5.1-megapixel effective recording * 3X optical Zoom-Nikkor lens (4X digital/12X total zoom) * 35mm equivalent lens focal length: 35-105mm * 14 MB of built-in memory (holds about 5 images at highest quality setting) * 1-13/16" color LCD *
1 Highly Satisfied
Its sleek design enables you to carry it anywhere in pretty much any bag. I am a teenager, therfore, I dont carry many bags with me...I just stick it in my pocket! Its that small. I LOVE IT!! The images come out crystal clear. Highly recommended if your shoping for a high-quality digital camera for a low price...c'mon, 5 MPIX's for $250? That's pretty good.
2 Value for money
I bought this camera a week ago.
This is my first digital camera that i have bought, but i have used lots others in the past.
This camera is outstanding. Extremely easy to use, great-great-great picture quality. It can fulfil the expectations of many starter amateur photographers and can nearly satisfy a professional one. Vivid colours....great.
The recharging of the flash is a lit bit slow.I think that this is this only negative element.
With a 512MB SD memory card you have up to 365 photos of 5mp....what else can an amateur ask?
Its the absolute "value for money" digit cam....maybe the best in its category!
3 very very slow
This camera is great for picture quality but there are some big negatives. The biggest problem is the slow flash recharge--6 seconds! By then, if you're taking pictures of kids, they're long gone. Also, you have to wait for the LCD to be ready to take the next picture. You can turn the LCD off to save battery, but you have to go through 3 or 4 menu steps to do it, so it's not practical to switch off between using the LCD and not using it. Finally, on some the fixed focus modes (landscape), which cuts down on shutter lag since the camera is not hunting for the autofocus, you can't use a flash. Bottom line is that this is NOT a good camera if you take indoor pictures of anyone in motion.
4 The small wonder
I am a camera buff and have used many cameras. I would say that this is by far the best camera its size. It is probably a matter of personal tastes, but I think this camera takes much better pictures than the Canon A95.
White balance is wonderful, as with most Nikons.
here are the things that rock:
1. Compact and cute, fits in my jeans pocket
2. Uses just two AA batteries and is light weight( weighs less than the A95)
3. Has a lot of programming modes to handle almost all your day to day shooting needs
4. Crisp and clear images
5. Warns you that the image is going to be blurred before you shoot and also tells you if an image did turn out blurred so you dont have to waste memory saving it
6. EXCELLENT Macro mode, look at the sample image I have posted
7. Silent focusing
8. Super fast USB file transfers
9. Excellent value for money
What could improve:
1. The command dial feels flimsy
2. The battery compartment door feels very flimsy and if you are not careful, you will break it in no time
But in all, the very best value for your money.
5 Nikon quality, but slow flash refresh.
I tested the Coolpix 5600 to replace my Coolpix 2100, looking forward to the new features, such as a larger view screen, enhanced battery life, and some new photo features that allow you to choose black and white, or other color scales to enhance a photograph. Nikon quality is very high, and these cameras are very durable, though the hard plastic shells do tend to scratch a little with abuse. One positive change made to this camera was moving the photo dial from the top to the back side and minaturizing the dial. This is nice, since the top dial tended to move when the camera was taken out of a pocket or placed in a bag, which put the camera in a different shooting mode. One negative change was the loss of flexibily in battery choice. In the 2100, one could use the durable CR-V3 or any type of AA. This camera only accepts AA (Li, NiMH or alkaline) batteries, and this is negative because the refresh rate on the flash for this camera is relatively slow (3-7 seconds), independent of battery type (alkaline, NiMH or Energizer Li AA battery), even when the specific battery mode (alkaline, NiMH or Li) was chosen in the camera. The 2100 was a battery hog with a slow refresh rate for NiMH or alkaline batteries, but was an absolute champ with the disposable CR-V3 Li battery. Note that the 5600 does have a much better battery life using any AA battery compared to the 2100.
Bottom line: A solid performer, durable pocket camera, uses any AA battery with reasonable battery lifetime, but flash refresh is relatively slow. Great for outside use, but for "quick" flash photography, consider spending the extra cash for a Li-rechargable battery camera, such as the Nikon 5900 or the Canon SD200 or SD300.
6 Excellent Camera
I have owned 2 other digital cameras before (Kodak and Fuji) and without a doubt the Nikon Coolpix 5600 is in a league of its own.
Although it is really small, it is surprisingly ergonomic. My hands are not tiny but compared to my other cameras this one fits very well and does not result in crampy hand muscles. The case is plastic but does not feel cheap.
When I first picked up this camera, I had not read the manual. I just turned it on and started playing around with it. My first impression: It is VERY intuitive. The menu button on the back leads to varying choices which depend on which mode one choses (Auto, Scene, Portrait, Landscape, Sports, Night Shots and Movie). All the other buttons are straightforward as well. For example, if you want to delete a picture you just took, you simply press the button with the trash can symbol...
Later I briefly went over the manual and also found it to be an easy read and very structured. Unlike many other manuals this one was not an ordeal.
The 5600's autofocus is very fast. Of course if the flash is used, recharging takes a bit of time, but without flash the camera is ready for the next shot in a snap. The many program choices yield truly awesome results. I took mainly indoor pictures so far and am amazed at the quality. Unlike other cameras, the flash light does not wash out colors. The pictures come out balanced and just simply very nice and natural looking.
I also really like the 'assist' functions: In some modes, one can set up the camera to display helpful frames, e.g. in Portrait mode one can have the outline of a person's head and shoulders diplayed. All the aspiring photographer has to do is to hold the camera in a position where the head of his/her subject is in the circle frame, shoot, and the camera does the rest. One can even display this frame on the left or, alternatively, on the right or take a portrait shot of two people with two such assist frames displayed.
I have not yet had the time to try out all the functions (haven't tried Sports mode too much yet, or the copy function to copy back & white text) but one thing I can already say: This is not only the neatest camera I have owned so far, it also takes excellent pictures with very balanced flash-light results. To me, one of the quality signs is how a digital camera handles the color red, and this one does a fine job in this area, too. To anyone considering this camera: Go for it, you won't be sorry. And the price it great, too!
