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Nikon Coolpix 3700
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Quick Review
Nikon Coolpix 3700 Digital Camera
 |
Camera
QuickLook |
| Review
Date |
03/04/2004 |
| User
Level |
Novice
- Amateur |
| Product
Uses |
Family
/ Travel / Special Events |
| Digicam
Design |
Point
and Shoot |
| Picture
Quality |
Good,
3.2-megapixel CCD |
| Print
Sizes |
Up
to 8x10 |
| Availability |
Now |
Suggested Retail
Price
(At introduction) |
$399 |
Introduction
The Nikon Coolpix 3700 is one of the latest in a long and successful line of Nikon
digital cameras. One of the true leaders in the world of
photography, Nikon has successfully translated their long history of expertise
into the digital arena. Their "Coolpix" line of cameras have been solid
favorites of enthusiast-level photographers for years now, but Nikon has lately
been making inroads in the "point and shoot" market for more casual
users. Nikon's key has been the combination of excellent picture quality with
an amazing range of features, all calculated to give the photographer maximum
control over the picture-taking process.
Newest, one of the smallest in the line, the Coolpix
3700 model sports a sleek metal body and compact dimensions. This pocket-friendly
camera offers a 3.2-megapixel CCD, 15 preset Scene shooting modes, and a
handful of standard Nikon digicam exposure features. The result is a camera
that snaps excellent photos under a wide range of shooting conditions, and
looks good while doing it. Read on for all the details.
Camera Overview
Representing a sleek new look for the Coolpix line, the Nikon Coolpix 3700
is compact, trim, and sophisticated. A retractable lens leaves the front
panel smooth when retracted, perfect for shirt pockets. The metal body is
light weight and durable, and should withstand heavy usage. Still, a small
camera case would be ideal for protecting the attractive silver finish, although
the camera does come with a wrist strap. With a point-and-shoot design, the
3700 is convenient and easy to use, but offers a nice selection of features
to choose from (including a generous collection of 15 preset scene modes
for special situations). The camera's 3.2-megapixel CCD produces high resolution
images suitable for making sharp prints as large as 8x10 inches, as well
as lower resolution images suited for e-mail attachments. With Nikon's reputation
for quality, the 3700 will definitely draw many consumers, and the compact
size and attractive looks combined with versatile shooting modes and exposure
options will make the camera a crowd-pleaser.
The 3700 is equipped with a 3x, 5.4-16.2mm Nikkor lens (equivalent to a 35-105mm
lens on a 35mm camera), made up of seven elements in six groups. A shutter-like
lens cover automatically opens and closes when the camera is powered on or
off, and eliminates the need for a lens cap. The maximum aperture ranges
from f/2.8 to f/4.9, depending on the lens zoom position. Focus ranges from
one foot (30 centimeters) to infinity in normal mode, and a Close Up shooting
mode (available through the Scene menu) focuses as close as 1.6 inches (four
centimeters) for excellent macro shots. The five-area autofocus (AF) system
automatically adjusts focus based on the proximity of the subject to one
of the five AF areas. You also have the option of manually selecting the
AF area from one of the five. Turning the AF Area setting off fixes focus
at the center of the frame. In Movie mode only, you can opt for either Single
or Continuous AF modes. In addition to the 3x optical zoom, the 3700 also
offers as much as 4x digital zoom, although I always remind readers that
digital zoom decreases the overall image quality because it simply enlarges
the central pixels of the CCD's image. The 3700 offers both a real-image
optical viewfinder and a 1.5-inch, color LCD monitor for composing images.
The LCD monitor includes a limited information display, but does not report
aperture or shutter speed settings. It does, however, offer a grid display
mode, which divides the image area into thirds horizontally and vertically.
Additionally, two diagonal lines crisscross the grid, making it easy for
you to line up shots with a variety of angles.
Exposure is automatically controlled on the 3700, making it great for snapshots,
family events, and vacation photos. The camera's 256-segment matrix metering
system divides the image area into segments and evaluates contrast and brightness
values across the entire frame for accurate exposures in situations that
would confuse a less sophisticated metering system. As a further aid to accurate
exposure determination, the metering system places the greatest emphasis
on the selected AF area. Although not user-adjustable, the 3700's light sensitivity
is equivalent to approximately ISO 50 under bright lighting, with an auto
gain function that increases sensitivity to ISO 200 if necessary. Shutter
speed ranges from 1/3,000 to four seconds, although the camera doesn't directly
report shutter speed while shooting. A Mode dial on the rear panel selects
the camera's exposure mode, offering Auto, Manual, Scene, Movie, and Voice
Recording. (The Mode dial also accesses the Setup menu, while a Playback
button activates Playback mode.) Manual exposure mode in this case refers
to the availability of exposure features such as White Balance, Sharpness,
etc., not manual control of shutter speed or aperture. Although the camera
controls aperture and shutter speed at all times, you can manually adjust
White Balance, Exposure Compensation, Sharpness, Image Size, and Image Quality
settings. White Balance options include an Auto setting, plus Daylight, Incandescent,
Fluorescent, Cloudy, and Speedlight presets. There's also a Preset setting,
which determines the proper color balance based on a gray card held in front
of the camera, a very useful feature, but relatively rare on digicams intended
for novice users. Exposure Compensation is adjustable from -2 to +2 exposure
equivalents (EV) in one-third-step increments. The 3700 also features no
fewer than 15 preset "Scene" shooting modes, which program the
camera for specific shooting conditions. The 15 modes include Portrait, Party/Indoor,
Night Portrait, Beach/Snow, Landscape, Sunset, Night Landscape, Museum, Fireworks
Show, Close Up, Copy, Back Light, Panorama Assist, Sports, and Dusk/Dawn.
Most of the modes are fairly self-explanatory, but the instruction manual
offers full descriptions for each. The 3700's flash operates in Forced (always
on), Suppressed (off), Auto, Red-Eye Reduction, and Slow Sync modes, and
is effective to almost 10 feet (3 meters).
In Movie exposure mode, the camera captures moving images without sound at
640 x 480 pixels, though a selection of smaller resolutions is available,
as well as Black and White and Sepia color modes. Depending on the mode,
movies are recorded at either 30 or 15 frames per second, for as long as
the memory card has available space. (Assuming, that is, that the memory
card being used has a high enough write rate to keep up with the data rate.
Look for speed-rated cards with speeds higher than "16x" to insure
maximum recording time.) A Time-Lapse Movie mode captures a series of still
images (as many as 1,800 total) at set intervals, so that you can play back
the images as a silent movie file. (This is a great way to capture slow events
such as clouds moving, a flower blooming, or an egg hatching.) The 3700 features
a Self-Timer mode, which provides either a three- or 10-second delay between
the time the Shutter button is pressed and when the camera actually takes
the picture, great for self-portraits. An interesting feature here is the
Sound Release option, which lets you trip the shutter in response to a sound
(a clap of your hands, for instance) rather than a press of the Shutter button.
The shutter releases about one second after a specified sound trigger. Through
the Record menu, shooting options include Low and High-Speed Continuous Shooting,
Multi-Shot 16, and Interval Timer modes. The two Continuous Shooting modes
capture a rapid series of images with maximum frame rates of 2.5 and 1.5
frames per second, respectively. Multi-Shot 16 mode captures 16 thumbnail-sized
images in a rapid series, which are then displayed as a matrix, occupying
a single 2,048 x 1,536-pixel image. Similar to the Time-Lapse Movie mode
described above, Interval Timer mode captures a series of still images at
preset intervals, mimicking the effect of time-lapse photography. There's
also Nikon's signature "Best Shot Selector" (BSS) feature, which
captures a series of images and then automatically saves only the sharpest
one to the memory card. Finally, the Voice Recording mode lets you record
as much as five hours of sound, depending of course, on the amount of available
space on the memory card.
The 3700 stores images on SD/MMC memory cards, available separately in capacities
as large as 1 GB (1,000 MB). A 16MB "starter" card comes with the
camera, which only holds a maximum of nine full resolution, fine quality
images. You should plan on buying a much larger memory card along with the
camera. - I'd recommend at least a 64MB card. The camera is powered by a
single EN-EL5 lithium-ion battery pack for power, and comes with one rechargeable
battery and charger. To ensure you don't miss an important shot, I'd recommend
picking up an additional battery and keeping it freshly charged and on-hand
at all times. The optional AC adapter is useful for preserving battery power
when reviewing and downloading images, and utilizes a "dummy" battery
that inserts into the battery compartment and has a power cord extension
for plugging into an outlet. The 3700 features a USB jack for downloading
images to a computer, and an "Auto Transfer" option sets the camera
to automatically begin downloading images as soon as it is connected to a
computer loaded with the supplied Nikon software. Two CD-ROMs accompany the
camera: one containing the Nikon View 6.1 software for downloading and editing
images and one with a copy of the software reference manual. The updated
version of Nikon View offers a one-touch Red-Eye fix for images, as well
as one-touch uploading to the nikon.net website, which lets you create albums,
order prints, etc. The 3700 is DPOF compatible, with Print Setup options
available through the Playback settings menu (as well as a handful of post-capture
image effects).
Basic Features
- 3.2-megapixel CCD delivering images as large as 2,048 x 1,536 pixels.
- 1.5-inch color LCD monitor.
- Glass, 3x, 5.4-16.2mm lens (35mm equivalent is 35-105mm).
- 4x digital zoom.
- Five-area automatic focus.
- Automatic exposure control.
- 256-Segment Matrix metering.
- Maximum aperture of f/2.8 to f/4.9, depending on lens zoom position.
- Shutter speeds from 1/3,000 to four seconds.
- ISO 50 sensitivity equivalent, with auto gain to ISO 200.
- Built-in flash with five operating modes.
- SD/MMC memory storage.
- Power supplied by one EN-EL5 lithium-ion battery pack (included) or optional
AC adapter.
Special Features
- Movie with sound mode, with Black and White, Sepia, and Time-Lapse movie
options.
- High and Low-Speed Continuous Shooting, Interval Timer, and Multi-Shot
16 shooting modes.
- Voice Recording mode.
- Scene mode with 15 preset "scenes."
- Three- and10-second Self-Timer for delayed shutter release, with Sound
Release option.
- White balance (color) adjustment with seven modes, including a manual
setting.
- Sharpness adjustment.
- Best Shot Selector shooting mode.
- DPOF (Digital Print Order Format) compatibility.
- USB cable for connection to a computer (driver software included).
- A/V cable for connection to a television set.
Recommendation
The 3700's small, compact design makes it a good candidate for travel, as the
camera fits easily into a shirt pocket or small purse. The retractable lens
design keeps the camera body smooth and low-profile, perfect for pockets,
and the silver, metal body is fashionably chic as well as rugged. With the
convenience of automatic exposure control and extensive preset shooting modes,
the 3700 is perfect for novices and amateurs looking for great pictures and
hassle-free camera operation, but has enough capability to handle a variety
of shooting conditions. Plus, the 3.2-megapixel CCD delivers high-quality
images, and the Nikon name ensures good overall quality. This would be a
great all-around camera for families, moms, grandparents, as well as a good
camera for travel.
Design
One of the slimmest, trimmest Coolpix models in the line, Nikon's new Coolpix
3700 is very compact, with a stylish, metal body that offers understated
elegance. The retractable lens keeps the front panel nice and smooth, so
it won't hang on pockets. No other major protrusions extend from the camera
body when the lens is stowed, and the camera's small size makes it welcome
in shirt pockets and tiny purses. The 3700's compact dimensions and light
weight make it suitable for practically any excursion. With the lens retracted,
the camera measures 3.76 x 1.97 x 1.22 inches (96 x 50 x 31 millimeters).
With battery and memory card loaded, it weighs a mere 5.8 ounces (164 grams).
The low-profile external controls maintain the camera's smooth surface, and
make effective use of the camera's available space on the rear panel.

When the lens is stowed, the 3700's front panel is smooth and almost flat.
Once extended, the lens protrudes only about 5/8-inch from the camera's front.
The lens surface is protected by a shutter-like cover, which automatically
slides open as the lens extends. Sharing the front panel is the camera's
built-in flash, Self-Timer lamp, optical viewfinder window, and microphone.
Though the 3500 doesn't offer a large handgrip, the front of the camera does
feature a small ridge for fingers to grasp. (I do strongly recommend that
you use the provided wrist strap, as protection in case the camera slips
from your fingers.)

On the right side of the camera (as viewed from the rear) is the memory card
/ battery compartment. The sliding compartment door also features an inset
door to access the USB/AV Out jack without having to open up the entire compartment.
A flexible, plastic flap at the bottom of the compartment door makes room
for the power cord when using the optional "dummy battery" AC adapter.
Above the compartment is the eyelet for attaching the wrist strap.

The opposite side of the camera is devoid of detail.

The 3700's smooth top panel features the Power switch, Shutter button, and
a small speaker. A small LED next to the Power dial and Shutter button lights
when the camera is powered on.

All of the remaining camera controls share the rear panel with the LCD monitor
and optical viewfinder. Two LEDs next to the optical viewfinder light to
designate camera status, such as when focus is set, the flash is charged,
etc. A ridge around the top and sides of the optical viewfinder accommodates
an eyecup that slides into place, making it easier to see through the viewfinder
without any outside glare. The wide/telephoto zoom buttons in the top right
corner control both optical and digital zoom in record mode and image enlargement
and index display in Playback mode. A multi-directional rocker button navigates
through menu options, accesses several Record mode features, and serves as
the "OK" button for menu options. Also on the rear panel are the
Display, Delete, Menu, and Playback buttons, and the Mode dial.

The bottom panel of the 3700 reveals the plastic, threaded tripod mount, centered
on the camera body. (While not likely to be an issue for most owners of the
Coolpix 3700, I do wish that Nikon had chosen to use a more durable metal
tripod socket, rather than the plastic one they selected.) From this view,
the plastic AC adapter cord flap is also visible, on the edge of the battery
compartment door.
Camera Operation
The Coolpix 3700's user interface is pretty straightforward, and it didn't
take long to figure out the controls and LCD menu system. Most of the external
controls have multiple functions, reducing the reliance on the LCD menu system
and making the user interface faster to operate. Flash, zoom, record mode,
the self-timer, exposure compensation, Macro mode, and the information display
mode all have external controls, while the remaining exposure options are
changed through the menu system. The LCD menu system is uncomplicated and
easy to navigate, as it only offers a couple of pages of settings to scroll
through at most. Given the mostly automatic exposure control and simplified
user interface, it shouldn't take more than few minutes for the average user
to be comfortable shooting with the camera, and 30 minutes perusal of the
manual should leave one confident with most of the camera's features.
Record
Mode Display: In Record mode, the 3700's LCD monitor reports limited
camera information, such as the file size, record mode, flash mode, and a
handful of other camera settings. Pressing the Monitor button optionally
displays an alignment grid, disables the LCD display altogether, or displays
the image only.
Playback
Mode Display: In Playback mode, the main LCD display is the image
only. Pressing the Monitor button displays the folder name and file number,
in addition to the image series number and file size. It also displays a
shortcut for button functions, indicating that the Multi-Directional Rocker
button rotates the image in 90-degree increments, and that the Shutter button
enables recording of a short audio caption. The Zoom rocker button can be
used to zoom out to either a 4- or 9-image index display of images stored
on the card, or zoom in on the current image, to check fine details and framing.
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