Nikon Coolpix L12 Review

AUTO record mode is the point-n-shoot mode that lets anyone get great pictures with little or no fuss. The "7M*" icon indicates the image resolution is 7-megapixels at Fine quality, VR is enabled, and there's 237 pictures remaining at the current image resolution. The zoom lens gauge is shown for a few moments whenever the focal length is changed (not shown above.)

When you half-press the shutter release the autofocus is locked and the exposure is calculated and set. If autofocus was successful the AF dot icon is green, if it fails it is red and blinks.

Record mode menu:

SET UP - Enter the Setup menu
Image mode - 7M* High, 7M Normal, 5M Normal, 3M Normal, PC, TV, 16:9
White balance - Auto, Custom WB, Daylight, Incandescent, Fluorescent, Cloudy or Speedlight
Continuous - Shooting mode: Single frame, Continuous or Multi-Shot 16
BSS - Best Shot Selector: On or Off (Shoots up to 10 frames and then automatically saves the best [sharpest/clearest] one)
Color options - Standard color, Vivid color, B&W, Sepia, Cyanotype

The Menu option in the Setup menu, lets you change the menu screen display from icon (shown above) or text format. You can call up HELP for any menu function by pressing the "T"elephoto zoom button.

Pressing the 4-way selector "up" changes flash modes, "left" enables the self-timer and "down" changes the focus mode, and "right" adjusts exposure compensation. You set these options via onscreen popups as shown above.

Scene mode options include: Portrait, Landscape, Sports, Night portrait, Party/Indoor, Beach/Snow, Sunset, Dusk/Dawn, Night Landscape, Close Up, Museum, Fireworks Show, Copy, Back Light, Panorama Assist, and Voice Recording. You can also change the image resolution from this menu.

Face Priority AF mode actually detects the presence of a human face in the frame and focuses on it. Some of the other portrait scene modes have onscreen framing guides to help you properly position your subject for the desired effect.

Anti-Shake mode is activated by pressing the dedicated button for this mode on the top of the camera. It enables VR, BSS as well as boosts the ISO sensitivity to ensure faster shutter speeds, which helps reduce the effects of camera shake in your low light shots. The flash is disabled.

Movie mode options:

TV Movie 640* - Color 640 x 480 pixels, 30fps
Small Size 320* - Color 320 x 240 pixels, 30fps
Small Size 320 - Color 320 x 240 pixels, 15fps
Smaller Size 160 - Color 160 x 120 pixels, 15fps
Stop-motion movie - Make a movie using still images (5, 10 or 15fps)
Autofocus mode - Single or Continuous (Full-time) AF