Product Reviews

Nikon's Coolpix 8700 is the second digital camera to hit the shelves that features the next instalment of high-density chips that debuted in the hefty, but otherwise functional and desirable, Sony DSC-F828.

Externally, the new Coolpix 8700 shares the same contours as the company's previous top-of-the-range Coolpix, the 5700, but supplants the 5-megapixel chip with a cutting-edge 8-megapixel sensor. Nikon has taken the opportunity to implement several operational enhancements, with a noticeable faster start-up time and shorter-shutter-release time lag being two key improvements. Don't rush to buy it based on that though, as it still takes at least three seconds for the 8x optical zoom to be driven into place after turning on.

Nikon has added an AF-assist lamp (housed next to the pop-up flash gun) for indoor shooting; its absence was criticised in the older model. But it's the superbly detailed and clearly visible electronic viewfinder that's the most appealing new tweak after the jump to a 3,264 x 2,448 image. The magnification could be greater, but the image is so vividly clear that you could be fooled into thinking it's an optical finder.

The screen for the rear monitor has also been upgraded, making it more easily visible under a wider range of lighting conditions. However, as we've seen with other digital cameras recently - Sony's F828 included - strongly backlit subjects result in ugly magenta-coloured streaking across the frame, making it near impossible to compose shots with any accuracy.

Adopting the pro-spec aluminium-alloy body of its predecessor means there's the same high-quality 8x optical zoom nestling within the rigid outer casing. Its gold band around the circumference signifies the use of ED glass elements to minimise colour-fringing, which is welcome, but some might find the lean towards longer focal lengths less useful than the crop of new wider-angle zooms currently on the market. The zoom's range is the equivalent of 35-280mm f/2.8-4.2, and is moderately fast, but hardly stretches Nikon's capabilities. At longer lengths, especially at 280mm, care has to be taken to avoid camera shake with hand-held shots in all but the brightest lighting. Still, it does help keep the camera reasonably compact and discreet. A host of wide-angle and telephoto conversion

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lenses are available as an optional extra, if really needed. Close-up photography is a cinch, especially as the lens can be zoomed to a short telephoto setting while maintaining its 3cm minimum focus distance, but toggling the macro function on or off from the cluster of small buttons to the side of the body is fiddly, especially if you have large fingers.

The 8700 adopts the company's tried and tested multi-area AF system with the usual focusing modes (continuous, single shot and manual) in combination with five individually selectable focusing points. It's one of the better systems, but the AF frames aren't always overlaid on the screen in correlation with the exposure mode or subject-based shooting option that has been selected. These are chosen from the dial on the top plate, but only after setting up from the neatly labelled menu.

If you're unfamiliar with the menu layout it can be difficult to get the most from it, but in spite of this, the menu gives you control over just about every single operation of the camera. There are plenty of features to satisfy advanced users, including a 2.5fps continuous framing rate at full-resolution for five frames, but the sensitivity range of ISO50-400 is still a little restricting bearing in mind the quality of light in the UK. Noise levels aren't exactly well controlled at ISO400 either, making it a difficult decision to use for some shots.

Flash options are extensive, including one of the best fill-flash capabilities available. This goes some way to make amends, and there's a hot-shoe with full compatibility for Nikon's latest range of optional flashguns. Nikon's proprietary RAW file format (NEF) option and an in-camera TIFF file option are on offer, with images being saved to CompactFlash or Microdrive; as with the Sony F828, however, no media card is provided. We don't particularly like the design of the hinged door to the Type II CompactFlash slot; it's held shut by a weak spring and although it's unlikely to break there's no way of locking it. By contrast, exposure control, even of the built-in flash, was consistent and accurate using the 256-segment metering. This is probably the best system on the market, though flash shots sometimes had burned-out highlights if the subject was too close. The auto white-balance performance is also good, but it was occasionally fooled, so you shouldn't rely on it unreservedly.

Barring the noise issue, image quality is spectacular, with clean results at the lower ISO settings, and with little or no fringing. While the camera does have a few handling niggles, the smaller body size offers significant advantages over its obvious rival. However, at £766, the 8700 also has to contend with the excellent 6-megapixel Canon EOS 300D. The 8700 is undoubtedly good, but the Canon not only has a similar quality of output from its physically larger chip, but unmatched system versatility.