Nikon Coolpix P5000

Auto Mode (7.5)
The auto mode automates just about everything except image size and quality. The only options that can be adjusted are located on the multi-selector: flash, exposure compensation, macro, and self-timer. The auto mode is the only green-colored position on the mode dial while all others are labeled in black. This makes it easier to find when in a hurry. The P5000’s auto mode is everything it should be: easy.

Movie Mode (6.75)
The Nikon Coolpix P5000’s movie mode is easily accessible from the mode dial. It offers auto exposure controls like exposure compensation and macro shooting. These options are easy to access from the multi-selector. Videos can be recorded at a max of 640 x 480 pixels at 30 or 15 fps. Frame rate is only adjustable at this resolution; 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. 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.

The movie mode’s recording menu isn’t very extensive. It includes only video size and single and full-time auto focus mode options. The single auto focus mode is only good for subjects that don’t move anywhere – which makes an extremely boring movie. The full-time auto focus is reliable, quick, and quiet.

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 weren’t very clear. On top of that, the audio picks up the constant hum of the camera, which is much louder than most cameras. At the end of movie clips, the audio cut off about a half-second before the video actually stopped – a disappointing quirk.

The optical zoom itself isn’t functional while recording movies. Only the digital zoom works and it makes subjects look like piles of colorful blocks because of the poor resolution. The stabilization system can be activated in the setup menu and helps the 3.5x optical zoom lens. Movies can be played back on the camera but not edited. The videos recorded with the Nikon P5000 are decent, but the audio isn’t that good.

Drive / Burst Mode (5.75)
The P5000’s initial specs claim a 3 fps burst mode but it didn’t shoot this fast. It shot about one frame per second and stopped to record images to the memory card after seven shots. The Continuous item in the recording menu had single, continuous, continuous flash, and interval timer settings. The continuous flash mode shot just as fast – or as slow – as the continuous mode but stopped after three images. The interval timer snaps pictures up to the capacity of the memory card in intervals of 30 seconds or 1, 5, 10, 30, or 60 minutes. The camera powers down after each shot and then up again just before the next shot to conserve energy.

Generally the camera is slow. It takes its time processing photos after capture, reviewing in the playback mode, and even firing the flash. Unfortunately the burst mode continues this trend. The Nikon P5000 is supposed to be a good camera for enthusiasts but this slow burst mode is a huge blow to that audience.

Playback Mode (7.25)
Pictures and videos can be viewed in the playback mode, which is accessible from the central button to the left of the LCD screen. The multi-selector and control dial can be used to scroll through the images. The control dial is much more comfortable as there is less repetitive stress on the thumb. Viewing individual pictures quickly isn’t flawless. When an image first appears, it takes about a quarter-second to fully load with good resolution. The picture appears fuzzy at first, then with better resolution.

The Nikon Coolpix P5000 also allows pictures to be viewed as index screens of nine pictures at a time. The shooting info can be hidden or viewed with a push of the Display button. There are some editing features, although there isn’t any editing available for videos. All of the playback mode’s features are laid out in the playback menu, which 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 from the camera.

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 (7.5)
The P5000’s scene modes are as follows: 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. On previous models, these four scene modes offered framing assists but those are not available on the P5000.

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 too. On the Coolpix P5000, though, it resides in the scene mode menu.

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 yellow smiley face and makes it hard to see the real face. It doesn’t track well and looks worse compared to newer face recognition technology now available on Canon, Fujifilm, and Samsung digital cameras.

There are two preset modes located on the mode dial: High ISO and Anti-Shake. Both use high ISO sensitivities, although they are designed for different uses. The High ISO mode is meant to be used in low light and the Anti-Shake mode is meant to be used when the camera is zoomed in or the flash is turned off. Both were effective at reducing blur but also showed more noise and less fine details in images.