Nikon Coolpix P5100

Picture Quality / Size Options (8.0)
The most visible upgrade from the P5000 is the P5100’s resolution. The older model has 10.1 megapixels but the new one has 12.1 effective megapixels. The image sensor is larger than most at 1/1.72 inches and there is a total of 12.43 megapixels on it. The image quality options can be found at the top of the recording menu: 4000 x 3000, 3264 x 2448, 2592 x 1944, 2048 x 1536, 1600 x 1200, 1280 x 960, 1024 x 768, 640 x 480, 3984 x 2656 (3:2), 3968 x 2232 (16:9), and 2992 x 2992 (1:1). This is more than most photographers will ever use and covers lots of aspect ratios – 4:3, 3:2, 16:9, and 1:1. The 1:1 ratio is a brand new option found on the P5100 and very few other digital cameras.

The P5100 shoots fine, normal, and basic JPEG image files, but no RAW! The P5000 doesn’t shoot RAW either. Perhaps Nikon is counting on the fact that P5100 owners have DSLRs that shoot RAW and wouldn’t care for it on their compact cameras. This may be true, but there will always be a few photographers who want to shoot in RAW no matter what camera or circumstance – and that’s just not possible on the P5100.

Picture Effects Mode (7.5)
The P5100 comes with a healthy set of picture effects despite its more serious and Photoshop-savvy target audience. In the recording menu there is a long list of effects including normal, softer, vivid, more vivid, portrait, custom and black & white. These are intended to simulate different types of film much like Canon’s Picture Styles on its DSLRs.

Some of Nikon’s effects can even be customized. Obviously the "custom" option offers more controls than most: users can adjust the contrast, sharpening, and saturation. The black & white effect can also be customized with contrast, sharpening, and a monochrome filter that simulates yellow, orange, red, and green color filters. Users can also choose to record two copies of an image: black & white and color. With this palette of effects, Nikon is approaching its competition and the P5100 makes itself more attractive to less seasoned photographers who value in-camera effects more than software editing programs.