LCD, viewfinder and video
In terms of resolution, the Coolpix P7100’s 3in, 921,600-dot LCD screen sets the bar at this high-end compact level. I tested the camera in sunny conditions and found the LCD screen to be pleasantly bright, and the option to tilt the screen away from reflections helps further. Another benefit for tilting the screen makes photographing high and low angles in landscape format more versatile.
During this test I mainly used the LCD screen, but for situations where it was not easily viewable there is an optical viewfinder. Although this acts as a guide for framing it offers an 80% field of view, which means the frame edge is not displayed. Furthermore, focus and exposure values are not viewed here. As a result, the LCD screen is much more useful.
With no direct button for video recording, this feature is accessed via the shooting-mode dial. Video files are limited in resolution to 720p, and there is a socket for an external microphone, such as Nikon’s hotshoe-mounted ME-1.
