The classic design of the
Nikon Coolpix L5 hides a stabilized 5X optical zoom,
the vibration reduction system being discreetly indicated
by the letters VR on the front of the camera. Moreover,
this camera also offers a 7.2 megapixel resolution
and a 2.5-inch LCD monitor.
The two-stage
shutter release, providing auto focus and auto
exposure lock when held halfway, is placed on the top right
side of the camera, with to its left, the power switch.
The power switch is recessed into the surface, making it more
difficult to accidentally turn on the camera while handling
it, and power is indicated by a small green LED next to it.
The zoom control is nearby, on the top right
of the camera's back, placed to fall under the user's thumb.
With the camera set to the playback mode, the zoom control
can be used to zoom into an image under review (up to 10X)
when pressed on the
side, or view captured images as thumbnails (4, 9 or images
per screen) when pressed on the
side.
In addition, when a menu is on-screen,
pressing the control to the
side displays a helpful explanation about the menu option
that is currently highlighted, or for the Scene modes (see
further).
The left side of the Coolpix L5's top supports two other
buttons. Starting on the left:
VR
controls the Vibration
Reduction system, offering two modes and Off for
when the camera physically stabilized:
VR (Normal): the default setting, VR allows
the camera to detect and factor out panning movements
so that when the camera is panned horizontally vertical
shake is eliminated, while when the camera is panned
vertically, horizontal shake is eliminated.
VR-Active: for exaggerated vibration, and
does not take panning into account.
The button on the right supports
two functions, depending on the mode of the L5:
Set to the capture
mode, the button starts the One-Touch Portrait mode
which allows the camera to detect a face, and focus
on it, placing a
icon on the face it has selected. The system automatically
selects the closest face, and the flash switches to
Red-eye Reduction mode automatically.
Set to the Playback
mode, the button control the D-Lighting function
which automatically brightens up the dark areas of an
image on screen without affecting the highlights.
All other external controls
for the Coolpix L5 are on the back of the camera, starting
with the Mode Selector, which is positioned above the
2.5-inch, 115,000 pixel LCD monitor that serves
both to frame shots, and review them.
The Mode Selector has three positions:
Auto is a basic point
and shoot mode, but still gives the user control over
the AF mode, exposure compensation, white balance, metering,
Continuous mode, and Colour Options.
The SCENE setting
provides access to the Coolpix L5's 15 Scene Modes,
which are divided into 2 groups:
4 modes with Scene Assist, three of which
offer superimposed outlines to help frame the shot.
And 11 Scene modes.
The Scene menu, from which the specific mode is selected,
is displayed by pressing the MENU button (see further).
The Scene menu starts with an option to access the camera's
Setup menu (see the Interface and Software
section of the review for more detail on the Setup menu)
and then starts with the four Scene Assist modes:
Portrait: can operate without any guides,
or be used with guides (outlines) to compose a portrait
on the right, on the left, portrait close up, portrait
couple, or portrait figure (tall orientation).
Landscape: can be used without guides, or
with guides to frame a scenic view, architecture,
or a group of people to the right or the left of a
landmark.
Sport provides three sub-options:
Sport: captures images in a burst
at a rate of 0.7 frames per second.
Sport spectator: limits the autofocus
range to 2 m (6 ft) to infinity when the zoom
is at the wide end, and 30 m (98 ft) to infinity
at the telephoto end.
Sport composite: saves one 3072 x 2304
pixel frame composed of 16 smaller images captured
over a period of 2 seconds.
Night Portrait Assist: offers the same options
as the the Portrait mode, but sets the flash to fill-in
flash with slow synch and red-eye reduction.
The remaining 11 Scene modes are fully automatic:
Party/Indoor
Beach/Snow
Sunset
Dusk/Dawn
Night Landscape
Close up
Museum
Fireworks Show
Copy
Back Light
Panorama Assist
The Scene menu ends with another option, ,
to set the Image Size and Quality. (See the Characteristics
section of the review for information about image size
and quality settings.)
The Movie position
serves to record video with sound at 30 frames per second.
Three movie formats are available, and are selected
in the menu:
TV Movie 640: 640 x 480 pixels.
Small Size 320: 320 x 240 pixels.
Smaller Size 160: 160 x 120 pixels.
The length of the movie is only limited by the capacity
of the memory card used. Autofocus can be set to AF-S
(Single AF), which establishes focus at the first frame
and locks it there, or AF-C (Full-time AF), which
adjusts focus continuously, however, the AF motor's
noise that may be captured as well. White balance and
zoom position are set at the first frame, but exposure
is adjusted continuously. A digital zoom is available,
but limited to 2X (1.9X with TV Movie 640). Image stabilization
is available, but only with VR mode.
The MENU button is positioned to the upper right of
the monitor. It serves to display the menu associated with
the position of the Mode Selector — Auto, Scene or Movie
— or, when the camera is in Playback mode, the Play
menu.
The next control is the Multi-selector, which is composed
of four curved buttons arranged in a circle surrounding a
round centre button labelled OK. As indicated by its
name, the Multi-selector has a number of uses. It serves to
navigate the menus of the camera, while the OK button confirms
selections, and serves to review captured images and
movies. In addition, each of these buttons support other functions:
When the Coolpix L5 is connected
to a computer via USB and the computer is running the
software supplied with the camera, the OK button
serves to automatically transfer images to the computer's
hard disk.
The four directional buttons also
support functions in the capture modes, but some may be inactive
when the camera is set to specific scene modes. With the Auto
mode, however, all functions are available and display a short
menu on screen:
The up button provides
control over the Flash modes: Auto, Auto with Red-eye
Reduction, Forced Off, Fill-in and Slow Sync.
The right button
controls Exposure Compensation over a range of
±2 EV in 1/3 EV increments using the up and down
buttons.
The down button
starts the Macro mode, allowing the camera to focus
on a subject that is 4 cm (1.6 inch) from the front element
of the lens when the Macro mode flower icon turns green
on the monitor.
The left button
starts the 10-second Self-Timer.
Two more buttons are arranged
below the Multi-selector:
Instantly switches to the
Playback mode when the camera is already in a capture
mode. In addition, when the camera is turned off, the
button can be used to start the L5 directly in the Playback
mode if it is held pressed in for more than 1 second.
Serves to delete
unwanted images.
The external controls of the
Coolpix L5 are clearly labelled and easily accessed, making
it easy to get familiar with the camera's operation. This
is in addition to a good ergonomic design that allows for
comfortable handholds.
One aspect of the design, however, could be improved. Although
the monitor measures 2.5 inches diagonally, its image is relatively
coarse and under some circumstances grainy, making it often
difficult to evaluate sharpness with certainty.
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Introduction
side, or view captured images as thumbnails (4, 9 or images
per screen) when pressed on the 
side. 
side displays a helpful explanation about the menu option
that is currently highlighted, or for the Scene modes (see
further).
icon on the face it has selected. The system automatically
selects the closest face, and the flash switches to
Red-eye Reduction mode automatically.
,
to set the Image Size and Quality. (See the Characteristics
section of the review for information about image size
and quality settings.) 
