Digital Camera Review
Jun 17, 2005
- By Emily Raymond
The recently released Nikon Coolpix 5600 targets users looking for a simple and compact digital camera to assume the brunt of the work. The Coolpix 5600 packs 5.36 total megapixels on its 1/2.5-inch CCD with 5.1 megapixels effective in creating images. Nikon applied a 3x optical zoom lens and 1.8” LCD monitor to the short, silver frame. The 1.8” screen is on the smaller end of cameras released this year and is only composed of 80,000 pixels of resolution. Tagged “Ultra Smart, Simply Digital” by Nikon, the Coolpix 5600 offers point-and-shoot users some shooting flexibility with 16 scene modes, D-Lighting setting, in-Camera Red-Eye Fix, Scene Assistance alternatives and 3 movie modes with sound. The camera includes 14 MB of internal memory and is powered by two AA batteries. Initially retailing for $279.95, intrigued consumers can now purchase the compact Coolpix 5600 for $249.95 following the recent price reduction.
Picture Quality / Size Options (6.0)
The Nikon Coolpix 5600 offers five image size options for still pictures: 2592 x 1944 high res, 2592 x 1944 normal, 2048 x 1536, 1024 x 768, and 640 x 480. These JPEG image files do not have compression settings (except for the high and normal 5-megapixel pictures) like many other compact cameras offer. The largest image file should be able to produce a 11 x 14-inch print without “looking digital.” The movie mode offers three sizes: 640 x 480, 320 x 240, and 160 x 120. This is sufficient to view movie clips on television screens or on a PC via email.
Picture Effects Mode (7.0)
Within the Auto mode’s menu, there is a Color Options setting with live views. This Nikon lets adventurous photographers change from Standard Color to Vivid Color, Black and White, Sepia and Cyanotype. However, I’d probably stick with the Standard Color myself and then tweak colors later in a software editing package. The fact that the computer can be eliminated from the process may appeal to point-and-shoot photographers, however. The Black and White mode does not have enough contrast for my liking and looks a bit washed out. The other modes look decent, although everyone has an opinion on what color Sepia really should be. Most compact cameras offer only black and white and sepia options with the standard color, so Nikon has gone slightly further in their options on the Coolpix 5600.
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