Nikon Coolpix L5 Review
Review Date: December 11th 2006
Author: Gavin Stoker
Leave
a comment about this Review
Image Quality
All of the sample images in this Review were taken using
the 7M Fine mode, which gives an average image size of around
2 - 3Mb.
Noise
There are no selectable ISO settings available on the Nikon
Coolpix L5, just an Auto setting. Although there is noise
visible in shadow areas, its level of intrusion is more than
acceptable, given its price and the beginner market at which
the L5 is pitched.
Sharpening
Here are two 100% crops which have been Saved as Web - Quality
50 in Photoshop. The right-hand image has had some sharpening
applied in Photoshop. The out-of-the camera images are very
slightly soft at the default sharpening setting and benefit
from some further sharpening in a program like Adobe Photoshop.
Unfortunately you can't change the in-camera sharpening level.
Chromatic Aberrations
Although the Nikon Coolpix L5 displays some pixel fringing
between areas of high contrast on close inspection, it's by
no means the worst offender in its price bracket.
Macro
The Nikon Coolpix L5 offers a Macro setting that allows you
to focus on a subject that is 4cms away from the camera when
the lens is set to wide-angle. The first image shows how close
you can get to the subject (in this case a compact flash card).
The second image is a 100% crop.
Flash
The flash settings on the Nikon Coolpix L5 are Auto, Auto
with Red-eye Reduction (In-Camera Red-Eye Fix), Off, Fill
flash, and Slow sync. These shots of a white coloured wall
were taken at a distance of 1.5m.
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
|
Auto Flash - Telephoto (190mm) |
| |
 |
| |
|
And here are some self-portraits. As you can see, the Flash
On setting caused quite obvious red-eye. with the Red-Eye
Reduction option reducing the effects (although not entirely).
|
|
Flash On (100% Crop) |
| |
 |
| |
|
|
|
Flash - Red-Eye Reduction (100%
Crop) |
| |
 |
| |
|
Night Shot
The Nikon Coolpix L5's maximum shutter speed is only 4 seconds,
which is not good news if you're seriously interested in night
photography. The shot below was taken using a shutter speed
of 1 second at f/2.9 at ISO 200. Here is a 100% crop of the
image to show what the quality is like.
|
|
Night Shot (100% Crop) |
| |
 |
| |
|
Overall Image Quality
Although the Nikon Coolpix L5 displays some pixel fringing
between areas of high contrast on close inspection, it's by
no means the worst offender in its price bracket. With Vibration
Reduction set to 'normal', delivered images are reassuringly
sharp, given that this is still an entry level model, while
colours – left to full auto default – are realistically and
naturally rendered. Greens in particular are lushly convincing
and reds vividly saturated. Skin tones are slightly cool,
if we're being picky. Unsurprisingly the L5 delivered its
best, most evenly exposed and uniformly sharp results under
clear blue skies. And although there is noise visible in shadow
areas, its level of intrusion is more than acceptable, given
its price and the beginner market at which the L5 is pitched.
Overall a better than expected performance from the Nikon
Coolpix L5; although hardly class-leading overall, the beginner
market should be more than happy with the results straight
from the camera.
 PhotographyBLOG
is a member of the DIWA
organisation. Our test results for the Nikon Coolpix L5 have
been submitted to DIWA
for comparison with test results for different samples of
the same camera model supplied by other DIWA
member sites.
Compare Prices
Support PhotographyBLOG: Buy the Nikon Coolpix L5 from
one of our affiliate retailers:
|
RSS
Feeds
