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Nikon Coolpix 3700 Digital Camera Review
Sound Record function: Allows for sound recording up to five hours with the camera's built-in microphone. The recorded sounds can be played back through the built-in speaker. For example, this feature allows the Coolpix 3700 to be used in business or educational settings as a recorder. It is also possible to record up to a 20sec voice memo with a captured image. |
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The 'Photo trim' function: allows users to crop an unwanted portion of any picture while it's still in the camera. The cropped image can then be saved as a copy while preserving the original image. Ideal if you want to show an image in a slide show straight from the camera, or if going direct to print. The Coolpix 3700 is direct print compatible via USB connection with select Epson Inkjet printers, and is also PictBridge compliant. (No computer required to print the image).
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The playback menu allows for setting; Print Set, Slide show, Image Delete, Image Protect, Auto transfer, Pic Enhance menu, Small Pic, and the Movie Trim menu.
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Print Set Feature: The print set option is used to create "digital" print orders for devices that support the Digital Print Order Format (DPOF). Images desired for printing can be tagged, and number of prints of each can be selected on the camera.
Slide Show: This option can be used to play pictures back in an automated slide show with about three seconds between each picture. (Simply connect camera to TV with supplied AV cable for larger screen viewing)
Image Delete: The delete menu contains the following options; erase selected images, erase all images.
Image Protect: This option is used to protect pictures from accidental deletion. Protected pictures will only be deleted when the memory card is formatted.
The Pic. Enhance function: provides the ability to apply creative image effects such as B/W, sepia and halo filters, to captured images.
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Small Picture Function: The Small Picture function is a convenient and user friendly feature for creating reduced-size pictures for web use and e-mail without altering the original image. One of three sizes can be selected 640 x 480, 320 x 240, or 160 x 120. The small pic reduced image will be stored on the memory card as a copy of the original file.
Movie
Trim Feature: Movies
can be edited on the camera in playback mode. The edited movie is
saved under a new filename, and the original is deleted.
Image Transfer:
The camera
is equipped with a USB interface. Images can be directly transferred
using the supplied Nikon View software if a computer has a USB interface.
As another option, it is also possible to remove the SD memory card
from the camera and insert it into a card reader (similar to an external
drive) to transfer the data.
The camera is compatible with both methods for USB. The PTP setting, short for Picture Transfer Protocol, is the new protocol for image transfer that can be used with Windows XP for Home Edition/Professional and Mac OS X. With any other Operating System (OS), only the Mass Storage setting should be used to transfer images. The Mass-Storage setting stands for 'USB Mass Storage Class'.
When the camera is connected to a computer via the USB cable, pressing the Transfer button on the back of the camera enables automatic transfer of images to a computer. The supplied Nikon View software must be installed in the computer for the purpose of reception and transfer of image data. Transfer on or off can be set from the menu. A Transfer Marking function that allows the user to select and mark the images to be sent via the one-touch Transfer button is also available. This feature allows only individually set image data to be transferred.
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Power Source A rechargeable Nikon Li-Ion EN-EL5 battery and MH-61 charger are supplied with the Coolpix 3700. It takes approximately two hours to fully charge a depleted battery. The Coolpix 3700 is also compatible with the new CP-1 type Lithium disposable battery if required. An optional AC adapter EH-62A is also available. |
Software: The supplied NikonView software provides for the following features:
Availability,
Pricing and Warranty
The Coolpix 3700 is already available on the market for a suggested
retail price of $569 CAN. Nikon Coolpix cameras purchased through an
authorized dealer in Canada are covered under a two year Canadian warranty
against manufacturing defects.
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Note: Due to the poor weather of late, I have unfortunately not been able to take many outdoor shots with the Coolpix 3700. As soon as it gets a little sunnier, I will update the sample images. - Mike Collins
Conclusion: The Nikon Coolpix 3700 is a metal, sleek looking, compact digital camera. With the option of basic automatic mode or the ability to select from one of 15 different scene modes, the Coolpix 3700 is certainly user friendly. The 8 different movie modes (with audio) offer a number of fun creative ways to capture video segments. The interval capture sequence is one such feature. The TV quality setting produces Quick Time movies that are surprisingly good, even when played back on a big screen monitor.
The image quality from the Nikon Coolpix 3700 is nice, well exposed and sharp. The images printed on an Epson 1290 Inkjet printer looked good (nice saturation), printed on Epson's Photo Premium Glossy Paper. With 3.2 MP effective resolution, images from the Coolpix 3700 can easily be printed up to an 8" x 10" size and even beyond.
If you are in the market for a stylish compact digital camera in the three megapixel range, based on my experience, I would recommend looking closely at the Coolpix 3700. A truly nice little camera with some exclusive features.
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Model |
Nikon Coolpix 3700 |
CCD |
Image
size: Effective resolution 2048 x 1536 |
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Lens zoom |
3 x optical zoom, 35 - 105 mm equiv. |
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Lens aperture |
F2.7 - F4.9 (@105 mm) |
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Effective pixels |
3.2 MP |
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Max resolution |
2048 x 1536 High Quality |
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Lower |
2048
x 1536 Normal |
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Ergonomics |
Metal Ultra-Compact |
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Image modes |
JPEG |
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JPEG quality modes |
Fine, Normal, Basic |
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Digital Zoom |
Max 4x |
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LCD |
1.5" TFT Highly Transparent LCD backlight 134,000 pixels |
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Sensitivity |
Auto (Approximately ISO 50, 100, 200) |
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AF mode |
TTL Contrast Detection, Auto 5 Area AF, One of five focus areas can be selected |
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AF distance |
Normal: 30cm Infinity Macro: 4cm Infinity |
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White Balance |
Auto, Manual preset, Fine, Incandescent, Fluorescent, Cloudy, Speedlight, |
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Exposure modes |
Auto, 15 Scene modes |
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Metering |
256 segment Matrix Metering |
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Min shutter speed |
1/3000 sec |
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Max shutter speed |
4 sec |
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Continuous advance |
Continuous
H 2.5 fps, Continuous L 1.5 fps |
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Quick review mode |
Yes |
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Movie clips |
8 movie modes with sound recording (limit when card is full) TV movie at 640 x 480 at 30fps or 15 fps Small size at 320 x 240 at 30 fps or 15 fps Smaller size at 160 x 120 at 15 fps, B & W movie at 320 x 240 Sepia movie at 320 x 240 Movie Trim feature for movie edit Time Lapse movie at 640 x 480 at 30 fps Voice memo 20 sec long If sound recording only : up to 5hrs (Can be used as voice recorder) Built-in speaker for playback |
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Video Support |
NTSC and PAL |
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Self Timer |
10 or 3 seconds or Sound Release feature (1 sec delay) |
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Viewfinder |
Yes |
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Flash |
Fixed internal |
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Flash range |
0.4-3m/1.4-9.1
ft Wide |
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Noise Reduction |
Auto noise reduction at ?sec or slower (Applies to using Night Landscape, Night Portrait or Dusk/Dawn mode) |
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In camera image rotation |
Yes |
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AF Assist Illuminator |
Yes |
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Power |
EN-EL5 Lithium-Ion battery + MH61 charger incl. Optional CP1 Disposable Lithium battery can be used, Optional AC adapter EH-62A |
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Storage |
SD memory card |
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Storage supplied |
16 MB SD card |
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Dimensions |
(3.76 x 1.97 x 1.22 in) (W x H x D) |
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Printer support |
EXIF 2.2, DPOF, Epson USB Direct Print Compatible, Compatible with PictBridge enabled printers |
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Other |
BSS (Best Shot Selector), Monitor brightness adjustment (5 steps), Three shutter release sounds can be selected, An opening welcome image can be selected, Grid Shaped guide (shown on LCD) feature for selecting compositions available, Date Imprint feature, World Time Function, NEW Voice or Sound activation feature. Optional Wireless SB-30 Speedlight Flash available, |
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Included accessories |
16MB SD memory card, EN-EL5 Li-Ion rechargeable battery and MH-61 charger, USB cable UC-E6, Audio-Video Cable EG-CP14, Eyecup, NikonView 6. Instruction manual, 2 year Canadian Warranty |
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Warranty |
Two year Canadian warranty |
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Weight w/o battery |
130 g |
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Software |
NikonView 6, |
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