Overview
The Nikon Coolpix L18 is an 8 megapixel digital camera with a 3x optical zoom lens. This is an entry level digital camera.
Why Buy The Nikon Coolpix L18
The main reason for looking to buy this Nikon digital camera is the fact it is simple and easy to use. Another attraction is the fact you can pick up a camera from a respected brand like Nikon for a relatively low price.
Main Features
Megapixels:
Zoom:
LCD Screen:
Dimensions:
Weight:
8
3x
3 inches
95 x 61 x 29.5mm
130g
HD Movies:
Manual Controls:
Batteries:
Memory Cards:
No
No
AA
SD/SDHC
Image Quality - See Sample Images Below
Outdoor Scenic Shots in Good Light
This is a very bright picture. It is a sunny scene, but I think the brightness is a little overdone. The Coolpix L18 has struggled to cope with the sun. This has lead to a loss of detail on the boats and problems with the colours too. Some of the blue lines have taken on a greenish tinge.
This is a better effort. The colours are deeper and the shot is sharper as well. There is some softening of the photo as you move towards the edges, but this should only become an issue with larger prints.
As you move towards the right in this picture focusing starts to lose its definition. There are also issues where the Coolpix L18 finds it difficult to handle the sunny conditions again, with the green tinge creeping back into the picture in places.
As I have mentioned with other photos this Nikon digital camera has a tendency to lose sharpness as you move towards the edges of a shot. This test really highlights the problem with a loss of sharpness to the left and right of the building.
Portraits
Looking at this shot I get a similar feeling to the first outdoor test shot. The levels of brightness wash out a little too much colour for me.
This is without doubt my favourite test shot taken with this camera. Without flash the picture has a great natural feel to it. The Coolpix L18 will work well for natural light portrait shots.
I like this photo too. Here the colours work well and the shot is in sharp focus. The camera has managed to handle the indoor portrait tests better than any other type of test.
Macro and Colours
My macro test shot was very disappointing. Although you shouldn't expect miracles from this type of camera I was very disappointed to produce such an out of focus effort. On top of this the Coolpix L18 digital camera can only focus from 15cm away from a subject. This means that my test shot is heavily cropped.
There have been some colour issues during my tests. Some test shot could do with a colour boost while others have had a problem with a green tinge in sunny conditions.
Summary
I'm left feeling a bit disappointed with my test shots. The macro shot is especially disappointing, but I am also concerned by the way the camera handles sunny conditions and the loss of focusing towards the edges of scenic shots.
Style
The Coolpix L18 has a slightly raised area on the front helping you to grip the camera and hold it steady. I would describe it as a functional digital camera rather than a beautiful model.
Shutter Lag Times
Single Shot
Five Shots
Single Shot With Flash
Five Shots With Flash
1.7 seconds
20.54 seconds
1.98 seconds
24.63 seconds
Ease of Use
This is one of the most straightforward digital cameras you are likely to find. This is mainly because the Coolpix L18 does not have an especially wide range of features.
Points I Like
Ease of use - indoor test in natural light
Where it Could Improve
Macro mode - shutter lag - overall picture quality
Verdict
If you have read through the review you will realise the Nikon Coolpix L18 is not my favourite camera. In my view there are much better entry level digital cameras around.
Product Shots
Front View
Back View
Top View
Sample Menus
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Related Pages
Nikon Coolpix L18 Review Nikon Coolpix L18 Specification Nikon Coolpix L18 Sample Images Nikon Coolpix L18 Features Nikon Digital Cameras
Review Date
May 2008
