Practical experience - 2000 photos

I usually take pictures with cameras and had the Nikon Coolpix AW100 used for intensive snorkeling vacation on the beach and in the sea in tropical temperatures. Since there are already numerous good reviews to the camera I just want to comment briefly on my practical experience with the outdoor camera.

I actually wanted the Nikon AW100 only use while snorkeling. The application, however, came the fun and I finally had almost always there because it is so small and super-flexible. A few pluses ->

+ The AW100 shoots surprisingly good underwater shots while snorkeling. For subsequent optimization of the images are available in the camera a menu item Filter / veil removal, which, though not works pretty well perfect. Slight color casts (green / blue) are still unavoidable in UW-recordings generally, here then helps only a later computer image processing.

+ The water resistance was given to me.

+ The battery life is better than I had expected, according to some reviews. However, I feel that the battery indicator is cheating. After intensive use they still showed "full", while the charge then took about 30 minutes. Strange.

+ The camera offers extensive scene modes (scene). Despite the intensive reading the huge manual I could not fathom any usefulness of setting up today. Anyone who wants to use all the features of this camera, the need far a very intensive training. Although one may be limited on the main scene settings, such as "P" (Program AE), underwater and Easy panorama.

+ Easy Panorama has turned out to be an amazing feature. Instead of individual images wide panorama shots are per pan (like a video) filmed and then transformed into a photo. One only has to hold the camera as still as possible and rotate sent. 180 and 360 degrees photos are on the menu to choose from. Alternatively, even a classic menu Assitent available that works with frames that have to be assembled then using the included software (ArcSoft Panorama Maker 5).

+ Pictures with the camera are generally of fairly good quality, but not great. Of course you can see the difference from high-quality cameras, for example, a SLR. In particular, the noise bothered me, which was easy to recognize especially in my shots in blue of the sky. However, compared to similar cameras from other brands these recordings were still "grandiose".

+ The built-in GPS works well. There's even a imposable, digital compass. In the pictures you can see in Abzeigen mode, in which direction the respective picture was taken. Underwater no GPS was available to my surprise, but perhaps should that be so.

+ The HD video mode also works well. The Antiverwacklung works perfectly, the Nikon is a small HD camera.

Bad points:

- For the price, the camera has a little "plastic look". Said not so very striking in my camouflage version.

- After some snorkeling gears I had occasionally condensation front of the lens. This occurred especially when I had filmed before a few minutes. Perhaps it then comes into the camera to heat up and thus to condensation. However, the veil disappeared again mostly relatively quickly. Underwater (28 degrees) I had not the effect.

- After the camera once landed in the fine sand, it crunched always a time when you open the lateral, waterproof compartment for battery and SD card. It was probably hated sand in the locking mechanism and reaches the zuhehörige wheel. After some snorkeling gears but the sand was out again.

* My Opinion: Overall, I am positively surprised by the holiday. Although the Nikon AW100 done something simply appears on the taste of the Optics ago, hiding in their being too many useful functions and also the picture quality is quite acceptable.

Note: The camera does not float. If you want to save the Nikon against drowning, then look again at Pentax and Panasonic (Video) to the buoyant hand loops.