Sony Alpha NEX-5A

The Sony Alpha NES 5 (NEX-5A), dubbed the ‘pocket professional’, is designed to provide the picture quality of a DSLR in half the size.

The camera’s features include a E16mm F2.8 attachable lens, 14.2 megapixels, up to 7 fps shooting, ISO 12800 sensitivity, AVCHD 1,080/60i HD movies, APS-C size HD image sensor, Sweep Panorama, Auto HDR and Live View.

Look and feel

Out of the box, the camera itself is quite sturdy, and has a good weight. It fits easily in the hand and is slightly larger than the typical digital camera yet still smaller than an SLR. The camera, which has a vintage appearance in its design, is available in black or silver. The display screen at the back has a nice swivel feature that helps in certain setups. The overall build of the camera is of a high standard.

Image quality and picture options

The NEX-5A uses a detachable lens system so other lenses can easily be purchased from Sony and attached as required. The lens that comes with the camera, the E16mm F2.8, is impressive, and pictures taken are crisp and sharp. The lack of zoom functionality out of the box, however, is confusing and disappointing. A zoom is a basic function on most cameras, especially cameras for the average photographer. Using the camera without a zoom lens means camera setup between shots takes longer and requires more physical organisation than should be the norm.

The camera achieves high resolution with no penalty in low-light sensitivity or sensor noise. The white balance options include Auto, Daylight, Shade, Cloudy, Incandescent, Fluorescent, Flash, Color Temperature/Filter and Custom. The camera includes an attachable flash.

The kit for the NEX-5K - a more expensive camera - does include a 55mm Sony zoom lens with image stabilisation.

Video

The 1080i video output has good quality and captures sound strongly without the need, in this case, for an additional external microphone. There’s a wide array of photo types and settings to play with here, including a 3D panoramic setting that is due to be compatible with upcoming Sony TV sets in the not too distant future.

Software

The software on the camera is adequate. Here, the navigation system is initially confusing and non intuitive. The usual hardware picture typesetting dial that you find on most cameras is not on the NEX-5A and is instead replaced with a fiddly software version.

Tilting LCD

The 3-inch LCD screen is a nice feature which enables the photographer to tilt the screen 80 degrees upward and downward 45 degrees, and has a 920,000-dot resolution. The display also uses Sony‘s Clear Photo LCD Plus and Tru Black technology from Sony’s line of digital picture frames. The LCD is easier to tilt upward than downward, requiring a little skill and force to angle it downward at a 45-degree angle.

Autofocus and metering

The Sony NEX-5A uses contrast-detect autofocus only. It has two autofocus modes: AF-S for single and AF-C for continuous focusing. There are three autofocus area modes, including Center, Multi and Flexible Area modes. The user also has a choice of full Autofocus, DMF, which enables you to adjust focus after the autofocus operation, and Manual Focus. Focus is fast and fairly accurate.

Overall

A professional photographer may find many more advantages to using a camera like this, getting lost in the more detailed functionality which the NEX-5A definitely has on offer. However, for the casual user, the lack of zoom lens and the confusing software is better suited for a professional looking for a lighter and smaller camera.

Nikon Coolpix S8100 Review

Introduction

The new Nikon Coolpix S8100 is the second attempt by Nikon at a travel-zoom compact camera, following hot on the heels of last year’s S8000 model. Featuring a 10x, 30-300mm lens, 12 megapixel back-illuminated CMOS sensor, high-resolution 3-inch screen and 1080p Full HD movies, the Nikon S8000 certainly offers a lot on paper, but how does it shape up in reality? Read our in-depth Nikon Coolpix S8000 review to find out.

The Coolpix S8100 is Nikon’s second travel-zoom camera, featuring a 10x zoom lens with a versatile focal range of 30-300mm. Measuring just 29.9mm thick, key features of the S8100 include a 12 megapixel back-illuminated CMOS sensor, high resolution 3 inch LCD screen, full 1080p high-definition movies with stereo sound, lens-shift Vibration Reduction, 1cm macro mode, shooting mode dial and a fast “DSLR-like” auto-focus system. The Nikon Coolpix S8100 also offers in-camera HDR imaging and advanced Night Landscape and Portrait modes. Available in three colours, Black, Red and Gold.

Ease of Use

The Nikon Coolpix S8100 has a conservative yet still appealing design, with the metal body finished in a glossy black coating that’s now helpfully rubberised on the front half. The S8100 is very slim for a camera with a 10x zoom lens, but note that the camera does measure nearly 70mm deep when the zoom is fully extended. At 183g it’s also quite a light camera, and just about fits in both the palm of your hand or a shirt pocket.

The lens dominates the front of the S8100 and has an attractive rounded appearance that helps distinguish it from rival models, as does the neat pop-flash which automatically appears whenever a flash mode is selected. Otherwise the design is pretty conventional, with nothing to surprise or scare anyone who has used a digital camera in the last five years, making it easy to get up and running in no time at all.

That’s certainly helped by the S8100’s lightening fast reflexes. As promised by Nikon, this is certainly one speedy compact camera. Start-up time is almost instant, with the camera ready to go in less than half a second. Thankfully there is no longer a 3 second delay until you can actually access the main menu, zoom the lens, or take a picture, one of our major criticisms of the previous S8000 model. The new S8100 is ready to go straight after the half-second startup, making it one of the faster compacts that we’ve tested recently.

The S8100 also is something of a speed demon when it comes to focusing on your subject. The 10x zoom lens provides a versatile focal range of 30-300mm, impressive given the overall size of the camera, and is just wide enough for landscapes and with more than enough reach for candid portraits. The lens has a fairly fast maximum aperture of f/3.5 at the wide-angle end but a rather slow f/5.6 at full telephoto. The Nikon S8100 is very quick to find focus, locking onto your target in less than 0.2 seconds, regardless of the lighting conditions or which end of the zoom range you’re using. Very impressive given that the S8100 is using a contrast AF system, which is traditionally slower than the phase detection system that most DSLR cameras use. In addition, the Subject Tracking scene mode detects, tracks, and focuses on the main subject, making it easier to capture moving subjects successfully.

 

Front Rear

Nikon have included their excellent VR (Vibration Reduction) image stabilisation system to help prevent camera-shake, an essential feature nowadays, which is turned on and off in the Setup main menu. In practice the VR system makes a noticeable difference to the sharpness of the images, as shown in the examples on the Image Quality page, but don’t expect to get sharp results every time at the longer focal lengths without the use of a suitably fast shutter speed. Thankfully leaving the anti-shake system on didn’t reduce the battery-life too much, with the camera managing just over a rather average 200 shots or 1 hour and 20 minutes of Full HD video using the supplied Lithium-ion rechargeable battery. The S8100 can be charged using the USB socket on a computer or via the main power using the included AC adapter.

In addition, there are a range of other functions and modes that also help to prevent camera shake. High ISO light sensitivity up to ISO 3200 at full resolution throughout the range reduces the risk of blurred images, while the Motion Detection option automatically detects and compensates for both camera and subject movement. The Best Shot Selector (BSS) mode automatically selects the sharpest of up to 10 sequential shots.

The Night Portrait mode takes consecutive shots which expose the portrait subject and background separately, then immediately combines the exposures to create a blur-free portrait. The Night Landscape mode combines a series of five consecutive shots taken at a fast shutter speed into a single image with reduced noise, useful when taking handheld shots. The Backlighting mode offers an in-camera high dynamic range (HDR) function, merging several images of the same scene to achieve a single image with a broad range of tonal detail. All of these options and the Vibration Reduction system can be used at the same time if so desired.

There aren’t too many external controls and buttons (just 13 in total) on the Coolpix S8100, reflecting the fact that this is a point and shoot camera with no manual controls. On top of the camera is the pop-up flash, left and right stereo sounds mics, small recessed On/Off button, shutter release button and tactile push/pull zoom lever.

Front Top

New for this model is a handy Shooting Mode dial with 8 options, which means that you no longer have to use the main menu just to change mode, and it has a positive action to prevent unwanted movement. There are 17 scene modes to choose from, including the clever Scene Auto Selector, which automatically recognizes the scene in your picture from 6 presets (Portrait, Landscape, Night Portrait, Night Landscape, Closeup and Backlight) and adjusts the camera settings accordingly.

On the bottom the S8100 has an compatible memory card slot, allowing the use of either SD, SDHC or SDXC cards, and there’s also 32MB of internal memory, which can store 5 images at the highest quality level. The memory card slot is shared with the battery compartment. There’s also a metal tripod socket which is inconveniently located in the far-left corner of the camera and the A/V Out port.

The rear of the S8100 is quite traditional in design, with all of the controls located to the right of the large LCD screen. The large 3 inch LCD monitor has a excellent resolution of 921k dots, resulting in a detailed and vibrant display that puts standard LCD screens to shame. It also offers five levels of brightness, an anti-reflection coating and a wide viewing angle. There’s a round navigation wheel and a central OK button, surrounded by three buttons above and two below. The navigation wheel is a nice touch that can be used to scroll through menu settings and pictures, but doesn’t really serve any other purpose. The four corners of the wheel also double up to access the flash, exposure compensation, macro and self-timer settings (starting at 12 o’clock and going clockwise).

Pop-up Flash Side

Above the navigation wheel is a button for playing back your images and there’s also a handy dedicated button for starting and stopping movie recording (more on this below). Below the navigation wheel are the self-explanatory Menu and Delete buttons. Unfortunately there’s no quick way to change the ISO speed or other key settings, forcing you to delve repeatedly into the menu system.

D-Lighting is a long-standing Nikon technology that brightens the shadow areas of an image, and on the S8100 it can be applied to an image after it has been taken. Face-priority Autofocus can detect up to 12 faces in a scene just so long as they’re looking directly at the camera, whilst In-Camera Red-Eye Fix automatically processes the picture to remove red-eye. Blink Warning alerts you if someone in the frame had their eyes closed, and the Smile Timer automatically takes the picture when a smile is detected. The Skin softening function magically makes your subject look 10 years younger by smoothing out any perceived imperfections, and the Creative Slider instantly adjusts the brightness, saturation and colour tone of an image.

The Nikon Coolpix S8100 can now record full 1080p HD quality video complete with stereo sound. It offers 1920x1080, 1280x720 and 640x480 pixel movies at 30 or 15fps, and 320x240 pixels at 15fps saved in the Quicktime .mov format. There’s also a range of high-speed options available - 240, 120, 60 and 15 fps - which give your movies a slow-motion effect. An HDMI Mini port allows the S8100 to be easily connected to a HDTV, although no suitable cable is supplied in the box. You can also now use the 10x optical zoom lens during recording, complete with the optical vibration reduction system, also its painfully slow in operation, presumably to avoid recording the noise of the zoom mechanism. There’s also the new premium and self-explanatory feature of Wind noise reduction.

 

Memory Card Slot Battery Compartment

In the Sport Continuous shooting mode the S8100 can capture an impressive 120 frames per second, but sadly only at 1 megapixel resolution. The standard continuous mode offer around 1.8fps for 5 shots at full resolution, which is below average for this class of camera. The camera’s pre-shooting cache records up to two shots before the shutter-release is fully pressed. There is also a Multi-shot 16 mode that quickly takes 16 low-resolution photos and arranges them into a single image.

Once you have captured a photo, the Nikon Coolpix S8100 has quite a good range of options when it comes to playing, reviewing and managing your images. You can instantly scroll through the images that you have taken, view thumbnails (up to 16 onscreen at the same time), zoom in and out up to 10x magnification, apply D-Lighting, the Skin Softening feature, and Quick Retouch (improves the contrast and saturation), set the print order, view a slide show, delete, protect, rotate, hide and copy an image, plus create a smaller version and choose your favourite images.

The Monitor Settings menu option toggles between various views, including showing detailed settings information about each picture, such as the ISO rating and aperture/shutter speed, framelines and no information. Unfortunately there is no histogram available during composition, but a small one can be displayed during playback with a press of the OK button. If you have never used a digital camera before, or you’re upgrading from a more basic model, reading the well-written and easy-to-follow manual before you start is a good idea. Thankfully Nikon have bucked the recent trend of not providing hard-copy manuals by supplying it in printed format.

Nikon Coolpix L120, S2500, L23

The Nikon Coolpix L120, S2500 and L23 are three new easy-to-use and stylish compact cameras. The L120 has a 21x zoom lens, 14.1 megapixel CCD sensor, unique side control lever for zooming, and 3 inch 921k-dot high-resolution LCD monitor. The L23 features a 5x wide-angle zoom lens, 2.7 inch LCD monitor, and takes regular AA batteries. The Nikon Coolpix L120, S2500 and L23 are all available from 24th February.

Nikon UK, 9 Feb 2011 – Nikon has today added three new models to its fun and simple-to-use COOLPIX range. With a range of useful automatic features that make it easy to get the perfect photo, the S2500, L23 and L120 cameras offer something to suit every need.

“The new line-up has something for everyone, whether you’re looking for your first camera, or for something more advanced. Whichever you choose, you can be assured that all of these cameras provide the quality that Nikon is known for to help produce the best images as easily as possible” comments Sander van Velzen, Product Manager for Consumer Products at Nikon Europe.

Stylishly simple: the COOLPIX S2500

The stylish COOLPIX S2500 offers impressive value for such a top quality camera. Its high-design, slim (20mm) aluminum body houses an impressive range of features, making it fun and effortless to take pictures anytime, anywhere.

The S2500’s precision NIKKOR 4x wide-angle zoom lens and 12 megapixel image sensor combine to deliver incredibly detailed images that make superb poster-size enlargements. To make sure you get the best pictures of even the most camera-shy subjects, Nikon’s Smart Portrait system includes features such as Smile Timer, Blink Proof and Skin Softening, and its large 6.7 cm (2.7 in.) LCD monitor makes it easy to preview and review your photos.

As well as being easy to carry, it is also simple to use, with several automatic functions for effortless shooting. Easy Auto mode optimizes all camera settings according to the light you are shooting in, while Scene Auto Selector selects the optimum Scene mode for popular photographic situations. Whether you are on the beach, the slopes or out on the town, the camera’s wide range of scene modes will automatically optimize settings for up to 17 popular photographic styles, effects and locations. Subject Tracking Auto-Focus (AF) will keep the camera focused on a selected subject, even if it is moving around. Meanwhile, built-in anti-blur technology automatically counters blurred pictures in four different ways.

The COOLPIX S2500 is available in four colours: red, pink, black and silver.

A great way to start: the COOLPIX L23

A superb first camera for anyone just starting out in photography, the COOLPIX L23 makes it simple for every member of the family to take great pictures.

A host of automatic technology makes this camera perfect for effortless photography. Wherever you are and whatever you want to shoot, Easy Auto Mode optimizes all camera settings depending on what light you are in, ensuring your images are impressive. Built-in electronic Vibration Reduction and Motion Detection avoids camera shake and, along with the 10.1 megapixel resolution CCD image sensor, guarantees outstanding detailed images worthy of being turned into stunning enlargements. The Smart Portrait System houses features such as Smile Timer and Skin Softening, to ensure perfect portraits.

The L23’s 5x wide-angle zoom lens lets you capture everything from sharp close-ups to stunning group photos, and a large, 6.7 cm (2.7 in.) LCD monitor enables you to review pictures with ease. Hassle-free operation is ensured with large buttons and dedicated Shooting and Playback modes. The camera takes regular AA batteries, making it easy to power and ideal for taking anywhere.

An impressive all-rounder: the COOLPIX L120

With a super-zoom lens and HD (720p) movie recording, the COOLPIX L120 offers great technology that is easy to use, to make sure you reliably capture all those important moments.

The wide angle 21x zoom NIKKOR lens gives outstanding precision and sharp resolution, with a range from 25mm wide-angle to 525mm super-telephoto coverage. A unique side control lever also enables smooth, steady zooming throughout the long zoom range when shooting photos or movies. A 14.1 megapixel CCD image sensor and four different automatic anti-blur functions ensure sharp images every time, whatever distance you are shooting from.

With a dedicated movie-record button, the L120 gives you the freedom to switch easily between capturing beautiful images or crisp HD (720p) movies in stereo sound. Optical zoom with autofocus function is available during recording, and photos and movies can be conveniently viewed on the large 7.5 cm (3 inch) 921k-dot high-resolution LCD monitor. Also featured is a built-in HDMI mini connector, so you can connect your camera to a high definition HD television and view your movies at home with family and friends.

All this is powered by convenient AA batteries so you don’t have to worry about running out of power– whether you’re at home or travelling abroad.

ViewNX 2

ViewNX 2 is an all-in-one software package that enables users to quickly and easily import, browse, edit and share still images and movies. Building upon the highly successful ViewNX software, ViewNX 2 is a user-friendly suite that offers a huge range of features, going well beyond those supplied as part of a PC’s operating system. Newly-incorporated advanced movie-editing functions have been taken directly from Nikon’s award-winning DSLR range, enabling users to create stunning movie footage. ViewNX 2 is included with all Nikon digital cameras and is also available as a free download.

EXPEED C2

The original EXPEED image processing system incorporated all of the accumulated expertise and technologies developed throughout Nikon’s long history. Now, the latest evolution of Nikon’s renowned system, EXPEED C2, expands the possibilities of photography even further, with enhanced movie recording, high-sensitivity performance and maximum image quality. EXPEED C2 maximizes sensor performance for clear, life-like images that exhibit vivid colors, reduced noise and smooth tonal gradations for outstanding photos and movies.

COOLPIX S2500- Specifications

Effective pixels 12.0 million pixels

Image sensor Type: 1/2.3-in. type interline-transfer CCD; Color filter array: RGB filter; Total pixels: Approx. 12.39 million pixels; Recording pixels:Approx. 12.00 million pixels (4000 x 3000)

Lens Optical 4x zoom, NIKKOR lens; Focal length: 4.9-19.6mm (35mm [135] format equivalent to 27-108 mm); Aperture: f/3.2-5.9; Lens construction: 6 elements in 5 groups

Focus range (from lens) Normal shooting: approx. 50 cm (1 ft. 8 in.) to infinity (at wide-angle setting), approx. 50 cm (1 ft. 8 in.) to infinity (at telephoto setting); Macro close-up mode: approx. 8 cm (3.2 in.) to infinity (at closest focus distance), approx. 50 cm (1 ft. 8 in.) to infinity (at telephoto setting)

Monitor Size: 6.7. cm (2.7-in.); Number of dots: Approx. 230k-dot; Type:TFT LCD monitor; (Acrylic) cover: Anti-reflection coating, no protective cover

Storage media Internal memory (approx. 16 MB), SD/SDHC/SDXC memory card*1

Vibration Reduction (VR) Electronic type; Other blur-reduction functions: Motion Detection (conventional type), BSS (Best Shot Selector)

ISO sensitivity ISO 80, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200 (4000 x 3000), Auto (ISO 80 to 1600), Fix range auto (ISO 80 to 400, ISO 80 to 800)

Interface Hi-Speed USB/PictBridge

Power Sources Rechargeable Li-ion Battery EN-EL19 (700 mAh), AC Adapter EH-62G (option)

Battery life Approx. 220 frames with EN-EL19

Dimensions (WxHxD) Approx. 93.1 x 57.1 x 20.0 mm/3.7 x 2.3 x 0.8 in. (excluding projections)

Weight Approx. 117 g/4.2 oz. (including battery and SD memory card)

Movie VGA: 640 x 480 (30 fps), QVGA: 320 x 240 (30 fps)

Supplied accessories Camera Strap AN-CP19 Rechargeable Li-ion Battery EN-EL19 Charging AC Adapter EH-69P USB Cable UC-E6 Audio Video Cable EG-CP14 ViewNX 2 CD-ROM

Optional accessories Rechargeable Li-ion Battery EN-EL19 Charging AC Adapter EH-69P Battery Charger MH-66 AC Adaptor EH-62G USB Cable UC-E6 Audio Video Cable EG-CP14

COOLPIX L23- Specifications

Effective pixels 10.1 million pixels

Image sensor Type: 1/2.9-in. type interline-transfer CCD; Color filter array: RGB filter; Total pixels: Approx. 10.34 million pixels; Recording pixels: Approx. 98 million pixels

Lens NIKKOR lens with 5x optical zoom; Focal length: 4.0-20.0 mm (nominal value); f/-number: f/2.7-6.8; Lens construction: 6 elements in 5 groups; Aspherical lens element (ASP): 3 elements, 5 surfaces

Focus range (from lens) Normal shooting: approx. 30 cm (1 ft.) to infinity (at wide angle setting), approx. 60 cm (2 ft.) to infinity (at telephoto setting); Macro close-up mode: approx. 3 cm (1.2 in.) to infinity (at closest focus distance), approx. 60 cm (2 ft.) to infinity (at telephoto setting)

Monitor (LCD and OLED) Size: 6.7 cm (2.7-in.); Number of dots: Approx. 230k-dot; Type: TFT LCD monitor; (Acrylic) cover: Anti-glare coating

Storage media Internal memory (approx. 22 MB), SD/SDHC/SDXC memory card*1

Vibration Reduction (VR) Electronic type; Other blur-reduction functions: Motion Detection, BSS (Best Shot Selector)

ISO sensitivity Auto (ISO 80 to 1600)

Interface Hi-Speed USB/PictBridge

Power Sources R6/AA-size battery x 2 (alkaline/lithium: optional), Rechargeable Ni-MH Batteries EN-MH2-B2 (2 batteries: optional)

Battery life Approx. 220 frames

Dimensions (WxHxD) Approx. 96.7 x 59.9 x 29.3 mm/3.9 x 2.4 x 1.2 in. (excluding projections)

Weight Approx. 170 g/6.0 in. (including battery and SD memory card)

Movie VGA: 640 x 480 (30 fps), QVGA: 320 x 240 (30 fps)

Supplied accessories Camera Strap AN-CP19 R6/AA-size alkaline batteries x 2 USB Cable UC-E6 ViewNX 2 CD-ROM

Optional accessories Battery Charger Set MH-72/Rechargeable Ni-MH Batteries EN-MH2-B2 Battery Charger Set MH-73/Rechargeable Ni-MH Batteries EN-MH2-B4 AC Adaptor EH-65A USB Cable UC-E6 Audio Video Cable EG-CP14

COOLPIX L120- Specifications

Effective pixels 14.1 million pixels; Approx. 14.08 million pixels (4336 x 3248)

Image sensor Type: 1/2.3-in. type interline-transfer CCD; Color filter array: RGB filter; Total pixels: Approx. 14.48 million pixels; Recording pixels: Approx. 14.00 million pixels (4320 x 3240).

Lens NIKKOR lens with 21x optical zoom; Focal length: 4.5-94.5 mm (35mm [135] format equivalent to 25-525 mm); f/-number: f/3.1-5.8; Lens construction: 12 elements in 9 groups; Aspherical lens element (ASP): 1 element glass mold), 1 surface 2 elements (plastic mold), 4 surfaces

Focus range (from lens) Normal shooting: approx. 30 cm (1 ft.) to infinity (at wide angle setting), approx. 1.5 m (5 ft.) to infinity (at telephoto setting), Macro close-up mode: approx. 1 cm (0.4 in.) to infinity (at closest focus distance), approx. 1.5 m (5 ft.) to infinity (at telephoto setting)

Monitor Size: 7.5 cm (3-in.); Number of dots: Approx. 921k-dot; (Acrylic) cover: Anti-reflection coating on both sides

Storage media Internal memory (approx. Internal memory (approx. 102 MB), SD/SDHC/SDXC/UHSC (ex. FAT/UHS compatible) memory card*

Vibration Reduction (VR) Method Still images: Image sensor shift and electronic vibration reduction; Method Movie: Electronic vibration reduction; Angular velocity sensor: Yes; Vibration reduction on/off: “On, Off Individual setup for movie recording and capture of still images possible”; Motion detection: Yes

ISO sensitivity (Standard output sensitivity) Manual: “ISO 80, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200, 6400” ; Auto (auto gain): ISO 80 to 800

Interface Hi-Speed USB/PictBridge

Power Sources Battery: Four EN-MH2 rechargeable Ni-MH batteries; Battery performance: “Approx. 330 shots (LR6 batteries) Approx. 890 shots (FR6 batteries) Approx. 520 shots (EN-MH2)”; External power supply: AC Adapter AC Adapter EH-67 (optional)

Battery life Approx. 330 shots (LR6 batteries) Approx. 890 shots (FR6 batteries) Approx. 520 shots (EN-MH2)”;

Dimensions (WxHxD) Approx. 109.9 x 76.5 x 78.4 mm (4.4 x 3.1 x 3.1 in.)

Weight (with battery and memory card) Approx. 431 g (15.3 oz.)

Movie HD 720p: 1280 x 720 (30 fps) iFrame 540: 960 × 540 (30 fps) VGA: 640 x 480 (30 fps)

Supplied accessories R6/AA-size alkaline batteries x 4 USB Cable UC-E6 Audio Video Cable EG-CP16 Camera Strap AN-CP21 Lens Cap LC-CP22 ViewNX 2 CD-ROM

Optional accessories Battery Charger Set MH-73 Rechargeable Ni-MH Batteries EN-MH2-B4 AC Adapter EH-67 USB Cable UC-E6 Audio Video Cable EG-CP16 Lens Cap LC-CP22

About Nikon

Founded in Japan in 1917, Nikon has grown to become the world leader in digital and precision optics technology with a strong presence in all four corners of the world.

Through its award-winning product line-up, including entry-level and professional digital SLR cameras, interchangeable NIKKOR lenses and the consumer COOLPIX range, Nikon regularly raises the standard in product design and performance. With over 90 years of engineering expertise, it is no wonder that Nikon is the top choice for photographers around the world.

In 2009, Nikon celebrated two key milestones in the lens category – the 50th anniversary of its legendary F-mount SLR lens-mounting system, making it the only manufacturer to sustain its original lens mount for such a long period, and has recently exceeded production of over 55 million NIKKOR lenses. Both highlight Nikon’s dedication to producing quality and functional products that can be used by photographers for years to come.

Nikon also produces equipment such as IC and LCD steppers and scanners, instruments such as microscopes and semiconductor inspection equipment. Other products include sports optics products such as binoculars, rangefinders and fieldscopes, ophthalmic lenses and surveying instruments. It is the only major optical company in the world that still controls and manufactures every aspect of its glass-making business, allowing it to finely tune Nikon lens specifications, quality and performance.

Nikon Coolpix P100 Review

Introduction

The Coolpix P100 is Nikon’s new super-zoom compact camera for 2010, offering a 26x zoom lens with a massive focal range of 26-678mm. The 10 megapixel bridge-style Nikon P100 also features the ability to capture full 1080p high-definition movies in stereo sound, back illuminated CMOS sensor, 3-inch 460,000-dot rear screen, and fast 10fps burst shooting mode.

The 10-megapixel Nikon Coolpix P100 is the successor to last year’s 12-megapixel P90 model. That’s right, Nikon has reduced the pixel count, if only by a little. The big news is that the new, slightly lower-resolution sensor is of the back-illuminated CMOS variety, which promises a better signal-to-noise ratio and offers faster read-out speeds. Indeed, the P100 can capture a whopping 10 frames per second at full resolution. Other notable improvements include a 26x zoom lens, a stereo microphone, Full HD movie recording at 30fps and slow-motion video at up to 240fps, as well as a new 460,000-dot rear screen.

Ease of Use

Weighing in at 481 grams, the Nikon Coolpix P100 is somewhat heavier than its forebears, but its design is only minimally different. Like most high-end superzooms, the Nikon P100 has the typical bridge camera look, with a chunky hand-grip, large lens barrel, pop-up flash and an eye-level electronic viewfinder. The deep grip is moulded to fit comfortably into your right hand, and is rubberised for added comfort.

The other dominant camera part is of course the lens, which on the P100 goes from a very wide 26mm to a massive 678mm in 35mm terms. Considering that with an SLR, you would need at least 3-4 lenses to cover the same focal range, the single, fixed-mount lens of the Nikon P100 can be described as remarkably compact, even if it does extend quite a bit when zoomed to full telephoto. For its size, the P100’s lens is impressively fast, with maximum apertures of f/2.8 at 26mm and f/5 at 678mm. Note that the lens cap has to be removed before turning on the camera - failing to do so will result in an error message being displayed, and you’ll have to turn off the camera before you can turn it on again, which is a bit annoying -, although if you only want to review what’s already on the card, you can also power on the P100 by holding down the Playback button, in which case the lens won’t extend.

Thankfully Nikon has included Vibration Reduction (VR) to help prevent camera-shake, an essential feature on a camera like this. Interestingly, while VR is lens based in the Nikon SLR system, it is of the sensor-shift variety in the P100. I have found that Vibration Reduction makes a noticeable difference to the sharpness of the images, as shown in the examples on the Image Quality page. You can hear a slight mechanical whirring noise when it is turned on, but otherwise you don’t really notice it, except that that you can use slower shutter speeds than normal and still take sharp photos. Sadly, there isn’t a dedicated button to turn VR on and off - but at least leaving it on did not seem to negatively affect the battery life, with the camera managing around 250 shots using the supplied Li-ion battery. It’s still a good idea to turn VR off (via the menu) when the camera is mounted on a tripod, lest the system itself cause blurring by trying to counter camera shake that isn’t there.

Front Rear

Zooming is done by way of a conventional zoom lever that encircles the shutter release button sitting atop the right-hand grip. It is of the dual-speed variety: rotating it all the way in either direction will adjust the focal length quickly, while rotating it partially will cause the lens elements to move slower, enabling you to set the desired focal length more precisely.

There are two different ways of composing images with the Nikon Coolpix P100: you can use either the eye-level electronic viewfinder (EVF) or the rear screen. Unfortunately, there are no eye proximity sensors that would allow the camera to toggle between the two automatically - you need to press a button every time you want that to happen. The EVF is a bog standard affair with 230,000 dots and average magnification; nothing to write home about, especially in 2010. The three-inch rear LCD screen is much nicer to look at, thanks to its resolution of 460,000 dots. Even more importantly, it’s articulated and able to tilt up or down, giving you some added flexibility in composing your shots. A truly free-angle LCD, which can also be rotated out to the side, would have been even nicer though.

The layout and number of external controls haven’t changed much from the P90. You still get a traditional, top-mounted mode dial with P, A, S and M shooting modes - perfect for the photographer who wants to take full control - as well as pre-programmed scene modes, Scene Auto Selector, full auto and Sport Continuous modes, plus the new Smart Portrait and Subject Tracking shooting modes. There is also a User (U) setting you can use to quickly retrieve a combination of your most frequently used settings. The shutter release, the zoom lever and the power button are essentially in the same locations as on the P90.

The rear controls are also laid out very similarly to those of the preceding model. There is a well-positioned control wheel in the top-right corner (when viewed from the back), which makes it easy to change the aperture and shutter speed in A and S modes respectively, but there’s still no second dial on the hand-grip which would have made operating Manual mode much easier. The familiar multi-selector with its centred OK button appears identical to the P90, down to the individual functions that are mapped onto the Up, Down, Left and Right buttons. These include the flash and focus modes, the self-timer and exposure compensation, respectively. There is still no shortcut key to ISO speed, which is still only accessible from the menu (as is white balance); a major design flaw in my opinion.

 

Maximum Zoom Pop-up Flash

The P100’s focus modes include AF, Macro, Infinity and Manual. AF can be centre-spot, user selectable from 99 focus points or camera selectable from 9 points. In Face Priority AF mode, the camera can detect up to 12 human faces and will focus on the one closest to the camera. I have found that regardless of AF area mode, auto-focus speed was satisfactory for still subjects, but too slow for fast-moving ones. There’s a reason why most of the zoo shots in our Samples gallery are static in nature - the AF system of the P100 did not prove fast enough to capture fast action. Manual focusing is also possible, though a bit awkward: you get a rudimentary distance scale on the right-hand side of the screen, and can adjust focus via the Up and Down buttons. The centre of the picture is enlarged to aid you with checking focus, but unfortunately this is achieved by way of interpolation rather than real magnification. The whole process is pretty slow, but can still be a godsend when the auto-focus system starts acting up.

The flash of the Nikon P100 has to be popped up manually, using the button on the side of the mock pentaprism housing. You can set the flash mode to auto, auto with red-eye reduction, fill, slow sync and rear-curtain sync via the Up button on the multi-controller, but only when the flash is raised. As there is no hot-shoe or sync terminal on the Nikon Coolpix P100, and it does not offer wireless TTL flash control either, the only way to sync up an external flashgun with the camera is to optically slave it to the built-in unit.

One of the P100’s novelties versus the P90 is its ability to shoot full-resolution stills at up to 10 frames per second (fps). Accessible via the menu, this fast burst mode is called Continuous H. Alas, the camera cannot keep up this speed for long, as the buffer fills up after six shots. In other words, you can only shoot for a bit more than half a second in Continuous H mode. Thankfully, there still remains a slower burst mode, called Continuous L, in which the frame rate drops to 2.8fps, but you can capture up to 200 full-resolution photos at the Normal quality setting. This is still 2x faster than the P90’s pedestrian 1.4fps burst mode. Note that you cannot use the flash in any of the continuous shooting modes.

The other area where the Nikon Coolpix P100 represents a major improvement over its predecessor is its movie mode. Where the P90 had a disappointing 640×480-pixel VGA video mode, the P100 can shoot Full HD (1920×1080-pixel) movies at 30 frames per second, with stereo sound and optical zoom. Nikon’s smart designers put the stereo microphone on the top of the camera right behind the flash. A Wind Noise Reduction function is available in the Movie menu. Serving to minimise the noise of wind blowing on the microphone, it is recommended to be turned on in strong wind only, as it may also make other sounds difficult to hear. Sensor-shift VR is not available during movie recording, but you may opt to turn on electronic image stabilisation.

 

Memory Card Slot Battery Compartment

Recording movie clips is very easy on the Nikon P100. The new model has got an all-new Movie Record button, which is in fact the only new button versus the P90. By pressing this button, you can start recording a clip no matter what shooting mode you are in. You can use the optical zoom while filming, and full-time AF is also available. In use, I have found that zooming in or out sometimes caused the image to go temporarily out of focus, but the AF system usually adjusted itself very quickly in these cases. Maximum clip length is limited to 29 minutes.

The P100 is also capable of high-speed (HS) movie recording, albeit not at Full HD resolution. QVGA videos can be shot at 240fps, VGA movies at 120fps, and HD (720p) clips at 60fps. When these videos are played back at 30fps, they become slow-motion movies. The maximum recording time per clip is limited to 10 seconds in the HS video modes. Sound is not recorded and no form of VR is available. Given the high frame rates, these videos require fast shutter speeds, which effectively means that you need very bright conditions, especially when shooting at 240 frames per second. There is an ingenious movie mode switch around the Movie Record button that toggles between HD and HS movie recording. An elegant and simple solution, although the parameters have to be set via the menu.

As already noted, the Nikon Coolpix P100 runs on a proprietary Lithium-ion battery. The novelty here is that it can - and has to - be charged in-camera, rather than a supplied external charger. You can charge it via a computer or through the included mains adapter - but you can’t take it out of the camera and pop in a fresh spare while the depleted battery is being charged, unless you buy a separately sold external charger as well. Pictures and videos can be stored on SD and SDHC memory cards (SDXC is not supported). There is a small internal memory too, but it will only hold a few photos at full resolution, so you’ll definitely need a memory card.

In use, the Nikon Coolpix P100 proved to be a generally rewarding camera. Superzooms have always had a reputation for having a high “fun factor”, and the P100 is no different. The ability to quickly go from wide angle to ultra-telephoto is something that has to be experienced in order to be fully appreciated. It certainly gives you a kind of freedom you do not feel with any other type of camera. The performance of the Nikon P100 is mostly satisfactory. It starts up in under two seconds and zooms pretty quickly yet accurately for a power zoom. As noted earlier, its AF speed is not the greatest, but you’ll only notice that when trying to capture fast action. We have found the high-speed continuous shooting mode brilliant but sadly limited by a small buffer. The only truly frustrating design flaw is the lack of direct access to ISO speed and white balance. We’d really like to see dedicated buttons for these functions. In Playback mode, the only notable quirk is the inability to magnify into the image from Histogram view - this is something that ought to be easy to address via a firmware upgrade.