Nikon Coolpix S3700 vs Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP7: A Detailed Ultracompact Camera Showdown

When it comes to ultracompact point-and-shoot cameras, the choices often boil down to subtle nuances rather than outright technological leaps. Today, we're diving into a hands-on, head-to-head comparison between two such contenders from Nikon and Panasonic: the Nikon Coolpix S3700, announced in 2015, and the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP7, launched in 2011. Despite their age, these cameras offer intriguing insights into budget-friendly ultracompacts and remain relevant for casual shooters seeking lightweight, pocketable companions. I’ve tested both extensively to separate marketing puffery from practical performance - and to help you decide which might fit your style and needs.

Let’s pull back the curtain on their build, image quality, autofocus, ergonomics, and use-case strengths - all peppered with hands-on anecdotes and technical perspective.

First Impressions: Size and Handling in the Palm of Your Hand

Ultracompacts live or die by their portability, so comparing their physical footprint is an obvious starting point. The Nikon S3700 measures a compact 96 x 58 x 20 mm and weighs a sprightly 118 grams, while the Panasonic FP7 is a touch bulkier at 101 x 59 x 18 mm and carries a heftier 147 grams.

This size difference, though minor, noticeably impacts handling. The Nikon feels almost toy-like - delightfully unobtrusive but lacking a certain grip confidence during extensive shooting sessions. The Panasonic, a bit wider and heavier, provides a slightly better hold without straying far from pocketable territory.

Both cameras forego dedicated grips - typical of this class - but the Panasonic's slightly more substantial body feels less prone to slips, which is reassuring when shooting on the go. Neither offers splash or dust resistance, which means they demand careful use in adverse conditions.

Ergonomically, neither camera shines here, but if forced, I’d give the edge to the FP7 for offering a better tactile feel in the hand, especially on longer outings.

Design and Controls: Minimalism with a Few Quirks

Ultracompacts typically simplify controls to appeal to casual users, but the arrangement and responsiveness vary significantly.

From the top, the Nikon features a straightforward control layout: shutter release, zoom toggle, power button, and a pop-up flash. The buttons are compact but adequately spaced - no accidental presses during framing. Both cameras omit electronic viewfinders, relying solely on LCD screens - more on that soon.

The Panasonic, however, ups the ante slightly with an intuitive touchscreen on its 3.5-inch display, a notable plus over the Nikon’s smaller 2.7-inch fixed (non-touch) screen. This means the FP7 includes touch-to-focus and menu navigation, smoothing the shooting experience, especially for novices. The Nikon sticks to physical buttons, which is decent but less flexible.

That said, neither camera supports manual focus control - a typical limitation in this category but a disappointment for enthusiasts who like creative control. The Panasonic offers slightly more autofocus area options (11 focus points) versus the Nikon's center-weighted simplicity, which translates to better compositional freedom in real-world shooting.

Sensor and Image Quality: CCD Sensors in the Smartphone Era

Let's get technical - but not too much. Both models use 1/2.3-inch CCD sensors, a standard for compact cameras of their generation but a far cry from today’s larger CMOS and backside-illuminated sensors found in advanced compacts. What does this mean for your pictures?

The Nikon’s sensor resolution is 20 megapixels compared to the Panasonic’s 16 megapixels. On paper, more pixels might promise sharper images, but in practice with sensors this small, the difference is often about software interpolation and noise handling rather than raw detail.

My tests revealed that the S3700 produces slightly sharper images in good lighting due to its higher resolution. However, the difference is subtle and often overshadowed by sensor noise as ISO climbs. Both cameras struggle beyond ISO 800, with visible grain and softness creeping in - typical for CCDs from mid-2010s.

Dynamic range is tight on both, leading to highlight clipping and crushed shadows in scenes with extreme contrast. Landscape shooters should brace for some compromises here, especially when the sun is blazing.

Color reproduction on both cameras is quite natural and pleasing for casual snapshots, with the Panasonic showing a minor boost in warmth and saturation out-of-camera. Night and low-light colors tend to fade, but again, this is expected at this price and sensor size.

Interestingly, neither supports RAW capture, relegating you to JPEG - limiting post-processing latitude quite heavily. Serious photographers will find this constraining.

LCD Screen and Interface: Living in the Live View

The LCD screen is your primary window to framing and menus on both cameras - and again, they show their ultraslim budget pedigree.

The Panasonic's 3.5-inch TFT touchscreen offers a generous preview size, making it easier to frame shots and navigate menus without button mashing. This is a significant usability upgrade over the Nikon's smaller 2.7-inch fixed LCD, which lacks touch input and feels cramped when reviewing images or selecting settings.

Brightness and visibility in sunlight are middling on both, but the Panasonic’s larger screen and touchscreen interactivity add a degree of modern convenience missing from the Nikon.

Neither display offers high resolution by today's standards - 230k dots each - so expect some pixelation when zooming in on images for sharpness checks. Viewing angles are decent but don’t expect OLED-level vibrancy or contrast.

Autofocus and Performance: Quick Enough for Casual Use?

In ultracompacts aimed at casual users, autofocus speed and accuracy can be a make-or-break feature - nobody wants to miss the moment fumbling with sluggish AF.

Both cameras rely on contrast-detection autofocus systems, which are inherently slower in low light compared to phase-detection.

The Nikon S3700 features face detection and center-weighted AF. It locks focus fairly quickly under good lighting but can struggle hunting in dim conditions. Interestingly, it offers AF tracking and live view AF, though continuous AF isn't supported, meaning you need patience for moving subjects.

The Panasonic FP7 upgrades this slightly with 11 autofocus points and multi-area AF, plus touch-to-focus - making it nimble in framing and locking on diverse subjects. Its AF tracking also performs well, albeit limited in continuous tracking speed by the CCD sensor readout speed and processor.

Continuous shooting speeds are limited: the Nikon offers no continuous burst mode, while the Panasonic caps at 4 fps - modest but useable for slow-moving subjects.

For wildlife or sports, both miss the mark, as these cameras were never designed for high-speed action. But if your photographic adventures lean toward portraits and street scenes, the Panasonic's AF system shows modest advantages.

Photo Genres: What Works Best for Each Camera?

Let’s break down how these cameras fare across popular photography disciplines.

Portraiture: Skin Tones and Bokeh

Portrait enthusiasts often seek pleasing skin tones, smooth bokeh, and spot-on eye detection. Both models include face detection but lack eye detection or advanced portrait modes.

The Nikon's longer 25-200mm equivalent zoom provides more framing flexibility for headshots. However, the lens's maximum aperture of f/3.7 to f/6.6 limits bokeh quality, leading to busy backgrounds with little blur.

The Panasonic’s shorter 35-140mm lens with a slightly faster aperture (f/3.5 to f/5.9) offers marginally brighter shots, helping with subject-background separation.

Neither produces creamy, artistic bokeh due to small sensors, but both render skin tones naturally, with Panasonic’s slightly warmer colors appealing for portraits.

Landscape Photography: Resolution and Dynamic Range Challenges

Landscape shooters need sharp resolution, broad dynamic range, and durability.

The Nikon’s 20MP sensor edges out the Panasonic for resolution, producing more detailed landscape images under ideal conditions. Yet, both struggle to capture high dynamic range scenes due to sensor limitations.

Neither camera offers weather sealing, ruling out harsh environments. The Nikon’s longer zoom is less beneficial here, while the Panasonic’s wider-angle 35mm equivalent is a better fit for sweeping vistas.

Exposure latitude and noise become noticeable issues in tricky lighting, meaning post-processing demand rises for enthusiasts.

Wildlife and Sports: Autofocus and Burst Capabilities

Both cameras are not designed for those chasing the thrilling blur of wildlife or the peak action of sports.

Their limited burst rates and relatively slow contrast-detection autofocus don’t keep up with fast-moving subjects. No mechanical or electronic shutters faster than 1/1500s (Nikon) or 1/1600s (Panasonic) mean you cannot easily freeze rapid motion in bright light.

Their telephoto ranges diverge: Nikon’s 200mm equivalent zoom gives you more reach for timid critters; Panasonic maxes out at 140mm.

That said, these cameras might work for casual pet portraits or slow-moving subjects in good light - but serious wildlife/sports shooters will demand a faster APS-C or Full Frame body.

Street Photography: Stealth and Spontaneity

Compact, quiet, and discreet are keywords for street photography.

The Nikon’s smaller size and lighter weight make it an unobtrusive street companion. However, the lack of a touchscreen slows navigation.

The Panasonic’s touchscreen adds operational speed but its larger body and slightly louder shutter may draw more attention.

Both lack viewfinders, requiring LCD-only shooting, which can be challenging in bright outdoor urban settings.

Macro and Close-up Work: How Close Can You Get?

Macro lovers will appreciate the Nikon’s macro focus down to 2 cm compared to the Panasonic’s 10 cm minimum. This makes the Nikon better for capturing fine details in flowers, insects, or textures.

Optical stabilization on both helps steady these tight shots, though neither offers focus stacking or post-focusing features.

Night and Astro Photography: High ISO and Exposure Options

Both cameras hit ISO ceilings of 3200 (Nikon) and 6400 (Panasonic), but usable image quality drops comfortably beyond ISO 800.

Neither offers manual exposure modes (shutter/aperture priority or full manual), limiting creative night shooting.

Long shutter speeds max out at 15 seconds (Nikon) and 1/60s minimum for Panasonic, making lunar or star photography practically impossible.

Still, casual night snaps with flash or steady hands can produce acceptable results.

Video Capabilities: Modest and Lightweight

Both cameras support HD video at 1280 x 720 (30fps Nikon; 24fps Panasonic) in Motion JPEG format - file sizes balloon quickly, and quality is roughly smartphone-level circa 2011–2015.

Neither camera includes microphone or headphone ports, and no advanced video stabilization options. Their fixed lenses and limited dynamic range make cinematic video ambitions unrealistic.

For casual family videos or quick clips, they suffice.

Travel Photography: Weighty Considerations on Portability

When packing the bag for travel, size, weight, versatility, and battery life matter.

Both cameras weigh under 150 grams and fit comfortably in a jacket or pants pocket.

Battery life is identical at approximately 240 shots per charge - not stellar by today’s standards but sufficient for short sightseeing days.

The Nikon offers built-in wireless connectivity with NFC - a plus for quick sharing on compatible phones - while the Panasonic has none.

Lens versatility favors the Nikon slightly due to longer zoom reach, but it sacrifices wide-angle in the process.

Professional Use and Workflow Compatibility

It’s transparent that neither camera targets professional workflows.

No RAW support, slow write speeds, limited file-format flexibility, and lack of tethering or ruggedization make these strictly consumer-grade.

They are ideal backup cameras for pros who want a super compact, easy-to-carry option but are ill-suited as primary imaging tools.

Diving Deeper: Build Quality, Battery, and Storage

Both cameras share a basic plastic construction typical for ultracompacts, without weather sealing or rugged features.

Battery types differ slightly: Nikon uses EN-EL19 battery packs; Panasonic's model is unspecified but removable - keep spares handy as 240 shots per charge limits intensive use.

Each uses a single SD/SDHC/SDXC card slot; internal memory is minimal. USB 2.0 connectivity makes transfer to PCs straightforward but slow by modern standards.

Connectivity and Wireless Features: Sharing Made Simple?

The Nikon S3700 boasts built-in wireless and NFC for pairing with smartphones, easing quick image sharing - a feature Panasonic FP7 lacks entirely.

For social media-savvy users, this is a big plus that might tilt the scales.

Overall Performance Ratings and Genre Scores

I've synthesized lab data, real-world testing, and specs into performance scores.

The Nikon pulls slightly ahead due to higher resolution and wireless features; the Panasonic offers a better interface and marginally better AF versatility.

For portraits and travel, Nikon is favored; the Panasonic is better for street and casual video due to touchscreen. Both are weak at demanding genres like sports, wildlife, and night photography.

Sample Image Gallery: Pixel Peeping Made Practical

See below unedited JPEG samples illustrating daylight shots, zoom range, low-light performance, and close-ups.

Nikon S3700 front Nikon S3700 screen back Panasonic FP7 front Panasonic FP7 screen back

Expert Recommendations: Who Should Buy Which?

• Choose Nikon Coolpix S3700 if:

  • You want the longest zoom range (25-200mm equivalent)
  • You value built-in wireless/NFC for quick sharing
  • You prioritize maximum resolution (20MP)
  • Your photography leans toward travel, portraits, or casual landscapes
  • You prefer smaller body and lighter weight

• Choose Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP7 if:

  • You want a larger and touch-sensitive display for easier framing
  • You prefer better autofocus responsiveness and flexibility
  • You desire a slightly faster lens aperture (helps in low light)
  • You shoot more street photography and casual videos
  • You appreciate customizable white balance and more AF points

Closing Thoughts: Previewing the Past for Today’s Shooters

While neither camera dazzles by today’s standards, they demonstrate how ultracompacts balance convenience, modest performance, and affordability.

I wouldn’t recommend either for professionals or serious hobbyists needing manual control, RAW files, or stellar low-light results. Yet, for casual shooters hankering for a true point-and-shoot experience with some zoom versatility and pocketability, both find their niches.

Between the two, if ease of use and interface matter, Panasonic’s touchscreen is a definite plus - but for sheer zoom reach and wireless sharing, Nikon sneaks ahead.

Whichever you pick, keep reasonable expectations and embrace these cameras for what they are: simple, travel-friendly snapshot-makers that won’t break the bank or your back.

Thanks for reading this seasoned comparison! If you want more hands-on camera insights or have specific photography goals in mind, drop a comment or check out my other reviews. Remember - tech is ever-evolving, but great photos start with curiosity and practice.