The Nikon Coolpix P5000 is a point and shoot camera aiming at the upper end of the market at thos who don't want to lug around a larger DSLR.

The Nikon Coolpix P5000 is a 10 megapixel camera with a 3.5x optical zoom lens, optical image stabilization an aperture range of f/2.-5.3 and a 2.5 inch LCD screen. It share the same processing system as the popular D80 DSLR (although has a smaller image sensor).

Lastly it is able to be used with Nikon Speedlight external flash units making it an attractive digital camera for serious photographers looking for a point and shoot camera. The new COOLPIX P5000 demonstrates the style, performance and ease of use that has earned Nikon its reputation for producing cameras with cutting-edge technology and consistently excellent results.

The COOLPIX P5000 combines stylish looks and a solid yet lightweight feel with a range of features that enable the user to explore creativity behind photography. Textured finish gives the appearance of real leather and a new grip with grid-pattern rubber allows the user a comfortable secure hold.

It is the range of fun and exciting features that makes this camera stand out from the crowd. An impressive 10 megapixels of sharp resolution enable the photographer to capture images with incredible detail, even after enlargement. Picture quality is further guaranteed by Vibration Reduction, which compensates for the blurring that can be caused by camera shake or lower light. A light sensitivity range up to ISO 3200 also enables the COOLPIX P5000 to capture quality images of fast-moving subjects or poorly-lit scenes.

This new model is designed to ensure an experience of smooth, easy use for the photographer. The COOLPIX P5000 is highly responsive, offering swift start-up and fast continuous shooting. The new Mode dial provides quick access to a selection of 16 different scene-optimised modes, seven movie modes, Anti-Shake mode and High-Sensitivity mode. Images can be composed carefully, and the excellent results appreciated immediately, on the high-quality 2.5 inch LCD screen.

The COOLPIX P5000 has compatibility with a number of add-on system components that extend the creative possibilities of this new model. A variety of lens options enable the experimental user to explore different ways to use the camera. The COOLPIX P5000 comes equipped with the 36-126mm Zoom-Nikkor lens which delivers excellent results when shooting anything from portrait to panorama, but this can be swapped for the Telephoto Converter lens which extends the reach of the zoom to 378mm for long-distance shots, or the Wide-angle Converter lens which realises a focal length of 24mm.

With the COOLPIX P5000, the user can achieve results that should be shared with family and friends. This camera comes bundled with Nikon’s complimentary PictureProject software which makes editing pictures, organising shots and sharing images remarkably simple.

Nikon COOLPIX P5000 Feature Highlights

Superb image quality
Excellent imaging quality is a priority for the COOLPIX P5000, from the 10.0 effective megapixels of outstanding resolution produced by its 1/1.8-inch RGB CCD and improved high-performance image -processing engine, to its powerful 3.5x Zoom-Nikkor lens and lens shift VR.

VR image stabilization
The COOLPIX P5000 features proven optical lens shift VR (Vibration Reduction) technology originally developed for interchangeable lenses used in Nikon SLR camera systems. Angular velocity sensors measure camera movement, calculate the amount of compensation required, and the VR lens unit instantly adjusts position to offset camera shake. Nikon’s exclusive VR system provides the ability to shoot at shutter speeds as much as three steps slower without blurring the image, while also providing a smoother image on the LCD monitor that aids composition. The result is sharper when shooting in low light, when taking advantage of the reach of the 3.5x Zoom-Nikkor lens, or when reaching farther with an optional Telephoto Converter lens.

ISO 3200 capability
Light sensitivity can be manually set as high as ISO 3200*. In Anti-Shake and High-Sensitivity modes, ISO control automatically selects the optimal sensitivity setting for the shot across a range up to ISO 1600.

Anti-Shake mode
A turn of the Mode dial activates High ISO and BSS (Best Shot Selector) in addition to VR (Vibration Reduction), automatically sets the optimal ISO for steady results, and selects the sharpest image from up to ten sequential shots.

Diverse selection of practical shooting modes
The new Mode dial gives access to four exposure modes that appeal to photographers at all levels for greater control over camera operation. Programmed Auto [P] mode automatically selects shutter and aperture settings for optimal exposure.

Shutter-priority Auto [S] lets the photographer select a desired shutter speed, and the camera sets the optimal aperture setting accordingly. Aperture-priority Auto [A] offers 10-step manual control over the aperture setting in 1/3EV increments to let the photographer decide depth of field, while the camera automatically adjust the shutter speed to achieve optimal exposure. Manual [M] exposure mode gives the photographer full control over both the aperture and shutter speed settings. In addition, a selection of 16 scene-optimized Scene modes and seven different movie modes can be easily accessed via the Mode dial and high-resolution 2.5-inch LCD.

Compatibility with system-expanding accessories
The COOLPIX P5000 is compatible with optional lens accessories, including the 0.67x Wide-angle Converter (WC-E67) and 3.0x Telephoto Converter (TC-E3ED) lenses. A built-in accessory shoe supports the use of Nikon’s advanced i-TTL flash control for external flashes, including the Speedlight SB-400, SB-600 and SB-800.

Optical viewfinder
The COOLPIX P5000 includes an optical viewfinder, to help achieve accurate composition in direct sunlight and other brightly lit conditions that can sometimes make an LCD monitor awkward to use.

User-friendly menu interface
A new menu interface makes navigating and selecting images straightforward and advanced functions for enhancing or correcting images are easily accessible. This includes the new image optimization settings, which offer a choice of four colour filters for shooting with monochrome filter effects, to barrel distortion control, which can correct images when using a Wide-angle Converter and even display the corrected image on the LCD in real time. The 2.5-inch 230,000-dot LCD monitor with anti-reflection coating makes the menus a greater pleasure to work with, even in bright sunlight.

Innovative Nikon in-camera correction features
The COOLPIX P5000 features a selection of three innovative functions that provide the ability to actually improve the quality of images within the camera. Face-priority AF*automatically finds, then focuses on people’s faces for crisp, clear results time after time. In-Camera Red-Eye Fix automatically compensates to help eradicate traces of the annoying red-eye effect that can sometimes be encountered during flash photography. Completing the set is D-Lighting, which can be applied to improve underexposed images or shots taken with too much backlight. D-Lighting automatically creates a copy of the image with detail added where necessary, but with well-exposed areas left completely untouched.

*ISO 3200 is available only for image sizes of 5M (2592 x 1944) or smaller.
*Face recognition capability may be limited in some shooting conditions.

Nikon COOLPIX P5000 Other Features

• Image optimization
• Light weight with highly compact dimensions
• BSS (Best Shot Selector) identifies and saves the sharpest image automatically from ten
• sequential shots
• Macro shooting enables shooting from as close as 4cm (1.6 in.)
• 4x digital zoom extends compositional freedom
• Histogram display
• Menu available in a choice of 20 languages
• Help function displays simple explanations for functions on the main menu
• Rechargeable Lithium-ion battery EN-EL5 is capable of shooting approximately 250 shots on a single charge
• Time zone function allows setting of home town and the new city time zone for easy image
• sorting after traveling
• SDHC card compatibility
• Approx. 21 MB of internal memory
• USB connectivity enables swift data transfer to computers and other peripherals
• PictBridge support
• Nikon PictureProject software included

Get a Price on the Nikon Coolpix P5000

Nikon Coolpix P5000 Review

DigitalCameraInfo has a first impressions review of the Nikon CoolPix P5000 and writes, "The Nikon Coolpix P5000 is meant to bridge the gap between point-and-shoots and DSLRs. The “performance series” digital camera has some features that will attract Nikon DSLR owners. The P5000 has a hot shoe so users can attach their Speedlight accessory flashes. There is a variety of recording modes from manual to automatic and even a control dial and function button that will be familiar to the DSLR crowd. The camera is compact but still has great handling features. With this in mind, the Nikon Coolpix P5000 is perfect for DSLR owners who don’t want to lug their D200s to dinner or a party and would rather have something compact but still full of features. It does have its caveats like relatively short battery life, and its possible that more caveats will appear on the final model. The preproduction P5000 that I viewed on the PMA show floor had a lot of strange quirks that hopefully won’t appear on the real deal. In the end, the $399 Nikon Coolpix P5000 is a good camera for current Nikon owners, but there are better options for consumers who don’t own Speedlight flashes and don’t care for Nikon’s subpar face priority system."

Photoxels has a review of the Nikon Coolpix P5000 and writes, "The Nikon P5000 gives very good image quality at ISO 64. Noise is controlled up to ISO 200, but higher ISOs are visibly noisy. It features an optical viewfinder and a real six-blade hexagonal iris diaphragm (10 steps in 1/3EV increments). ... With very good image quality and its many practical features, the Nikon Coolpix P5000 will appeal to the serious amateur photographer desiring a compact and light digital camera with an effective image stabilization and full control over camera operations. ... Not only does the Nikon Coolpix P5000 look great and handle well, it also strikes a good balance between ease of use and richness of features: it is point-and-shoot easy to use and also packed-full of practical features advanced photographers like to have in their digital cameras."

Digital Camera Review has a review of the Nikon Coolpix P5000 and writes, "The Nikon Coolpix P5000 provides a 10 megapixel sensor, excellent image and color quality, and an ergonomically excellent camera in a compact, easily portable package. Not only does the camera come with the full auto and specialty modes found in virtually every P&S, but a complete set of manual controls as well. This combined with the optional wide and telephoto converters gives the P5000 a versatility that could attract a varied group of shooters: those new to digital imagery can use the auto functions and be assured of quality images, while photographers who want or need the ability to go semi-automatic or manual get their wish as well."

CNET has a review of the Nikon Coolpix P5000 and writes, "When it comes to image noise, the P5000 fares well in some respects and abysmally in others. ... But across the various ISO settings, color consistency flies out the window. ... That's too bad, because otherwise the P5000 produces very good photos, with excellent exposure, neutral white balance (though the preset renders a little pinkish under tungsten lights), appropriate saturation, and properly selected flash output levels. Though I've seen better, its 640x480, 30fps movie capture will also serve to preserve those embarrassing moments on YouTube forever. It supports only digital zoom in movie capture mode, however."

DPReview has a review of the Nikon Coolpix P5000 and writes, "the P5000 is a product that - like so many we look at - has an achilles heel that we feel is important enough to reduce its rating, because it has a serious effect on the overall usability of an otherwise excellent camera. Put simply it feels sluggish in use and has focus speeds that would have been considered 'average' 5 years ago. For many users it won't be a serious issue, but if you've got used to the focus speeds of the best cameras in this class (some of which focus 2 or even 3 times faster) it's irritating, to say the least, to miss shots because the focus takes too long. I found myself pre-focusing for virtually every shot to avoid the delay. Weighed up against the many positives the sluggish focus has to be put into context; only you will know if the kind of pictures you take are going to be affected by an extra half second or so delay ..."

Trusted Reviews has a review of the Nikon CoolPix P5000 and writes, "the P5000 does have one major saving grace, and that is its excellent image quality. It has a 1/1.8-in type sensor, giving it superior noise characteristics and greater dynamic range than most small compacts, as well as practically eliminating the recurring problems of purple fringes around highlights. The lens is also pretty good, and although it does suffer from significant spherical distortion at wide angle, edge sharpness is very good and there is virtually no chromatic aberration. Despite the relatively strong file compression (average JPEG size is around 2.7MB, very small for a 10MP camera) there don’t appear to be any major problems with compression artefacts. Exposure and colour rendition are outstandingly good, producing rich well-saturated images with good tonal range and plenty of sharp detail. It may take a while to focus on a scene, but the results are usually worth the wait."

Cameras.co.uk has a review of the Nikon Coolpix P5000 and writes, "The big question with the Coolpix P5000 is does the picture quality live up to the features the camera has. I'm pleased to say the answer is yes. From my outdoor test shots I can see that the level of sharpness the lens is capable of is some way above average. On top of this the sharpness stays as you work your way towards the edge of each photo. ... The Nikon Coolpix P5000 is a very handy camera. It has plenty of features, good picture quality and a pleasing design. I like this camera and am happy to recommend it."

ePhotoZine has a review of the Nikon CoolPix P5000 and writes, "The colour rendition is good, and largely what you'd expect, with those bright blues designed for pleasing results straight out of the box. What is an issue is noise with that 10Mp resolution, and here the results are not that impressive. While the levels that are visible at ISO64 and 100 don't really cause concern, it is alarming to see colour shifts at ISO400 and the ISO3200 mode is more like an artists impression than a photo. If the ISO is kept down, you don't mind average performance, then the high resolution, good image quality, the plethora of metering and focussing options and the powerful flash features are all worth having."

PopPhoto has a review of the Nikon Coolpix P5000 and writes, "At ISO 64 and 100, we rank Image Quality as Excellent, thanks to resolution averaging more than 2000 lines, Excellent color accuracy, and noise levels of Low and Moderately Low. Rising noise levels drop overall IQ to Extremely High at ISO 200. And as the noise at ISO 400 crosses into Unacceptable, we still found its pictures quite acceptable. ... keep the ISOs down, and you can pack nearly the picture-taking power of a D40x in a shirt pocket."

Let's Go Digital has a review of the Nikon Coolpix P5000 and writes, "The power of the Nikon Coolpix P5000 is found in the camera itself. The camera will feel comfortable for most photographers, and that makes it worth it. You have to settle for a few shortcomings, but if you can live with that, you truly have a great camera. The Nikon Coolpix P5000 is in my opinion one of the nicest compact cameras available right now, it is really well built. Of course there is always something left to hope for, and the camera is not perfect. A wide-angle lens and RAW format are on my wish list. If Nikon were to fulfill half of my wish list I would be completely satisfied. I recommend it! "

DigitalCameraInfo has a review of the Nikon Coolpix P5000 and writes, "DSLR owners don’t care for picture effects and face recognition as much as they do for a good burst mode and a solid auto focus system – the P5000 has neither of these. The burst mode stutters and the auto focus adds lag time to an already slow camera. The P5000’s constant humming noise coupled with slow processing when viewing pictures makes it seem that the camera is working really hard. The Nikon Coolpix P5000 is meant to bridge the gap between compact digital cameras and DSLRs, but it is definitely weighted towards compact models."

Photography Press has a review of the Nikon Coolpix P5000 and writes, "use this camera at ISO 400 or below with the very excellent optical image stabilisation (VR) switched on and you’ll be happy. Anything else and you’re bumping up against the limitations of a camera with far to many pixels for the size of sensor. ... A cracking package in terms of handling, controls and features that is capable of nice images at lower ISOs, but sluggish AF presented real problems with noise issues also leaving a nasty taste in the mouth."

DPExpert has a review of the Nikon Coolpix P5000 and writes, "If you are happy to keep the ISO setting at 200 or below then the Nikon P5000 will do the job. The excellent auto white balance and exposure work to minimise the effects of noise in indoor shots, but mottled skies are not attractive. This is the only Nikon compact that has an optical viewfinder so it is an important model in the product line."

DCResource has a review of the Nikon Coolpix P5000 and writes, "Photo quality is good, though you'll get the best results if you bump up the sharpness a notch or two. The P5000 took well-exposed photos, with pleasing color, and minimal purple fringing. You won't see noise until you get to the middle of the ISO range, and that's due to a decent amount of noise reduction being applied. This noise reduction produces soft photos, with fine details smeared. While there's not much you can do about the latter, increasing the sharpening setting (which is buried in the record menu) can sharpen things up considerably ... while there's much to like about the Coolpix P5000, it's overall sluggishness left me feeling a bit cold. A firmware upgrade that fixes some bugs and perhaps improves AF performance would be nice, but I'm not holding my breath."

DigitalTrends has a review of the Nikon Coolpix P5000 and writes, "The Nikon Coolpix P5000 is a good camera and would’ve gotten a higher grade if there weren’t issues with responsiveness—saving files as well as focusing. It has a nice feel and is light enough to take anywhere. Overall photo quality was good, not dazzling. Is it a replacement for a D-SLR? Of course not. Still, at under $350 USD, it’s definitely worth considering."

Imaging Resource has a review of the Nikon Coolpix P5000 and writes, "Size is one of the Nikon Coolpix P5000's strongest arguments. Packing this much photographic control and quality into such a light and compact form is an unusual achievement, and its images were beautiful. Time will tell if the Nikon P5000 is a classic Coolpix, but meanwhile, let's call it a "Dave's Pick" by a nose. (If its autofocus were just a bit faster, it'd be a hands-down winner.)"

Steve's Digicams has a review of the Nikon Coolpix P5000 and writes, "I was vary pleased with the overall quality of its 10M/Fine images, with the majority of our samples showing accurate exposure with nice color balance. Noise levels were average, becoming more noticeable as the sensitivity is increased. ... Nikon has created an appealing consumer digital camera with loads of useful features (VR, D-lighting, Face Priority AF, 17 scene modes, etc.) and great image quality. However, shooting performance is not quite up to par with many similarly priced cameras. That said, with an MSRP of US$399 or less, the Nikon Coolpix P5000 is competitively priced for a 10-megapixel consumer model, and is sure to be a popular digicam this year."