The Nikon Coolpix P5100 is a 12 megapixel digital camera with a 3.5x optical zoom lens. The focal length of the lens is equivalent to 35 - 123mm on a 35mm camera. 4x digital zoom is also available.

• Self timer
• Wide print and special 6 x 4" print resolutions
• Vibration reduction (image stabilisation)
• Add 20 seconds of voice commentary to a photo
• Use as voice recorder
• Panorama assist for wide, panoramic shots
• Settings for softer, vivid, more vivid, portrait and black and white
• Sharpness, contrast and saturation can be adjusted
• Increase brightness of photo after it has been taken

Manual focusing is available. For close up shots there is a macro mode that allows you to focus from 4cm away from the subject. There is also a special face detection mode for portrait shots.

The LCD screen is 2.5 inches in size and is made up of around 230,000 pixels. I found the screen very easy to see even in bright sunlight.

A viewfinder is also available.

The flash unit works to a maximum range of 8m. There is a hotshoe for adding an external flash unit. The flash modes are Auto, Red-Eye reduction, Off, On and Slow sync. Flash exposure compensation can also be applied.

The scene modes available are portrait, landscape, sports, night portrait, party/indoor, beach/snow, sunset, dawn/dusk, night landscape, close up, museum, fireworks show, copy and backlight.

TV quality movies can be recorded at a maximum resolution of 640 x 480 pixels and a top speed of 30 frames per second. Sound can be captured and zoom can be applied while recording is in progress.

Other movie options include being able to shoot computer quality movies in black and white and sepia. You can also capture time lapse movies.

Fully manual exposure as well as aperture and shutter priority is available. The aperture range can be set between f2.7 and 7.6 (wide) / f5.3 and 7.3 (tele).

You also have access to White Balance (Auto, Custom, Daylight, Incandescent, Fluorescent, Cloudy, Flash), ISO (64, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 2000, 3200, Auto (auto gain ISO 64-800)), Metering (Matrix, Centre Weighted, Spot, Spot AF area) and Exposure Compensation (+/-2 in 0.3 steps).

There are two continuous shooting settings. One is for flash and one without. There is also a Best Shot Selector and a Multi Shot 16 feature. The Best Shot Selector takes a burst of shots and then keeps the one the camera considers to be the best. The Multi Shot builds 16 mini photos into single grid style image.

Bracketing is also available up to +/- 1 in 0.3 steps.

Wide angle (WC-E67) and telephoto (TC-E3ED) conversion lenses can be purchased separately to increase the capacity of the lens. In order to fit these lenses you will also need a lens adapter (UR-E20).

All the necessary cables and software are supplied to connect the camera to a compatible printer, television and computer. Nikon Coolpix P5100

Description:	12 megapixels and a 3.5x optical zoom lens
Ease of Use:	8
Features:	9
Colour:	9
Macro:	9
Indoors:	9
Value for Money:	9
Style:	9
Movie Mode:	8
Image Quality:	9
Build Quality:	9
Total:	88
Verdict:	"The Nikon Coolpix P5100 is one of the more advanced compact digital cameras. It has many features you would expect to find on an SLR, but retains a certain ease of use. Picture quality is very good and the camera feels good in the hand. Recommended"
Review Date:	November 2007
Related Pages:	Nikon Coolpix P5100 Specification Nikon Coolpix P5100 Sample Images Nikon Coolpix P5100 Features

Camera	Rating
Canon Powershot G10	91
Nikon Coolpix P6000	89

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 P5100