Nikon Coolpix P1

The 8MP Nikon Coolpix P1 and P2 can claim the title of the first wireless (802.11b/g) point-and-shoot digital cameras in the consumer marketplace. But the Coolpix P1, which we tested, can't claim the title of the easiest wireless point-and-shoot to use—that honor goes to the Kodak EasyShare-One. In fact, we found the Coolpix P1's wireless features somewhat frustrating. And if you're spending nearly $550 (or almost $350 for the P2), we think you deserve a smoother wireless experience.

Before delving into the wireless world, though, let's look at the camera's basic specs. This light, portable compact has an 8-megapixel sensor and a 3.5X optical, 7.5- to 26.3mm zoom (a 35mm equivalent of 36 to 126mm) with a maximum f/stop range of f/2.7 to f/5.2 across the zoom range. We generally like the Nikon Nikkor lenses for their quality and low distortion. We wish Nikon had kept a glass viewfinder—quite useful in bright-light situations that wash out LCD images—on the P1 and P2, but like with many other manufacturers, the company is doing away with that feature. And, to be fair, the EasyShare-One doesn't have a viewfinder, either.

Nikon Coolpix cameras usually don't include vibration reduction or image stabilization (the Coolpix 8800 is one exception). One feature they do have that's worth noting, though, is the Best Shot Selector, which fires off a maximum of ten pictures as you hold down the shutter release button. The camera determines the image with the sharpest detail and saves it to the SD card. Although not as comprehensive as optical vibration reduction or image stabilization, the feature, which worked reasonably well in our tests, does increase your chance of getting a sharp shot.

Of course, the real reason to consider the P1 is its wireless capabilities, but in general, we found the implementation poor compared with that of the EasyShare-One. During our labs and real-world testing, the Coolpix P1 left us quite frustrated.

Before we tried to connect to our wireless network, we needed to install Nikon's free PictureProject 1.6 software, which includes the Wireless Camera Setup 1.0 utility. We then needed to connect via USB to the computer to set a profile for the camera, which ensures that you'll be transmitting photos to one particular computer so your photos won't wind up on your neighbor's network. This went smoothly.

We ran into problems when we attempted to connect to either an open or WEP-enabled wireless network. Initially, we needed to call Nikon Tech Support to help us connect. A professional and thorough staffer got everything going.

Sending photos already taken as well as shooting and sending at the same time worked well. (The EasyShare-One only lets you send shots when the camera is in Review mode; you can't take and send a photo at the same time.)

When we tried to connect to a different wireless network with password-protected WEP on, we couldn't, even after turning off firewalls, which Nikon tech support suggested. We also tried tweaking various settings to hook up to the network, but to no avail.

Unlike with the EasyShare-One, which includes a number of help resources, the Coolpix P1 only comes with the usual manual. There's a lot of information, but in a confusing and cluttered layout. In other words, the P1 and P2 don't include much out-of-the-box help. Nikon is attempting to rectify this is by providing additional information at www.nikontechusa.com, the company's tech support site.

As far as image-capture goes, we liked the results in our simulated-daylight shots, but were a little disappointed in the flash test shot. That said, the P1 still clearly surpasses the EasyShare-One in image quality. Our daylight shots revealed no noise and had crisp, clear details throughout. Color fidelity was fairly accurate, even though the shot was slightly underexposed. Colors could have been more vibrant, and we saw a bit of purple fringing in certain parts of the image, but nothing that was too noticeable. Contrast was good without much loss of detail.

In our flash test shot, the strobe was too weak, which left us with a shot that was underexposed by about one-and-one-half stops. Consequently, the image had no true whites, and contrast was poor. Moreover, the colors on our color chart looked lackluster and dull. Color, purple fringing, and dynamic range were the same as in the simulated-daylight image. The P1's resolution averaged 1,700 lines, which is at the low end of the range for an 8MP camera. But considering that this is a point-and-shoot digital, you're getting a lot of detail in such a compact camera.

Boot-up time was decent at 3.4 seconds, which is almost three times as fast as with the EasyShare-One. The 2.8-second recycle time was also respectable, and our tests also found very little shutter lag (the EasyShare-One had even less, though).

Evaluated just as a digital camera, the Coolpix P1 works fairly well, and it's a bit cheaper than the EasyShare-One. If you're comfortable wrestling with wireless networks, the P1 is the better choice. If you're at all squeamish about configuring wireless networks and accessories, however, you'd do better with the Kodak EasyShare-One for its intuitive setup and easy-to-use menus.

Compare these two Wi-Fi cameras side by side in our comparison table, and see their respective benchmark test results.