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Nikon Coolpix P5100

Nikon Coolpix P5100 Nikon Coolpix P5100 Review, November 2007 Richard Butler & Simon Joinson

Based on a production Nikon Coolpix P5000 Firmware version 1.0 Announced just six months after the launch of the P5000, the Nikon P5100 is a gentle re-working of the existing model with a slightly larger, more pixel-dense sensor and hardware-based face-detection. Beyond that, the changes are predominantly cosmetic alterations to the existing model. The camera is Nikons flagship compact camera, with the P denoting performance. Although it may not visually leap out from a line-up of contemporary compacts, its magnesium alloy body and manual exposure controls belie the unassuming appearance. It aims to offer a greater degree of manual control than the majority of compact cameras and has a strong feature set to help it stand apart. We were actually very impressed with the P5000s image quality and feature set, and only really complained about the sluggish performance. So has Nikon fixed the P5000s Achilles heel in this update? Lets find out! Differences compared with P5000Faster, hardware-based face-detection, allowing more faces to be identifiedExpeed processing conceptContinuous flash shooting mode (3 consecutive frames at ~1fps)Distortion control to counteract lens distortionImproved user interfaceMarginally larger sensor making the lens slightly wider-angle (35mm vs 36mm)Fractionally shorter battery life (240, rather than 250 shots, CIPA standard)1:1 aspect ratio shooting modeCan add black borders to images

Unlike the names applied to image processors by many of Nikons rivals, Expeed doesnt specifically refer to any particular technology or set of features. Rather, it is a "digital image-processing concept," so shouldnt be taken to imply any kinship to the D3 and D300 DSLR models that share the name, beyond the the use of similar Nikon algorithms and know how. Key features12 megapixel 1/1.8-inch CCD3.5x Zoom-Nikkor lensLens shift VR (Vibration Reduction)ISO 64-1600 (3200 in 5MP mode)BSS (Best Shot Selector) identifies and saves the sharpest image automatically from ten sequential shotsP/A/S/M modes plus 16 scene modesCompatibility with system-expanding accessoriesMacro shooting enables shooting from as close as 4cm (1.6 in.)SDHC card compatibilityApprox. 52 MB of internal memoryFace-priority AF, In-Camera Red-Eye Fix, D-Lighting2.5-in wide viewing angle TFT LCD with anti-reflection coatingNikon Coolpix P5100 specifications Street priceBody MaterialSensorImage sizesMovie clipsFile formatsLensImage stabilizationConversion lensesDigital zoomFocusAF area modesAF assist lampFocus distanceMeteringISO sensitivityExposure compensationExposure bracketingShutter speedApertureModesScene modesWhite balanceSelf timerContinuous shootingImage parametersFlashViewfinderLCD monitorConnectivityPrint complianceStoragePowerWeight (No batt)Dimensions

• US: $370• UK: £260

Metal and plastic

• JPEG Exif V2.2• DCF• DPOF • Motion JPEG AVI

Lens-shift VR

Yes (optional)

up to 4x

• Contrast Detection AF• Macro• Infinity lock

Yes

• Through-the-lens (TTL) metering• 256-segment matrix• Spot• Center-weighted• Spot AF area

• Auto (64 - 800)• ISO 64• ISO 100• ISO 200• ISO 400• ISO 800• ISO 1600• ISO 2000 • ISO 3200 (5MP or lower only)

• -/+ 2EV• in 1/3 EV steps

1/2000 to 8 s

• Six blade iris diaphragm• 10 (in steps of 1/3 EV)

Face-priority AF, Portrait, Landscape, Sports, Night Portrait, Party/Indoor, Beach/Snow, Sunset, Dusk/Dawn, Night Landscape, Close up, Museum, Fireworks show, Copy, Back Light, Panorama Assist, Voice recording

• 10 or 3 secs

Normal, Softer, Vivid, More vivid, Portrait, Custom, Black-and-white

• Built-in• Range: (W) 0.3 to 8.0m (1 ft. to 26 ft. 3 in.), (T) 0.3 to 4.0m (1 ft. to 13 ft. 1 in.)• Flash Hot Shoe• Auto, Auto with red-eye reduction, Anytime flash, Flash cancel, Slow sync., Rear-curtain sync.

• Real-image zoom viewfinder• Approx 80% vertical x 80% horizontal

• 2.5-in wide viewing angle TFT LCD with anti-reflection coating• 230,000-dot• Approx 97% vertical x 97% horizontal (record mode)

• USB• AV out (NTSC / PAL)

PictBridge, DCF, DPOF, EXIF print

• SD / SDHC / MMC card (optional) • Approx 52MB internal memory

• Rechargeable Li-ion Battery EN-EL5 (supplied)• AC Adapter EH-62A (optional)

Approx. 200 g (7.1 oz.) without battery and SD memory card

Approx. 98 x 64.5 x 41 mm (3.9 x 2.5 x 1.6 in.) excluding projections

Conclusion / Recommendation / Ratings are based on the opinion of the reviewer, you should read the ENTIRE review before coming to your own conclusions.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 (typically VGA) 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.

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