If you’re looking for a long zoom for nature, or sports photography, this bridge camera offers an impressive 60x magnification in a relatively compact and affordable package.
Based on an APS-C CMOS sensor with 24MP, it’ll capture RAW photos in detail and video in 4K Ultra High Definition. Though it doesn’t offer touch control, the three-inch monitor is fully articulated and transition between this and the electronic viewfinder is automatic.
You can toggle between the manual exposure and automatic modes using the mode dial and choose between 18 preset scenes.
It also benefits from Nikon’s SnapBridge software, which sends photos via Bluetooth as well as using your smartphone to add time and location data.
For such a powerful superzoom model, this bridge camera is surprisingly small and it does well to capture very distant images as well as macro shots at 1cm. The telephoto lens is not especially bright, however, and aperture can be set no lower than f/3.3.
We also noticed softness around the edge of photos taken at high zoom. Grain and noise were also introduced in low light situations. Video shot in 4K quality can be compromised in the same way.
Overall, though, it’s very impressive at this price and the stereo microphone that adjusts its sensitivity with the zoom delivers reasonable sound quality too. It’s a pity there’s no touchscreen control, but the all-around performance at this price is very respectable.
Nikon Coolpix B700 Specs
| Pixels | Actual: 21.14 Megapixel Effective: 20.2 Megapixel |
| Sensor | 1/2.3″ CMOS |
| File Formats | Still Images:JPEG, RAW Movies:MP4, Audio:AAC |
| Max Resolution | 20 MP:Â 5184 x 3888 |
| Aspect Ratio | 4:3 |
| Image Stabilization | Optical & Digital, 5-Way |
| Lens | NIKKOR, 16 Elements in 11 Groups 0 Aspherical, 5 ED Effective Focal Length: 4.3 to 258mm (35 mm Equivalent: 24 to 1440mm) Aperture: f/3.3 (W) to f/6.5 (T) |
| Zoom | Optical: 60x Dynamic: 2x Digital: 4x |
| Focus Range | Wide: 1.64′ to Infinity / 50Â cm to Infinity Telephoto: 6.56′ to Infinity / 2Â m to Infinity Wide Macro: 0.39″ to Infinity / 1Â cm to Infinity |
| ISO Sensitivity | 100 to 1600 (Extended Mode:100 to 3200) |
| Shutter | Type: Electronic & Mechanical Speed: 1 to 1/4000Â Second Type: Electronic & Mechanical Speed: 15 to 1/4000Â Second in Manual Mode Type: Electronic & Mechanical Speed: 25 to 0Â Second in Night Scene Mode |
| Exposure Metering | Center-Weighted, Matrix, Spot |
| Exposure Modes | Modes: Aperture Priority, Auto, Manual, Program, Scene Auto Selector, Scene Modes, Shutter Priority, Smart Compensation: -2 EV to +2 EV (in 1/3 EV Steps) |
| Shooting Modes | Back Light Beach Close Up Dusk/Dawn Fireworks Food Multi-Exposure Night Landscape Night Portrait Panorama Party/Indoor Pet Portrait Portrait Scene Auto Selector Snow Sports Sunset Time-Lapse Movie |
| White Balance | Auto, Cloudy, Daylight, Flash, Fluorescent, Incandescent, Preset Manual |
| Continuous Shooting | Up to 5 fps at 20.2 MP for up to 5 Exposures |
| Self-Timer | 2, 10Â Sec |
| Built-In Flash | Yes |
| Effective Flash Range | Wide:1.6 to 24.6′ / 0.5 to 7.5Â m Telephoto:6.6 to 13.1′ / 2 to 4Â m |
| Memory Card Type | SD SDHC SDXC |
| Video Recording | Yes, NTSC/PAL |
| Resolution | 3840 x 2160p: 30 fps, 25 fps 1920 x 1080p: 60 fps, 50 fps, 30 fps, 25 fps 1920 x 1080p: 15 fps, 12.5 fps 1280 x 720p: 60 fps, 50 fps, 30 fps, 25 fps 640 x 480p: 120 fps, 100 fps |
| Video Clip Length | Up to 8Â Minutes |
| Audio Recording | Built-In Mic: With Video (Stereo) |
| Viewfinder Type | Electronic |
| Diopter Adjustment | -3 to +1 |
| Screen | 3.0″ LCD Rear Screen Swivel (921,000 Pixels) |
| Screen Coverage | 100% |
| Connectivity | HDMI D (Micro), USB 2.0 |
| Wi-Fi | Yes |
| Battery | 1 xEN-EL23Â Rechargeable Lithium-Ion Battery Pack, 3.8 VDC, 1850 mAh |
| Dimensions (W x H x D) | 4.9 x 3.3 x 4.2″ / 125.0 x 85.0 x 106.5Â mm |
| Weight | 1.24Â lb / 565Â gwith battery and SD card |
The Review
Nikon Coolpix B700 Review
PROS
- Powerful 60x zoom lens
- SnapBridge app adds time and location data as well as sending photos via Bluetooth
- Good close-up 1cm macro shots possible
- The stereo mic sensitivity adjusts according to the amount of zoom
- Video is crisp 4K quality
CONS
- The EVF is small and switches on too readily when it senses your eye or hand close to it
- Not a very bright f/3.3 lens
- Images look soft around the edges at high zoom
- Some grain and noise in low light
- Feels plasticky and not very robust
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