The AUTO record mode turns the Coolpix 5400 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.

Screen view in Program AE mode. In addition to LED indicators located next to the viewfinder, the Coolpix 5400 also puts these indicators on the LCD screen. The "SB" icon indicates the condition of the speedlight and the "AF" icon indicates the auto focus status.

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 1/4000 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.) Aperture settings from F2.8 to F7.9 in ten stops (wide angle) are available.

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 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 five 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 15fps with audio at 640x480 (VGA) or 320x240 (QVGA) resolution. The maximum length of a movie clip is 70 seconds in VGA or 180 seconds in QVGA resolution. Movies are saved in standard QuickTime MOV format.

The optical zoom can not be used while recording movies but it can be preset before you press the shutter button. The digital zoom can be used during recording but it will result in a degraded image.

Shooting Menus

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

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

Continuous - Single, Continuous High (3fps up to 7 frames), Continuous Low (1.5fps up to 8 frames), Multi-Shot 16 (16 frames @ 2fps), Ultra High-Speed (QVGA 30fps up to 100 frames) or 5 Shot Buffer (saves last 5 frames @ 1.5fps)

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

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 (3fps up to 7 frames), Continuous Low (1.5fps up to 8 frames), Multi-Shot 16 (16 frames @ 2fps), Ultra High-Speed (QVGA 30fps up to 100 frames) or 5 Shot Buffer (saves last 5 frames @ 1.5fps)

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 Quality/Size - Quality (HI (TIFF uncompressed), Fine, Normal, Basic), Size (5M 2592x1944, 2M 1600x1200, 1M 1280x960, PC 1024x768, TV 640x480, 3:2 2592x1728)

Sensitivity - 50, 100, 200, 400, Auto

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

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

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 - Flash exposure compensation, Control (Auto, Internal+External, Internal off), Repeating flash (on/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