Color (7.02)
Color reproduction is perhaps one of the greatest challenges for digital camera manufacturers. The difficulty lies in the wide variance between many user’s aesthetic preferences and the reproduction of accurate, naturalistic tones. Many cameras tend to embellish warmer colors, over-saturating red and pink (skin) tones to make images appear more lively and vibrant. While this may appear more striking to some, our tests measure the camera’s ability to realistically reproduce the scene.

To test the color accuracy of the Nikon Coolpix 5600, we recorded a series of well-lit exposures of an industry standard GretagMacbeth color chart and imported the results into Imatest Imaging Software. The software compares the camera’s rendered tones with the original colors on the chart. The results are displayed below. For each color tile; the outer squares portray the camera’s produced hues, while the vertical rectangle is the ideal. The inner squares approximate how a color corrected version of the camera’s produced tones might appear.

The same information from above is again graphed below in a more direct manner. The squares represent the colors produced by the Nikon Coolpix 5600 while the corresponding circles are the ideal. The line linking the two shapes illustrates the degree of error for that particular color tone. The longer the line, the less accurate the camera is at reproducing that shade.

Nikon apparently went for more of a mass appeal than for color accuracy with the Coolpix 5600, over-saturating tones by 123%. This earned the 5600 an 8.33 mean color error score and a just 7.02 overall color score. To my eye, the images appear vibrant, but certainly heavily embellished (red, green, blue tones – across the spectrum). For those who are enamored with Ferrari red, this will not present a problem; however those users looking for a realistic portrayal of the scene may be a bit disappointed.

Still Life Scene
Below is a colorful and still life scene photographed by the Nikon Coolpix 5600.

Click on the above image to view a full resolution version (CAUTION: The linked image is very large!)

Resolution / Sharpness (2.72)
We evaluate resolution by determining the effectiveness of the camera’s sensor. When tested, there will generally be a discrepancy between the camera’s advertised resolution and the exact number of pixels used to compose its images. To test how many active pixels were used by the Nikon Coolpix 5600, we recorded a series of well-exposed images of an ISO resolution chart and uploaded them into Imatest Imaging Software. The software reads the exposure and detects the exact number of pixels in use. When this is done, camera’s that utilize 70 percent or more of their advertised pixel count are considered “good” performers, while camera’s that exceed 80 percent are “very good.” Anything beyond 90 percent is viewed as excellent and is quite rare among compact cameras.

Click on the above chart to view full res. image

The Nikon Coolpix 5600 boasts 5.1 effective megapixels on its 1/2.5-inch CCD. When tested, we determined the camera utilizes just 2.72 megapixels for imaging. This is 54% of its advertised count and a dismal resolution score. These results are not altogether surprising as many of the compact Coolpix models we have tested thus far seem to fall short in this department. This does not mean small (4x6-inch) prints made from the 5600 will display compromised quality, it just limits the potential print size considerably. Users who attempt to make 8x10 prints from the 5600 will likely be disappointed, particularly after realizing much of the camera’s $249.99 retail price stems from the 5 megapixel CCD included. Consumers might be better off looking for a more affordable 4 megapixel camera with additional shooting flexibility and control.

Noise Auto ISO (4.60)
Without any opportunity to manually set the ISO setting, users will have to rely on the camera’s ability to read the scene and select the appropriate sensitivity rating for the shot. With a limited 50-200 ISO range, users of the Coolpix 5600 will have to shoot under profuse light conditions or will have to constantly rely on the fixed flash unit. The good news is that the Coolpix 5600 performed well when tested in bright conditions, earning a 4.60 Auto noise score. This is a stronger performance than many compact cameras we have tested that often display considerable difficulty reading the bright scene and push the ISO rating higher than necessary. This is not the case with the Coolpix 5600, although, there is not much room to push it (with just a 200 maximum ISO rating). None-the-less, users should feel confident shooting in direct sunlight, noise should not be much of an issue.

Noise Manual ISO (0.0)
In line with the camera’s “Ultra Smart, Simply Digital” marketing slogan, the Coolpix 5600 does not provide any opportunity for the user to manually set the ISO setting.

Low Light Performance (4.0)
Low light performance is critical to users looking to capture night skylines and shoot indoors. When subjects are placed at considerable distances in dark conditions, the camera’s flash unit will be of little help. For these users, the Nikon Coolpix 5600 will not be a viable option. With an extremely limited 50-200 ISO range, shooting is pretty restricted to daytime exteriors and close-up flash shots. To test the validity of these assumptions, we tested the Coolpix 5600 at four decreasing light levels, as we do with all cameras we review. We recorded four exposures of our GretagMacbeth color chart at 60, 30, 15, and 5 Lux to replicate common low light conditions; 60 Lux is comparable to a bedroom illuminated by two small lamps, while 30 Lux is a similar quantity of light to a single 40 watt lightbulb, and 15 and 5 Lux display the camera’s ability to capture in near darkness.

Low Light Tests
60 Lux	30 Lux
15 Lux	5 Lux

Click on any of the charts above to view additional image analysis

As expected, the Coolpix 5600 is not a low light performer. At 60 Lux – the brightest of our low light setups, the Coolpix 5600 was able to get by, but still displayed considerable noise levels. When this level dropped to 30 Lux, the camera was unable to focus properly, even when stabilized by a tripod and using the self-timer controls. As you can see, images captured in 15 and 5 Lux are noisy and virtually unusable, even with the camera’s majestic D-Lighting fix. The Coolpix 5600 is certainly not a camera for night shots, or maybe even day shots, unless the sun is glaring overhead or you are directly in front of 800 Lux studio lamps.

Speed / Timing
Startup to First Shot (5.11)
The Coolpix 5600 is certainly not a speed demon, requiring nearly 4.89 seconds to boot-up, get oriented, look proper and then record an exposure.

Shot to Shot (8.99)
While the Coolpix 5600 will capture subsequent shots faster than some older point-and-shoot models, by this year’s standards of compact cameras, the near full second lag between shots is tough to swallow. The 5600 requires roughly .9 seconds of rest between shots.

Shutter to Shot (7.72)
Again, the Coolpix 5600 is not going to display blaring speed, but even casual shooters may be disappointed at the amount of blinked eyes that result from the camera’s .64 second shutter lag.

Intro	Page 2 of 12		Physical Tour
Nikon Coolpix 5600 Digital Camera Review Navigation
Intro	Testing / Performance	Physical Tour	Components
Design / Layout	Modes	Control Options	Image Paramaters
Connectivity / Extras	Overall Impressions	Conclusion	Specs