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.

Pressing the mode button brings up this virtual mode dial. Rotating the 4-way selector/jog dial allows you to choose from Auto, High ISO, Scene, Voice recording, Movie and Setup options.

Record mode 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, Multi-Shot 16 or Intvl timer shooting
BSS - Best Shot Selector: On or Off (Shoots up to 10 frames and then automatically saves the best [sharpest/clearest] one)
ISO sensitivity - Auto, 50, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 2000
Color options - Standard color, Vivid color, B&W, Sepia, Cyanotype
AF area mode - Auto, Manual, Center

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, "right" adjust exposure compensation, and "down" changes the focus mode. You set these options via onscreen popups as shown above.

Scene mode options include: Portrait, landscape, Sports, Night Portrait, Party/Indoor, Beach/Snow, Sunset, Duck/Dawn, Night Landscape, Close Up, Museum, Fireworks, Copy, Back light, Panorama assist, and Image mode.

On-touch Portrait mode uses Face Priority AF, which detects the presence of a human face in the frame and focuses on it.

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.

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
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
Time-lapse Movie - Without sound 30fps
Stop-motion movie - Make a movie using still images (5, 10 or 15fps)
Autofocus mode - Single or Continuous AF