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  Nikon COOLPIX L10

  Sudeep Naik, Aug 08, 2007 1124 hrs IST

  Looks like Nikon has raised the bar for all entry-level cameras, at least on paper. Let's see how it really performs.

  Good build, Compact, Features, Image quality, Price.

  Small LCD, Long delays between shots, Movie mode.

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Page 1 - Intro & Bundle Page 2 - Specifications Page 3 - Features Page 4 - Analysis, Battery life and Conclusion Page 5 - Sample shots 1 Page 6 - Sample shots 2 Page 7 - Sample shots 3

Analysis

The L10's design is compact and comfortable. The controls are well placed and are within the reach of your thumb. The menu is typical Nikon, which may be a little confusing if you haven't used one before.

The 2-inch LCD of the L10 actually has good resolution, but at times the pictures appear to be grainy on LCD even though the actual pictures may not be that bad.

I found that the camera LCD worked well outdoors, indoors and even in low light shooting conditions. It gains quite well, I must say.

The start up time is a bit too long (around 3-4 seconds), with almost a 2-3 second delay (using sequential shot mode) between shots without using the flash. The delay times came to around 5 secs when using flash, as it takes some time for the flash to charge-up again.

The Continuous shot mode on the other hand proved to be excellent with around 1.5 shots/second.

The image quality of in the 5M* mode were good with decent color and skin tone reproduction. The indoor images came out sharp and crisp. Noise levels were pretty much standard for a 5 MP camera (meaning, I've seen worse).

The Movie mode allows you to record video with sound at resolutions of 640 x 480 (30/15fps), 320 x 240 (30 or 15fps), or 160 x 120 (15fps). The length of these clips is limited only by the amount of available memory. The L10 allows you to use only the digital zoom while recording a movie. The end result makes you feel like it was a complete waste of time shooting it in the first place.

Battery Life

The Nikon COOLPIX L10 uses two AA-sized batteries for power. We used two Sony rechargeable Ni-MH 2600 mAh batteries that lasted for around 250 shots on a single charge with minimal flash usage, which is good.
As always, I strongly suggest getting an extra pair of rechargeable Ni-MH (preferably 2600 mAh or higher, if available) batteries along with this camera.

Conclusion

Overall, it is a good performer with good image quality and lots of shooting modes along with other image-enhancement features. With a price tag of around Rs.5500 on the streets, I say it's one hell of a deal for those on a really tight budget. This is easily one of the cheapest good quality cameras you will find in the market today.

Test Unit sourced from: J. J. Mehta, Mumbai.

Page 1 - Intro & Bundle Page 2 - Specifications Page 3 - Features Page 4 - Analysis, Battery life and Conclusion Page 5 - Sample shots 1 Page 6 - Sample shots 2 Page 7 - Sample shots 3

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