I did my “digital”
apprenticeship with a Fuji Finepix 900. After about four years, problems
started occurring with it and this year, 2010, I bought a Nikon P100.
The main
criteria were:
The camera
had to be small and light enough to carry all day long, together with a heavy
rucksack.
The monitor
had to be a good size and one that swivelled away from the body so that I didn’t
have to lie flat on the ground to see flowers at ground level.
An
anti-vibration device would be a bonus.
It had to
be good for macro work as well as landscape and everyday photography.
The grip
had to be very positive and comfortable.
It didn’t
have to cost the earth.
The P100
answered all of these requirements. One unexpected delight has been that the
anti-vibration feature is so good that I no longer carry a tripod.
The Nikon
P100 features a 26 x optical zoom
Minimum
distance for macro work is 2cm
The battery
doesn’t have to be completely drained before re-charging - it can just be
topped up after every use, leaving it in the camera whilst charging.
Movies can
be shot in high-definition quality.
I find that the factory default on the amount of light entering the lens is too bright and so use a -3 Exposure Compensation as standard. The Command Dial needs to be checked constantly as it is too easily moved when handling the camera but otherwise I have been very pleased with its handling and performance.