The
Nikon Coolpix 5000's body design is a departure for a Nikon high-end
amateur digital camera: instead of a swivel lens, Nikon has used a Canon
style swivel LCD screen much as the ones used for the G1 and G2, and a
more ergonomic body style.
Although there are some positives for a camera design with a swivelling
lens section, the hold afforded by the Coolpix 5000 tends to be more stable,
and allows the use of an external flash without having to resort to a
mounting bracket.
The advantage represented by the swivel lens design of the Coolpix 995
is replaced by the use of a swivelling LCD screen, which adds a protection
for the surface of the LCD screen when closed.
The LCD screen itself can be rotated 180° once opened and on the left
of the camera. It can then be pushed back onto the back of the camera,
which places the 3 control buttons below the screen. The hinge seems sturdy,
and while it has a slight amount of give, it does not sag.
The
upper portion of the grip is strongly sloped towards the front, and has
a self-timer indicator lamp fitted so as to be visible when facing the
camera. Behind the lamp is the shutter release with an On-Off switch around
it.
Three buttons are immediately behind the shutter release: the Mode button,
the Exposure Compensation button and slightly further back, the Func.
[Function] button. All three are used in combination with the Command
Dial, itself close to the back of the camera. The Mode button serves to
select the shooting mode: Program, Shutter Priority, Aperture Priority,
or Manual.
The
Exposure Compensation serves to adjust the exposure in 1/3 EV increments
over ±2EV. The Function button is set up, by default, to select
any 1 of 3 User Sets, or can be reprogammed for other tasks.
Unlike many other cameras that offer a Mode Dial to select the shooting
modes, the Coolpix 5000 uses a different concept that provides 4 basic
choices to take photos. One is a Full Auto mode (A) that provides
limited controls to the user; the others are 3 User Sets, each
of which "remembers" specific menu selections. By default, the
Function button, in combination with the Command Dial, can then be used
to switch from one User Set to another or to the Auto mode. If the Function
button is reprogrammed in a User Set to provide another quick access,
for example white balance, then switching to another User Set can be done
through the camera's menu.
While the system appears a bit complex at first, it turns out to be quite
effective. Any of the 3 User Sets can be tailored for specific types of
photos, which avoids having to recall the menu and make precise selections
for a given shot.
The other controls
of the Coolpix 5000 are grouped on the right side of the LCD screen.
Near
the top is the
zoom control which also serves in Playback to show thumbnails of
the captured photos, or magnify a portion of a frame behind displayed.
Below is the small slider switch that toggles back and forth between recording
and playback modes.
The Flash button controls the flash modes, cycling through each
mode every time it is pressed. When held down and used in combination
with the Command Dial, it permits ISO selection (100, 200, 400,
800, Auto).
Then comes the 4-direction control which is not only used to navigate
the menu and make selections, but also to select the focus point.
The remaining two buttons are for the Autofocus [AF], used to switch
between Autofocus and Manual focus in the recording mode, and Delete single
images in playback; and the Resolution/Size button, to select image
size and compression.
An
AE Lock/AF Lock button is located on the right side of the lens
barrel, making it easily accessible. The button is used to lock the exposure
and the focus, or if reprogrammed in the menu, only one of the two. Holding
the AF-L/AE-L button down acts as an alternative to holding the shutter
button half-pressed while recomposing an image, while still retaining
the focus and exposure parameters.
Nearby is the small microphone (behind 2 small holes) which the camera
uses to record sound in movie mode.
The
Coolpix 5000 is designed for the advanced user. It offers numerous controls,
but relies mostly on menus. With practice and experience the camera's
operation becomes easy; but for a while at least, this is a camera that
requires the user to keep the manual handy.
The first
is a poorly located strap post that is too low on the grip side, and which
presses into the palm when the camera is held.
The second is that although equipped with a diopter correction, the viewfinder
lacks a rubber eyecup which would have brought it flush to surface of
the LCD screen.
