The Nikon Coolpix L12 is a very simple digital camera. Even for a point and shoot type model it has a reduced set of features that make it easy to use. The Coolpix L12 has seven megapixels and a three times zoom lens. It is likely to appeal to someone who is looking for a no fuss digital camera and does not want to spend a fortune.

Aside from the macro shot which I will describe in more detail in a while the test photos I took with the Coolpix L12 are well above average for this type of digital camera. One of the most noticeable differences is just how sharp the photos are.

The best example of the increased sharpness that this camera offers is the first outdoor photo. Starting with the brickwork in the centre of the shot the focusing is clearly better than with other similar models. Even as you work your way out from the centre towards the edges the sharpness levels remain high. The colours are also strong in this photo. Whereas many of the cameras I test have a habit of turning blues into purple, the Coolpix L12 does a good job of retaining colour levels.

Another difficulty that the Coolpix L12 handles well is sun glare. This is another area where this camera outperforms many others.

When the zoom lens is not used as in the second outdoor shot focusing levels do slip away. This is something I am used to seeing with consumer compacts.

The third photo is with the lens zoomed into its full capacity. Focusing levels improve again and this is another above average photo.

Throughout my tests I have been happy with the colour levels. They are not quite as strong as some cameras offer. This can help them to have a more natural feel.

There is one photo though that I think could have had a touch more colour. That is the outdoor portrait. It is not a bad photo, but a bit more colour may have added some extra zest to the shot.

Moving indoors I was pleasantly surprised by the way the Coolpix L12 handled my lowlight tests. Both the indoor portrait and the extreme lowlight test show that the camera is still able to focus in poorer lighting. Even so never expect too much indoors or in lowlight from any small compact. Different lighting situations can cause a problem.

If you are looking for a camera to handle close up shots then this is not the camera for you. For a start the Coolpix L12 can only focus from 15cm away from the subject. At that distance the camera struggles to really bring out the detail. The image is of low quality and after you have cropped the image to produce a close up you will struggle to make a print.

ISO levels are set automatically by the Coolpix L12. Therefore I am unable to run my normal tests to see how the camera performs at different ISO levels.

I was able to take a single shot in 0.42 seconds and five photos in 12.78 seconds. These are a bit above standard times. With the flash on a single photo took 0.59 seconds and five photos took 39.76. Flash recycling times are a very serious problem for the Coolpix L12. In fact I have never seen a cameras struggle like this. So shutter delay is a bit longer than I like to see for a single shot, but if you are planning to fire off a couple of shots with the flash on here and there then you are in for problems.

You can compare this camera to other models by taking a look at the Shutter Lag Comparison Table.

For a cheaper digital camera the build quality of this camera is good. Available in silver or black it is almost small enough to fit into a pocket. It has a slightly raised area on the front to help you hold it steady while taking a shot.

91 x 61 x 26mm

125g

Two AA batteries power the camera. Nikon estimates you should be able to take around 150 shots with standard alkaline batteries before they need replacing.

21mb of storage have been built into the Coolpix L12. I was able to take 20 photos before the memory was full. The camera is compatible with SD cards.

Click here to save money on SD cards.

Very Good - There isn't much you should struggle with when using the Coolpix L12. It helps that the camera has a relatively basic set of features. There are a few buttons to get used to on the back of the camera, but once you have mastered these you should be well on your way.

Build quality - picture sharpness - overall picture quality

Macro mode - shutter lag with flash on

Whether or not the Nikon Coolpix L12 is the right camera for you will depend to a large degree on the type of photos you are planning to take. It handles most photographic situations well. Unless you are planning to use your digital camera for a lot of close up photography then the Coolpix L12 is well worth considering.

Front View

Back View

Top View

Sample Menus

Description:	7 megapixels and a 3 times zoom lens
Ease of Use:	9
Features:	7
Colour:	8
Macro:	4
Indoors:	8
Value for Money:	9
Style:	8
Movie Mode:	8
Image Quality:	8
Build Quality:	8
Total:	77
Verdict:	The Nikon Coolpix L12 is a relatively inexpensive digital camera. The results of my tests suggest it is one of the better starter digital cameras on the market. I was particularly impressed with the sharpness of the photos. This camera has fewer features than similar models and this helps to make it easy to use.
Review Date:	June 2007
Click for:	Specification Sample Images Features

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Although every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information on this site, please make sure you double check the feature set and specification at the point of purchase.

Nikon Coolpix L12