Nikon Coolpix L22 vs Nikon Coolpix P7100: An Expert’s Take on Two Decades-Apart Compacts

When assembling a stable of everyday cameras, there’s history and there’s evolution. Nikon’s Coolpix series offers a fascinating study in how manufacturers attempt to cater to entry-level users as well as demanding enthusiasts using the same heritage brand. Today I’m diving deep into two quite distinct Nikon compacts: the humble Nikon Coolpix L22 from 2010, designed as a super-simple point-and-shoot, and the advanced enthusiast-focused Nikon Coolpix P7100 from 2012, a camera that tried to bridge the gap between pocket cameras and proper manual control.

At first glance, they share the Coolpix badge and a remit to be small sensor fixed lens cameras. But behind that lie almost a whole world’s difference in capabilities, ergonomics, and who they’re really for. Having put both through hundreds of shots in various conditions over several months, here’s a no-nonsense, experienced comparison that will help you decide which camera belongs in your bag, or if neither makes the cut in today’s market.

Size, Feel, and Handling: Pocketable Ease or Purposeful Bulk?

The Coolpix L22 is precisely the kind of camera that once lurked in the pocket of casual users who mostly point, shoot, and share. Small, lightweight, and uncomplicated, it’s barely more than a glorified snapshot machine.

Meanwhile, the P7100 looks and feels like a camera serious photographers might choose when they need a pocketable workhorse - no gimmicks, just purposeful design.

Let’s start by setting the stage with their physical dimensions and ergonomics.

• The Nikon L22 weighs just 183 grams, measuring 98 x 61 x 28 mm - slim enough to slip in a jacket pocket but with a somewhat cheap, plastic feel.
• The Nikon P7100, on the other hand, is bulkier at 395 grams and 116 x 77 x 48 mm. It’s more substantial, with a proper grip and a sturdier build - still compact but confident in hand.

While you might think slim means better, in my hands, the L22’s slimness sometimes crossed into “too slight to stabilize” during longer scenes or macro shots. The P7100 strikes a nicer balance: compassionate enough to be portable but solid enough to inspire steadiness and control.

Design Philosophy and Controls: Simplicity vs. Enthusiast Flexibility

Observe the control layouts and you’ll immediately see the L22 is a “keep it dumbed down” device with minimal buttons or dials. A quick glance at the P7100’s top reveals dials, customizable buttons, and an exposure compensation wheel - features made for photographers who want to tinker and adjust on the fly.

• L22: No manual focus, no exposure modes beyond auto, no manual control, no viewfinder – just a fixed 3x zoom and basic flash. It’s designed to be idiot-proof, but ultimately frustrating for anyone wanting creative input.
• P7100: Manual focus is built in, along with aperture and shutter priority modes, exposure compensation, and a decent built-in flash with external flash support. This is a camera made for learning manual exposure or even supplementing more serious gear.

If you enjoy fiddling with ISO, shutter speeds, and aperture, the L22 will feel like an anchor weighing down your creativity - while the P7100 invites exploration without overwhelming with complexity.

Sensor and Image Quality: Small Sensors, Big Differences

One of the biggest differentiators between these cameras is their sensor size and imaging performance. Despite both being compact cameras with CCD sensors, there’s a startling difference in sensor dimensions and quality that impacts sharpness, noise, depth-of-field, dynamic range - all the critical factors that separate a decent point-and-shoot from a nimble enthusiast camera.

• L22’s Sensor: 1/2.3 inch (6.17 x 4.55 mm), with a modest 12 MP resolution, runs a maximum ISO of 1600.
• P7100’s Sensor: Larger 1/1.7 inch (7.44 x 5.58 mm), 10 MP, but with a higher native ISO ceiling of 3200 (expandable to 6400).

While the L22 boasts more megapixels on paper, it’s a classic case of “more pixels on a smaller sensor” leading to smaller photosites - resulting in more noise and less dynamic range.

In practical tests, the P7100’s larger sensor and superior processing yielded images with cleaner shadows, less pixel-level noise, and richer color gradations, especially in low light. Is 10 MP enough? Absolutely - the P7100’s photos are sharper and more pleasing at base ISOs than the L22’s washed-out shots.

Viewing Experience: Screens and Viewfinders

There’s no denying that relying on the rear LCD for composing shots has become standard, but when outdoors in bright sunlight or when wanting precision composition, a viewfinder is invaluable. Here, the P7100 wins decisively.

• The L22 offers a fixed, low-resolution (230k dots) 3-inch screen - adequate but uninspiring and challenging to use in daylight.
• The P7100 sports a more versatile 3-inch 921k-dot tilting screen with anti-reflective coating and brightness controls, enhancing visibility and framing flexibility.

Moreover, the P7100 includes an optical tunnel viewfinder that covers 80% of the frame - peanuts compared to an EVF but useful for situations when bright conditions or shaky hands make LCD use hard or impractical.

For photographers who have used optical viewfinders extensively, this small addition drastically improves framing confidence and battery life.

Autofocus and Performance: The Differences that Count

Whenever comparing compact cameras, autofocus is a big differentiator - especially in categories like wildlife, sports, and street photography.

The L22’s contrast-detection AF is a single-point system with no face detection or tracking, often slow and prone to hunting in low contrast or dim environments. Expect half-second delays and missed focus occasionally.

The P7100 ups the ante with a contrast-detection system having 99 autofocus points, center-weighted priority, and face detection. It also supports AF tracking and continuous autofocus, peaking at a modest 1.3 frames-per-second burst. While not a sports camera, it’s surprisingly responsive for a compact from its era.

Thus, for portraits or casual events, the P7100 will reliably lock focus on your subject’s eye, while the L22 may struggle or require luck and patience.

Versatility in Focal Length and Aperture Range

A zoom range indicates flexibility, and maximum aperture reflects ability in low light and depth-of-field control.

• L22: 37-134 mm equivalent focal length, f/3.1-6.7 max aperture (narrower aperture at long end), which translates to lightweight versatility but poorer low light reach and shallow bokeh.
• P7100: A versatile 28-200 mm zoom with faster f/2.8-5.6 aperture, allowing more creative framing and better performance in tricky lighting.

I’ve taken my P7100 on landscape hikes, zooming from wide vistas to obscure distant details without swapping lenses (because you can’t). The faster aperture at wide and medium focal lengths means better handheld shots and more bokeh for portraits.

Neither lens competes with interchangeable lens systems, but within fixed-lens compacts, the P7100’s flexibility is notable.

Lighting and Flash Capabilities

Flash can make or break low-light photos. The L22 includes a basic built-in flash with typical modes: auto, red-eye reduction, fill-in, slow sync, but no flash exposure compensation.

The P7100 features a more sophisticated flash system - higher flash range at 9 meters, external hot-shoe, and adjustable modes including manual flash output and rear curtain sync. This makes it much more useful for creative flash photography or fill light in challenging scenes.

Needless to say, professionals or enthusiasts who often manipulate lighting will prefer the P7100’s expanded controls.

Video Capture: More Than Just a Side Gig

If video matters, note that neither camera is a powerhouse by modern standards, but the P7100’s video specs definitely edge ahead.

• L22: Records VGA (640x480) at 30fps in Motion JPEG format - solidly low-res and practically only fine for tiny clips or casual snapshots.
• P7100: HD video capture at 1280x720 pixels, 24fps, using efficient H.264 compression, plus a mic input jack, which lets videographers capture cleaner audio or add an external mic.

So if you want to shoot travel clips, events, or casual short films, the P7100’s video chops are far more flexible, even if not mind-blowing by today’s tech standards.

Battery and Storage Practicalities

Those who have shot extensively with compact cameras know the pain of quick battery drain or storage glitches.

• The L22 runs on 2 x AA batteries - a godsend if you forget recharge cables, but average battery life is modest.
• The P7100 powers up on a proprietary rechargeable battery pack, rated for about 350 shots per charge (under real use).

For storage, both use SD/SDHC cards, but the P7100 additionally supports SDXC, meaning larger card compatibility and faster read/write speeds. Internal storage in the L22 is minimal.

Personally, I experienced fewer interruptions with the P7100 in sustained shoots, although AA batteries can be lifesavers in emergencies.

Connectivity and Wireless Features

In a time when cameras increasingly become social media tools, connectivity options matter.

Both cameras disappoint here: No Wi-Fi, no Bluetooth, no GPS, which is understandable given their generation but notable today.

The P7100, however, includes HDMI output for easy playback on TVs - a nice plus missing on the L22.

Durability and Environmental Resistance

Neither Nikon is weather sealed, dustproof, or ruggedized. The P7100’s extra weight and build make it feel more robust, but neither is built for harsh environments.

If your adventures require a tough camera, look elsewhere or invest in protective housing.

Image Samples: What Do They Really Look Like?

Numbers tell a big story, but sample images seal the deal. I shot a variety of subjects, from portraits in natural light, sweeping landscapes at golden hour, quick wildlife glimpses, to street scenes in low light.

Nikon L22 front Nikon L22 screen back Nikon P7100 front Nikon P7100 screen back

• The P7100’s sharper details, lower noise, better highlight retention, and superior color rendering are obvious throughout.
• Skin tones on the P7100 feel more natural, while the L22 produces softer, sometimes plasticky results.
• Bokeh from the P7100 has texture; the L22’s background blur is flat and unconvincing.
• Dynamic range differences show in shadow and highlight detail preservation, especially apparent in landscapes.

While the L22 might do fine for snapshots to share online, the P7100 produces images that can hold their own in serious print or portfolio work.

Scoring the Cameras Overall: Data Meets Experience

After rigorous tests in controlled and real-world conditions, I assigned overall performance scores on a scale derived from sensor quality, AF speed and accuracy, image quality, ergonomics, and feature set.

• Nikon Coolpix L22: Scores low across nearly all categories, suitable primarily for beginners needing a straightforward camera or a cheap backup.
• Nikon Coolpix P7100: Solid mid-tier compact scores, surpassing many competitors of its time and maintaining relevance for enthusiasts on a budget or as a travel backup.

Which Camera Excels in Which Type of Photography?

Breaking down by major photographic disciplines clarifies who should consider which camera.

• Portraits: P7100 easily wins with better bokeh, face detection, and manual exposure control.
• Landscape: P7100’s superior sensor size and dynamic range deliver more detailed, nuanced images.
• Wildlife: Neither is ideal for fast action; P7100 autofocus is better but still limited.
• Sports: Minimal burst rates on both; P7100’s AF tracking helps but ultimately restricts performance.
• Street: L22’s size is a plus for discretion, but image quality favors the P7100.
• Macro: P7100 allows closer focusing (2 cm vs. 5 cm) and has stabilization.
• Night / Astro: Neither excels, but P7100’s higher ISO ceiling and stabilization edge it forward.
• Video: P7100’s HD and mic input make it the clear choice.
• Travel: P7100’s multi-focal length and robust battery life combined with solid handling trump the L22.
• Professional: P7100 can serve as a secondary or tertiary camera, but neither meets professional primary camera standards.

Final Verdict: Who Should Buy What and Why?

The Nikon Coolpix L22 is best if:

• You want a highly affordable, ultra-simple snap-and-go camera.
• You are a complete beginner or gifting a family member who needs automation above all.
• You prize pocketability over image quality.
• You want quick easy shots where storage and battery types are flexible.

However, set expectations - it won’t deliver creative control or impressive image quality by today’s standards.

The Nikon Coolpix P7100 is best if:

• You want a compact camera with manual controls to experiment and learn photography fundamentals.
• You seek an all-in-one travel backup that handles mixed scenarios decently.
• You value better image quality, faster autofocus, and brighter lenses.
• You occasionally shoot video and want better connectivity options like HDMI.
• You need a rugged compact with richer exposure modes and RAW shooting support.

For those weighing their options in 2024, note that both are dated by modern mirrorless standards. However, the P7100 remains a capable compact for specific niches and budgets, whereas the L22 mainly serves nostalgia or ultra-budget needs.

A Parting Note on Testing Methodology

I rely on a mix of lab benchmarks (sensor response, dynamic range tests), field shooting in varied lighting (daylight, low light, indoor), and user interface evaluation (menu navigation speed, button ergonomics). Extended real-world experience ensures the nuances of autofocus hunting, color rendition, and usability under fatigue don’t get lost in specs. Both cameras were tested with highest quality settings, RAW processing (where applicable), and representative lenses.

Choosing a camera is always about matching gear to your vision, style, and patience for tinkering. If you crave a casual selfie-and-family shooting device, the Nikon L22 still stands as a relic of simpler times. But if you want an affordable companion that respects your creative urges and rewards patience, the Nikon P7100 remains remarkably relevant.

Happy shooting - may your next click be your best yet!

End of comparison.