Nikon Coolpix P5000

8.5 Rating

A compact, high resolution digicam with functions to appeal to keen photographers.After a couple of years of producing mainly point-and-shoot digicams, Nikon caters once again for enthusiast photographers with its new Coolpix P5000 model. Reminiscent in style of the Coolpix 5400, the P5000 is not only considerably smaller but boasts double the resolution, with a 10-megapixel imager. Interestingly, the sensors in both cameras are the same size. However, the zoom lens is shorter and the widest angle of view only equates to 36mm in 35mm format. The LCD is larger and has higher resolution but it’s also non-adjustable. Raw file capture is no longer supported.

Nikon Coolpix L5

8 Rating

An affordable high-resolution compact digicam with a 5x optical zoom lens and effective image stabilisation.In some respects a cut above the standard point-and-shoot digicam, Nikon’s Coolpix L5 combines a 7.2 megapixel CCD imager with a 5x optical zoom lens. Lens-shift vibration reduction (VR) is provided to help users capture blur-free pictures. This type of image stabilisation has been derived from Nikon’s SLR lens technology and it’s the most effective of the options available.

Nikon Coolpix 5900

Compact, light and easy to use, Nikon’s Coolpix 5900 has the same grip as the Coolpix 5200 and 4200 models but sports a larger, 2-inch LCD screen. The sensor appears to be the same as the 5200’s but Nikon has redesigned the Graphic User Interface (GUI) so users can select functions on the main menu by either name or icon. This helps to reduce the excessive toggling required to set some functions on the Coolpix 5200. The mode dials and controls on both models are identical although, in the 5900, most buttons are pushed to the right by the big LCD screen.

Nikon Coolpix 5200

The test camera delivered sharp images with natural-looking colours, although the overall colour bias was slightly cool and exposures favoured shadow detail. Shots taken in bright sunlight had blocked-up highlights, but no sharpening artefacts were detected. Backlighting was handled well and no obvious colour fringing was detected.

Nikon Coolpix S710

8 Rating

A slim, high-resolution digicam with an advanced suite of manual controls.The S710 is the flagship model in Nikon’s S (for Stylish) range of Coolpix cameras. Featuring a 14.5-megapixel CCD sensor and 3.6x optical zoom lens with VR lens-shift stabilisation, it provides a useful range of user-adjustable controls in a compact, solidly-built body. Image processing is based on Nikon’s EXPEED chip, which promises fast response times and adds some potentially useful automated functions.

Nikon Coolpix P80

8 Rating

A stylish 18x zoom digicam with a 10-megapixel sensor and P, A, S and M shooting modes.Nikon’s Coolpix P80 combines a 10-megapixel sensor with an 18x ‘superzoom’ lens that offers wide-angle shooting at the equivalent of 27mm in 35mm format. The overall zoom range (which extends to the equivalent of 486mm) provides a useful span of focal lengths with relatively wide maximum apertures. The camera body is compact and well designed with a comfortable rubber-coated grip and thumb rest. Weighing just over 390 grams with battery and card, it provides a useful suite of manual controls.

Nikon Coolpix P500

8 Rating

A smart-looking digicam with a 36x zoom Nikkor lens, 12.1-megapixel, back-illuminated CMOS sensor and Full HD video recording. Nikon’s 12-megapixel Coolpix P500, which was announced in early February, is the higher-featured model of two that replace the Coolpix P100, which has been on sale for roughly a year. Featuring a back-illuminated CMOS sensor, it boasts a 36x zoom Nikkor lens, the longest so far in a Coolpix camera. It spans focal lengths from the equivalent of 22.5mm at the wide position to 810mm at full tele zoom.

Leica Digilux 3

8.5 Rating

Retro styling and a high-performance lens will attract traditionalists to this capable DSLR camera.In its new Digilux 3 DSLR, Leica has once again partnered with Panasonic to produce a digital camera with a body design that’s reminiscent of Leica’s rangefinder cameras but with electronics that are purely Panasonic. However, this time, the liaison between Olympus and Panasonic has also contributed to the new camera’s design and functionality. The image sensor appears to be the same 4/3 type Live MOS chip that was developed by Panasonic and first used in the Olympus E-330.

Konica Minolta DiMAGE Z2

Konica Minolta’s DiMAGE Z2 offers 10x optical zoom and 4-megapixel resolution, with a plastic body and EVF. The camera’s design and small LCD panel make using the EVF preferable in most shooting situations, despite its tendency to become streaky in bright conditions. Autofocus is fast and focus confirmation is provided in the P, A, S, M and sports modes when continuous AF is selected.

Fujifilm FinePix F550 EXR

8.8 Rating

A compact, travellers’ digicam with built-in GPS, raw file support, some useful shooting modes and Full HD video recording.Fujifilm’s FinePix F550 EXR steps into the competitive ‘travellers’ zoom’ sector of the digicam market, providing a few advantages over its main rivals. For photo enthusiasts, its most critical benefits are P, A, S and M shooting modes plus support for raw file capture. Add in a 15x zoom lens plus support for Full HD movie recording and you have a feature-rich, all-in-one imaging device with a very competitive price tag.