Nikon Coolpix P3

Auto mode
“Green zone” auto mode controls all the camera’s functions from aperture and shutter speed to ISO and White Balance. Program mode lets the user adjust some functions, including manipulating ISO and turning off flash for slightly more creative control. Brief testing on both these settings showed that they seemed to be effective in capturing snapshot quality images without too much pumped up saturation and contrast, as on some competing models.

Movie Mode
In movie mode, Nikon features what it calls the TV Quality Movie Mode,, which records 640 x 480 at 30 frames per second. It can also record at 320 x 240 at 30 frames per second in its smaller movie mode. Without sound, the P3/P4 can also capture time-lapse movies at 30 frames per second. Lens shift Vibration Reduction in the movie mode is available under its normal setting, though optical zooming is not.

Drive / Burst Mode
The P3/P4 features a single-shot capture mode and a continuous H mode that captures approximately 1.8 frames per second. In its Multi-shot 16 mode, it can capture 1.7 fps at the maximum 8 MP image size. In Ultra HS, it can capture up to 100 pictures at 30 frames per second but at a smaller image size. Of course, these numbers are based off of the spec sheet; actual future testing may tell a different story.

Other capture modes include a 5 Shot Buffer mode (approximately 1.8 fps), interval timer shooting, and Best Shot selector; the camera takes a series of photos and then automatically selects the one it deems to have the sharpest focus.

Custom Image Presets
In the scene mode setting, there are 9 advanced Scene Modes -- Portrait with Face AF, Portrait, Night Portrait, Landscape, Night landscape, Sunset, Dusk/Dawn and Fireworks show. The 7 seven basic scene modes include Party/Indoor, Panorama assist, Beach/Snow, Back light, Museum, Copy and Sports. Four of the 16 scene modes include Scene Assist, which has a selection option to help the user compose pictures with the help of framing guides displayed on the monitor. These should be plenty of modes for most people, though if you require esoteric modes like Baby2, Auction or Cuisine, keep looking.

Playback Mode
Since it’s a higher-end “performance” model, creative playback options are kept to a minimum in the P3/P4. In playback mode, there’s a basic slide show setting for reviewing your images and an in-camera cropping option for trimming your images. Nikon’s D-Lighting will brighten dark areas in an image automatically. The In-Camera Cropping lets the user crop out the unwanted bits in the camera. With In-Camera Red-Eye Fix, the menu system will automatically fix the red eye. These are all typical features off Nikon cameras.

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