Nikon Coolpix 8400Nikon Coolpix 8400 ReviewPhil Askey, January 2005

Preview based on a production Coolpix 8400, Firmware v1.1The eight megapixel wide angle zoom Coolpix 8400 was announced along with the Coolpix 8800 and Coolpix 4800 on 16th September in the run-up to Photokina 2004. By its name its clear that the Coolpix 8400 is intended as the direct successor to the 2003 five megapixel Coolpix 5400 which also featured a wide angle zoom lens, although not as wide as the 8400s impressive 24 mm equiv. On paper then the 8400 appears to be a highly capable eight megapixel prosumer digital camera with a new (and unique) 24 - 85 mm equiv. (3.5x) zoom lens. Its probably worth noting that other than the body design and lens system the 8400 and 8800 are virtually identical in specification and features.Major changes since the Coolpix 8700 (the only previous Nikon 8mp)New Extra JPEG compression (larger JPEG, lower compression)Movie clips at VGA 30 fps up to 60 sec, QVGA limited only by storageNine focus areas in manual area select, five areas in autoAdditional scene modes: Museum, Sports, Dusk / DawnHybrid AF system (combines external sensor and CCD information)Maximum shutter speed down to 1/3000 sec from 1/4000 secContinuous shooting up to 2.3 fps from 1.9 fpsFlash range up to 6.0 m at wide angle (compared to 4.1 m) - Auto ISOFlash hot-shoe supports i-TTL and flash zoomPlayback zoom up to 10xIncluded Infrared remote controlNo Compact Flash card includedUSB 2.0 Hi-SpeedHigher capacity Lithium-Ion battery (8.1 Wh vs. 5.0 Wh)Nikon Coolpix 8400 vs. Coolpix 5400 (differences) Nikon Coolpix 8400Nikon Coolpix 5400SensorLensImage sizesMovie clipsImage formatsAuto focusContinuousMax shutter speedSaturation levelsFlashFlash rangeExternal flashLCD monitorViewfinderPlayback zoomStatus LCDPowerConnectivityRemote controlDimensionsWeight (inc batt)

• 2/3" Type 8.3 million pixels total• 8.0 million effective pixels	• 1/1.8" Type 5.2 million pixels total• 5.0 million effective pixels
• 3.5x optical zoom "Nikkor ED " • 24 - 85 mm equiv.• F2.6 - F4.9	• 4.0x optical zoom "Nikkor ED"• 28 - 116 mm• F2.8 - F4.6
• 3264 x 2448• 3264 x 2176 (3:2)• 2592 x 1944• 2048 x 1536• 1600 x 1200• 1280 x 960• 1024 x 768• 640 x 480	• 2592 x 1944• 2592 x 1728 (3:2)• 1600 x 1200• 1280 x 960• 1024 x 768• 640 x 480
• 640 x 480, 30 fps, max 60 sec• 320 x 240, 15 fps, unlimited• With audio• Timelapse movie also available
• JPEG (EXIF 2.2) - 4 levels • RAW• TIFF	• JPEG (EXIF 2.2) - 3 levels• TIFF
• Hybrid (external sensor and CCD)• 9 area manual• 5 area auto	• CCD TTL• 5 area manual• 5 area auto
• High (2.3 fps; up to 5 frames)• Low (1.2 fps; up to 11 frames)	• High (3 fps; up to 7 frames)• Low (1.5 fps; up to 18 frames)
1/3000 sec	1/4000 sec
• Auto, +2 to -2, B&W	• +2 to -2, B&W
Pop-up	Fixed
• Wide: 0.5 - 6.0 m (Auto ISO)• Tele: 0.5 - 3.0 m (Auto ISO)	• Wide: 0.5 - 4.5 m (Auto ISO)• Tele: 0.5 - 2.8 m (Auto ISO)
• Hot-shoe• Supports i-TTL and flash zoom	• Hot-shoe• D-TTL, no flash zoom
• 1.8" TFT LCD (transmissive)• 134,000 pixels• Flip-out and twist• High refresh rate	• 1.5" TFT LCD• 134,000 pixels
• Electronic Viewfinder (0.44" LCD)• 235,000 pixels	Optical viewfinder
Up to 10x	Up to 6x
Yes, top of camera	No
• Lithium-Ion EN-EL7 rechargeable• 7.4 V, 1100 mAh (8.1 Wh)	• Lithium-Ion EN-EL1 rechargeable• 7.4 V, 680 mAh (5.0 Wh)
USB 2.0 (Hi-Speed)	USB 1.1
Included Infrared	Optional wired
113 x 82 x 75 mm(4.4 x 3.2 x 3.0 in)	108 x 73 x 69 mm(4.3 x 2.9 x 2.7 in)
470 g (16.6 oz)	380 g (13.4 oz)

Nikon Coolpix 8400 Two cameras, the same heart

After a brief look at the specs and a hands-on it was clear that the Coolpix 8400 and 8800 shared the same heart; CCD, processor, menus, image processing) battery, LCD monitor, EVF, a similar control layout as well as other features. As a buyer therefore you can choose simply between a smaller 3.5x wide-angle zoom or for $100 more a large 10x telephoto-zoom with VR. The differences between the two cameras are detailed below.Nikon Coolpix 8400 vs. Coolpix 8800 (differences) Nikon Coolpix 8400Nikon Coolpix 8800PriceLensAuto FocusImage stabilizationFlashDimensionsWeight (inc batt)Review

US: $899 MSRP, $799 Street	US: $999 MSRP, $899 Street
• 3.5x optical zoom "Nikkor ED" • 24 - 85 mm equiv.• F2.6 - F4.9	• 10x optical zoom "Nikkor ED " VR• 35 - 350 mm equiv.• F2.6 - F4.9
Hybrid (external AF & CCD)	Contrast detect CCD
No	Nikon VR (lens element)
• Pop-up (90 degree flip-up)• Electronic release• Range W: 0.5 - 6.0 m• Range T: 0.5 - 3.0 m	• Pop-up (raises)• Electronic release• Range W: 0.5 - 6.0 m• Range T: 1.0 - 3.0 m
113 x 82 x 75 mm(4.4 x 3.2 x 3.0 in)	116 x 85 x 121 mm (4.6 x 3.3 x 4.8 in)
470 g (16.6 oz)	680 g (1.5 lb)
Click here	Click here

Images which can be viewed at a larger size have a small magnifying glass icon in the bottom right corner of the image, clicking on the image will display a larger (normally 1024 x 768 or smaller if cropped) image in a new window.To navigate the review simply use the next / previous page buttons, to jump to a particular section either pick the section from the drop down or select it from the navigation bar at the top.DPReview calibrate their monitors using Color Vision OptiCal at the (fairly well accepted) PC normal gamma 2.2, this means that on our monitors we can make out the difference between all of the (computer generated) grayscale blocks below. We recommend to make the most of this review you should be able to see the difference (at least) between X,Y and Z and ideally A,B and C.

This article is Copyright 2005 and may NOT in part or in whole be reproduced in any electronic or printed medium without prior permission from the author.

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