The Nikon Coolpix P50 is modelled on the P5100, the top model in the Coolpix range. We tested it to see if a stripped-down 8.1-megapixel version of such a top-end camera is worth having, especially when the price is £150.
Design
The P50 has an old-fashioned, boxy feel. The chunky grip for your right hand, complete with rubberised panel, is helpful, but we're not sure about the overall chunky design. We appreciate that not every camera has to be a 'style' model, competing to be the thinnest for five minutes. But to make a camera as wilfully bland as this seems strange.
An indent in the front and a silver plate for the shutter release are all that pass for stylistic flourishes. The mode wheel, buttons and awful zoom rocker are so chunky they seem as though they're designed for a child. If this camera came in red or yellow rather than black or silver it would look like a toy.
There's something toy-like about the screen too, as it measures a distinctly subpar 61mm (2.4 inches). Unusually, you do also get an optical viewfinder, although it could be closer to the lens, so you won't be able to see the whole of your image. You also don't get to see your settings through the viewfinder.
We are impressed with the satisfyingly wide 28mm wide-angle Nikkor lens, which allows you to fit more into your screen.
The P50 is powered by good old-fashioned AA-size batteries and records to SD and SDHC cards.
Features
The P50 is pretty short on features, but if it offers a parameter for alteration it gives you plenty of choice. There are the usual range of 15 scene modes and five different movie modes available. You do get more colour options than the average: softer, vivid, more vivid, portrait, monochrome and custom modes. The custom mode allows you to alter contrast, sharpening and saturation.
There's a decent amount of manual control available. Programmed auto mode gives you 13 increments of exposure compensation. Manual exposure mode provides full control over both the aperture and shutter speed settings. Shutter speeds range from 8 seconds to 1/1,000 second in 15 increments, although you only get 2 aperture options. ISO speeds go up to 2,000.
We do like the time-lapse feature, which allows you to set the interval between automatically taken pictures from 30 seconds to a minute.
Image stabilisation is electronic rather than optical, which we find disappointing in a camera this size. If there's room for optical stabilisation in the Coolpix S200, there should be room in the P50.
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James Rosenzweig 1 January 2008
Good: 28 mm Wide Angle Capability, Great Price, Very Good Image Quality, Optical Viewfinder Option
Bad: A Bit Large...LCD Could Be Better...But the Actual Images Are Very Good!
Comment: I read the review here at CNET and found the reviewer's evaluation to be a very poor reflection on his knowledge, or rather his lack of expertise in photography.
Unexciting. I would like the reviewer to point out ANY other point and shoot that costs so little yet provides a 28 mm to 102mm range. Please show me! He also fails to understand the difference between image stablization that merely raises the ISO and provides more noise as compared to the stabilization in this camera, that while not OIS, uses a gyro to detect movement and then electonically compensates for shake..NOT by raising the ISO but through electronic means. May I suggest he reads the Nikon tech spechs before he writes an evaluation. He fails to see the very good IQ (image quality) in this package that is far more important than a exciting appearance of the unit. See:http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1007&message=25922409
And:http://www.photographyblog.com/reviews_nikon_coolpix_p50.php
Their you'll read reviews from two who care about what a camera can do rather than what it looks like.
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