Nikon Coolpix P5100 vs P5000: it’s better to look at Canon A630

The Coolpix P5100 appearance is one more cause for mfrs’ wild enthusiasm, not consumers’. Nikon right after Canon with G9, A650 put into P5100 model 1/1.72 inch sensor more than 12 mega pixels (for more look through Canon Powershot G9, SD950 and A650: can 12MP make SLR from compact). It is possible that after slightly disappointing P5000’s selling, Nikon solves this problem in style: more pixels and spit upon the image quality. However, this method cannot make from P5100 a cadet of D3 and D300 DSLR models.
Nikon Coolpix P5100 advantages
Let’s look through Nikon P5100’s groovy features:
- 12 megapixel 1/1.8-inch sensor
- 3.5x Zoom-Nikkor lens 35 - 126 mm
- Lens shift Vibration Reduction
- ISO 64-1600 (3200 in 5MP mode)
- Best Shot Selector identifies and saves the sharpest image automatically from ten sequential shots
- P/A/S/M modes plus 16 scene modes
- Compatibility with system-expanding accessories
- Macro shooting enables shooting from as close as 4cm (1.6 in.)
- SDHC card compatibility
- Approx. 52 MB of internal memory
- Face-priority AF, In-Camera Red-Eye Fix, D-Lighting
- 2.5-in wide viewing angle TFT LCD with anti-reflection coating
Nikon’s innovations: money for nothing
Are you impressed? I am not! I cannot see anything important in these features. Instead, I can see some useless but very expensive for a digital compact points, which serve only for drawing our money. See, how much garbage and noise can bring to the image 12 millions small and less sensitive to light pixels. As for lens, look at this: “a powerful, high-quality 3.5x Zoom-Nikkor lens, which delivers 36-126mm (35mm equivalent) performance for broad compositional freedom”. This is not about Nikon’s previous model P5000. It is Coolpix P1 greeting from 2005. All of Nikon P-series compacts have the same 3.5x lens. What is new? In addition, why does 3.5x zoom lens need the Lens shift Vibration Reduction? Maybe it is for drunken shooting. How should your hands shake for being in need of this feature? As for hight ISO images, in my opinion it’s only for terrifying bad guys.
P5100’s key differences from P5000
Not surprisingly, Nikon Coolpix P5000 is a better purchase for less money ($319-350). I doubt whether P5100’s key differences from P5000 can impress any prosumers.
- 12.1 MP
- Nikon's innovative digital image processing concept
- New improved Face Detection system, hardware based (10 times faster, increased number of faces that may be detected up to 12 faces)
- Continuous flash upto 3 frames 1.0 fps
- Cosmetic upgrades (mainly button and ring)
- Improved Graphical User Interface
- Software Suite CD-ROM
- 1:1 size format, images can be saved as 1:1 size format
- Black border, it can be applied on taken images. Black border applied images can be saved with original images.
Comparing Nikon P5100 and P5000 it is better to look at the Canon PowerShot A630.
Although P5000 10 megapixels for the same P5100 sensor with the Lens-shift system for petty 3.5x zoom are an excess too. Nikon P5000 is a little preferable. It would be much better to have something such as P1 with 8MP 1/1.8 inch sensor, 4x zoom lens with a not poor case for $250-270. Unfortunately, we can see this model only between Canon Powershot A-series compacts. Moreover, it’s not a new model such as A650 or especially G9 and SD950 with the same 12 extra pixels. It’s simple and not expensive 2006 model – the Powershot A630.
Conclusion
It may be not so prestigious to shoot with Canon A630 as G9, P5100 or P5000. However, it is a truly Compact with a good image quality for fair money. As for prestige, it should be better to buy Canon’s Tele or Wide-angle converters for saving money and having fun.
It is interesting that the same story take place with SLR-like cameras. However, there are ultra zoom races instead of mega pixels fights. For more details look through: Olympus SP-560 vs SP-550; 18x SLR-like with E410’ processor and 826mm Tele converter and Compare Fujifilm S8000, Olympus SP550, Panasonic FZ18 - nothing to S9100.
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