Nikon Coolpix 5000

As this is a prosumer camera, there are more advanced options. For instance, there's the shooting menu for adjusting settings such as sharpening, colour and white balance. Also provided is Nikon's acclaimed Best Shot Selector, which takes several different shots of the same scene and selects the best one.

Under testing, the Coolpix 5000 turned out some superb images. Lens distortion at both ends is well controlled and makes the camera an excellent general-purpose proposition. For critical copy work - perhaps using the macro mode where distortion may be more of an issue - it can't match a specialist macro lens, but you really need an SLR for that. Resolution and colour reproduction combine to provide a very capable machine, and with a five-megapixel CCD there's much that can be achieved with it. That said, it didn't perform as well with high-contrast images, which is a common complaint for some digital cameras.

We have a few issues with the Nikon Coolpix 5000, but in terms of final image quality it didn't disappoint and we obtained some very good A3+ photos. Plus, with small dimensions and a five-megapixel CCD, it will be highly appealing to some users. At the end of the day, though, it doesn't do enough to stand out.

Author: John Clements