The AUTO record mode turns the Coolpix 8400 into an easy to use Point-n-Shoot camera. There is no menu of options available in this mode, all you can change is the image size or quality.

When the shutter is half-pressed the flash and auto focus is set and the SB and AF indicators let you know their status along with the selected shutter speed and aperture is displayed.

The Program AE mode is also an automatic mode however the user has access to a wide variety of menu options. Onscreen icons here indicate exposure compensation (+0.3), fluorescent white balance, sharpening set to less, red-eye reduction flash mode and Spot AF mode enabled. The zoom lens indicator is displayed for a few moments whenever the focal length is changed.

Press the DISP button to toggle the histogram or framing grid overlays.

In the Shutter speed priority mode the user selects the desired shutter speed and the camera automatically selects the aperture to match it. Slow shutter speeds will blur moving objects whereas fast shutter speeds will "freeze" them. Shutter speeds from 8 seconds to 1/3000 second are available.

In Aperture priority mode the user selects the desired aperture and the camera automatically selects the shutter speed to match it. This mode allows the user to control the depth of field (range of focus.) Ten aperture settings in 1/3EV steps are available up to a minimum of f/7.

In Manual record mode the user has full control of both the shutter speed and aperture. To assist you in getting the exposure correct there is an onscreen metering display. Change the shutter speed or aperture until you get the center box lit to insure proper exposure. Exposures up to 10 minutes are available with the BULB setting.

The Scene mode gives you access to 15 pre-programmed exposure modes that help novice users to get the best possible pictures in everyday to unusual shooting situations.

Scene modes include: Portrait, Party, Night Portrait, Beach/Snow, Landscape, Sunset, Night Landscape, Museum, Fireworks, Close up, Copy, Back light, Panorama assist, Sports and Dusk/Dawn.

Press and hold the MF-AF button and rotate the Command Dial to Manual Focus the lens. An onscreen distance gauge will be displayed but the screen is not enlarged so critical focusing can often be difficult on the small LCD screen.

The user can manually select one of nine AF points if desired or the camera can automatically select it based on scene content.

Pressing the Quick Review button displays the last picture captured onscreen in the upper left 1/4 of the screen. Press the Quick Review button again and it is displayed full screen. You can quickly go back to record mode by tapping the shutter release at any time.

In Movie mode you can record motion video at 30fps with audio at 640x480 (TV mode) up to 60 seconds or 320x240 (Small movie) resolution at 15fps up to 895 seconds. Movies are saved in standard QuickTime MOV format.

Options are available for Sepia or B&W movie capture in the Small movie mode. Single AF or Continuous AF focus modes. Electronic VR helps reduce camera shake during motion video recording, it can't be used in Time-lapse mode.

Time-lapse movie mode lets you capture up to 1050 still images at specified intervals and joins them to create a 640 x 480 resolution silent movie at 30fps.

Shooting Menus

Pressing the MENU button brings up the one page MY MENU.

Sensitivity - Auto, 50, 100, 200 or 400

Focus options - AF area mode (Auto, Manual, Off), AF mode (Single, Continuous), Manual Focus confirmation (On, Off)

Metering - Matrix, Spot, Center-weighted averaging or Spot AF Area

Continuous - Single, Continuous High, Continuous Low, Multi-Shot 16, Ultra High-Speed or 5 Shot Buffer

BSS - Best Shot Selector (up to 5 images are captured and only the "best" one is saved)

Image Adjustment - Auto, Normal, More Contrast, Less Contrast

Show all menus - see next frame below

Selecting "Show all menus" gives you access to three pages of menus

White balance - Auto, Preset, Daylight, Incandescent, Fluorescent, Cloudy, Speedlight

Metering - Matrix, Spot, Center-weighted averaging or Spot AF Area

Continuous - Single, Continuous High, Continuous Low, Multi-Shot 16, Ultra High-Speed or 5 Shot Buffer

BSS - Best Shot Selector (up to 5 images are captured and only the "best" one is saved)

Image Adjustment - Auto, Normal, More Contrast, Less Contrast

Saturation Control - Maximum, Enhanced, Normal, Moderate, Minimum, B&W

User Setting - Select one of the two user presets

Image mode - Quality (HI [TIFF uncompressed], RAW, Extra, Fine, Normal, Basic)
Size (8M, 5M, 3M, 2M, 1M, PC, TV, 3:2)

Sensitivity - 50, 100, 200, 400, Auto

Image Sharpening - Auto, High, Normal, Low, Off

Lens - Auxiliary lens settings for Wide adapter, Telephoto or Fisheye

Exposure Options - AE Lock, Set maximum Bulb duration

Focus Options - AF Area Mode, AF Mode (Continuous or Single), Focus Confirmation

Zoom Options - Digital Zoom on/off, Fixed aperture on/off Speedlight Options - Pop up (Auto, Manual), Flash exposure compensation (+/-2.0), Control (Auto, Internal+External, Internal off)

Auto Bracketing - Set the step value and the number of frames for the AEB or enable white balance bracketing

Noise Reduction - Enable noise reduction for exposures longer than 1/30 sec

Reset - Reset all parameters to default values.

My Menu - Select the options shown on the My Menu page

CF Card Format - Format the CF card