Nikon Coolpix P5000 Review

AUTO record mode offers very few menu options, just image resolution and quality. The "10M" icon indicates the image resolution is 10-megapixels at Fine quality and there's 395 pictures remaining at the current image resolution. The zoom lens gauge is shown for a few moments whenever the focal length is changed. The "VR" indicates the vibration reduction system is enabled.

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. You will also see the selected shutter speed and aperture values across the bottom.

Program AE mode is also automatic but it allows the user full access to all the menu options (see below.) You can also use the "Flexible Program" option, where you can choose different combinations of shutter speed and aperture by rotating the command dial.

Shutter priority mode allows you to specify the shutter speed and the camera selects the correct aperture. Select a fast shutter speed to freeze fast-moving subjects or use a slower shutter speed to capture flowing water. Rotating the command dial changes the shutter speed values.

Aperture priority mode allows you to specify the aperture value for depth of field (focus) control. A larger number is more depth of focus, a smaller number is less. Rotating the command dial changes the shutter speed values.

Manual is for more experienced users, here you select both the shutter speed and aperture value. While you are adjusting the values, an exposure compensation meter is displayed to help you dial in the settings for optimum exposure (not shown.)

P/S/A/M mode menu:

Image Quality - Fine, Normal, Basic
Image Size - 10M, 5M, 3M, 2M, 1M, PC, TV, 3:2, 16:9
Optimize Image - Normal, Softer, Vivid, More Vivid, Portrait, Custom, Black-and-white
White Balance - Auto, Custom WB, Daylight, Incandescent, Fluorescent, Cloudy, Flash
ISO Sensitivity - 64, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 2000, 3200
Metering - Matrix, Center-weighted, Spot or Spot AF area
Continuous - Single, Continuous, Continuous flash, Interval timer
BSS - Best Shot Selector: On or Off (Shoots up to 10 frames and then automatically saves the best [sharpest/clearest] one)
Auto Bracketing - Off, ±0.3, ±0.7, ±1.0
AF area mode - Auto, Manual, Center
AF Mode - Single AF or Full-time AF
Flash exp. comp. - ±2EV in 1/3EV steps
Flash control - Auto, Built-in off
Fixed aperture - The aperture remains constant as you zoom (On or Off)
Noise reduction - On or Off
Converter - None, Wide-angle converter, Telephoto converter

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, and "right" adjusts exposure compensation. You set these options via onscreen popups as shown above.

Scene mode options include: Face Priority AF, Portrait, Night Portrait, Landscape, Night Landscape, Sunset, Dusk/Dawn, Fireworks Show, Close Up, Party/Indoor, Panorama Assist, Beach/Snow, Back light, Museum, Sports.

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 rotating the Mode dial to the "wavy hand" position. 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.

Hi ISO also helps reduce the effects of camera shake by boosting the sensitivity as high as 1600, which helps ensure faster shutter speeds is lower lighting. Just remember, as the sensitivity is increased, so it the noise.

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. Although the P5000 with this new VR enhancement will definitely help handheld macros like the one above.

The VR Normal mode can be selected during movie recording and helps compensate for hand and camera movement.

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, 15fps
Smaller Size 160 - Color 160 x 120 pixels, 15fps
Time-Lapse Movie - Capture up to 1800 images at specified interval and then create a silent 640x480 movie at 30 fps.
Sepia movie 320 - 320 x 240 pixels, 15fps
B&W movie 320 - 320 x 240 pixels, 15fps
Autofocus mode - Single or Full-time AF