Nikon has announced its latest compact digital camera. The Nikon Coolpix P1100 can record 4K video and has a super-telephoto 125x optical zoom.
Bridge camera
The Nikon Coolpix P1100 is a compact digital camera with a fixed super-telephoto zoom lens. This type of camera is also called a bridge camera because it offers many of the advantages of a DSLR but without interchangeable lenses. The Coolpix P1100 has an ultra-high-definition (approx. 2,360 k-dot) electronic viewfinder as well as a 3.2-in 921 k-dot tilt-and-twist TFT LCD monitor. In addition, it’s relatively lightweight at around 3.1 pounds (1,410 g).
Super-telephoto zoom lens
The headline feature of the Coolpix P1100 is its 125x optical zoom lens. It delivers a field of view equivalent to 24 mm – 3,000 mm on a full-frame camera. However, as the Coolpix P1100 has a 16.79-megapixel 1/2.3-inch sensor, the actual focal length of the lens is 4.3 mm – 549 mm. The lens is constructed with 17 lens elements in 12 groups. These include five extra-low dispersion (ED) lens elements and one super ED lens element. Although the lens has a fast f/2.8 aperture at the wide-angle end of the zoom, it isn’t constant. This means by the time you are fully zoomed in, the maximum aperture is a slow f/8.
Video recording
Although primarily intended as a still photography camera, the Nikon Coolpix P1100 does shoot video. You can record in 4K UHD up to 30 fps or Full HD up to 60 fps. There are also Superlapse and Timelapse modes for compressing time in your video sequences. Additionally, the Coolpix P1100 features a 3.5 mm stereo mini-jack input for using an external microphone. Unfortunately, the camera doesn’t have a headphone socket so you can’t monitor your audio. The Coolpix P1100 supports clean video out via HDMI if you want to use an external monitor as well.
Other features
The Coolpix P1100 features Nikon’s Dual Detect Optical VR (Vibration Reduction) image stabilization system. This delivers up to four stops of stabilization when you are shooting video and stills. The Coolpix P1100 also has Bird-watching and Moon modes which are designed to capture better still images of those subjects. In addition, there is a Multiple Exposure mode, where you can overlay three shots for a unique final image. The camera’s battery should last for 260 photographs, or around 70 minutes when shooting video.
What we think
The Nikon Coolpix P1100 digital compact camera replaces the previous Coolpix P1000 model. However, there aren’t a lot of differences, and the older camera even offered a better five stops of image stabilization. The big feature of these cameras is the 125x zoom lens which is almost like attaching a telescope to your camera. For video, it’s disappointing that the aperture will change as you zoom. However, a constant f/2.8 aperture would make the lens enormous. The Coolpix P1100 isn’t a camera for serious video shooters, but it would be a lot of fun as a walk-around camera. If you are tempted, it would be worth checking whether dealers are selling off their remaining stock of the Coolpix P1000 to save yourself some cash.
Pricing and availability
The Nikon Coolpix P1100 compact digital camera will be available in late February 2025 for $1,099.
