In summary
Physically, the Coolpix 8400 looks like a chunky version of the 5-megapixel Coolpix 5400 but has a wider angle of view, an electronic viewfinder and larger monitor, plus an LCD data display on the top panel. The menu systems are identical in both cameras but the 8400’s flash pops up and the mode dial sits above the command wheel on the top left corner of the camera body. . . [more]
Full review
Nikon Coolpix 8400
Physically, the Coolpix 8400 looks like a chunky version of the 5-megapixel Coolpix 5400 but has a wider angle of view, an electronic viewfinder and larger monitor, plus an LCD data display on the top panel. The menu systems are identical in both cameras but the 8400’s flash pops up and the mode dial sits above the command wheel on the top left corner of the camera body.
On test, the Coolpix 8400 produced sharp, well-exposed pictures with accurate colours and a good dynamic range. However we detected traces of blooming and sharpening artefacts with contrasty shots, and noise was evident in shadowed areas and low light shots at high ISO settings. The test camera took roughly three seconds to power up and shut down and we measured an average capture lag of 0.6 seconds, which reduced to 0.15 seconds with pre-focusing. The high-speed burst setting captured five shots at 0.45 seconds intervals, while the low speed setting recorded shots at 0.8 second intervals. It took 35 seconds to clear the memory buffer, both for burst shooting and high-res TIFF images – and the camera locks during this process. White balance performance was above average.
Strengths
- 24-85mm equivalent lens
- Nine selectable focus areas in manual; five in auto
- VGA movie clips up to 60 seconds at 30fps
- Flash hot shoe for iTTL Speedlights
Weaknesses
- Complex menu system
- Noise at high ISO settings
- Slow to process large files
- Untethered lens cap [BG05]
Specifications
Image sensor: 8.8 x 6.6mm CCD with 8,310,000 photosites (8.0 megapixels effective)
Lens: 6.1-21.6mm f2.6-4.9 Zoom-Nikkor ED (24-85mm in 35mm format)
Zoom ratio: 3.5x optical, up to 4x digital
Lens multiplier factor: 3.8x
Dimensions (wxhxd): 113 x 82 x 75mm
Weight: 400g (without battery and card)
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Ted’s Cameras
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Big range of cameras and photographic products with stores in most states and online.
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