Contax N Digital vs Nikon P1000

The Contax N Digital and the Nikon Coolpix P1000 are two digital cameras that were announced, respectively, in February 2002 and July 2018. The N Digital is a DSLR, while the P1000 is a fixed lens compact. The cameras are based on a full frame (N Digital) and a 1/2.3-inch (P1000) sensor. The Contax has a resolution of 6.1 megapixels, whereas the Nikon provides 15.9 MP.

Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.

Headline Specifications

Contax N Digital		Nikon P1000
Digital single lens reflex		Fixed lens compact camera
Contax N mount lenses		24-3000mm f/2.8-8.0
6.1 MP, Full Frame Sensor		15.9 MP, 1/2.3" Sensor
no Video		4K/30p Video
ISO 50-1,600		ISO 100-6,400
Optical viewfinder		Electronic viewfinder (2359k dots)
2.0 LCD, 200k dots		3.2 LCD, 921k dots
Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive)		Swivel screen (not touch-sensitive)
4 shutter flaps per second		7 shutter flaps per second
100 shots per battery charge		250 shots per battery charge
152 x 138 x 80 mm, 990 g		146 x 119 x 181 mm, 1415 g

Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Contax N Digital and the Nikon Coolpix P1000? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors, their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.

Body comparison

The physical size and weight of the Contax N Digital and the Nikon P1000 are illustrated in the side-by-side display below. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three successive views from the front, the top, and the rear are shown. All width, height and depth dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Nikon P1000 is notably smaller (17 percent) than the Contax N Digital. In this context, it is worth noting that neither the N Digital nor the P1000 are weather-sealed.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete and possibly misleading, as the P1000 has a lens built in, whereas the N Digital is an interchangeable lens camera that requires a separate lens. Attaching the latter will add extra weight and bulk to the setup.

As can be seen in the images above, the N Digital has a battery grip built in. This facilitates image-taking in portrait orientation and gives it additional battery power. The power pack in the P1000 can be charged via the USB port, which can be very convenient when travelling.

The table below summarizes the key physical specs of the two cameras alongside a broader set of comparators. If you want to switch the focus of the display and review another camera pair, you can move across to the CAM-parator tool and choose from the broad selection of possible camera comparisons there.

Body Specifications

		Camera Model	Camera Width	Camera Height	Camera Depth	Camera Weight	Battery Life	Weather Sealing	Camera Launch	Launch Price (USD)		Street Price
1.		Contax N Digital	152 mm	138 mm	80 mm	990 g	100	n	Feb 2002	7,399
2.		Nikon P1000	146 mm	119 mm	181 mm	1415 g	250	n	Jul 2018	999
3.		Canon 10D	150 mm	107 mm	75 mm	850 g	500	n	Feb 2003	1,999
4.		Canon Rebel	142 mm	99 mm	72 mm	649 g	400	n	Aug 2003	899
5.		Canon 1Ds	156 mm	158 mm	80 mm	1265 g	600	Y	Sep 2002	8,999
6.		Canon D60	150 mm	107 mm	75 mm	855 g	620	n	Feb 2002	2,999
7.		Leica M10-P	139 mm	80 mm	39 mm	660 g	210	Y	Aug 2018	7,995
8.		Leica M10	139 mm	80 mm	39 mm	660 g	210	Y	Jan 2017	6,595
9.		Leica SL	147 mm	104 mm	39 mm	847 g	400	Y	Oct 2015	7,450
10.		Leica V-LUX 2	124 mm	80 mm	95 mm	520 g	410	n	Sep 2010	849
11.		Leica M9	139 mm	80 mm	37 mm	585 g	..	n	Sep 2009	7,999
12.		Nikon B600	122 mm	82 mm	99 mm	500 g	280	n	Jan 2019	349
13.		Nikon A1000	114 mm	72 mm	41 mm	330 g	250	n	Jan 2019	429
14.		Nikon P900	140 mm	103 mm	137 mm	899 g	360	n	Mar 2015	599
15.		Nikon D100	144 mm	116 mm	81 mm	780 g	370	n	Feb 2002	1,999
16.		Nikon D1X	157 mm	153 mm	85 mm	1100 g	1200	Y	Feb 2001	5,999
17.		Panasonic LX100 II	115 mm	66 mm	65 mm	392 g	300	n	Aug 2018	999
Notes: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.
Convert to Imperial

Any camera decision will naturally be influenced heavily by the price. The manufacturer’s suggested retail prices give an idea on the placement of the camera in the maker’s lineup and the broader market. The P1000 was launched at a lower price than the N Digital, despite having a lens built in. Usually, retail prices stay at first close to the launch price, but after several months, discounts become available. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down.

Sensor comparison

The imaging sensor is at the core of digital cameras and its size is one of the main determining factors of image quality. A large sensor will tend to have larger individual pixels that provide better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixel-units in a sensor of the same technological generation. Furthermore, a large sensor camera will give the photographer more possibilities to use shallow depth-of-field in order to isolate a subject from the background. On the downside, larger sensors are more costly to manufacture and tend to lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

Of the two cameras under consideration, the Contax N Digital features a full frame sensor and the Nikon P1000 a 1/2.3-inch sensor. The sensor area in the P1000 is 97 percent smaller. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have a format factor of, respectively, 1.0 and 5.6. The sensor in the N Digital has a native 3:2 aspect ratio, while the one in the P1000 offers a 4:3 aspect.

Despite having a smaller sensor, the P1000 offers a higher resolution of 15.9 megapixels, compared with 6.1 MP of the N Digital. This megapixels advantage comes at the cost of a higher pixel density and a smaller size of the individual pixel (with a pixel pitch of 1.33μm versus 11.90μm for the N Digital). However, it should be noted that the P1000 is much more recent (by 16 years and 4 months) than the N Digital, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that make it possible to gather light more efficiently. Coming back to sensor resolution, it should be mentioned that the P1000 has no anti-alias filter installed, so that it can capture all the detail its sensor resolves.

The resolution advantage of the Nikon P1000 implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the P1000 for good quality output (200 dots per inch) amounts to 23 x 17.3 inches or 58.5 x 43.9 cm, for very good quality (250 dpi) 18.4 x 13.8 inches or 46.8 x 35.1 cm, and for excellent quality (300 dpi) 15.4 x 11.5 inches or 39 x 29.3 cm. The corresponding values for the Contax N Digital are 15.2 x 10 inches or 38.6 x 25.5 cm for good quality, 12.2 x 8 inches or 30.9 x 20.4 cm for very good quality, and 10.1 x 6.7 inches or 25.7 x 17 cm for excellent quality prints.

The Contax N Digital has a native sensitivity range from ISO 50 to ISO 1600. The corresponding ISO settings for the Nikon Coolpix P1000 are ISO 100 to ISO 6400 (no boost).

For many cameras, data on sensor performance has been reported by DXO Mark. This service determines an overall sensor rating, as well as sub-scores for low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and color depth ("DXO Portrait"). The table below summarizes the physical sensor characteristics and sensor quality findings and compares them across a set of similar cameras.

Sensor Characteristics

		Camera Model	Sensor Class	Resolution (MP)	Horiz. Pixels	Vert. Pixels	Video Format	DXO Portrait	DXO Landscape	DXO Sports		DXO Overall
1.		Contax N Digital	Full Frame	6.1	3040	2008	none	..	..	..		..
2.		Nikon P1000	1/2.3	15.9	4608	3456	4K/30p	..	..	..		..
3.		Canon 10D	APS-C	6.3	3072	2048	none	21.1	10.9	571		57
4.		Canon Rebel	APS-C	6.3	3072	2048	none	21.0	10.8	544		55
5.		Canon 1Ds	Full Frame	11.0	4064	2704	none	21.8	11.0	954		63
6.		Canon D60	APS-C	6.3	3072	2048	none	..	..	..		..
7.		Leica M10-P	Full Frame	23.8	5952	3992	none	..	..	..		..
8.		Leica M10	Full Frame	23.8	5952	3992	none	24.4	13.2	2133		86
9.		Leica SL	Full Frame	24.0	6000	4000	4K/30p	25.0	13.4	1821		88
10.		Leica V-LUX 2	1/2.3	14.0	4320	3240	1080/60i	..	..	..		..
11.		Leica M9	Full Frame	18.1	5212	3472	none	22.5	11.7	884		69
12.		Nikon B600	1/2.3	15.9	4608	3456	1080/30p	..	..	..		..
13.		Nikon A1000	1/2.3	15.9	4608	3456	4K/30p	..	..	..		..
14.		Nikon P900	1/2.3	15.9	4608	3456	1080/60p	..	..	..		..
15.		Nikon D100	APS-C	6.0	3008	2000	none	..	..	..		..
16.		Nikon D1X	APS-C	5.9	3008	1960	none	..	..	..		..
17.		Panasonic LX100 II	Four Thirds	16.8	4736	3552	4K/30p	..	..	..		..

Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but can also record movies. The P1000 indeed provides for movie recording, while the N Digital does not. The highest resolution format that the P1000 can use is 4K/30p.

Feature comparison

Beyond body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. For example, the P1000 has an electronic viewfinder (2359k dots), while the N Digital has an optical one. Both systems have their advantages, with the electronic viewfinder making it possible to project supplementary shooting information into the framing view, whereas the optical viewfinder offers lag-free viewing and a very clear framing image. The adjacent table lists some of the other core features of the Contax N Digital and Nikon P1000 along with similar information for a selection of comparators.

Core Features

		Camera Model	Viewfinder (Type or 000 dots)	Control Panel (yes/no)	LCD Size (inch)	LCD Resolution (000 dots)	LCD Attach- ment	Touch Screen (yes/no)	Mech Shutter Speed	Shutter Flaps (1/sec)	Built-in Flash (yes/no)	Built-in Image Stab
1.		Contax N Digital	optical	Y	2.0	200	fixed	n	1/8000s	4.0	n	n
2.		Nikon P1000	2359	n	3.2	921	swivel	n	1/4000s	7.0	Y	Y
3.		Canon 10D	optical	Y	1.8	118	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.0	Y	n
4.		Canon Rebel	optical	n	1.8	118	fixed	n	1/4000s	2.5	Y	n
5.		Canon 1Ds	optical	Y	2.0	120	fixed	n	1/8000s	3.0	n	n
6.		Canon D60	optical	Y	1.8	114	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.0	Y	n
7.		Leica M10-P	optical	n	3.0	1037	fixed	Y	1/4000s	5.0	n	n
8.		Leica M10	optical	n	3.0	1037	fixed	n	1/4000s	5.0	n	n
9.		Leica SL	4400	Y	3.0	1040	fixed	Y	1/8000s	11.0	n	n
10.		Leica V-LUX 2	202	n	3.0	460	swivel	n	1/2000s	11.0	Y	Y
11.		Leica M9	optical	n	2.5	230	fixed	n	1/4000s	2.0	n	n
12.		Nikon B600	none	n	3.0	921	fixed	n	1/4000s	7.4	Y	Y
13.		Nikon A1000	1166	n	3.0	1036	tilting	Y	1/4000s	7.0	Y	Y
14.		Nikon P900	921	n	3.0	921	swivel	n	1/4000s	7.0	Y	Y
15.		Nikon D100	optical	Y	1.8	118	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.0	Y	n
16.		Nikon D1X	optical	Y	2.0	120	fixed	n	1/16000s	3.0	n	n
17.		Panasonic LX100 II	2764	n	3.0	1240	fixed	Y	1/4000s	11.0	n	Y

One feature that is present on the N Digital, but is missing on the P1000 is a top-level LCD. While being, of course, smaller than the rear screen, the control panel conveys some of the essential shooting information and can be convenient for quick and easy settings verification.

The Nikon P1000 has an intervalometer built-in. This enables the photographer to capture time lapse sequences, such as flower blooming, a sunset or moon rise, without purchasing an external camera trigger and related software.

The N Digital writes its imaging data to Compact Flash cards, while the P1000 uses SDXC cards.

Connectivity comparison

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Contax N Digital and Nikon Coolpix P1000 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

Input-Output Connections

		Camera Model	Hotshoe Port	Internal Microphone	Internal Speaker	Microphone Port	Headphone Port	HDMI Port	USB Port	WiFi Support	NFC Support	Bluetooth Support
1.		Contax N Digital	Y	-	-	-	-	-	FW	-	-	-
2.		Nikon P1000	Y	stereo	mono	Y	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	Y
3.		Canon 10D	Y	-	-	-	-	-	1.1	-	-	-
4.		Canon Rebel	Y	-	-	-	-	-	1.1	-	-	-
5.		Canon 1Ds	Y	-	-	-	-	-	FW	-	-	-
6.		Canon D60	Y	-	-	-	-	-	1.1	-	-	-
7.		Leica M10-P	Y	-	-	-	-	-	-	Y	-	-
8.		Leica M10	Y	-	-	-	-	-	-	Y	-	-
9.		Leica SL	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	full	3.0	Y	-	-
10.		Leica V-LUX 2	Y	stereo	mono	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
11.		Leica M9	Y	-	-	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
12.		Nikon B600	-	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	Y
13.		Nikon A1000	-	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	Y
14.		Nikon P900	-	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
15.		Nikon D100	Y	-	-	-	-	-	1.1	-	-	-
16.		Nikon D1X	Y	-	-	-	-	-	FW	-	-	-
17.		Panasonic LX100 II	Y	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	Y

It is notable that the P1000 offers wifi support, which can be a very convenient means to transfer image data to an off-camera location. In contrast, the N Digital does not provide wifi capability.

Studio photographers will appreciate that the Contax N Digital (unlike the P1000) features a PC Sync socket, so that professional strobe lights can be controlled by the camera.

The P1000 is a recent model that features in the current product line-up of Nikon. In contrast, the N Digital has been discontinued (but can be found pre-owned on eBay). There has not been a direct replacement model for the N Digital from Contax. Further information on the two cameras (e.g. user guides, manuals), as well as related accessories, can be found on the official Contax and Nikon websites.

Review summary

So what is the bottom line? Which of the two cameras – the Contax N Digital or the Nikon P1000 – has the upper hand? Is one clearly better than the other? The listing below highlights the relative strengths of the two models.

Arguments in favor of the Contax N Digital:

• Better moiré control: Has an anti-alias filter to avoid artificial patterns to appear in images.
• Better image quality: Features bigger pixels on a larger sensor for higher quality imaging.
• Richer colors: The pixel size advantage translates into images with better, more accurate colors.
• More dynamic range: Larger pixels capture a wider spectrum of light and dark details.
• Better low-light sensitivity: Larger pixels means good image quality even under poor lighting.
• Brighter framing: Features an optical viewfinder for clear, lag-free composition.
• Easier setting verification: Features an LCD display on top to control shooting parameters.
• Faster shutter: Has higher mechanical shutter speed (1/8000s vs 1/4000s) to freeze action.
• More flexible: Can take a variety of interchangeable lenses, including specialty optics.
• More portrait friendly: Features an integrated vertical grip for easier portrait shooting.
• Better studio light control: Has a PC Sync socket to connect to professional strobe lights.
• More heavily discounted: Has been available for much longer (launched in February 2002).

Advantages of the Nikon Coolpix P1000:

• More detail: Has more megapixels (15.9 vs 6.1MP), which boosts linear resolution by 58%.
• Maximized detail: Lacks an anti-alias filter to exploit the sensor's full resolution potential.
• Broader imaging potential: Can capture not only stills but also 4K/30p video.
• More framing info: Has an electronic viewfinder that displays shooting data.
• Larger screen: Has a bigger rear LCD (3.2" vs 2.0") for image review and settings control.
• More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (921k vs 200k dots).
• More flexible LCD: Has a swivel screen for odd-angle shots in portrait or landscape orientation.
• More selfie-friendly: Has an articulated screen that can be turned to be front-facing.
• Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (7 vs 4 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
• Easier time-lapse photography: Has an intervalometer built-in for low frequency shooting.
• Ready to shoot: Comes with an integrated lens, while the N Digital requires a separate lens.
• More compact: Is smaller (146x119mm vs 152x138mm) and will fit more readily into a bag.
• Longer lasting: Gets more shots (250 versus 100) out of a single battery charge.
• Easier travel charging: Can be conveniently charged via its USB port.
• Sharper images: Has stabilization technology built-in to reduce the impact of hand-shake.
• Easier fill-in: Has a small integrated flash to brighten shadows of backlit subjects.
• Easier file upload: Has wifi built in for automatic backup or image transfer to the web.
• Easier wireless transfer: Supports Bluetooth for image sharing without cables.
• More affordable: Was introduced at a lower price, despite coming with a built-in lens.
• More modern: Reflects 16 years and 4 months of technical progress since the N Digital launch.

If the number of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the P1000 is the clear winner of the contest (20 : 12 points). However, the relevance of individual strengths will vary across photographers, so that you might want to apply your own weighing scheme to the summary points when reflecting and deciding on a new camera. A professional wildlife photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a family photog, and a person interested in architecture has distinct needs from a sports shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Contax N Digital and the Nikon P1000 place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best DSLR Camera and Best Superzoom Camera listings whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the specs-based evaluation of cameras can be instructive in revealing their potential as photographic tools, it remains incomplete and does no justice, for example, to the way the N Digital or the P1000 perform in practice. User reviews, such as those found at amazon, can sometimes inform about these issues, but such feedback is often incomplete, inconsistent, and biased.

Expert reviews

This is where reviews by experts come in. The following table reports the overall ratings of the cameras as published by some of the major camera review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge, reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.

Expert Camera Reviews

		Camera   Model	AP   score	CL   score	DPR   score	EPZ   score	PB   score	Camera Launch	Launch Price (USD)			Street Price
1.		Contax N Digital	..	..	..	..	..	Feb 2002	7,399
2.		Nikon P1000	..	+	73/100	3.5/5	3.5/5	Jul 2018	999
3.		Canon 10D	..	..	+ +	..	..	Feb 2003	1,999
4.		Canon Rebel	..	..	+ +	..	..	Aug 2003	899
5.		Canon 1Ds	..	..	+ +	..	..	Sep 2002	8,999
6.		Canon D60	..	..	+ +	o	..	Feb 2002	2,999
7.		Leica M10-P	..	..	..	..	4/5	Aug 2018	7,995
8.		Leica M10	4.5/5	..	..	4/5	4.5/5	Jan 2017	6,595
9.		Leica SL	4/5	..	84/100	4.5/5	4/5	Oct 2015	7,450
10.		Leica V-LUX 2	..	..	..	..	..	Sep 2010	849
11.		Leica M9	..	..	..	4.5/5	..	Sep 2009	7,999
12.		Nikon B600	..	+	..	3.5/5	3/5	Jan 2019	349
13.		Nikon A1000	..	+ +	..	3.5/5	3/5	Jan 2019	429
14.		Nikon P900	..	..	77/100	4/5	4/5	Mar 2015	599
15.		Nikon D100	..	..	+ +	o	..	Feb 2002	1,999
16.		Nikon D1X	..	..	+ +	..	..	Feb 2001	5,999
17.		Panasonic LX100 II	4.5/5	+	82/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Aug 2018	999
Notes: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.

Care should be taken when interpreting the review scores above, though. The ratings are only valid when referring to cameras in the same category and of the same age. Hence, a score should always be seen in the context of the camera's market launch date and its price, and comparisons of ratings among very different cameras or across long time periods have little meaning. Also, kindly note that some of the listed sites have over time developped their review approaches and their reporting style.

Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? In case you would like to check on the differences and similarities of other camera models, just make your choice using the following search menu. There is also a set of direct links to comparison reviews that other users of the CAM-parator app explored.

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Specifications: Contax N Digital vs Nikon P1000

Below is a side-by-side comparison of the specs of the two cameras to facilitate a quick review of their differences and common features.

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