Nikon Coolpix P5000 - Cosmetics
(Page 2 of 4 )
The P5000 offers the user a very solid and comfortable feel, even with one handed operation. The rubber grip gives the user a secure grip on this camera, and also adds to the impressive looks. The P5000's texture gives the appearance of leather (though it's not), and it sports silver accents that work really well in the look of this camera.
This compact camera weighs in at about 8.1 ounces, and its dimensions are 3.9x2.5x1.6 inches. The size of this camera is great, and it can easily fit into your coat pocket to take along on trips or to social events, where you may not want a large DSLR camera to lug around. It's pretty rare to be able to have a camera this small and lightweight, and also have 10 megapixels to work with to create extremely sharp images with vivid colors.
The button configuration on the P5000 is pretty well laid out, making it relatively easy to navigate through different functions and operations. Most of the functions of this camera are accessed by way of one of the two dials that sit on top of the camera. This is the mode dial, which is similar to other Nikons; it offers options such as auto, manual, Hi ISO, and video, among others. The zoom controls are positioned around the shutter release button, making it very easy to zoom in and out and take pictures, even with one hand.
The 2.5 inch LCD screen is very sharp and shows 100% of the frame. It does not, however, fare well in bright lighting situations, such as outside on a sunny day, where it is very tough to see the screen well. You can get around this flaw by using the optical viewfinder to take pictures in brightly lit situations, although the viewfinder only shows 80% of the shot. The viewfinder also comes in handy when the battery is running low, and it allows you to turn off the LCD screen to save power.
The P5000 also comes equipped with a function button that can be set to whatever function the user desires. The command dial is used to scroll through the various menus. It seems to be very smooth, and offers a fast way of navigating through the menus. This dial can also be used to change the exposure settings. In addition to the command dial, you may also navigate through menus and options with the four-way rocker switch, which is also used during record mode to give the user direct access to flash, timer, AE-Comp, and macro mode.
The design of the P5000 is very user-friendly and functional. It is very comfortable to hold, with a good solid feel. The button configuration is set up really well and provides easy access to the various functions of the camera. Nikon has done a great job at designing this camera, wrapping impressive functionality into a small, attractive body.
Next: Features >>
More Digital Cameras Articles
More By Joe Eitel
