Nikon Coolpix 5400 User Opinions

Nikon Coolpix 5400

$149.95 J&R Music and Computer World

$149.99 Dell

$149.95 J&R Music and Computer World

86.5% of Users Would Recommend this Digital Camera

13.5% of Users Would Not Recommend this Digital Camera

TOTAL USER RATINGS: 37

Showing opinions 1 - 10 of 37 next > >>

DEFINITELY wait for the 4500!

Submitted by unknown on 4/27/2005 10:11:17 PM

PROS: The 5 megapixel resolution, and high contrast images; very quick processing between shots; numerous settings if you want help getting good pictures at a distance.

CONS: I have owned a 950, 990, and 995. My main interest is in macro photography (of flowers and insects). The 5400 is almost worthless for macro work - there is extreme wide-angle distortion at the closest focus ranges (you are limited to the widest angle zoom range for close focusing), and the flash casts a **** shadow across the lower portion of the image even at distances as great as 3 or 4 inches (it will focus to 0.4 inches, but the image is so distorted it looks like a fisheye). Combined with the smallest aperture being only around f7.8 (the 950, 990 and 995 all went to f10), giving a lousy depth of field, this camera is NOT for macro photography. There is no comparison to what you can do with a 995 (and hopefully, the 4500 if it ever really becomes available). It is very misleading the way Nikon is advertising it as having a new "ultra" macro mode; it is anything but that.

A Good Prosumer Camera

Submitted by unknown on 4/27/2005 10:11:17 PM

PROS: Lightweight, good auto-focus, versatile screen and shooting modes. Manual mode for the creative photographer, easy point and shoot for on the go. Moderate learning curve for experienced photographer. More for less experienced.

CONS: Slow memory writting in Fine mode, low-light autofocus, no adaptive flash - blows out close, lowlight pictures. Could use more Macro buttons besides the one assignable function button for things like drive speed.

Very impressive camera

Submitted by unknown on 4/27/2005 10:11:17 PM

PROS: This little camera is simply amazing. The results are excellent, especially the colour and light balance in each and every shot.

CONS: My thumb tends to flip away at the door where the flash card is placed. I have to wear my reading glasses to see the screen.

I am now on my THIRD Nikon 5400. All three have what are apparently 'dead' white/gray pixels.

Submitted by unknown on 4/27/2005 10:11:17 PM

PROS: Accepts Slide Copier and Macro Cool-Light.

CONS: All 3 of my 5400's have had 'dead' white spots that have to be touched up in an editing program. Example at.. http://www.thuntek.net/~snowd en/nikon5400serial3700858.jpg Lucky for me, Walmart.com has a generous return policy! Unacceptable for a camera marketed as a 'semi-pro' camera.

Versatile High Quality Camera

Submitted by unknown on 4/27/2005 10:11:17 PM

PROS: Wide angle lens standard - 63 degree field. Professional features: such as controls for white balance, f value, shutter speed (very wide range), manual focus, exposure compensation , contrast, color saturation, ISO, sharpness, continuous shooting (hold shutter button down for 5 to 50 shots in a row), camera settings read-back for each image, 4x optical Zoom, 6x Zoom on very bright LCD monitor images, 5.26 megapixels of picture clarity, long life battery, will take a 1 GB memory card, very strong camera construction, best shot selector, exposure bracketing, and superb lens system. I have taken 1100 pictures with this camera, its capable of taking award winning pictues, when the camera settings are exact. The QuickTime movies play suprisingly well - movies play on the TV or computer monitor; you may record the movies to tape or CD.

CONS: This camera takes some effort to learn , if you want to take advantage of all the professional features. Focus on the Nikon 5400 tends to be on the soft side, but if you prefer a sharper quality to your pictures, you can accurately boost sharpness using camera settings or photo-editing. Dim light focusing is poor. Camera is a little slow in image processing and memory transfers, when working with the 5 megapixels files - but it is fast if you switch to the 1600x1200 file format, and the picture quality is virtually the same.

Great Camera for the Aspiring Photographer

Submitted by unknown on 4/27/2005 10:11:17 PM

PROS: Camera has a lot of great features to keep the advanced photographer happy (e.g., programable exposure settings, aperature priority setting, shutter speed priority setting, manual, multiple metering settings including spot, center-weighted and matrix metering). The 5400 also has a basic setting for the not so sophisticated photographer to take some idiot free photos. On top of that, it also offers 15 pre-programmed scene selections. I used this camera to take some great fireworks photos at Walt Disney World and some other great night portrait photos where it balanced the subject in the foreground with the night setting in the background.

CONS: My biggest gripe is that you can't attach a skylight filter to the lens 0-ring because of the zoom capabilities of the lens. I've seen other cameras which have internal threading to allow a skylight filter to be attached to the internal 0-ring to protect the lens. The only alternative is to buy a tube which extends beyond the reach of the lens when it is fully extended at the telephoto setting and attach a skylight filter to the tube to protect the lens. Also typical for a Nikon camera, you need to make adjustments in several different menu settings to get the camera set to the way you like it. In other words, there are multiple menu settings (some directed from the menu command and some directed by the camera mode dial on top of the camera). This takes the photographer some time to familiarize themself with remembering where the settings are stored. This is probably one reason why the customizable menu (i.e., macro) button is provided. The price is also a little steep, although if you do good research, you can buy the camera for nearly $300 off of MSRP.

Great pictures, not that hard to use

Submitted by unknown on 4/27/2005 10:11:17 PM

PROS: I liked most things about the camera. The 28mm lens is great for taking building shots. Interior shots are great with no flash. Like all the different settings. The price just came down spent $100 more a month ago. All around great camera.

CONS: The time between pushing the button and the pitcure taken to long in low light. on high setting takes to long to process picture. Not much else. Great camera

Im very impressed

Submitted by unknown on 4/27/2005 10:11:17 PM

PROS: 28 mm equiverlant wide angle lens is almost unique for a digital camera Simple to operate yet can be operated in advanced (SLR type) modes Significant improvments over the 2.5 M camera I had before making very worthwile upgrade Software package is usefull and functional

CONS: display is smaller than it could have been Accompanying 16 Mb flash memory is a joke.

If you want to take great pics this is the camera for you.

Submitted by unknown on 4/27/2005 10:11:17 PM

PROS: I read so many reviews and when you get right down to it we all just want great pictures. This camera takes great pics. When printing out pics on the glossy paper and HP2210 printer the pics look as good as 35mm. In fact I have taken better pics with the digital than my 35mm Pentax every had. The digital zoom is great for close ups and the auto-focus makes taking a picture a breaze. I've had the camera for 4 months and I couldn't be happier with my choise. When looking at the sony cameras and the canons don't be so fast to think there cameras are cheaper. When it comes to buying the memory cards Nikon cards are $100 less for the same amount of memory.

CONS: Price was high when we bought it but they are right in line with other 5.1's know.

High Quality camera

Submitted by unknown on 4/27/2005 10:11:17 PM

PROS: Great macro lens... Kevin in Ithica must have gotten the wrong camera in his Nikon box! Like the variety of settings, both auto and manual. Hard to take a bad photo with this camera. Nice feel, professional quality.

CONS: 16mb flash card is too small. For a superior macro camera it's a joke that the optional SL-1 ring light won't even adapt to this camera - a major product oversight by Nikon.

Showing opinions 1 - 10 of 37 next > >>