Reasons to choose Coolpix 8700
Released in 2004, Coolpix 8700 has about 58 mm² of sensor area, 8 MP effective resolution, and a 480 g body. Use these values to narrow the field, not as an overall image-quality score.
Side-by-side comparison
Nikon Coolpix 8700
vs Nikon Coolpix P3
VS
Sensor area
58 mm²
Coolpix 870038 mm²
Coolpix P3- Area ratio
- 1.53:1
- Absolute difference
- 20 mm²
- Relative difference
- 53.3%
The Coolpix 8700 has the larger sensor area. More area usually means greater light-gathering potential, though real image quality still depends on sensor architecture and generation.
These cameras were released 2 years apart. Consider sensor generation when comparing pixel metrics.
Key specification differences
Coolpix 8700MetricCoolpix P3
8 MPEffective pixels8 MP
8.8 × 6.6Sensor7.11 × 5.33
2.69 µmPixel pitch2.18 µm
7.26 µm²Pixel area4.74 µm²
13.77 MP/cm²Pixel density21.11 MP/cm²
3.93Crop factor4.87
—Maximum video—
480 gWeight170 g
CompactFlash type I, CompactFlash type IIStorageSecure Digital
Nikon EN-EL5 Lithium-Ion included Li-ion batteryBatteryNikon EN-EL5 rechargeable Lithium-Ion Li-ion battery
Amber marks the value that is generally preferable in this comparison context. It is not an overall camera score.
How to choose between these cameras
The Coolpix 8700 has the larger sensor area. The Coolpix P3 has the lighter body. The Coolpix 8700 and Coolpix P3 have the same effective resolution. The Coolpix P3 is the newer release. Also consider the lens system and subjects you shoot.
Reasons to choose Coolpix P3
Released in 2006, Coolpix P3 has about 38 mm² of sensor area, 8 MP effective resolution, and a 170 g body. Use these values to narrow the field, not as an overall image-quality score.