Photo Review Reviews section

Nikon D3000

9 Rating

Nikon’s latest entry-level DSLR adds an intuitive Guide mode to provide hassle-free photography for novice users.The D3000 slots into Nikon’s DLSR line-up below the D5000, replacing the D60 and D40x at the entry level position. Although not the smallest in its class, the D3000 is nonetheless compact as befits its target market. Offering 10.2 megapixels of effective resolution, it provides lots of features that will appeal to first-time DSLR buyers. However, it doesn’t support live view shooting or video recording.

Nikon D3

9 Rating

Nikon’s top-of-the-range professional DSLR with an outstanding variety of shooting options and pictorial controls.Unveiled at the end of August, along with the D300 ‘pro-sumer’ model, Nikon’s D3 is targeted at press photographers and is the first Nikon DSLR with a full-frame image sensor. Photographers can select from three image areas: FX format (36 x 24mm), DX format (24 x 16 mm) and 5:4 (30 x 24mm), with automatic detection when DX format lenses are used. Areas not covered by the sensor when the smaller formats are selected are automatically masked in the viewfinder. The D3 can use lenses designed for both FX and DX formats and will automatically recognise a DX lens when it is fitted.

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 L100

8.5 Rating

An affordable extended-zoom digicam for point-and-shoot photographers.In its Coolpix L100 model, Nikon has entered new territory with an extended zoom camera for snapshooters. Powered by four AA batteries, it provides four, highly-automated capture modes for still photography plus a movie mode that records VGA or QVGA clips at 30 frames/second. Don’t expect P, A, S and M shooting modes; you won’t find them. But you will find an interesting Sport continuous mode that records 3-megapixel shots at 13 frames/second for up to 30 frames.

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.

AF-S Nikkor 24-120mm f/4G ED VR Lens

8.5 Rating

A versatile, but quite expensive, 5x standard zoom lens that covers a popular focal length range for general photography.Announced in mid-September 2010, the AF-S Nikkor 24-120mm f/4G ED VR is an update to the popular 24-120mm f/3.5-5.6 VR that features a constant f/4 maximum aperture across the focal length range. Designed for Nikon’s FX (36 x 24 mm sensor) cameras, it is also usable with the company’s DX models, where it covers a focal length range equivalent to 36-180mm.

AF-S Nikkor 400mm f/2.8G ED VR Lens

9 Rating

The smallest of Nikon’s super-fast telephoto lenses.Nikon’s huge AF-S Nikkor 400mm f/2.8G ED VR lens is so big it comes in its own special suitcase. At almost $13,000 its price tag is beyond the reach of even the most serious enthusiasts but, when we were offered it for review we felt it would be interesting to road test a lens that only a very specialised cohort of professional photographers would use – primarily sports photographers.