Nikon P60

No matter how much forward movement is made, there are always benefits to taking a step back. AA batteries are seemingly a dinosaur power source being granted a stay of execution by the odd bridge camera and a few DSLRs, with the majority of size-conscious compacts opting for slim lithium-ion options with specific chargers. It seems strange as a result that the brand-new Nikon P60 uses AAs in such a rapidly evolving market.

Outwardly, the P60 doesn’t seem outdated or retro-styled, with a black outer casing and smooth body shape. The odd splash of silver makes the design stand out somewhat, with the top and rear being refreshingly button-light. In spite of the classy design, the build quality is a little flimsier than can be expected on first impressions. The body feels surprisingly light and the buttons don’t appear to correctly fit the designated holes in the shell, providing a worrying amount of movement behind the casing. The P60 doesn’t appear to be badly put together, but the looks and feel don’t match up to the usually exemplary Nikon build quality. For a camera battling it out with the likes of Canon’s IXUS and Casio’s Exilim models, both of which possess sturdy metal casings, it’s something of a letdown that the P60 feels so plasticky.

With a general below par casing on the P60, it’s refreshing to see a DSLR-style dial present, displaying each available mode clearly. Too many models opt for menu reliance, forcing the user to scroll through multiple screens before hitting the correct area. Having all of the modes immediately to hand certainly makes the likes of the Manual setting simpler to use, giving even beginners the chance to see what differences aperture and shutter speed make. The more popular scene modes are also set apart from the standard gathering in the menu, further improving the rapidity of reaching the desired setting. The amount of choice available on the dial allows other buttons to be few and far between, leaving the rear reasonably bereft of clutter. Only the D-pad, which is larger than most, Menu, Playback and Delete button remain with the zoom and display toggle just above.

Surprisingly. only the D-pad is multifunctional, providing short cuts to the flash and timed release modes, while the other controls remain focused on a single feature. With the amount of space on offer, the zoom seems a little cramped, being placed on a depressed section of the casing with a large ridge underneath. Having little in the way of travel on the rocker switch doesn’t help the speed of zoom, and being a digital rather than analogue control means the lens is either moving or it isn’t, leading to little in the way of graduation. This doesn’t prove to be a huge issue, as the magnification moves in steps anyway, giving the user minimal control of the exact movement of the lens. Across from the lens, sitting above the LCD is a button that, without any text to indicate, switches the display from screen to the electronic viewfinder. Where the majority of other cameras in the same ilk at least have an abbreviation on the button to explain its usage, Nikon has left only a display symbol, which on most models simply removes icons from the screen. The screen itself isn’t massively impressive on the detail stakes either, offering only 153k of dots compared to the likes of the Panasonic FS5 that manage 230k. This may not sound like a huge amount of difference on paper, but the level of detail and graduation in colour is far less obvious.

Thankfully, the menu isn’t too complex to push the screen beyond its means, keeping the text big and basic as well as the amount of scrolling to a minimum. This is another benefit of the well-thought-out Mode dial, and proves that even compact cameras needn’t bury features under screens of complex symbols. The simplistic approach certainly benefits the framing of images, although even if Nikon is particularly proud of the VR function, there’s little reason to give it so much prominence on the display.

Picture quality somewhat transcends the seemingly budget surroundings of the P60, providing often sharp and eye-catching images. Where the 8MP CCD might not seem too headline-grabbing on the surface, it’s utilised to full capacity to produce some genuinely impressive images. The contrast especially stands out, giving the colours room to breathe and making shadowing far more prominent. This is also helped by reliable and quick focusing, which reacts well to both composed shots on the half-press and a quick snap. Having the Vibration Reduction also helps out, as only a couple of shots at full zoom suffered from motion blur.

There are elements to be admired on the P60, such as the image quality and clever button layout, but it still has the feel of a budget camera. In spite of being at the well-populated £200 SRP mark, the P60 feels like a far cheaper camera, and with the likes of Panasonic and Casio producing models with similar image quality but with a far better build, there aren’t many reasons to plump for the P60.