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Clad in a shinny metal armour,
the newly released Nikon Coolpix 3700 is equipped with
a 3X zoom and a 3.2 megapixel CCD.
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The design of the Coolpix is different
from other compact Nikon digital cameras, reminiscent of designs
used by other manufacturers. This a thin, small camera the easily
fits in the hand, and has a brush metal front.
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The angled back ridge has the
zoom control on the right side, made up of 2 separate buttons,
Wide angle on the left and Telephoto on the right. As is often
the case, the controls double as a way to view index screens  (thumbnails)
of the photos that have been taken, and a means to magnify  a
particular image shown on the screen, up to 10X, so as to inspect
it closely. |
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And to the right of the optical
viewfinder,  serves
to control the LCD monitor. Depending on the mode the Coolpix
3700 is set to, the button cycles through a display with minimal
information, one with more information, a display with bright
yellow framing guides and Off.
A small viewfinder eyecup is provided that can be slid down over the metallic
viewfinder housing, and which provides a dual use. First it makes both
the image in the optical viewfinder, and the nearby LEDs for autofocus
and flash more visible by blocking some of the external light; and second,
it helps protect the lenses of users that wear eyeglasses. |
Another feature of this new design
is the use of a joystick-like control — called the Multi-selector — for
navigating the menus, and confirming selections. Moreover, the
control provides a direct access to flash modes; exposure compensation;
macro mode; and self-timer.
With each of these functions, the Coolpix 3700 presents a short menu overlaid
on the 1.5 inch monitor, and the selection can be made using the
joystick, and the setting confirmed by pressing it straight in. |
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Pushing the joystick to the left presents
a 2 option overlay menu. The first option is for the Self
timer (10 second) which is indicated by a very bright
orange-red LED that also serves as a red-eye reduction
lamp. The second option is for a novel type of system that
uses sound detection to release the shutter. Once
the shutter released as been pressed, the camera waits
to detect a noise such as a voice, or a clap of the hands,
and will release the shutter 3 seconds after picking it
up. |
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Pushing the joystick up displays
an overlay for the Flash Modes, Auto, Auto with
Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off, or Forced On. |
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Exposure compensation is
accessed by pushing the joystick to the right, and provides
compensation in 0.3EV increments over ±2EV. |
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Macro mode is engaged
by pushing towards the bottom, and it too displays a brief
overlay that allows turning on or off the macro mode. In
Macro mode, and at the middle zoom position, the Coolpix
3700 is able to focus on a subject 4cm (1.6 in.) from the
front of the lens. |
Below the joysticks are two other metallic buttons. On the left is the
Delete button  and
on the right is the menu button  .
Below is the Mode Dial, which has 6 positions, and a button in the
middle,  ,
to start the Playback mode.
Moreover, the Playback button can also be used to automatically transfer  previously
selected images |
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Auto is the Coolpix
3700's point and shoot mode, and most settings are controlled
by the camera. |
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Manual provides 6 menu
options to fine-tune the shot to the subject. |
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Scene allows selecting
one of 15 Scene which are chosen from a special menu. (See
the Characteristics section of the review for a complete
listing of the Scene modes.) |
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Voice Recording allow
capturing ambient voices as long as there is space on the
memory card. In effect, in this mode the Coolpix 3700 becomes
a digital voice recorder. |
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Setup provides the access
to the Coolpix 3700's basic configuration. (See the
Interface and Software section of the review for an overview
of the options provided by the Setup menu.) |
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Movie mode offers 8
different movie recording modes: |
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- TV movie 640*: records a movie with sound and a
640 x 480 frame size at 30 frames per second.
- TV movie 640: records a movie with sound and a 640
x 480 frame size at 15 frames per second.
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- Small size 320*: records a movie with sound and
a 320 x 240 frame size at 15 frames per second.
- Smaller size 160: records a movie with sound and
a 160 x 120 frame size at 15 frames per second.
- B/W movie 320: records in black and white with sound
and a size of 320 x 240 at 15 frames per second.
- Sepia movie 320: records a sepia toned movie with
sound and at a 320 x 240 frame at 5 frames per second.
- Time Lapse movie 640: takes 640 x 480 still images
at a specified time interval and plays them back as a silent
movie at 30 frames per second.
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The Coolpix 3700 offers a high
quality finish, and stays within the parameters set out for other
recent point and shoot Coolpix cameras, emphasizing ease of use,
but offering a wide variety of Scene modes and advanced video
recording capabilities.
Controls are well-laid out, and easily mastered. Moreover the addition
of a small viewfinder eyecup is a thoughtful touch. |
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Introduction
