Nikon Coolpix 8400

Reviewed March 2005

Test Photos

STILL LIFE PHOTO

This subject is photographed in a room that has a mix of fluorescent and incandescent light, but which is not brightly lit. The camera's flash is used to add fill light. The backdrop is 1.95 m (6.5 ft) from the camera.

Interestingly, under this confusing mix of lighting, the Auto White Balance of the Coolpix 8400 starts out by showing a yellowish image. But, over the course of a couple of seconds, the image adjusts and the auto white balance settles on a setting that is nothing short of perfect.

Although the Coolpix 8400 is capable of using an external flash, the camera's own pop-up flash is used for this shot, and for the zoom photo presented below. The flash provides good coverage for the wide angle end of the zoom, and there is no serious light fall off in the corners of the frame.

The RAW format is used for this image and it is imported into Photoshop using the "as shot" settings for white balance (Auto).

ZOOM PHOTO

Now we zoom in on a specific area. The intent is to test the sharpness of the image at the zoom's maximum setting. The camera remains at the same distance as with the preceding photo.

This zoom photo is also captured using the RAW format, but it is converted in the camera to a TIFF image. The option is presented on the camera when a RAW image is under review and the shutter release is pressed. The system allows for the creation of a TIFF version, and offers a choice for retaining the RAW file or deleting it.

With all the image settings at their default values, the Coolpix 8400 produces a very clear image, and the metering purposefully underexposes the subject slightly so as to prevent some of the more subtle parts from loosing any detail.

MACRO PHOTO

Set to Macro mode, the Coolpix 8400 is able to focus on a subject 3 cm (1.7 inch) from the front of the lens while the zoom is at the wide angle setting, and up to the 10 mm focal length position, the approximate equivalent of a 1.6X magnification.

At the wide angle end, the field of view the camera captures is approximately 7 cm (2.73 inches). The image shows a lot of barrel distortion, and only the central part of the frame is sharp.

BUILDING PHOTO

This image is our outdoor test. The architecture of the building, in particular the angled girders, immediately show the presence of jaggies. The shadowed entrance can also often reveal the quality of the exposure.

With its wide angle zoom, the Coolpix 8400 is perfect for shots of architecture as it allows capturing a very wide field of view while still remaining relatively close to the subject. As can be seen in this shot, the lens is able to capture large portions of the building's wings.

At standard — non-macro — distances, the wide angle end of the Coolpix 8400's zoom has little barrel distortion. It does however have the perspective distortion normally associated with all very wide angle lenses as can be seen in the image sections shown below.

The planter on the left is captured near the middle of the frame (see the complete image above), while the one shown on the right is taken from the right side of the frame. Although both these planters are the same, the one that was imaged by the lens near the outer edge of the frame is noticeably stretched horizontally.

ZOOM PHOTO

For this photo and the wide angle shot shown above, the uncompressed TIFF (HI) image format of the camera is used. The format captures a 23MB image and stores it in under 20 seconds (depending on the media used).

The full telephoto setting of the zoom is the one aspect of the Coolpix 8400 that is a bit disappointing. With a focal length that is equivalent to an 85 mm, the zoom's ability to magnify part of a subject is limited.

Still the camera yields a sharp image that reveals some items located behind the glass doors, and the exposure avoids any overexposure of the foreground.

NIGHT PHOTO

As this camera is capable of long exposures, a couple of photos taken at night are included.

The Coolpix 8400, just like the Coolpix 8800, is equipped with a Bulb/Timer mode, accessible when the camera is set to the Manual shooting mode.

The Bulb/Timer mode can be set to operate either as a Bulb mode which allows complete freedom for the exposure time up to a maximum of 10 minutes; or as a Timed mode where the exposure time is pre selected from settings of 30 seconds, 1, 3, 5 or 10 minutes. Of these the Bulb mode is the most flexible as the duration of the exposure can be controlled using the remote control.

The Coolpix 8400 offers a noise reduction function, but it is best used with photos that have an exposure time such as the ones presented here.

With the sensitivity set to 50 ISO, the level least prone to noise, the Coolpix 8400 is able to generate images that are effectively noise-free when the exposure time is less than 15 seconds. Increasing the exposure time however, just like increasing the sensitivity, will increase the noise content of the image, thereby making the use of noise reduction desirable.

With the subject shown here and set to 50 ISO, the Coolpix 8400 produces bright and colourful images starting at around 6 seconds at its widest aperture.

Still, we noted that while the auto focus system confirmed focus, the image sharpness turned out be a touch soft and that the slight overexposure necessary to obtain a brighter than normal image appeared to have emphasized that softness.