Nikon Coolpix 5200 Review
Review based on a production Nikon Coolpix 5200
Announced in February 2004 (alongside an otherwise identical 4MP camera, the Coolpix 4200), the Coolpix 5200 represents the latest in a long line of ever-smaller Nikon compact cameras that stretches all the way back to the late 1990's. Although the Coolpix 5200 echoes the basic design of the previous generation of Nikon Compacts (the 3200 and 4200), it is a good deal smaller, thanks no doubt to the use of an all-metal (Aluminum) body, rather than Nikon's more usual plastics. Nikon has managed to squash an impressive amount of power into the 5200's diminutive body (which is only a shade larger than a credit card), including an all-new ED glass 3x zoom lens, automatic red-eye removal, 15 (count 'em) scene modes, scene-assist functions (with overlays to ensure you put the subject in the right part of the frame) and a 30 frames per second movie mode. Here's just a few of the Coolpix 5200's headline features:
- 5MP resolution
- 3x Nikkor ED zoom lens with aspherical element
- In-camera automatic red-eye removal
- 15 scene modes
- 640x480 pixel, 30fps movie mode
- Best Shot Selector - takes a series of shots and chooses the sharpest for you
- White Balance and exposure bracketing
Key specifications
| Street price | • US: $480 • UK: £280 |
|---|---|
| Body Material | Aluminum |
| Sensor | • 1/1.8 " CCD, 5.26 million total pixels • 5.1 million effective pixels |
| Image sizes | • 2,592 x 1,944 • 2,048 x 1,536 • 1,600 x 768 • 640 x 480 |
| Movie clips | • 640x480 @ 30 frames per second |
| Lens | • 38 - 114mm equiv. (3 optical zoom) ED Nikkor |
| Focus | • TTL Contrast detection AF • AF illuminator • 5 area automatic selection • 99 area manual area selection • 1.6-inch/4cm closest focus (macro mode) |
| Shooting mode | • Auto |
| Sensitivity | • Auto (ISO64-200) • ISO 64,100,200,400 |
| White Balance | • Auto • 7 presets • Manual |
| Image parameters | • Contrast (3 levels) • Sharpening (3 levels & off) • Saturation (3 levels) |
| Continuous | 2.5 fps, up to 21 frames |
| Flash | • Built-in • Auto, Manual on/off, Red-eye reduction: on/off, Slow sync: on/off • Range (Auto ISO): W 0.3 - 4.5 m (1.0 - 14.5ft), T 0.3 - 3.5 m (1.0 - 11.5 ft) |
| Storage | • Approx 12MB of internal memory • SD/MMC slot |
| Viewfinder | • Real Image Optical • Approx coverage 75% |
| LCD monitor | • 1.5 " TFT, 110,000 pixels • approx 100% coverage |
| Connectivity | • USB 1.1 • A/V out • DC-IN |
| Power | • EN-EL5 rechargeable Lithium Ion (supplied with charger) • (optional AC adapter*) |
| Other features | • Best Shot Selector |
| Weight (no batt) | 155 g (5.5 oz) |
| Dimensions | 88 x 60 x 36.5mm (3.46 x 2.4 x 1.44in) |
* Supplied accessories may differ in each country or area
If you're new to digital photography you may wish to read the Digital
Photography Glossary before diving into this article (it may help
you understand some of the terms used).
|
Conclusion / Recommendation / Ratings are based on the opinion of the reviewer, you should read the ENTIRE review before coming to your own conclusions. Images which can be viewed at a larger size have a small magnifying glass icon in the bottom right corner of the image, clicking on the image will display a larger (typically VGA) image in a new window. To navigate the review simply use the next / previous page buttons, to jump to a particular section either pick the section from the drop down or select it from the navigation bar at the top. DPReview calibrate their monitors using Color Vision OptiCal at the (fairly well accepted) PC normal gamma 2.2, this means that on our monitors we can make out the difference between all of the (computer generated) grayscale blocks below. We recommend to make the most of this review you should be able to see the difference (at least) between X,Y and Z and ideally A,B and C. |
 |
This article is Copyright 2004 and may NOT in part or in whole be reproduced in any electronic or printed medium without prior permission from the author.
