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Nikon Point and Shoot and Non-DSLR
Home > Digital Camera Reviews > Nikon Digital Cameras > Nikon Point and Shoot and Non-DSLR
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Nikon CoolPix P5000 First Impressions Reviewby Emily RaymondPublished on March 10, 2007
Auto Mode
The auto mode is the only green-colored position on the mode dial while all others are labeled in black. This makes the auto mode stand out so it is easier to choose when in a hurry. The easy to find mode is also easy to use. It automates just about everything except image size. The only options that can be adjusted are located on the multi-selector: flash, drive, macro, and ISO (Auto and High ISO Auto). The P5000’s auto mode is everything it should be: easy.
Movie Mode
The Nikon Coolpix P5000’s movie mode offers auto exposure controls like exposure compensation and macro shooting. These options are both available on the multi-selector, so they are very easy to access. Videos can be recorded at a max of 640 x 480 pixels at 30 or 15 fps. While that frame rate is selectable, the rest of the video resolutions operate at only 15 fps: 320 x 240 and 160 x 120. The QuickTime movies can also be recorded in sepia or monochrome at the 320 x 240-pixel resolution. In addition, there is an interesting time lapse movie mode that snaps a string of still images and stitches them together into a video file, and this allows users to set the camera on a tripod and monitor construction or other slow-moving objects and projects at set intervals without much intervention from the photographer.
Mono audio is recorded with the movies, but it isn’t very good. The internal microphone didn’t pick up voices well and when it did, they were garbled. This could be a preproduction quirk though. Perhaps another quirk is the ineffectiveness of the optical vibration reduction image stabilization system during video capture. It doesn’t seem to work well, but it could be that the technology wasn’t finalized on the preproduction model, or it could be that it doesn’t look as effective because we usually look at stabilization systems on longer lenses that exaggerate the difference. The stabilization system supposedly helps the 3.5x optical zoom lens, and that can actively work while recording videos.
The videos recorded with the Nikon P5000 were decent, but the audio wasn’t that good. I’m sure it would do much better with less background noise because there’s a lot going on in the convention center.
Drive / Burst Mode
The preproduction model at the show did not have a burst mode, although there was a Continuous section in the menu. The only option it had was “single” drive. Currently in the single drive mode, the camera takes about 7 seconds between shots. The camera’s specs claim there will be multi-shot 16 and interval timer shooting modes along with a standard continuous burst mode. Nikon reps said the burst mode will shoot 3 fps, ant that would be impressive for a compact digital camera, exceeding the 2.5fps capture on Nikon's D40 DSLR. They said the camera will be able to shoot at that quick pace with the use of the flash too.
Playback Mode
The playback mode wasn’t entirely flawless on the preproduction model. It did allow pictures to be viewed and scrolled through individually and as index screens of 9 pictures at a time. The shooting info can be hidden or viewed with a push of the Display button. The playback menu is as follows.
This isn’t an elaborate list of options in the playback menu; many cameras offer color modes or at least cropping. The D-Lighting feature worked well, and it provided a before and after image and an option to cancel. It brightened up underexposed images very well and is perfect for consumers who don’t have time to fix pictures in software and need to directly print photos in a hurry.
The Nikon P5000 displays slide shows, but they got a little messed up on the preproduction model. Videos wouldn’t play and were instead sliced into chunks and displayed on a single frame with strange yellow horizontal lines.
One interesting playback feature is the camera’s ability to recognize a blurry image and ask if users want to delete it just after taking it. Without entering the playback menu, users can get rid of blurred images. Overall, the playback mode isn’t extensive, but the high-resolution LCD screen has wide viewing angles that still provides a nice medium for displaying pictures.
Custom Image Presets
Nikon’s face-priority auto focus mode has been placed in several locations on the past few Coolpix digital cameras. It used to be grouped with the red-eye fix and D-lighting functions on a special technology suite button. It had a stint in the menu system too. On the Coolpix P5000, though, it resides in the scene mode menu. Face Priority Auto Focus heads up the list: Party/Indoor, Beach/Snow, Sunset, Night Landscape, Museum, Fireworks Show, Copy, Back Light, Panorama Assist, Dawn/Dusk, and Close Up are found in the “SCN” position of the mode dial. Portrait, Night Portrait, Landscape, and Sports are also there, and even come with framing assists in their recording menus. The Face Priority AF hasn’t been updated since it was released, and it is still too slow to effectively recognize faces and when it does see one, it overlays a big scary smiley face. It doesn’t track well and looks worse compared to newer face recognition technology now available on Canon and Fujifilm digital cameras. There are two mode preset modes located on the mode dial: High ISO and Anti-Shake.
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