Nikon Coolpix 5200 Digital Camera : A great camera for vacations and in the workplace

Cameras are constantly going through innovations, and it has become clear that improvements will always be found. When looking for a camera it is not just the price that people look at, but brand names, and what that camera can do as compared to other makes and models. When it comes down to it though, you are going to look for one that can not only fit into your budget, but will do what you need it to the most.

With the Nikon Coolpix cameras, we have a new breed of miniature cameras that make carrying them around a snap. With the 5200, we have something that fits into the palm of your hand, and does just about everything you would want a camera to do. Not only that, but it is just the right size for your hands, and it can be carried around just as easy as any cell-phone. The added bonus, is that the zoom feature extends the lenses further out than you would think just by looking at it.

The fits into the new generation of cameras, and is very easy to use. In the past Nikon may have been seen as a high-tech type of camera that was more about the spectacular features than about how easy people would be able to learn its use. With the coolpix, they have turned the corner to making their products very user friendly, and this digital camera is as easy as any point-and-shoot camera out there.


What you get with the basic purchase

- Nikon Coolpix 5200 camera
- Spanish and English User Manuals
- Camera strap
- EN-EL5 rechargeable battery (with terminal cover)
- MH-61 battery charger with power cable
- UC-E6 USB interface cable
- EG-CP14 a/v cable
- Ferrite core (for optional EH-62A AC adapter kit)
- Quick Start Guide
- Guide to Digital Photography
- Warranty
- Registration Card
- Picture Project software


Specifications

Effective Pixel Number : 5.1 Milllion
CCD : 1/1.8-in. type (5.26 million total pixels)
Image Size : 2,592 x 1,944
Lens : 3x Zoom f=7.8-23.44mm
LCD monitor : 1.5-in TFT 110,000dot
Storage Media : SD memory Card / Internal Memory aprox. 12MB
Interface : USB interface, Audio/Video output
Power Requirements : Rechargeable Li-ion battery EN-EL5 and AC Adapter
Dimensions : Approx. 3.5 x 2.4 x 1.4 inches
Weight : Approx. 5.5 ounces


System Requirements

Windows 98 and above
Mac OS X or better


Main Features This Camera Has to Offer

Slim compact metal body design.
Advanced red-eye reduction function.
High precision Multi-Area AF with 5 focus areas.
2.5 fps high-speed continuous shooting.
15 Scene Modes including 4 scene assistance.
One-Touch upload to computer or web.
Internal memory stores up to 4 resolution images
TV size movies complete with sound.
Instant Power Up.
SD Memory Card Compatible.
Direct Printing.
Built in Flash.


What does it all mean?

With all of the technical specs, accessories, and a quick look at the goodies that this camera has to offer, I will now delve into an overall review of the product itself. This camera has everything that I could ever want or need in a hand-held camera. With abilities ranging from the simple picture taking, up to being able to shoot simple movies, I have found the camera that will satisfy all my needs.

With the picture taking, you are able to take a maximum or 89 pictures on the SD memory card that is provided with the camera. When ordering the camera you can opt to get a larger size card, to go with the Internal memory of approximately 12MB. This gives you ample picture taking abilities if you are on a trip, or just spending time at an event. As with any digital camera, it makes it easy to simply delete a picture that you are unhappy with, and luckily it gives you 2 prompts just to make sure you are deleting what you meant to. This can save you, if you go through the options and have accidentally selected the wrong picture to wipe from existence. The best part about the camera, is that it is smart enough to take pictures of computer screens. This is something of a benefit to me, because if you have ever taken pictures in a room with a computer, some cameras have a tough time keeping up with the flashing screen. Our eyes don't see that the screen flickers, and at times cameras pick up the flicker. This camera is able to eliminate that, and can actually take a very nice picture of a computer screen if you desire that. In addition, the camera has Shutter Priority, Aperture Priority and Manual exposure modes that can be toggled between depending on what you are doing. All of them are accessed from the Mode Dial, and can be combined in the Program Mode to allow the user to either emphasize depth of field or the speed of capture

The best part of this cameras picture taking capabilities is that it provides bright and vivid pictures. This can be looked at as "touch-up" photography by people who do it for a living, but for the rest of us, it makes the pictures clearer and what can be deemed as higher quality. The built in flash helps to add light to any situation, and is very capable of taking great pictures of skin-tones. The range of this flash extends from 1 foot, up to 15 feet in diameter. I found it to actually be very good at taking pictures of people (although for people like me who are camera weary, this is not a benefit). In addition to that, the camera comes with PictureProject photo management software and the Arcsoft software suite in order to make even further improvements to each photo.

With the movie mode of the camera, you are able to take 179 second film clips that let you capture specific moments that you want on film. At just under 3 minutes of time, it may not seem like a lot, but it was more than enough to do what I needed for it. The best part is that it captures sound to go with the video as well. Playback is immediate, and with the same video, you can start and stop as many times as you need to if you want to splice together different events or "scenes". It is really fun to use, and the cameras quick zoom makes it easy to move the camera around and not lose any of the moment. What would I use it for? Maybe there is an important moment in a softball game I am playing in, and a friend is batting. This can also be used as a tool to see how a person is swinging the bat, and by reviewing the footage with the start/stop/pause, it helps to improve ones game. But that is another review altogether... back to the camera.

The battery lasts somewhere between 2 and 3 hours depending on how active you are about using the camera, and if you are using in non-stop during that time span. The camera batteries can be added as an addition to the purchase online if you are looking at purchasing more than one, and it is not something that takes up a lot of space either. With an adapter, you don't even have to worry about the batteries, but it can be troublesome if you don't like cords. The battery is a Rechargeable Li-ion battery (EN-EL5) x1: approx. 150 frames (CIPA test conditions). So, it is a simple matter of recharging it anytime you want to reuse the camera.

The camera is very sleek in appearance, and with the silver-tone is quite nice to look at. As I stated before, it is very easy to use, and does not try to confuse the user with tons of buttons. On the top you have the on/off button, the picture button, and a toggle switch for the modes. This toggle switch provides little pictures that tell you exactly what the mode does. On the back of the camera we have the LCD screen, with a trash button, a menu button, and a selection button. Each is self-explanatory, and serves the main purposes of the camera. You are either taking pictures, filming a movie, or when not editing, trashing what you don't like. There is then a cursor keypad to the right side of the camera, and at the top right are the two zoom function keys. All of the buttons make it easy to use the camera, and are described well in the booklets. On the right side are the memory card and computer hook-up slots, and the left side is the AV hook up. In addition, on the bottom of the camera, is where the battery is installed.


The Recommendation

The Coolpix 5200 is a great camera for people of all ages. Not only does it present itself as a high-tech camera that can compete with anything else on the market, but its ease of use make it simple for even the most novice user. I found it to be far easier than anything I have had in the past, and in the digital camera realm of things, it is something that will stay current in the market for some time. This is a great purchase for people that like to carry a camera around with them, because it is very light, and it is very easy to snap quick pictures with it. The cost is reasonable for something of this technology, and it is very easy to download the images straight to a computer from it. I highly recommend this camera to anyone that is in the market for something that will not only last a long time, but will provide great picture taking capabilities with very little fuss. The Coolpix 5200's shutter response is a bit slower than average, with lag times ranging from 0.87 to 1.17 seconds, so it might not be quite as fast as some people need, but for me it does the trick.