Nikon Coolpix L100 is a fully automatic point and shoot digital camera capable of taking 10 megapixel photos and with 15x zoom lens. The camera has quite a low price, but a reasonable set of features which ought to be more than satisfactory for amateurs.
Nikon Coolpix L100 pros:
+ 10 megapixel photos
+ 15x optical zoom
+ 3-inch 230,000 dot LCD
+ Low noise
+ Plenty of scene modes
+ Simple to use
+ Effective image stabilization
+ Feels comfortable and durable
Nikon Coolpix L100 cons:
- Limited ISO range
- Images tend to be too soft
- Video recording only in standard definition
- No manual modes
The design:
Nikon Coolpix L100 measures 110 x 72 x 78 mm and weighs 355 grams so it might seem a bit big, but it only helps you hold it tight which is especially important when you zoom in to the 15x that the camera offers. The design of the Nikon Coolpix L100 is quite simplistic. The front of the camera houses only the 15x zoom lens and the AF assist lamp. The back features the 3-inch 230,000 dot LCD, flash lamp, Mode button, playback, menu and delete buttons and the 4-way circular button with timer, flash, exposure compensation and macro. The right side of the Nikon Coolpix L100 is completely bare, whereas the left side houses the speaker and I/O port cover. The bottom of the camera houses the tripod mount and the battery and memory card chamber hidden under a latch. The top of the camera features the pop-up flash, zoom control, power button and the shutter button.
Performance:
The Nikon camera has five color modes. Some of them are quite useable, others like Cyanotype, or sepia are in my opinion unnecessary as you may easily apply such effects on your computer. Unfortunately, there is no manual ISO setting so you will have to make do with the automatic one, but as it works pretty good. The camera is capable of taking up to 3648 x 2736 images, or 3584 x 2016 in the 16:9 mode. The image stabilization works fine and is very useful especially if you zoom in to the entire 15x.
The video recording feature in the Nikon Coolpix L100 is rather disappointing as it manages only recording in standard definition (640 x 480). The color accuracy is good, as is the resolution, but the camera records audio only in Mono. So you end up with low resolution videos with rather poor sound.
Image quality:
The Nikon Coolpix L100 has quite good color accuracy, and if you want to make use of the scene modes bear in mind that the vivid may sometimes oversaturate. The noise level is low both in good lighting conditions and in poor light. When it comes to the resolution the Nikon Coolpix L100 does pretty well, but still not good enough. Even a year ago results that we achieved with this digital camera would be just fine, but now it scores slightly below the average. The images tend to be too soft and with some slight distortions.
Conclusion:
If you know that you lack some professional knowledge and the high end digital SLRs might be too complex for you and you do not intend to record videos with your digital camera the Nikon Coolpix L100 should be the right choice for you. Also, considering its low price it might be an excellent present for older children.
Nikon Coolpix L100 features and specifications:
- Effective pixels
10.0 million
- Image sensor
1/2.33-in. CCD; total pixels: approx. 10.7 million
- Lens
15x Zoom-NIKKOR; 5.0-75.0mm (35mm [135] format picture angle: 28-420mm); f/3.5-5.4; Digital zoom: up to 4x (35mm [135] format picture angle: 1680mm)
- Focus range (from lens)
50cm (1 ft. 8 in.) to infinity (∞); Macro close-up mode: 1cm (0.4 in.) to infinity (∞)
- Monitor
3-in., approx. 230k-dot, TFT LCD with anti-reflection coating
- Storage media
Internal memory (approx. 44 MB), SD/SDHC memory cards*1
- Image size (pixels)
3648 x 2736 (High: 3648★/Normal: 3648), 2592 x 1944 (Normal: 2592), 2048 x 1536 (Normal: 2048), 1024 x 768 (PC: 1024), 640 x 480 (TV: 640), 3584 x 2016 (16:9: 3584), 1920 x 1080 (16:9: 1920)
- Vibration Reduction (VR)
Image sensor shift VR
- ISO sensitivity
Auto (auto gain ISO 80-800), High sensitivity mode*2 (ISO 720-3200)
- Interface
Hi-Speed USB
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