The good: Great looking and compact; unique set of features for its class; above-average image quality, no red-eye.

The bad: Slow shot-to-shot times with flash, dual-purpose control buttons impose a learning curve; weak low-light autofocus.

The bottom line: Despite a few shortcomings, this handsome little camera packs a punch, with practical snapshot features and solid picture quality.

Read full review of the Nikon Coolpix 7900 »

By Theano Nikitas
Jun 15, 2005

In its basic black attire, the 7-megapixel, 3x-optical-zoom Coolpix 7900 adds a touch of class to Nikon's compact digital camera line. In addition to a wealth of scene modes and a built-in help system, the Coolpix 7900 comes equipped with the latest technology designed to help snapshooters get the best pictures possible. The lack of aperture and shutter controls shouldn't deter enthusiasts, either; the Coolpix 7900 makes a great throw-in-your-pocket-and-take-it-anywhere camera. If 7 megapixels are more than you need, you may want to check out the less expensive Coolpix 5900, the 7900's silver, 5-megapixel twin.

Design
Not only does the matte-black Nikon Coolpix 7900 have an eye-catching compact design, it's solidly built as well. With a miniature metal body that weighs a mere 150g with battery and media card installed, you can even wear it hanging from your neck on a lanyard and barely know it's there.

A small but ergonomically curved grip provides just enough real estate to comfortably hold the camera, leaving sufficient wiggle room to position your fingers without blocking the AF-assist lamp, the tiny optical viewfinder, or the flash. Though it technically falls into ultracompact territory, the chunky grip makes it a little difficult to comfortably cram the 7900 into a pants pocket. The power button (which uses a blinking green light to notify you when the camera is in standby mode), the shutter release, and the small mode dial all lie within easy reach atop the camera.

The 2-inch LCD takes up about three-quarters of the back, and the camera has a number of untraditional features that you access via external controls. The dedicated delete button is above the LCD, which can be a little inconvenient.

More significant, control buttons that serve double duty can be confusing. For example, both the question mark icon, which initiates help, and a magnifying glass, which operates the zoom when your review your pictures, clearly relate to the telephoto-zoom button. But unless you're in one of the menus, all the button does is zoom. Another case in point is the D-light icon (more about this feature later) next to the four-way controller. Unless you read the manual, you'll never figure out that you need to press the center OK button in playback to access the feature. This camera is designed to make taking pictures easy for the uninitiated, and while it ultimately achieves that goal, understanding how to actually use all its features requires some research. Thankfully, all the menus are straightforward and logical, with help a mere button-press away.

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