Nikon Coolpix P4

Reviewed July 2006

Characteristics

The Coolpix P4 uses a 1/1.8-inch, 8.3 million pixel CCD of which 8.1 million are effective to capture a maximum image size of 3264 x 2448 pixels.

Used with the Auto or the Scene modes, CCD sensitivity is controlled by the camera, and adjusts it over a range of 50 to 200 ISO. Used with the P or A modes, sensitivity can be set manually to 50, 100, 200 or 400 ISO, either in the menu, or using the ISO Mode Dial position.

The Coolpix P4 is equipped with a 3.5X Nikkor zoom lens, composed of 7 elements in 6 groups. The zoom covers a focal length range of 7.5 to 26.3 mm, the equivalent of a 36 to 126 mm on a 35mm camera.

A 4X digital zoom is also available, activated when the zoom control is pressed to the T side for more than 2 seconds after reaching the maximum optical magnification. The P4's digital zoom is a standard system, using an interpolation of the centre portion of the image to record an image at the selected resolution.

Normally under the control of the camera, apertures can be selected with the A mode (Aperture Priority): at the wide angle end, apertures can be selected from f2.7 to f7.6 in 10 steps, while at the telephoto end they start at f5.2 and extend to f7.3 over 4 steps. The shutter speed range, entirely under the control of the camera, covers from 1/2000 second down to 8 seconds when the camera is set to the Night Landscape mode. A noise reduction system, inactive by default, must be enabled in the menu so it will operate on long exposures.

The Coolpix P4 is able to capture photos at any one of 6 image sizes:

• 8M: 3264 x 2448 pixels,
• 3:2: 3264 x 2176 pixels (a format designed for 4x6 and 5x7 prints),
• 5M: 2592 x 1944 pixels,
• 3M: 2048 x 1536 pixels,
• PC: 1024 x 768 pixels,
• TV: 640 x 480 pixels.

Each image size can be set to any one of 3 JPEG compression levels: Fine, Normal or Basic; Fine offering the highest image quality.

Setting the image quality and size is directly accessible with the position of the Mode Dial, and when the camera is used in Auto mode or with any of the Scene modes, is the only means to set these. While with the P and A modes the image quality and size settings also appear in the menu, along with other options:

• White Balance, which is also on the Mode Dial, provides settings for: A-WB (automatic), PRE (which allows setting the white balance under ambient light conditions), Daylight, Incandescent, Fluorescent, Cloudy, Shade or Flash.

• Metering selects the metering mode:
  • Matrix, the default, which divides the frame into 256 segments, and establishes the exposure by combining these readings with scene recognition.
  • Centre-weighted, which evaluates the centre of the frame and the surrounding area, and combines the reading while giving the centre of the frame greater importance.
  • Spot which measures a small area at the centre of the frame only.
  • Spot AF Area, which is similar to Spot, but linked to the AF point.

• Continuous sets the shooting rate:
  • Single: captures one frame at a time.
  • Continuous: captures up to 5 photos at 1.8 frames per second.
  • Multi-Shot 16: captures 16 images at 1.7 frames per second and saves them contiguously into a single 3264 x 2448 pixel frame.
  • Ultra HS: captures up to 100 TV format (640 x 480) photos at 30 frames per second using a Normal compression.
  • 5-Shot Buffer: captures images at 1.8 frames per second while the shutter release is held down, but only saves the final 5 images.
  • Interval Timer Shooting: makes it possible to select a time interval between shots (30 seconds, 1, 5, 10, 30 or 60 minutes) and capture up to 1800 photos, or until the memory is full.
• Best Shot Selector: captures up to 10 images, allowing the camera to select and save the image that is the sharpest. The flash is turned off when this mode is used.
• Bracketing offers two options:
  • Auto Bracketing:captures 3 images, the first using the exposure metered by the camera, the next overexposed by 1/2 EV and the third underexposed by 1/2 EV.
  • White Balance Bracketing: captures 3 shots, bracketing the white balance with one shots with a bluish cast and another with a reddish cast.

• Image Adjustment serves to modify the contrast: Auto (default) adjusts the contrast according to the shooting conditions; Normal applies the same level of contrast to all photos; More Contrast augments contrast, useful when shooting on overcast days; Less Contrast decreases contrast, useful when there are strong shadows.
• Image Sharpening has five settings: Auto, High, Normal, Low or Off
• Saturation Control serves to adjust the overall colour intensity: Maximum (+2), Enhanced (+1), Normal (default), Moderate (-1) or Minimum (-2).
• Sensitivity: Auto, 50, 100, 200 or 400 ISO.
• Image Quality serves to select the compression level: Fine, Normal or Basic.

• Image Size: sets the image size, as mentioned above.
• AF Area Mode controls how the auto focus operates:
  • Auto: allows the camera to select the focus point using any of its 11 AF areas.
  • Manual: allows moving the focus point to any 1 of 99 points in the frame.
  • Centre: locks the AF point at the centre of the frame.

• Autofocus Mode:
  • Single AF: the camera only auto focuses when the shutter release is pressed halfway.
  • Full-time AF constantly adjusts the focus, even when the shutter release is not pressed halfway, but consumes more power.
• Fixed Aperture: On or Off. When On, the aperture is kept close to the selected aperture. A range of f5 to f7.3 is available.
• Noise Reduction: On or Off. Decides whether or not long exposures are processed to reduce the noise recorded over the course of the exposure.

With the camera set to the Movie mode, only 2 options are presented: Movie Options , which allows selecting the type of movie to record (see the Ergonomics section of the review for more information on the types of movies that can be recorded) and the AF Mode (Single or Continuous).

• List by Date: serves to review image by their capture date.
• D-Lightning: serves to automatically adjust the brightness of an image that may have underexposed areas, and re save the processed image as a new one.

• Print Set: is to select photos for printing on a DPOF compatible device, specify the number of copies to make, and select whether the image will include the date and shooting info. The Coolpix P4 is compatible with PictBridge and can be connected directly to a similarly compatible printer to print images.
• Slide Show: makes it possible to review images automatically, a new image appearing every 3 seconds. The slide show can be set to loop back to the beginning once the last photo is reached, or set to a maximum of 30 minutes.

• Delete allows erasing selected images, or all those in memory, or those captured on a specific date.
• Protect marks selected image files as read-only, preventing them from being accidentally deleted.
• Transfer Marking serves to choose all photos in memory, or those captured on a specific date for transfer to a computer running the software Nikon supplies with the camera.
• Small Pic serves to make a small copy of a captured image. Any of three sizes are available: 640 x 480, 320 x 240 or 160 x 120 pixels.
• Copy: serves to copy images in the internal memory to a memory card.

In addition, while an image is under review, it is possible to record a sound clip, up to 20 seconds long, simply by pressing the shutter release. Similarly, the on-screen section of an image that has been magnified can be saved as a new image with a lower resolution by pressing the shutter release.

The Coolpix P4 is equipped with a 23 MB internal memory as well as with an SD (Secure Digital) compatible memory card slot. The card slot is located underneath the camera, and covered by the same door that covers the battery.

In North America the Coolpix P4 is sold without a memory card, which gives it a limited autonomy unless an optional memory card is purchased. The chart below lists approximate capacities using both the internal memory, and an optional 512MB SD card:

The Coolpix P4 is powered by a thin Lithium Ion battery (EN-EL5) which is held in place in its compartment by an orange coloured spring-loaded latch, preventing the battery from sliding out when the door is opened to access the memory card. A charger (MH-61) is included in the kit, requiring approximately 2 hours to fully recharge a fully depleted battery.

In addition, the P4 can be powered using regular household current if it is connected to the optional AC adapter.

Depending on the cable used — two cables are included with the camera — the jack serves to connect the camera to the USB port of a computer or printer, providing a USB 2.0 (High Speed) connection; or using the A/V (audio/Video) cable, to a television. The output signal can be set to either NTSC or PAL in the Setup menu (see the Interface and Software section of the review for a description of the Setup menu).