Clad in a shinny metal armour,
the newly released Nikon Coolpix 3700 is equipped with
a 3X zoom and a 3.2 megapixel CCD.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Pushing the joystick up displays
an overlay for the Flash Modes, Auto, Auto with
Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off, or Forced On.
Exposure compensation is
accessed by pushing the joystick to the right, and provides
compensation in 0.3EV increments over ±2EV.
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
Auto is the Coolpix
3700's point and shoot mode, and most settings are controlled
by the camera.
Manual provides 6 menu
options to fine-tune the shot to the subject.
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.)
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.
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.)
Movie mode offers 8
different movie recording modes:
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.
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.
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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Ergonomics
(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.
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.
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.
previously
selected images 
