Want a compact camera that still feels like a proper photographer’s tool, letting you shoot travel, portraits, and street without juggling lenses?

I field-tested the Nikon COOLPIX P7800 Camera on trips and city shoots, and it showed a control-first approach that’s rare in compact bodies.

You’ll benefit if you want long reach, tactile manual dials, an EVF for bright-light framing, and RAW flexibility that makes editing more forgiving.

Tradeoffs matter: the sensor won’t match newer 1‑inch rivals, there’s no Wi‑Fi, and video tops out at 1080p — so expect compromises in low-light and connectivity.

I’ll walk through sample shots, handling, autofocus, and side-by-side comparisons so you can decide if it’s right for you; make sure to read the entire review — keep reading.

Nikon COOLPIX P7800 Camera

Advanced compact offering tactile manual controls, RAW capture, versatile zoom range, tilting LCD and durable build. Perfect for enthusiasts seeking DSLR-style handling and excellent image quality in a travel-friendly package.

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The Numbers You Need

How It’s Built

In my testing the Nikon COOLPIX P7800 feels like a small, serious camera rather than a toy compact. The built-in EVF is what I really liked — it keeps composition readable in bright sun and gives a steady anchor when you’re handholding. The articulating LCD is a game-changer for low or high angles and makes framing simple when you can’t put your eye to the viewfinder.

Physical controls are a joy to use and made shooting in manual modes easy for me. PASM dials and tactile buttons let me change exposure on the fly, and RAW is quick to turn on in the menus so you can shoot for editing without getting lost in settings. That workflow is forgiving for beginners who want to learn exposure and for pros who need control.

Ergonomics are thoughtful: the grip sits comfortably in my hand and the main dials have a positive feel. One-handed shooting works fine at the wide end, but once you reach out you’ll want two hands for steadiness. The LCD hinge has held up to repeated flips during my tests and still feels confident.

The downside is practical: there’s no Wi‑Fi, so you can’t send images instantly or control the camera remotely. In practice I swapped memory cards or used a wired connection to move files, which works but slows down a quick-sharing workflow. The hot shoe plus built-in flash gives you flexible lighting options on the fly, which I appreciated on location shoots.

In Your Hands

Out in the field the Nikon COOLPIX P7800 feels alert and immediate: burst mode is quick to grab passing moments, though it’s clearly happiest with short spurts rather than extended machine-gun firing. RAW shooting gives you more latitude, but you’ll notice the camera settles sooner when you insist on both RAW and JPEG files; sticking to JPEG lets you cycle and recover faster. The shutter range covers everything from stopping brisk motion to handling basic night scenes, so practical shooting rarely feels hamstrung.

PASM and exposure controls are laid out for fast adjustments, letting you dial exposure compensation and switch modes without breaking rhythm during an event or a street stroll. The hot-shoe works as you’d expect for on-camera flash: it provides reliable fill or bounce for portraits and small gatherings, with predictable behavior that keeps subjects looking natural. That tactile control package makes reactive shooting feel intuitive rather than fiddly.

The zoom is where the P7800 earns its keep—wide angles for context shots and a long reach for tighter portraits or distant subjects give you frame-by-frame flexibility. Handholding is comfortable through much of the range, though longer reaches reward firm stance or a steadying surface, and autofocus is typically accurate until light drops very low. Focus consistency across the zoom is reassuring for travel and street work.

For video the camera delivers solid Full HD everyday clips; gradual pans and careful handheld technique go a long way toward smooth results. Autofocus during recording is serviceable but can be deliberate, so slow, intentional moves work best for clean pulls and reframes. The LCD hinge has lived through repeated flips without complaint and the EVF engages reliably, which together make this a dependable companion on long days of travel or urban shooting.

The Good and Bad

• Built-in EVF for stable composition in bright conditions
• Versatile 28–200mm equivalent zoom range
• Bright f/2.0 at the wide end for low light and subject isolation
• Full PASM manual controls and RAW support

• No Wi‑Fi for wireless transfer or remote control
• Smaller 1/1.7″ sensor compared with newer 1-inch alternatives

Ideal Buyer

The Nikon COOLPIX P7800 is perfect for photographers who want DSLR-like control in a fixed-lens body. Its built-in EVF, articulating LCD and RAW support reward shooters who value framing, exposure latitude, and hands-on tweaks. The 28–200mm equivalent zoom and hot shoe make it ideal for travel, street work, portraits, and run-and-gun event shooting.

Enthusiast shooters who prefer physical dials and direct access to PASM modes will love the tactile workflow. A bright wide aperture and 8 fps burst let you cover low-light scenes and brief action without swapping lenses. The camera’s ergonomics and flash flexibility suit long days on the road where control matters more than ultimate sensor size.

It’s less suited to photographers who demand built-in Wi‑Fi, 4K video, or the cleaner high‑ISO performance of newer 1‑inch compacts. If your work leans heavily on extreme low‑light ISO latitude, heavy cropping, or modern video features, a more recent 1‑inch model may be a better fit. Casual users who need a truly pocketable body will also prefer smaller alternatives.

Choose the P7800 when reach, manual handling, and on‑camera flash options outweigh the latest sensor tech and connectivity. It’s a rewarding tool for shooters who want a single, capable camera that feels like an instrument. For cleaner high‑ISO IQ, faster AF/video, or maximum portability, look to the 1‑inch alternatives instead.

Better Alternatives?

We’ve gone through what the Nikon P7800 does best — the long 28–200mm reach, the bright wide end, the built-in EVF and the tactile controls that make it feel like a little DSLR. That setup is great when you want reach and hands-on control in a single, fixed-lens camera.

If you care more about cleaner low-light shots, a much smaller body, or smoother video and autofocus, there are newer 1‑inch compacts that trade the P7800’s long tele range and full physical control for better image quality and pocketability. Below are three real-world alternatives I’ve used and what each one will give you or take away compared with the P7800.

Alternative 1:

Sony RX100 III Camera

Pocketable 1-inch-sensor camera with a bright, fast zoom, built-in electronic viewfinder and refined color reproduction. Delivers exceptional low-light performance and creative control for street photographers and vloggers.

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I’ve used the RX100 III as a true pocket camera on street shoots and light travel days. Compared to the P7800 it gives noticeably cleaner files in low light and a nicer look at high ISO — you’ll be able to push shadows and still keep skin tones more pleasing. In everyday shooting the colors and detail look more modern than the older P7800 processing.

What you lose versus the P7800 is reach and physical control. The RX100 III’s zoom tops out much shorter, so pulling in distant subjects is out. The tiny body and few external dials also make long, manual-focused sessions less comfortable, and there’s no hot shoe for a flash, so if you depend on external lighting the P7800 still wins.

This camera is for people who want a true pocket option that makes better-looking photos in low light and is less of a burden to carry all day. If you’re a street shooter, traveler, or vlogger who values image quality and size over tele reach and pro-style controls, the RX100 III will feel like a big step up.

Alternative 2:

Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark II Camera

Compact powerhouse with a large sensor and bright f/1.8–2.8 zoom, smooth image stabilization, responsive touchscreen and fast autofocus—designed to capture sharp, cinematic stills and vlogs on the move.

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The G7 X Mark II is one I reach for when I want a compact camera that still feels quick and friendly. In practice it delivers cleaner images than the P7800 at higher ISOs, and its autofocus and stabilization make handheld photo and video work easier. The touchscreen is a real convenience for quick framing and review on the go.

On the downside, the G7 X II doesn’t have the P7800’s long tele reach or a hot shoe, and it lacks an EVF (unless you add one externally), so composing in bright sun or shooting distant subjects is harder. For hands-on manual shooting the smaller grip and fewer external dials mean you don’t get the same tactile control the P7800 offers.

Choose the G7 X Mark II if you want better low-light performance and a friendlier, more modern shooting experience in a truly pocketable body. It’s great for vloggers, casual travelers, and anyone who values easy handling and image quality over long zoom reach.

Alternative 3:

Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark II Camera

Ergonomic pocket camera delivering fast handling, reliable autofocus and impressive dynamic range from its 1-inch sensor. Ideal for everyday shooting, travel journaling and content creators demanding compact image quality.

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Used a bit differently, the G7 X Mark II shines as an everyday camera for quick runs, café shoots and travel journals. Compared with the P7800 you’ll notice better dynamic range in many scenes, which means more recoverable highlights and richer shadow detail in real photos — useful when you don’t want to fuss with exposure bracketing.

Its weakness versus the P7800 is the lack of built-in viewfinder and the shorter zoom. When I shot landscapes or portraits where I wanted a tight crop from far away, the P7800’s 200mm equivalent was a real advantage. Also, if you rely on external flashes the G7 X II’s lack of a hot shoe is limiting.

If your day-to-day shooting is about ease, fast autofocus and making shareable photos without extra gear, this version of the G7 X II is for you. It’s a solid pick for content creators who want very good image quality in a camera that’s comfortable to carry and quick to use.

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Conclusion

The Nikon COOLPIX P7800 Camera remains a photographer’s compact built around deliberate control and extended reach. Its long, versatile zoom combined with a bright wide aperture, built‑in electronic viewfinder and a tilting LCD make real‑world shooting unusually flexible and tactile for a fixed‑lens camera. For shooters who insist on dedicated dials, RAW capture and an actual hot shoe for off‑camera lighting, it still feels like a tool designed to work the way you do.

That pedigree comes with tradeoffs that matter today. The camera’s smaller sensor and modest resolution mean cleaner high‑ISO results and fine‑detail crops are better handled by newer 1‑inch rivals, there’s no wireless file transfer or remote control built in, and video tops out at Full HD while the lens slows at the long end. If you routinely need 4K, instant sharing, or the best low‑light performance, those limits are real and immediate.

My bottom line is practical and simple: choose the P7800 if you prioritize hands‑on controls, a viewfinder, long zoom reach and flash flexibility in a single compact package. Opt for modern 1‑inch compacts when you want cleaner high‑ISO image quality, faster autofocus and richer video features or if pocketability is critical. Either way, the P7800 rewards photographers who value shooting control over the latest connectivity and megapixel marketing.

Nikon COOLPIX P7800 Camera

Advanced compact offering tactile manual controls, RAW capture, versatile zoom range, tilting LCD and durable build. Perfect for enthusiasts seeking DSLR-style handling and excellent image quality in a travel-friendly package.

Check Price