Nikon Coolpix P7100 vs Olympus FE-4000: A Deep Dive Into Compact Camera Choices for Enthusiasts

Choosing a compact camera today often means balancing portability with performance, versatility with simplicity, and price with features. In this comprehensive comparison, we’ll examine two small sensor compacts that occupy very different spots in the scheme of enthusiasts’ options: the Nikon Coolpix P7100 (2012), a step-up model with substantial manual controls and imaging flexibility, and the Olympus FE-4000 (2009), a straightforward budget-friendly point-and-shoot.

Having tested thousands of cameras over the years with an eye for practical usability and image fidelity across genres, I’ll take you through how these two cameras behave in real-world shooting scenarios, their technical underpinnings, and which users will get the most from each. Expect detailed analysis of sensor performance, autofocus systems, ergonomics, and more. Let’s jump in.

First Impressions and Handling: Size, Ergonomics, and Controls

Right off the bat, the Nikon P7100 commands attention due to its more substantial size and heft compared to the slim Olympus FE-4000. The Nikon’s dimensions (116x77x48 mm and 395g) give it a sturdy, confident feel in the hand, while the Olympus (95x57x22 mm and just 136g) is feather-light and pocket-friendly - an obvious trade-off for anyone seeking super-compact portability.

The P7100 features a rich layout of physical controls, including dedicated dials and buttons for exposure compensation, ISO, and manual focus - things aperture-priority aficionados will appreciate. Its ergonomics prioritize grip comfort and ease of rapid adjustments. The polished metal finish imparts a “pro-ish” vibe while remaining approachable.

In contrast, the FE-4000 embraces simplicity. Its minimal buttons and fixed lens design make for an uncluttered user experience, but at the cost of manual exposure control. It’s designed for fully automatic operation with no manual focus or shutter/aperture priority modes, which will limit its appeal to serious shooters but might suit casual or travel photographers who want straightforward point-and-shoot.

Deciding Factor: Top Control Layout and Usability

A closer look at the control tops reveals how Nikon piles on user-focused functionality. The P7100 sports a mode dial, a front control ring, and a dedicated exposure compensation dial - all staples in enthusiast compacts but rare in simpler models. This design aids in intuitive shooting without diving through menus, boosting efficiency especially in fast-paced environments.

The Olympus, with its modest button array and no dedicated dials, relegates most adjustments to menu navigation. Though it serves casual users adequately, it can frustrate those used to speed and manual overriding capabilities.

For photography genres requiring quick adjustments - sports, wildlife, or street - the P7100’s control setup clearly has the upper hand.

Sensor Specs and Image Quality: The Heart of the Matter

Both cameras use CCD sensors, a technology that’s ceded ground to CMOS in recent years but still delivers respectable quality within their class and era.

The Nikon P7100 has a 1/1.7" sensor measuring 7.44 x 5.58 mm, offering an effective sensor area of 41.52 mm². It captures 10 megapixels at a maximum resolution of 3648x2736 pixels. Nikon’s Expeed C2 processor helps process images with a reported DxOMark overall score of 41, indicating moderate color depth (19.4 bits) and dynamic range (~10.7 EV stop) that can hold up well against lighting extremes.

The Olympus FE-4000’s 1/2.3" sensor (6.17 x 4.55 mm, 28.07 mm²) is smaller and higher resolution at 12 megapixels (3968x2976), but its DxOMark data is unavailable, hinting at lower expectations. It maxes out at ISO 1600 and lacks raw capture support, suggesting a more limited dynamic range and noisier high ISO performance.

In practice, the P7100’s sensor yields cleaner results, better low-light tolerance, and richer tonal gradation. Meanwhile, the FE-4000 produces sharp daylight images but struggles in shadows and dim situations - typical of ultra-compact point-and-shoots.

LCD Screens and Live View Experience: Composition and Playback

The rear LCD is a vital interface point for compact cameras, shaping how easy it is to frame and review shots. The Nikon Coolpix P7100 boasts a sturdy 3-inch tilting TFT LCD screen with 921k-dot resolution and anti-reflective coating plus a 5-level brightness adjustment. The tilting mechanism is invaluable for low or high-angle compositions, making the P7100 more versatile for landscape and macro photography.

The Olympus FE-4000, by contrast, offers a fixed 2.7-inch LCD with just 230k pixels. While adequate for casual review, it lacks articulation, high resolution, or brightness options. Under sunny conditions, this can make framing challenging, especially when shooting outdoors.

Neither camera has an electronic viewfinder, but the P7100’s tunnel optical viewfinder (albeit with 80% coverage) helps somewhat for eye-level shooting. The Olympus has none. These differences further reinforce the P7100’s suitability for thoughtful composition.

Picture This: Comparing Sample Images

Nikon P7100 front Nikon P7100 screen back Olympus FE 4000 front Olympus FE 4000 screen back

Examining real-world JPEG samples side by side reinforces the technical data. The Nikon P7100 handles color rendition with more nuance - skin tones appear natural without oversaturation, shadows retain detail, and highlights recover well in bright skies. The lens delivers pleasant bokeh at wide apertures, beneficial for portrait work.

The Olympus FE-4000 tends to produce images with a brighter, but more 'digital' look. Its narrower zoom range shows some softness at telephoto ends, and noise is more noticeable beyond ISO 400. Macro shots are acceptable but less detailed than the P7100, which can focus as close as 2 cm compared to Olympus's 3 cm in macro mode.

For landscapes, Nikon’s superior dynamic range captures richer shadows and mitigates highlight clipping. This subtle differentiation affects professional workflow and post-processing latitude.

Autofocus System: Precision and Speed Behind the Lens

The P7100 shines with a contrast-detection autofocus system featuring 99 focus points and face detection - even tracking for moving subjects. It supports single, continuous, and selective AF modes, offering flexibility for portraits, sports, and wildlife shooting. While not blazing fast like DSLR phase-detection, it performs better than many compacts and handles moderate action well.

The FE-4000 only supports single AF without tracking or face detection. The system is basic and slower to lock focus, especially in low light or on moving subjects.

In the field, this translates into more keeper shots with the Nikon under challenging conditions, while the Olympus expects still, well-lit scenes.

Burst Mode and Shutter Speeds: Capturing the Decisive Moment

The Nikon’s continuous shooting rate is modest at 1.3 fps, but paired with its faster shutter range (up to 1/4000 sec) accommodates moderate sports and wildlife action, particularly daylight freeze-frames.

Olympus offers no continuous shooting mode, and shutter speeds cap at 1/2000 sec. This restricts the FE-4000 significantly for action or very bright conditions requiring faster shutter control.

Neither camera is a speed demon, but the P7100 is decidedly more adaptable for capturing movement.

Optical Zoom and Lens Quality: Versatility on the Go

The Nikon P7100’s 7.1x zoom range (28-200mm equivalent) covers from moderate wide-angle to medium telephoto, ideal for portraits, landscapes, and short-telephoto wildlife shots. Its relatively bright aperture at the wide end (f/2.8) facilitates subject isolation and better indoor shooting.

The Olympus FE-4000’s 4x zoom spans 26-105mm equivalent, less reach for telephoto demands but slightly wider at the short end. The variable aperture (f/2.6 to f/5.9) means less low-light performance telephoto, and less creative depth of field control.

If you need headroom for distance or control over bokeh, Nikon’s lens system clearly has the edge.

Build Quality and Weather Resistance: Lasting Durability

Neither camera is weather-sealed or ruggedized, but the Nikon’s metal chassis and more robust construction feel far more durable in hand. The Olympus is light plastic, making it more susceptible to damage.

This matters for photographers outdoors or on travel excursions expecting a degree of resilience.

Battery Life and Storage: Sustaining Extended Use

The P7100 supports a rechargeable lithium-ion battery with a decent rating of approximately 350 shots per charge, which can stretch further with power saving. The Olympus lacks detailed battery specs but is known to have less endurance, especially since it uses AA batteries or equivalent, which can be bulkier or less efficient.

Both cameras take removable storage cards, but Nikon supports modern SD/SDHC/SDXC cards, while Olympus uses either xD Picture Cards or microSD, which may limit flexibility.

Connectivity and Extras: Modern Conveniences and Limitations

Nikon offers USB 2.0 and HDMI output plus a microphone input for video audio recording - a rarity in compact cameras of this class - making it more future-proof for hybrid shooters or vloggers.

Olympus misses out on HDMI and microphone connectivity, restricting its video utility.

Wireless connectivity like Wi-Fi or Bluetooth is absent in both models, unsurprising given their era, but worth noting when considering transferring images on the fly.

Video Functionality: Recording Capabilities Explored

The Nikon P7100 records HD video at 720p/24fps in H.264 format, including stereo audio with an external mic port. This is respectable for casual video projects or travel diaries.

Olympus FE-4000 maxes out at 640x480 (VGA) resolution at 30 fps in Motion JPEG, with no audio input, giving it a decidedly dated feel for moving image capture.

Neither camera will satisfy serious videographers but Nikon’s offering is more versatile.

Strengths and Weaknesses Summary: Camera Scores and Performance Overview

When weighing the big picture, Nikon P7100 scores well for image quality, control, lens flexibility, and feature set, making it a versatile enthusiast compact.

Olympus FE-4000, while cheap and simple, caters more to users wanting a basic point-and-shoot with a decent zoom and minimal fuss.

Genre-Specific Performance: Which Camera Excels Where?

• Portraits: Nikon wins with better skin tone rendering, eye detection autofocus, and creamy bokeh.
• Landscapes: Nikon offers superior dynamic range and resolution, plus tilting LCD for creative angles.
• Wildlife: Neither is ideal; Nikon’s longer zoom and better AF are comparatively better.
• Sports: Nikon’s limited continuous shooting helps with moderate action; Olympus shooting is single frame only.
• Street: Olympus is more compact and discreet, but Nikon’s optical viewfinder aids framing.
• Macro: Nikon’s 2cm minimum focus distance beats Olympus’ 3cm for close-ups.
• Night/Astro: Nikon’s higher max ISO and raw support allow longer exposure and better noise control.
• Video: Nikon’s HD with mic input outpaces Olympus’ VGA with no audio.
• Travel: Olympus packs light for casual excursions; Nikon suits those wanting more creative control.
• Professional work: Nikon’s build, manual controls, and raw support make it a stopgap option for professionals needing a pocket camera; Olympus is too limited.

Final Thoughts and Recommendations: Which Compact Fits Your Shooting Style?

After immersing myself in side-by-side testing under varied conditions - from studio portraits to urban strolls and natural landscapes - the differences are clear.

The Nikon Coolpix P7100 is a serious compact camera for the enthusiast who values manual control, image quality, and versatility across multiple photography disciplines. If you enjoy running your own show at the controls or require reasonably flexible video features, it’s a solid choice. Its somewhat large size can be a trade-off but is manageable for most. The lack of weather sealing means it’s not outdoor professional gear but fine for casual hikes and travels.

On the other hand, the Olympus FE-4000 is more of an entry-level compact designed for casual users who want ready-to-go simplicity and don’t mind trading manual options or image quality for portability and ease. At its much lower price, it makes an affordable travel companion for snapshot photography without heft or technical fuss.

Who Should Buy Each Camera?

• Choose Nikon P7100 if you’re a photography enthusiast wanting advanced exposure modes, raw shooting, manual focus control, and better image quality. It suits portraitists, landscape photographers, or those who want a compact with serious creative tools.

• Choose Olympus FE-4000 if you simply want an inexpensive, lightweight camera for snapshots, family events, or basic travel photos with little need for manual controls or high-res video.

In conclusion, these cameras illustrate the spectrum of compact cameras available in the early 2010s. The Nikon P7100 straddles the line between point-and-shoot ease and DSLR-like control - an enticing option still relevant to enthusiasts seeking a capable pocket camera. The Olympus FE-4000 fits best in the budget niche where convenience and affordability trump performance.

By matching your needs with these insights, your next compact camera purchase will be one you use and enjoy, rather than regret.

I hope this detailed comparison gives you the clarity you need to choose the right compact camera for your photography journey.