Nikon B700 Review

Camera Reviews / Nikon Cameras / Nikon Coolpix i Preview

Navigate Review Jump to review page...

Navigate Review Jump to review page...
B700 Overview
Specifications
Prices

Basic Specifications
Full model name:	Nikon Coolpix B700
Resolution:	20.20 Megapixels
Sensor size:	1/2.3 inch (6.2mm x 4.6mm)
Lens:	60.00x zoom (24-1,440mm eq.)
Viewfinder:	EVF / LCD
Native ISO:	100 - 1600
Extended ISO:	100 - 3200
Shutter:	1/4000 - 15 sec
Max Aperture:	3.3
Dimensions:	4.9 x 3.3 x 4.2 in. (125 x 85 x 107 mm)
Weight:	19.9 oz (565 g) includes batteries
Availability:	04/2016
Manufacturer:	Nikon
Full specs:	Nikon B700 specifications

Your purchases support this site

Nikon B700 (Black)

B700 Deals

20.20 Megapixels	60.00x zoom	1/2.3 inch size sensor

Nikon B700 Review -- First Impressions

by Jeremy Gray
Preview posted: 02/22/2016

Nikon's newest superzoom camera, the Coolpix B700, provides users a powerful built-in, high-powered zoom lens and new Nikon SnapBridge wireless functionality designed to make sharing images easier than ever before.

The follow-up to the Nikon Coolpix P610, the Coolpix B700 uses a 20.3-megapixel backside-illuminated CMOS sensor to reportedly achieve high-quality imaging performance even in low light. Additionally, the B700 offers advanced users the ability to capture RAW (.NRW) files for increased creative control. These are both improvements over the P610, which utilized a 16.1-megapixel BSI CMOS sensor and did not offer RAW image capture.

Paired with the 1/2.3-inch type sensor is a 4.3-258mm lens, which provides the 35mm equivalent field of view of a 24-1440mm lens. The lens' maximum aperture range is f/3.3-6.5, and it includes sixteen elements in eleven groups. There are four ED lens elements and one super ED element in this 60x optical zoom Nikkor ED lens.

The B700 uses contrast-detect AF and offers face priority, manual (spot, normal, and wide), subject tracking, and target finding autofocus modes. The camera also has lens shift vibration reduction (VR) when capturing still images and lens shift and electronic VR when recording movies. The inclusion of VR is very important, not only given the amount of zoom range but also for lower light shooting due to the rather dim variable maximum aperture. No spec was given for the amount of correction provided by the VR system.

Weighing 20 oz. (565g), the 5.0 x 3.4 x 4.2 in. (125.0 x 85.0 x 106.5 mm) Nikon B700 is not a small camera, but it features a sizable handgrip and relatively large-diameter lens that should make for a comfortable, secure grip. The top of the camera features a PASM mode dial, function button, shutter release, and zoom lever. The B700 also has a pop-up built-in flash and stereo mic on top. When using auto ISO, the flash has a range of up to 24 feet at the wide end of the lens and 13 feet at the 1440mm equivalent focal length.

The B700's 3-inch Vari-angle TFT LCD both tilts and swivels, providing users more flexibility when capturing images and recording video. The 921k-dot LCD provides 100% coverage when shooting. Photographers who enjoy using a viewfinder will be pleased that the B700 also includes a 0.2-inch 921k-dot LCD electronic viewfinder, which also provides 100% coverage.

When using the Nikon B700 in P, S, A, or M shooting modes, the ISO range is 100-3200, although it is 100-1600 in all other modes. Similarly, shutter speed varies depending on the selected mode. In M mode with ISO set to 100, you can select shutter speeds as slow as 15s, although the limit is 1s otherwise. The fastest shutter speed available is 1/4000s. Nikon states that you'll be able to capture full-resolution images (including RAW images) at up to 5fps in a 5-shot burst, although the memory card used, and other conditions could affect the speed of capture.

Alongside the newly-announced Nikon A900 compact travel-zoom camera, the B700 is one of the first Nikon Coolpix cameras to offer users the ability to record 4K (UHD) video. The B700 can capture 4K resolution video at up to 30 fps and 1080p video at up to 60 fps. High speed video recording modes are available as well, offering up to 120 fps recording at 640 x 480 resolution.

User-friendly controls include function buttons on the top and back of the camera, a dedicated movie record button, and a command dial on the back of the camera. The Nikon B700 also includes user-friendly features such as a wide array of creative shooting modes and SnapBridge wireless connectivity.

Utilizing built-in Wi-Fi, NFC, and Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), the Coolpix B700 is compatible with Nikon's new SnapBridge smart device application. By utilizing BLE, the camera is capable of an always-on connection between itself and a compatible mobile device, allowing automatic transferring of images to your device.

For users looking for a camera that offers extensive zoom and RAW image capture, the Nikon Coolpix B700 will be available this spring for a suggested retail price of US$499.95. Look forward to reading more about the B700 and its performance once we are able to get our hands on one.