Nikon Coolpix P7100 vs. Pentax Optio P80: A Hands-On Comparison for the Discerning Compact Enthusiast

Choosing between two compact cameras like the Nikon P7100 and the Pentax P80 can be tricky, especially when both come from reputable brands with their own loyal followings. Having personally tested thousands of cameras over the years, I've developed a keen eye for what truly matters beneath the spec sheets. So, in this detailed comparison, I’ll share practical insights and real-world performance observations from these two small sensor compacts that appeal to photography enthusiasts looking for a capable pocketable camera.

Let’s unpack how these cameras perform in various genres, usability, technical attributes, and ultimately help you decide which model suits your photography lifestyle best.

Getting Acquainted: Body, Size, and Ergonomics

Before diving into technical details, the physical feel and handling are paramount. You might underestimate how much size, weight, and control layout influence your shooting experience.

The Nikon P7100 is a solid, somewhat chunky compact at 395 grams and measures 116x77x48mm. Its build gives it a reassuring grip, and while it lacks outright weather sealing, the magnesium alloy chassis delivers durability superior to typical point-and-shoots.

In contrast, the Pentax P80 weighs only 125 grams - exceptionally light - and is noticeably smaller at 102x59x25mm. That ultra-compact footprint makes it a breeze to carry anywhere, stuffed deep in a pocket or bag. However, the slimness impacts ergonomics, offering a more delicate grip and fewer physical controls.

For photographers who prioritize portability above all, the Pentax’s featherweight design will be appealing. But if you prefer a more substantial feel with tactile buttons and dedicated dials (which the P7100 offers abundantly), Nikon’s model will satisfy your muscle memory. This difference also foreshadows their target users: Nikon aims for enthusiasts who want DSLR-like handling, while Pentax leans toward casual shooters wanting maximum convenience.

Control Layout and Usability: Where Nikon Pulls Ahead for the Control Freak

Looking from above, control placement significantly affects responsiveness, especially in changing light or fast-paced shooting.

Nikon’s P7100 bristles with physical controls - a mode dial, exposure compensation dial, dedicated ISO, aperture, and shutter speed buttons - and a tilting rear 3-inch screen with 921k dots of resolution. This design encourages manual shooting, facilitating quick adjustments without diving into menus. The P7100 also features an optical tunnel viewfinder, providing useful framing in bright conditions, although it only covers 80% of the frame.

On the flip side, the Pentax P80’s top controls are minimalistic - just a power button and shutter release. Its fixed 2.7-inch LCD screen with a mere 230k dots feels outdated, limiting framing precision and visibility in sunlight. There’s no viewfinder, relying exclusively on live view.

For those who relish manual exposure control and mechanical dials, Nikon’s P7100 offers an unmatched tactile experience. Pentax’s P80, with its pared-down buttons, is more of a point-and-shoot affair - functional but not ideal for shooting on the fly when you want to adjust settings frequently.

Sensor Technology and Image Quality: Size Does Matter

Sensor size plays a pivotal role in image quality, be it in resolution, noise handling, or dynamic range.

The P7100 features a 1/1.7-inch CCD sensor measuring 7.44x5.58 mm with an effective resolution of 10 megapixels. While modest by today’s standards, this sensor size is significantly larger than the Pentax’s 1/2.3-inch CCD sensor at 6.17x4.55 mm with 12 megapixels. More pixels jammed into the smaller sensor tend to increase noise, especially at higher ISOs.

My lab tests and real-world shooting confirm this: the Nikon P7100 delivers cleaner images with superior color depth (19.4 bits) and dynamic range (~10.7 EV stops). The Pentax P80, while technically boasting 12MP, struggles in low light, with chroma noise noticeably creeping up beyond ISO 400. Its dynamic range is compromised by the sensor's smaller size and older processing engine.

Therefore, photographers chasing better image quality with cleaner output at moderate ISOs will find the P7100’s sensor a better match. Pentax’s sensor puts it more in the budget-friendly compact category, where pixel count dominates marketing but real-world image quality suffers.

Autofocus Systems: Responsiveness and Accuracy

Autofocus systems can make or break the shooting experience, particularly in action, wildlife, or event photography.

The Nikon P7100 sports a contrast-detection autofocus with 99 focus points and face detection capabilities. It supports continuous autofocus for tracking moving subjects, along with single, selective, and center-point focusing modes. This comprehensive AF system is rare in compacts and delivers solid performance in varied lighting. Subject tracking was responsive in my fast-moving street and wildlife shots, although not as fast as larger DSLR systems.

Pentax’s P80 has a much simpler AF: nine basic contrast-detection points and no continuous tracking. For static subjects in bright conditions, it worked acceptable but faltered in low light or dynamic scenes. No face or eye detection here either.

Hence, if autofocus speed and accuracy in less-than-ideal conditions are critical (sports, wildlife, kids in motion), Nikon’s P7100 provides a distinct advantage.

Screen and Viewfinder: Flexible or Fixed - Your Choice

The quality and flexibility of the camera’s screen and viewfinder can impact your compositional freedom, especially outside or in tricky environments.

Nikon’s 3-inch tilting TFT LCD shines with 921k dots, anti-reflective coating, and multiple brightness levels. This tilting feature made shooting at unusual angles much easier, both for my landscape panoramas and candid portraits. The optical viewfinder is basic but useful in bright sunlight when LCD glare is an issue.

Conversely, the Pentax P80 has a fixed 2.7-inch LCD with a paltry 230k dots resolution, making it less attractive for fine framing or reviewing shots. No viewfinder means eye-level composition is impossible unless you’re willing to squint at the screen under direct sun.

In real-world use, Nikon’s screen significantly enhances compositional flexibility and review, adding to the camera’s usability in varied situations.

Lens and Zoom Capabilities: Nikon’s Versatility vs. Pentax’s Compactness

When comparing compact cameras, the zoom range and lens sharpness matter for in-the-moment versatility.

The Nikon P7100’s 7.1x zoom ranges from 28–200mm equivalent, with a brightish aperture of f/2.8–5.6. This wide reach lets you capture everything from wide street scenes to distant wildlife shots, aided by optical image stabilization to minimize shake at long focal lengths.

The Pentax P80 offers a 4x zoom at 28–110mm equivalent with an aperture of f/2.6–5.8. While the lens is sharp and quick at its widest, you’ll find telephoto reach lacking, with no image stabilization to help at the long end.

From experience, the Nikon’s greater focal reach and stabilization open more creative doors, especially in travel and wildlife contexts where physical closeness isn’t always possible.

Burst Shooting and Shutter Speed Range: Not Built for High-Speed Action

Neither camera targets professional sports photography, but it’s worth considering their responsiveness.

Nikon’s maximum shutter speed caps at 1/4000 s with continuous shooting at a sluggish 1.3 fps. Pentax’s shutter tops out at 1/1000 s and shoots bursts at 3 fps. Neither will satisfy fast action photographers. However, the P7100’s wider shutter speed range benefits long exposure and bright-light shooting.

I found the P80’s faster burst rate useful for casual snapshots but hampered by its slow AF. Nikon’s flexibility in shutter speed allows more creative experimentation, such as slow waterfall shots or wide-open apertures in bright daylight.

Specialized Features: Macro, Timelapse, and Video

When it’s time for close-ups and video work, these compacts show very different capabilities.

Nikon’s macro focus goes as near as 2 cm, delivering impressive detail in floral and insect photography. Pentax’s macro minimum focus is 10 cm, which restricts extreme close-ups.

Regarding video, Nikon shoots 720p HD at 24 fps using H.264 compression and includes a microphone port for better audio capture - a significant bonus for vloggers or multimedia storytellers. Pentax records 720p at 30 fps but only saves in Motion JPEG, which produces larger files and lower compression efficiency, plus lacks any microphone input.

Nikon’s built-in flash features multiple modes and supports external flashes, while Pentax’s basic flash options limit creative lighting.

Additionally, Nikon supports timelapse recording, extending creative possibilities; Pentax does not.

Battery, Storage, and Connectivity: Practical Considerations

In daily shooting, it’s the small stuff that adds up: battery life and storage flexibility.

The Nikon P7100 uses a proprietary Battery Pack rated for approximately 350 shots per charge - not stellar, but workable with spare batteries. Pentax’s P80 uses a D-LI68 battery, shoot count unspecified, but generally smaller compacts require less power.

Both support SD/SDHC/SDXC cards, but note Pentax also offers internal storage, useful as a backup but limited in capacity.

Neither model supports wireless connectivity, Bluetooth, or GPS, signaling their age and focus on simplicity. However, both have HDMI outputs for quick viewing on TVs and USB 2.0 for image transfer.

Durability and Environmental Resistance

Neither camera is weather sealed or ruggedized; no waterproofing, dustproofing, or shockproofing features are present. If you take your camera into harsh environments, consider this a significant limitation.

Real-World Performance Across Photography Genres

Let’s now distill strengths and weaknesses by photography type, drawing on my hands-on use cases.

Portrait Photography

The Nikon P7100’s richer color depth, ability to shoot RAW, and aperture priority mode offer great skin tone rendition and creamy bokeh from its f/2.8 lens setting. Face detection autofocus further enhances sharp portraits.

Pentax’s smaller sensor and lack of face detection limit nuanced skin tones; bokeh is relatively flat due to smaller sensor and lens range.

Landscape Photography

P7100 shines with higher dynamic range, tilting screen for low-angle shots, and better resolution for large prints. Minimally, you’ll want to use tripod and manual controls - a Nikon specialty.

Pentax can capture landscapes but lacks the tonal range and control finesse for truly impressive results beyond casual sharing.

Wildlife and Sports

Neither is a pro sports camera. That said, the P7100’s longer zoom and AF tracking make wildlife shooting feasible in good light. P80’s limited reach and slower, simpler AF restrict action capture.

Street Photography

Pentax’s discreet size and weight make it handy for street candid shots. Yet, Nikon’s faster AF and better image quality win for serious street shooters willing to carry slightly bigger gear.

Macro Photography

Nikon’s 2cm macro focus and aperture control beat Pentax’s limited 10cm minimum, creating sharper close-ups with depth control.

Night and Astro Photography

With its higher max ISO sensitivity and manual shutter control, Nikon’s P7100 can handle night scenes better. Pentax is noise-prone at high ISO, limiting night work.

Video Capabilities

Nikon’s microphone input and better compression format provide better video quality and sound options. Pentax’s video, while satisfying for quick clips, is basic.

Travel Photography

Pentax’s featherweight and miniaturized form factor excel in compact travel kits, trading control for portability. Nikon’s better lens versatility and image quality matter if you prefer a single camera handling diverse scenarios.

Professional Use

Neither is suitable as a primary professional camera, but Nikon’s RAW support, manual controls, and reliable output may serve as secondary or backup gear; Pentax more for casual holiday snaps.

Summing It Up: Final Ratings and Recommendations

Who Should Buy Which?

• Buy the Nikon P7100 if you’re an enthusiast craving a compact with manual control, solid image quality, versatile zoom, and reasonably good video features. It suits hobbyists progressing beyond smartphones or basic compacts and want to experiment with manual exposure, macro, and timelapse photography.

• Choose the Pentax P80 if pocket portability and casual shooting are paramount, and you’re okay with limited manual control, modest image quality, and basic video. It’s for those who want the smallest, lightest everyday camera purely for snapshots and travel convenience at a friendly price.

Final Thoughts

Having shot extensively with both, Nikon’s P7100 stands out with its mature feature set and solid image quality, earning my preference for serious compact shooters. The Pentax Optio P80 fills a niche for ultra-light, simple point-and-shoot use but can’t match Nikon’s technical or creative versatility.

Investing the extra in the P7100 pays dividends if you prioritize control, quality, and growth as a photographer. However, if budget and size are your main concerns, the Pentax P80 remains a competent compact in its own right.

Sample Images from Both Cameras: Look Closely at Output and Color Rendition

Nikon P7100 front Nikon P7100 screen back Pentax P80 front Pentax P80 screen back

Looking for expert guidance on your next camera purchase? Feel free to reach out or explore my detailed video comparisons and hands-on test galleries linked above. Remember, the best camera is the one you’ll enjoy using – so pick what feels right for your photography journey!