Manual Control Options
There is no true manual mode on this digital camera. White balance and exposure compensation are the only two settings which remain manually alterable. To try to make up for this, Nikon has included 15 preset scene modes on the Coolpix 3200. However, that does not justify the loss of manual shutter speed or ISO options. Users can adjust white balance and exposure compensation manually.

Focus
Auto (7.0)
Auto focus on the Nikon Coolpix 3200 is standard and is set up in a multi-pattern grid of seven elements in six groups. The lens extends from 5.8 to 17.4mm. In 35mm format, that is equivalent to 38-115mm. The lens has F-stops from 2.8 to 4.9. There is a focus lock control setting available if, after composing the shot, the shooter focuses the center of the frame on the desired subject then depresses the shutter halfway. This will lock the focus on that specific focal distance and exposure. The user can return the camera to the desired composition and shoot the image.

Manual (0.0)
A setback for the user of the Nikon Coolpix 3200 is the lack of any manual focus control, forcing the user to rely upon the camera’s autofocus system. All that’s left is the choice of whether to engage the focus lock.

Metering (3.5)
The metering settings are automatic as well on the Nikon Coolpix 3200; there is a 256-point matrix linked to the AF settings that cannot be altered by the user. This lack of manual control in metering will make complicated or multi-faceted situations either appear flattened or compromised in the final image, which is another shortcoming of this camera model.

Exposure (7.0)
The exposure for the camera is controllable via the exposure compensation settings available through the shooting menu. These settings are +2 to -2 EV in 1/3 EV increments. Although this control is available, it should be noted that overall exposure on the Nikon Coolpix 3200 is automatic and controlled by the camera.

White Balance (8.0)
White balance is accessed through the shooting mode on the LCD screen. Once engaged, the user can choose among the following presets: Auto, Daylight, Incandescent, Fluorescent, Cloudy, or Speedlight. The user can also customize white balance for a lighting situation (if mixed or complicated lighting is encountered) by engaging the white balance preset and measuring the lighting in the subsequent menu. It is nice to have these presets available, as they allow the user to handle those white balance situations when a generalized setting is not feasible.

ISO (0.0)
There is no manual ISO setting for the Nikon Coolpix 3200. The manufacturer states that the camera has a normal rating of around 50, and the camera will automatically compensate during low light conditions. The ISO icon will appear on the screen when unfavorable shooting conditions are encountered, and the resulting image will most likely become mottled and compromised. The lack of manual ISO settings is aggravating; it forces the user to rely solely upon the camera to choose appropriate settings, and if lighting conditions are not perfect, the subsequent image will be of poor quality or the user will be forever bound to the flash.

Shutter Speed (0.0)
The shutter speed for the Nikon Coolpix 3200 is, unsurprisingly, automatic. Shutter speeds can vary from 4 seconds to 1/3000^th of a second depending on lighting conditions. This is yet another purely automatic setting that forces the user to rely solely on the camera’s ability to choose the best shutter speed for the best image, but it does a decent job, particularly within its price range.

Aperture (0.0)
There are two aperture settings that have been electronically pre-set by the Nikon Coolpix 3200: f/2.8 and f/5.6. These cannot be controlled or adjusted by the user.