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Nikon Coolpix 8800 By: Shawn Barnett & Dave Etchells Nikon improves on its flagship 8 megapixel prosumer camera with a longer zoom and vibration reduction to improve long handheld shots. Select a topic Reference: Datasheet 8800 Sample Images 8800 Imatest Results --------------------------------- 1. Intro and Highlights 2. User Report 3. Design 4. Viewfinder 5. Optics 6. Exposure & Flash 7. Shutter Lag & Cycle Time Tests 8. Operation & User Interface 9. Camera Modes & Menus 10. Image Storage & Interface 11. Video, Power, Software 12. Test Results & Conclusion --------------------------------- Print-Friendly Review Version Additional Resources and Other Links Reader Comments on 8800 Review --------------------------------- Digital Camera Comparometer (TM) --------------------------------- <-- Digital Cameras (Home) <-- Digital Camera Reviews Index <<Shutter Lag & Cycle Time Tests :(Previous) | (Next): Camera Modes & Menus>> Page 8:Operation & User Interface Review First Posted: 09/16/2004, Updated: 11/23/2004

Operation and User Interface

The Coolpix 8800's substantial LCD menu system is useful for novices and for less commonly used controls, and it's good that it's there; but over time, experienced users will find they can make many of the necessary adjustments for routine shooting without resorting to the LCD screen. Once you learn where the functions are, you can do much of what you need using the external controls on the camera.

The programmable Function key adds some limited flexibility, letting you customize the camera to your specific shooting needs by assigning a single frequently used setting to the top-panel FUNC button. In addition to whatever you assign to the FUNC button, with the use of various dials and buttons, you can adjust exposure compensation, exposure mode, focus controls (manual focus setting, macro, and infinity focus) and flash mode without resorting to the LCD menus. ISO value, Image quality, Image size, White balance, Continuous mode, and User setting bank 1 or 2 can also be adjusted without the LCD, if they are selected for the FUNC key. However, only one of these functions can be assigned to the FUNC key at any one time. This inconvenience is mitigated by the fact that the Mode dial on the Coolpix 8800 has separate settings that allow quick access for White Balance, ISO, and Image mode (quality and size), although you are taken out of the Recording mode in the process of using them. The top-panel monochrome status display provides clear feedback for all of the settings accessed via the buttons and Command wheel. When you do have to delve into the LCD menu system, navigation via the Five-way controller is intuitive and quick. In normal operation, many of the camera's functions are controlled by a combination of hitting a button and turning the Command dial, which usually makes it fast and efficient to change settings. Control layout is also logical, allowing one-handed operation for commonly changed functions, and requiring a two-handed approach only for manual focus setting.

Reading the manual is essential to understanding many of the functions of the Coolpix 8800. Its feature set is rich and deep, and the reward for the extra research is a thorough understanding of a very capable camera.

Control Enumeration

Shutter Button: Located on top of the camera (slightly sloping down in front) and encircled by the Power switch, this button sets focus and exposure when halfway pressed and fires the shutter when fully pressed.

Power Switch: Surrounding the Shutter button on the camera's top panel, this dial turns the camera on or off.

Function Button: Just behind the shutter release, this button can be assigned via the Setup menu to one of the following functions: White balance, Image quality, Image size, Sensitivity (ISO), Continuous shooting, and User setting. These functions can then be controlled without using the LCD menu. You simply hold down the FUNC button and move the Command dial to adjust the settings. The small Control panel displays the changing settings, as will the LCD panel or viewfinder. The two available User settings allows you to pre-set an extensive number of features. Any changes to settings on the Coolpix 8800 go to User setting 1 by default, unless setting 2 is specified. As mentioned above, White balance, ISO, and Image size and quality can be accessed directly by the Mode dial, without toggling through the menu system.

Flash Button: Just behind the function button, this button adjusts the flash setting in all still recording modes except for the those where flash has been cancelled by the user, the Scene modes for which flash has been disabled by Nikon, and when settings such as Continuous do not allow the flash to fire. By repeatedly pressing the button, you can set the flash for Auto, Flash Cancel, Auto Red Eye, Anytime Flash (fill), Slow sync, and Rear curtain sync. Icons for each setting are shown in the Control panel, and can be displayed in the LCD and viewfinder.

Exposure Compensation/Voice Memo Button: Directly to the right of the Flash button, this button adjusts the amount of exposure compensation (from-2 to +2 exposure equivalents (EV) in one-third step increments) when held down while turning the Command dial. When in full-frame Playback mode, voice memos can be added to photos up to 20 seconds long. Hold the button down while recording. A music note icon appears onscreen when a voice memo is attached to a photo, and pressing the Voice Memo button plays the note. The zoom controls change the volume up and down.

Illuminate Button: Behind the Flash button, this button activates a green backlight behind the status display panel, so you can read the displaying dark conditions.

Mode Dial: Located in the right rear corner of the top panel, the Mode Dial is the heart of the 8800's control system. It selects between eight major operating modes, including Playback mode, Auto, Program, Shutter Priority, Aperture Priority, full Manual, and Scene still capture modes, and Movie mode. A Setup option calls up the three-screen setup menu on the LCD or EVF screen, while three setting options let you adjust White Balance, ISO, and Image Size/Quality without having to delve into the menu system.

Command Dial: Located just below the right hand corner of the top of the camera, this rotary control is used in conjunction with a number of the other buttons on the camera to change camera settings. Pressing the appropriate button and rotating the dial one way or the other steps through the options available for the setting in question. In programmed exposure mode, rotating the dial at any time (e.g., with no button pressed) varies the exposure program, biasing it toward larger or smaller aperture settings. (A very handy way to control depth of field in your photos, without having to bother with the aperture priority exposure mode.) In Manual mode you press the Function button to switch between adjustment of the Shutter speed and Aperture.

Diopter Adjustment Dial: Hidden on the left side of the viewfinder eyepiece, this small, black dial adjusts the viewfinder to accommodate eyeglass wearers.

Monitor Select Button: On the right side of the viewfinder eyepiece, this button toggles the viewfinder display back and forth between the EVF and LCD monitor. Since there's no optical viewfinder, there's no "off" setting to disable the electronic viewfinders entirely.

AE / AF Lock Button: Just to the right of the Monitor select button, this button locks exposure and/or focus when pressed. A setting in the Record menu assigns either AE only, AF only, or both to the button.

Zoom Control: Located in the upper right-center portion of the back panel, this rocker control operates the optical zoom in all capture modes. Likewise, when digital telephoto is enabled, this button controls the amount of digital zoom from 1.1x to 4.0x.

In single-image playback mode, pressing the "T" side of the rocker repeatedly zooms in on the image, while pressing the "W" side of the control reverses the zoom. Pressing the "W" side again after reaching a full-frame view switches to a four-image thumbnail view, and another press switches to a nine-image thumbnail view. Pressing the "T" side of the control steps back through the sequence in the other direction. These buttons also control volume in Voice Memo playback mode.

Menu Button: Adjacent to the top right corner of the LCD monitor, this button brings up the settings menu in all capture modes and in the Playback mode. Pressing it a second time cancels the menu display.

Quick Review Button: Beneath the Menu button, this button calls up a thumbnail sized display of the most recently captured image while in either record mode, appearing in the upper left-hand corner. The left and right arrow keys scroll through the remaining captured images on the memory card. Pressed a second time, it expands the thumbnail view to a full-screen display of the captured images on the card, complete with an image information overlay. The Quick Review mode is canceled by pressing the button a third time, or by pressing the Shutter button.

Erase Button: Just below the Quick Review button, this button calls up the Erase menu in Playback mode, which lets you delete the displayed image. There is an option to cancel. In Record mode, it sets the self timer: one press for 10 seconds, two presses for 3 seconds, a third press to cancel.

Display Button: Directly below the Erase button, this button controls the information overlay in Playback and any Record mode. Pressing it once turns off the information display, while a second press recalls it. When information display is on, you can use the Command dial to change among several screens worth of information, in both Playback and Record modes.

Five-way controller: Situated on the right of the rear panel, this control features four arrows that allow the user to navigate through the LCD menu system and make selections in Record and Playback modes. Different menu items are selected via the up/down arrows. Pressing the right arrow selects the item, generally taking you into a sub-menu. Pressing the left arrow takes you back out again. Once in a sub-menu, the up/down arrows again step between items, while a right-arrow selects. This process continues until you arrive at the final point of selection, upon which a press on the center, or "fifth" button sets the selection.

In Playback mode, the left and right arrows scroll through captured images. If an image has been enlarged, with the Zoom control, all four arrows pan around within the view.

AF/Focus Mode Button: Pressing this button cycles between normal autofocus mode, Landscape mode (infinity focus), and Macro mode (close focus). Rotating the Command Dial while pressing and holding this button down puts the camera in to Manual Focus mode and adjusts the focusing distance.


VR On/OFF: Enables/Disables the 8800's Vibration Reduction system. When enabled, half-pressing the shutter button activates the VR system.