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Impressive 13.5 megapixel camera with NIKKOR wideangle 4x zoom lens, Global Positioning System (GPS), RAW file format, advanced exposure modes, optical viewfinder, Vibration Reduction, high ISO and EXPEED image processing system. Effective pixels: 13.5 million Image sensor: 1/1.7-in. CCD; total pixels: approx. 13.93 million Lens: 4x Zoom-NIKKOR; 6.0-24.0mm (35mm [135] format picture angle: 28-112mm); f/2.7-5.9; 9 elements in 7 groups; Digital zoom: up to 4x (35mm [135] format picture angle: 448mm) Focus range (from lens): 50cm (1 ft. 7.7 in.) to infinity (∞); Macro close-up mode: 2cm (0.8 in.) to infinity (∞) Storage media: Internal memory (approx. 48 MB), SD memory cards*1 Image size (pixels): 4224 x 3168 (13M), 3264 x 2448 (8M), 2592 x 1944 (5M), 2048 x 1536 (3M), 1600 x 1200 (2M), 1280 x 960 (1M), 1024×768 (PC), 640 x 480 (TV), 4224 x 2816 (3:2), 4224 x 2376 (16:9), 3168 x 3168 (1:1) Vibration Reduction (VR): Lens shift VR ISO sensitivity:ISO 64, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 2000, 3200*2, 6400*2, Auto (auto gain ISO 64-800), High ISO Sensitivity Auto (ISO 64-1600), Fixed Range Auto (ISO 64-100, 200, 400) Interface: Hi-Speed USB Power sources: Rechargeable Li-ion Battery EN-EL5 (supplied), AC Adapter EH-66 (supplied) Battery life: Approx. 260 shots with EN-EL5 battery Dimensions (WxHxD): Approx. 107 x 65.5 x 42 mm (4.2 x 2.6 x 1.7 in.) excluding projections Weight: Approx. 240 g (8.5oz.) without battery and SD memory card

Great compact camera
I have had this camera now for a couple of months and have had chance to use it extensively.

I have been a big fan of Nikon cameras for many years – all my 35mm cameras are Nikon and my F90x and F5 are amongst my most favourite cameras. Like Nokia mobile phones, Nikon cameras are operate in a similar way – the Coolpix P6000 is no exception. This camera definitely owes much of it’s heritage to the Nikon SLRs – both 35mm and digital – that have gone before it. That might seem strange, but the user interface definitely “feels” like a Nikon.

Form factor
It was the form of the P6000 that initially drew me to it. It has a kind of retro appearance with a large knurled knob and a hot shoe on top. Very reminiscent of my FM2 (another Nikon 35mm favourite).

If you are looking for an ultra compact digital camera, this is NOT the one for you. I have an Olympus FE-300 which I use for work. It is a 12MB compact and fits easily into my bag without me noticing it. I use it for recording whiteboards during meetings etc. For this purpose, it works really well. However, it is just too slow to use on the move (I tried, unsuccessfully, to photograph an otter swimming underwater while at the Seattle aquarium recently – the delay between the button being depressed and the shutter firing made it just about impossible). The lack of a viewfinder on the Olympus does’nt help either.

The P6000 is small enough to fit into a large pocket and has a great solid “chunky” feel to it. The body is made of magnesium alloy and is covered in part by a coarse rubber grip (which probably explains the similarity with the F5!).

The good bits
It is a well designed camera. The layout of the controls will feel familiar to a Nikon SLR user. The command wheel is used to great advantage. The layout feels as if it really has been thoroughly thought through. For example, if you are in playback mode (viewing images) and half press the shutter button, the camera flips back into camera mode. Pressing the “Delete” key immediately after taking a picture will delete it without the need to go into playback mode. Although just small touches, these do make a difference to the overall handling of the camera.

Most of the camera’s settings can be set manually and there are a features that you would not expect on a compact (e.g. real curtain sync, auto bracketing, manual focus). There are even a couple of user definable user modes.

Power up. The camera seems to power up almost immediately and, in use, there is negligible delay between depressing the button and the shutter firing. Big difference from many other compacts.

Picture quality. Both picture resolution (13MB) and colour rendition is absolutely stunning (which is probably what you would expect).

Face recognition. This works well in “portrait” mode and instantly detected faces – focussing on the face even if off centre. I could even get it to recognise a face from a print on my desk.

File format. It is possible to set the camera up to simultaneously capture both JPEG and RAW formats.

GPS. This took a while, probably 30-40 minutes, to locate the satellites once it was initially powered up. But after this, it worked well. Obviously, outdoors will produce the best results, but it still managed to find a satellite signal while sat at my desk next to the window. It seems pretty accurate. However, when moving from location to location, it can take up to 10 minutes to locate the satellites. This gets a bit annoying after a while.

The not so good bits
Lens. This works really well, particularly in macro mode. It could probably do with a slightly longer focal length (just x4 optical zoom), but works well as is.

GPS. This seems a bit slow to me and takes a lot longer than my Garmin Forerunner to locate itself. The end result is that it is a bit difficult to use as a “point and shoot” AND record GPS data.

WiFi. I don’t understand why there is no WiFi connection, only a wired RJ45 port.

Power. It would be good if it were possible to charge via the mini-mini USB cable rather than having to carry yet another charger (something else to forget!).

All in all a great little camera. Solidly built and really easy to use. If you are looking for a compact that provides full manual control, take a look at this one. I suspect the GPS will have limited appeal in it’s current format.

Pixel Envy
This Nikon model is at the higher end of the digital compact camera market, which at the price, pitches it head on with digital SLR cameras. The point being that potential buyers may well be looking for professional specifications but without the hassle of changing lenses.

One key aspect which prospective buyers may be unaware of is considering buying a camera due to the sensor. The bigger it is, the better the quality of images. The number of pixels is not crucial, I have seen prints from a 5 megapixel camera and an 8 megapixel camera-phone, the camera wins easily due to the larger sensor. The sensor on this model is 1/1.7inch which is up to those of its rival compact cameras if not to those of DSLR cameras.

Basic spec is:
28 – 112mm lens in 35mm film camera terms. Close focus is possible from 2cm.
ISO setting range from 64 to 6400.
Accepts SD memory cards.
Takes 13mp images with a JPEG at the same time. The ability to take smaller file sizes of 8mp, 5mp and smaller is possible.
Exposure modes include Program, Shutter Priority, Aperture Priority, and Manual.

A useful addition is the Vibration Reduction, which helps reduce the effect of camera shake.

On the camera back are instant access buttons: ‘Play’ to view images, `Menu’ for less frequently used features, `Trash’ to delete individual images, `Display info’ which quickly rids the rear screen of all the data clutter to enable seeing the image better. The screen is a fine 2.7″ size. Most of the functions are hidden away and are a maze to find when needed, so the `Function’ button allows customisation of preferred features.

A feature which is not found on cheaper compacts is a hotshoe which enables SLR camera flash units to be connected. The built-in flash is operated by pressing a button and up pops the hidden flash. I am used to having a compact which automatically switches the flash on, unfortunately this camera requires you to switch it on yourself so I found myself expecting the camera to switch on the flash automatically but had to retake them when realising I have to press the pop-up flash button.

The specification is impressive and with new unique selling points such as GPS and Vibration Reduction can sway many people.

Now down to a practical point of view, the camera feels solid with the metal body, a rubberised thumb grip on the back helps improve handling, one-handed operation is easy. It is small, there are niggles I found annoying having seen other compacts avoid some potential problems. The on/off switch is tiny and too close to the shutter release, so switching it on or off when not meaning to occurred. My Canon and Fujifilm F30 place the two buttons well apart even though they are smaller cameras.

The rocker switch on the back which operates the up/down/sideways functions is small, but because the screen is large, the rocker feels too close to the bezel of the screen and renders the left-sideways rocker operation difficult unless having grown a suitable nail on your right hand.

I attempted to activate the GPS, set it to on and it is supposed to find the overhead satellites to record location co-ordinates, but at no point did I seem to be in a position where it found them.
The battery life claims to be enough for about 260 shots, which is not much and ran down with little use in a few days.
The boxed camera comes with a manual, a few hundred pages to guide the user through its many features, at times it was difficult to look up how one feature is operated, it is laid out for those who read it all in one go.
Nikon offer an on-line service for storing and sharing of images on their PictureTown as well as a software CD which includes RAW file conversion.

The P6000 will take terrific images, but I cannot help thinking that there are lots of features I had paid for and would not be likely to benefit from, such as GPS, 13mp and Nikon’s PictureTown. I frequently print exhibition pictures from an inkjet printer onto photographic paper so realise that a camera with 6 or 8mp and a 1/1.8 size sensor is adequate for A3 prints.

Alternatives to consider are:
Nikon’s Coolpix S630 . . . 1/1.8inch sensor, 37 – 260mm zoom lens, no RAW.
Canon IXUS 110 . . . 1/1.8inch sensor, no RAW but HD movie mode and cheaper.
Olympus Mju 9000 . . . 1/1.8inch sensor, 28 – 280 mm zoom lens
Sony Cyber-Shot W270 . . . 1/1.8inch sensor with HD movie mode.
Panasonic Lumix LX3 . . . 1/1.7inch sensor with 24 – 60 mm zoom
Ricoh GX200 or GX100 . . . 1/1.7inch sensor with 24 – 72 mm zoom.

Review by “Peter”

Best compact on the market – most probably
Over the past two years I have used the high end compacts from Leica, Canon and Nikon. Up until recently I would have, and have said on here that Canon has the best compact in the G9 (soon to be replaced by the G10). Well Canon and Leica now have a real contender in the Nikon P6000.

I have had this camera for 2 weeks and I am blown away by it. At the high end you do need to have a good knowledge to get the best out of the camera but once you have read the well presented manual – which is not on a disk as per Canon you really get to know how good this camera is.

On the plus side it produces Raw and jpegs and with Vibration Reduction VR even hand held at 1/15 of a second images are pin sharp. Contrast and colour are amazing and with a wide ISO range from 64 (I think thats the lowest on any current current compact) to 6400 (I think thats the highest). I have yet to use the camera at 6400 ISO but the Canon G9 had substantial noice levels once you got above 400 ISO and if this camera performs as well as the D300, D700 or D3 at 3200/6400 then I will have nothing to complain about.

The camera has two very unique features. First it comes with GPS, so you can record the co-ordinates of all pictures taken. Great when travelling abroad or in unusual locations. Easy to set up too. The second great feature is the ability to attach a Ethernet cable to upload straight from the camera to Picture Town. Great feature though on the downside there is no Wi-Fi connection as on earlier models.

If I had to give the thumbs down to one feature it would be that the RAW files are in a new format being NRW which can only be used through Windows Vista. I am a MAc user so at themoment I can’t use the RAW files but I am hoping that soon both Aperture, Lightroom and Photoshop will have plug ins to get around this minor irritation.