ProductCritic: Nikon Coolpix P5000 Reviews

TrustedReviews (90)

The Nikon CoolPix P5000 isn’t the top-drawer semi-pro compact that many were hoping for, but it is a well-made and well-specified camera suitable for more experienced photographers. Its lack of performance and slow AF system are handicaps, but comfortable handling, a good range of options and features, and excellent photographic results more than compensate.

Cameras.co.uk (88)

The Nikon Coolpix P5000 is an impressive digital camera. It has plenty of features and is likely to appeal to someone who sees photography as a hobby. One of the attractions of the Coolpix P5000 is that so many key features are packed into a very compact body. Recommended

Digital Camera Review (88)

The Nikon Coolpix P5000 provides a 10 megapixel sensor, excellent image and color quality, and an ergonomically excellent camera in a compact, easily portable package. Not only does the camera come with the full auto and specialty modes found in virtually every P&S, but a complete set of manual controls as well. This combined with the optional wide and telephoto converters gives the P5000 a versatility that could attract a varied group of shooters: those new to digital imagery can use the auto functions and be assured of quality images, while photographers who want or need the ability to go semi-automatic or manual get their wish as well.

What Digital Camera (86)

As a compact that can ‘fill in’ for your DSLR, the P5000 largely does the job it sets out to, although noise is an issue and I’m disappointed that there’s no Raw mode. I’m also not that impressed with the lens’s focal length range: it lacks true wideangle and telephoto capabilities unless you want to invest in (and carry) lens converters.While the P5000’s a good camera it ultimately falls slightly short of being a great one.

DigitalCameraInfo (85)

In the end, the $399 Nikon Coolpix P5000 is a good camera for current Nikon owners, but there are better options for consumers who don’t own Speedlight flashes and don’t care for Nikon’s subpar face priority system.

Imaging Resource (84)

Size is one of the Nikon Coolpix P5000’s strongest arguments. Packing this much photographic control and quality into such a light and compact form is an unusual achievement, and its images were beautiful. Time will tell if the Nikon P5000 is a classic Coolpix, but meanwhile, let’s call it a “Dave’s Pick” by a nose. (If its autofocus were just a bit faster, it’d be a hands-down winner.)

kickstartnews.com (80)

Definitely a little camera with a lot of personality that will help you take good pictures. Highly recommended.

Popular Photography & Imaging (79)

Nikon bred a live one in its new Coolpix P5000 ($350, street). It has many of the external and some of the imaging controls of its D80 and D40x DSLRs. Can it match the image quality of its DSLR kin? Yes and no.

Steve's Digicams (79)

Nikon has created an appealing consumer digital camera with loads of useful features (VR, D-lighting, Face Priority AF, 17 scene modes, etc.) and great image quality. However, shooting performance is not quite up to par with many similarly priced cameras. That said, with an MSRP of US$399 or less, the Nikon Coolpix P5000 is competitively priced for a 10-megapixel consumer model, and is sure to be a popular digicam this year.

DPexpert (78)

If you are happy to keep the ISO setting at 200 or below then the Nikon P5000 will do the job. The excellent auto white balance and exposure work to minimise the effects of noise in indoor shots, but mottled skies are not attractive. This is the only Nikon compact that has an optical viewfinder so it is an important model in the product line.

Let's Go Digital (78)

The Nikon Coolpix P5000 is in my opinion one of the nicest compact cameras available right now, it is really well built. Of course there is always something left to hope for, and the camera is not perfect. A wide-angle lens and RAW format are on my wish list. If Nikon were to fulfill half of my wish list I would be completely satisfied. I recommend it!

Dev Hardware (77)

Overall, I would say this camera is solid, but it needs a performance tune-up to outperform its competition like the Canon A710 IS. It is a comfortable camera that is very ergonomically designed, and the buttons are configured well. With the P5000’s 10 megapixel CCD and its VR feature you can achieve excellent quality images, but you have to take the slow performance of the camera into consideration when purchasing.

Digital Photography Review (76)

Weighed up against the many positives the sluggish focus has to be put into context; only you will know if the kind of pictures you take are going to be affected by an extra half second or so delay, and I can’t stress enough that there is an awful lot to like about the P5000. For this reason it just about earns our recommendation, even if it’s a recommendation that comes with an important qualification: ‘if you don’t need fast focus’.

Digital Camera Resource Page (75)

In conclusion, while there’s much to like about the Coolpix P5000, it’s overall sluggishness left me feeling a bit cold. A firmware upgrade that fixes some bugs and perhaps improves AF performance would be nice, but I’m not holding my breath. It’s not a camera for action shooters, and enthusiasts may not care of the lack of RAW, a live histogram, or manual focus, but for casual still-life shooting it’s not a bad choice. The P5000 earns my (somewhat hesitant) recommendation, but be sure to take a close look at the competition.

NeoCamera.com (75)

The Nikon Coolpix P5000 is one of those cameras which seems designed to impress but fails in terms of performance.

Photoxels (75)

With very good image quality and its many practical features, the Nikon Coolpix P5000 will appeal to the serious amateur photographer desiring a compact and light digital camera with an effective image stabilization and full control over camera operations.

DigitalCameraInfo (74)

The Nikon Coolpix P5000 is meant to bridge the gap between compact digital cameras and DSLRs, but it is definitely weighted towards compact models.

Digital Trends (70)

The Nikon Coolpix P5000 is a good camera and would’ve gotten a higher grade if there weren’t issues with responsiveness—saving files as well as focusing. It has a nice feel and is light enough to take anywhere. Overall photo quality was good, not dazzling. Is it a replacement for a D-SLR? Of course not. Still, at under $350 USD, it’s definitely worth considering.

Pocket-lint (70)

A cracking package in terms of handling, controls and features that is capable of nice images at lower ISOs, but sluggish AF presented real problems with noise issues also leaving a nasty taste in the mouth.

ePhotozine (70)

If the ISO is kept down, you don’t mind average performance, then the high resolution, good image quality, the plethora of metering and focussing options and the powerful flash features are all worth having.

CNET (69)

A few performance issues with the Nikon Coolpix P5000 diminish the appeal of an otherwise nice compact camera for amateurs.