Nikon CoolPix 3700

ikon’s digital camera range covers the full
spectrum, from entry-level snapshot cameras
for beginners to high-end semi-pro models
like the 5-megapixel CoolPix 5400 and 5700. The
CoolPix 3700 falls somewhere in the middle, boasting a
comparatively modest resolution of 3 megapixels, but
with an up-market metal finish and design and a
number of handy photographic options.
For example, there are no fewer than 15 different
‘scene’ modes, where the camera’s settings are
precisely set for portraits, landscapes and other specific
types of picture. It can shoot short movie clips, too, and
at a higher resolution and frame rate than most other
digital cameras – 640 x 480 pixels and at 30fps.
The CoolPix 3700 can record sound with movies and,
indeed, it can record voice memos on their own, up to a
total of five hours. It’s not just a digital camera, but a
handy executive accessory. Add in a time-lapse feature,
a good macro mode that lets the camera focus right
down to 4cm, and the compact and stylish metal finish,
and you’ve got a neat little gadget. On the other hand,
the ISO range is comparatively limited at ISO 50-200, a
sign that the Nikon’s not altogether perfect.
Note also that the 3700 is a Dixons exclusive, so you
won’t find it in any other stores for now.
First impressions
The CoolPix is quite small and neat, highly pocketable
and with a smart metal finish. But then this isn’t the
only super-small, super-slick digital camera around these
days – the Nikon’s got lots of very good competition,
like the Panasonic Lumix F1, Pentax Optio S and S4 and
(with similar dimensions but a different shape) the
Olympus Mju 300 and 400 models.
The power switch is positioned around the shutter
release, and the 3700’s start-up time is barely a
second. These super-fast start-up times are becoming
more commonplace now, and they’re a welcome
development because a lot of the shots you want to
take of family and friends, for example, appear and
disappear in an instant.
This is a small camera and both the optical
viewfinder and the LCD are pretty small, too. The LCD
measures 1.5 inches across the diagonal, which is par
for the course, but a lot of the display is obscured by
status and shooting information, particularly in the info
strip running across the bottom of the frame. You can
press the display button to choose an alternative with
the information strip hidden and another displaying
compositional guides. You can also switch the LCD off
altogether and rely on the optical ‘finder, but it’s rather
small and suffers from pretty severe barrel distortion.
The AF works well at the wide-angle end of the
zooming range, taking around half a second to ‘lock on’.
At the telephoto end, things are a bit more sluggish. In
fact, indoor shots can leave it hunting around for a
second or so or even failing to find a focus point
altogether. Out of doors, though, you won’t find
anything to complain about. There’s no audible AF
confirmation – just a green lamp next to the viewfinder
eyepiece or a green ‘lamp’ icon on the LCD.