Nikon Coolpix P510 Digital Camera Review

Shooting Modes

The control scheme is competent, but nothing special. It's a standard mix of auto, manual, and scene presets that we've come to expect from any reasonably well-equipped superzoom.

Manual Controls

The P510 has a few noteworthy manual controls. The jog dial in the upper-right corner of the rear panel helps to cycle through aperture or shutter settings, as well as the menu system. There's an auxiliary zoom tilter on the lens barrel as well, which can be reassigned as a manual focus adjuster (though manual focus is predictably useless, as it is with most compact cameras).

A user-definable custom setting is available on the mode dial, too, as is a customizable color profile setting.

Focus

In good lighting, at the wide end of the focal range, focus is as quick as we'd hope for out of a superzoom. It slows down notably in dimmer lighting, and especially as the focal length extends. But generally, it's quick and accurate.

Recording Options

The P510 maxes out at 16.1 megapixels in a standard 4:3 aspect ratio. It can also shoot in a few lower resolutions, as well as in 16:9, 3:2, and 1:1 aspect ratios. It's a JPEG-only camera; no RAW capture.

Other Controls

In addition to typical controls like autofocus, white balance, ISO, bracketing, and so on, the P510 also allows user adjustments to higher-level parameters including noise reduction, sharpening, contrast, and saturation.

Noise Reduction Filter

There are three noise reduction settings: Normal (the default setting), High, and Low.

Sharpening

Sharpening can be adjusted on a scale of 1 to 5 in the Picture Control (color mode) menu.

Contrast

Contrast can be adjusted on a scale of 1 to 5 in the Picture Control (color mode) menu.

Saturation

Saturation can be adjusted on a scale of 1 to 5 in the Picture Control (color mode) menu.