerous, however aside from the zoom vary, it is nothing spectacular. So, total, it is an attention-grabbing digital camera for certain, however one with a really slim area of interest.
Specs and {hardware}
Nikon Coolpix P1100 specs
| Photograph decision | 15.9 megapixels (4,608×3,456) |
|---|---|
| Video decision | 4K30 |
| Sensor measurement | 1/2.3-inch |
| Lens | 24-3,000mm (35mm equal) f/2.8-f8 |
| Picture stabilization | Optical (pictures), Optical and Digital (video) |
| Display kind | 3.2-inch LCD (not a touchscreen), 180-degree pivot and rotate |
| Viewfinder | OLED |
| Storage | SD/SDHC/SDXC |
| Weight | 1,410g (3.1lbs) |
| App | iOS/Android |
As a result of it is by far an important facet of this digital camera, let’s discuss in regards to the ludicrousness that’s the P1100’s lens. At its widest, it is a moderately vast 24mm (35mm equal). That is much like what you’d get from the first digital camera in lots of telephones. At its longest telephoto finish, it is a borderline ridiculous 3,000mm. Ever seen these big lenses on the sidelines at sporting occasions? These are within the 500mm to 1,200mm vary. This 125x optical zoom is extremely uncommon, at the very least at this time. Whereas many firms made superzoom cameras previously, that is the one new one.
A couple of issues make such a zoom vary attainable in a fairly compact, moveable bundle. It’s not a really quick lens. It is a cheap f2.8 on the vast finish however that drops off as quickly as you begin to zoom in, ending at f8. We’ll discuss this extra within the subsequent part however the quick model is that the slowness of the lens mixed with the small picture sensor conspires to make handheld pictures a bit difficult, even in brilliant mild. It is also fairly tender at its farthest attain so the picture will lack the sharpness you would possibly anticipate even in the event you nail the main target (not a given with a comparatively gradual autofocus). It does have a macro mode, although, so you will get some cool close-ups of flowers and such.
Talking of that sensor, I am not exaggerating by saying it is small. Within the heyday of digital point-and-shoots, the P1100’s sensor measurement was the most typical — from low-cost snapshot cameras to pocket zooms and past. However at this time, even the principle digital camera sensors within the iPhone 16, Google Pixel 9 and Samsung Galaxy S24 are all bigger.
The P1100’s sensor is similar measurement because the way more compact Panasonic ZS99, our total decide for greatest point-and-shoot digital camera, nevertheless it’s far smaller than the 1-inch sensor within the Sony ZV-1 II and much, far smaller than the APS-C sensors within the Ricoh GR III or Fujifilm X100VI. Now, in equity, the Panasonic and Sony cameras have solely a small fraction of the Nikon’s zoom vary, and the Ricoh and Fuji don’t have any zoom in any respect. This implies the P1100 cannot seize as a lot mild because the others so to accurately seize a scene it wants some mixture of a wider aperture (restricted by the lens), slower shutter pace or greater ISO (not simple to regulate). That is much less of a difficulty in brilliant scenes as a result of you may have loads of mild. However in something aside from brilliant scenes, it may be. Even in full solar, in the event you’re making an attempt to seize one thing in movement, the shutter pace is so gradual your topic usually finally ends up blurred.
Past the lens and sensor, many of the digital camera carries over from its predecessor, the P1000. The display screen not solely pivots perpendicular to the digital camera but additionally rotates totally up and down so you’ll be able to see it from nearly each angle. That is good nevertheless it’s exhausting to see with some sun shades and worse, it isn’t a touchscreen, which might have helped the digital camera’s usability a bunch. On the physique, solely two bodily dials can be found to regulate settings with out going into the menus. Along with guide modes like aperture and shutter precedence, there are additionally particular Fowl and Moon modes. The latter simply adjusts to alter the moon’s obvious shade temperature. The numerous adjustments the P1100 provides from its predecessor are Bluetooth 5.2, for simpler connections to fashionable telephones, and USB-C, required by EU regulation however a welcome addition regardless.
Nikon’s SnapBridge app (iOS/Android) is not flashy however connects to the digital camera simply. Along with downloading your photographs, you’ll be able to management the digital camera remotely.
Usability and picture high quality
Taken from the identical spot about 1 minute aside. You possibly can simply barely make out the primary duckling coming across the nook on the left measurement of the maze.
Let’s get this out of the way in which up entrance: this digital camera is chonkers. It’s not delicate. It’s not small. It’s bigger than my full-frame Canon R6 with an enormous prime lens on it. Whenever you zoom in, the lens extends out from the physique, practically doubling the full measurement and it seems absurd. It is attainable to make use of one-handed however given the odd weight steadiness, you may usually want two fingers. For something aside from brilliant daylight, I strongly suggest a monopod or tripod. I needed to state that information up entrance as a result of this can be a area of interest digital camera and as such, it isn’t for everybody. I need you to know what you are entering into.
That water bottle is within the heart of the picture on the left.
And what are you entering into? Nicely, if you wish to take pictures that want an excessive zoom, this is among the least costly, most compact methods to get it. An ideal use could be going to a Nationwide Park like Yellowstone, the place there are many wild animals however they’re usually fairly removed from the roads. This digital camera would allow you to get “up shut” with out being a touron and really getting up shut — the identical with safaris, birding excursions, and so on. Relying on the situations, you are restricted extra by atmospheric results than the lens’ attain. Warmth rising off the a whole lot of toes of floor between you and your topic can blur your picture considerably.
You can too get some nice pictures of the moon. You will usually want a tripod, however you will get extremely shut and detailed footage. Any nearer and also you’d want a telescope or an industrial provide of liquid oxygen and RP-1.
Nevertheless, that does not prolong to another close-up astronomical research. At its farthest zoom, the lens is a gradual f8. That is solely 12.5% of the sunshine reaching the sensor in comparison with the f2.8 at its widest. That, and due to its small sensor, implies that in an effort to seize sufficient mild for a usable picture, the shutter pace must be so gradual that any stars or planets you’d wish to seize will transfer. In different phrases, no pinpoints of sunshine. Silly rotating Earth.
Even with pictures of animals, or no matter else you are zooming in on, except it is actually brightly lit, you danger both lens shake or a blurry, transferring topic. Growing the ISO may assist however even in guide mode, it is buried in a menu, not simply accessible from one of many dials. There’s solely a lot it may assist anyway, the max ISO is 6400. So there’s a particularly restricted vary, even with the proper mild, the place the shutter pace is quick sufficient to shoot handheld or {photograph} a transferring topic however gradual sufficient that the picture is not underexposed. A monopod or tripod will assist loads however you’ll be able to’t be too low-cost with the latter, as this can be a heavy digital camera with an odd steadiness when the lens is totally prolonged.
The airplane I used to be making an attempt to {photograph} will not be in focus and would have been blurred anyway due to the air. Nevertheless, the chook, which I did not discover in any respect till wanting over the pictures, is completely sharp.
General picture high quality is … positive. Missing the computational tips of a contemporary cellphone, the photographs aren’t as vibrant or sharp as you will get with higher, fashionable telephones. You possibly can shoot uncooked, at the very least in some modes, so you’ll be able to enhance the picture with no matter picture modifying software program you select. After taking pictures with the P1100 for some time, I bought the most effective zoomed-in outcomes standing as nonetheless as attainable, taking pictures burst and “strolling” the digital camera to the proper, framing on a distant topic because it took a number of pictures. Attempting to get the proper shot one-and-done proved past my persistence. To be truthful, taking pictures bursts is fairly widespread for a lot of sorts of images. I simply usually shoot landscapes. At 7 frames per second, the burst is not significantly quick and it takes a second to avoid wasting the utmost of seven photographs to the SD card. Nonetheless, total, I bought a far larger variety of pictures that I used to be glad with utilizing this methodology.
The digital camera’s video is pretty unremarkable, wanting very like the video from a cellphone a number of years in the past. It is nice that you should use the zoom whereas recording. The optical and digital stabilization means you’ll be able to even get moderately steady footage handheld. The lens’ zoom and focus motors aren’t significantly quiet, nevertheless. When you zoom or have autofocus enabled throughout a recording, and there is not a number of ambient noise the place you might be, you may hear them in your video. This is not an enormous deal, it is a particularly recognizable sound. Many Hollywood films add it in when a personality is recording video and zooms in as a result of individuals anticipate it. There are newer cameras and lenses with a lot quieter motors, however once more, they’re all costlier.
Will the pictures and movies work for social media? Sure. Are you able to print the pictures? When you nail the main target, sure, however not too massive. To place it as broadly as attainable, you’ll be able to completely get footage with the P1100 that might not be attainable with any cellphone, and with out spending considerably extra money, and no different new digital camera can both. Nevertheless, the pictures are sometimes fairly tender and lack the element, shade, and dynamic vary of higher cameras.
Zoom zoom
This can be a comparability between the P1100 and the Pixel 9 Professional which has optical and digital telephoto. Higher left is the P1100. Decrease left is the Pixel 9 Professional’s fundamental digital camera. Higher proper is the P1100 zoomed in. The center proper picture is the 9 Professional’s 5x optical zoom, a standard vary for smartphone telephoto lenses. The decrease proper is the 30x digital zoom which even on social media would look extraordinarily tender.
Most merchandise, cameras included, are designed for a reasonably broad viewers. Positive, not everybody wants noise-canceling headphones, a 4K TV or a point-and-shoot digital camera. Nonetheless, if somebody is searching for a product inside these classes, usually the merchandise discovered are designed for “most individuals.” Because the point-and-shoot class has withered because the introduction of cellphone images, the alternative has occurred. Most compact cameras “for anybody” have disappeared, and what stays in 2025 are way more specialised. Even inside that framework, the P1100 is a digital camera with a particularly particular, nearly single-minded use. This isn’t a digital camera for everybody. It is not even a digital camera for most individuals.
So, who is that this for? Mainly, anybody who needs or wants an enormous zoom lens with out taking out a second mortgage to pay for it. You’d should spend many hundreds of {dollars} to get a comparable zoom in a mirrorless or DSLR, and the gear could be far bigger and heavier. The P1100 is $1,100. That is equal to simply the digital camera physique of many interchangeable lens cameras. Large telephoto lenses, which not often have the vary of the P1100, could be a number of thousand on prime of that, even when shopping for used. So, with out exaggeration, there actually is not something just like the P1100 with out spending a ton of cash.
Nevertheless, the mandatory compromises that allow the P1100 exist should be thought of. The picture sensor is tiny. That, paired with a comparatively gradual lens, implies that the picture high quality is fairly common, at greatest. If the sunshine is not excellent, it is undoubtedly not going to be at its greatest. The picture stabilization is first rate, however with the aforementioned sensor and lens, mixed with the outstanding zoom, it implies that even in brilliant mild, many zoomed-in photographs will probably be blurry. When you’re contemplating this for taking pictures indoor sports activities or different occasions, you may possible be extraordinarily upset with the outcomes. Understanding ISO, aperture and shutter pace is important to get usable photographs, even when the vary you’ll be able to modify these settings is pretty restricted.
This can be a nice “price range” possibility for some spectacular closeups for birders, budding wildlife photographers and moon aficionados. For anybody who does not want the acute zoom however nonetheless needs some zoom, the Panasonic ZS99 has the identical measurement picture sensor and is half the worth, a fraction of the dimensions, however has a still-impressive 30x zoom.
Along with masking cameras and show tech, Geoff does picture excursions of cool museums and places all over the world, together with nuclear submarines, plane carriers, medieval castles, epic 10,000-mile highway journeys and extra.
Additionally, take a look at Finances Journey for Dummies, his e book, and his bestselling sci-fi novel about city-sized submarines. You possibly can observe him on Instagram and YouTube.
