Nikon Coolpix L3 Review

AUTO record mode is the point-n-shoot mode that lets anyone get great pictures with little or no fuss. The "5M*" icon indicates the image resolution is 5-megapixels at Fine quality and there's 200 pictures remaining at the current image resolution. The zoom lens gauge is shown for a few moments whenever the focal length is changed.

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 - 5M* High, 5M Normal, 3M Normal, PC, TV
White balance - Auto, Custom WB, Daylight, Incandescent, Fluorescent, Cloudy or Speedlight
Exp +/- - Exposure compensation
Continuous - Shooting mode: Single frame 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 lets you display menu screens in icon 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. You set these options via onscreen popups as shown above.

Scene mode options include: 4 modes with Scene assist (Portrait, Landscape, Sports, Night Portrait), 11 Scene modes (Party/Indoor, Beach/Snow, Sunset, Dusk/Dawn, Night Landscape, Close Up, Museum, Fireworks Show, Copy, Back Light, Panorama Assist), Voice Recording.

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.

Nikon macro tip #1 - a lot of people never read their user manuals and don't know the "secret of the sweet spot" - in macro mode run your zoom in and out until you see the macro flower icon turn green (or yellow on some Coolpix cameras). This is the setting that allows you to shoot the closest possible shots. And by all means, use a tripod and the self-timer for the sharpest possible shots.

Movie mode options:

TV Movie 640* - Color 640 x 480 pixels, 30fps
TV Movie 640 - Color 640 x 480 pixels, 15fps
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
Autofocus mode - Single or Continuous AF