Nikon Coolpix L310 Evaluation | Pictures Weblog

Introduction

Ease of Use

Nikon have been making these tremendous zooms for a lot of a 12 months so by the point they launched the Coolpix L310, they need to have all of it nailed down. Certainly, the controls are positioned in a method that they are simply out there to looking out fingers or thumbs. All of the features are set to the appropriate of the digital camera in order that the left hand can be utilized to carry it regular. Excepting the flash launch button which is located on the left of the flash housing unit.

Formed roughly like a field, the Nikon Coolpix L310 has a big grip for holding simply and – should you’re daring – you could possibly strive some one handed taking pictures. In all probability greatest not at full zoom although. The dimensions of the grip is multi-functional, although. In addition to permitting you to carry on to the digital camera so much simpler than if it wasn’t there. It additionally acts as a counter steadiness for the massive lens barrel that holds the 21x optical zoom. The focal vary of the digital camera is 4.5 – 94.5mm or 25 – 525mm in 35mm phrases. The grip additionally holds the 4 AA batteries that slot into the underside of the digital camera subsequent to the SD card. SD stands for Safe Digital and is the kind of card that is accepted within the Nikon Coolpix L310. There are a number of varieties out there and the L310 takes each model together with the most recent, which is the SDXC card.

Entrance	Rear

Solely the facility button and shutter launch adorn the highest plate with the zoom rocker circling the latter. A big speaker sits subsequent to those buttons with the microphone positioned simply behind the flash unit. On the again, a 3 inch LCD fills many of the area out there so the buttons must be crammed into a decent area on the proper of the digital camera. Nonetheless, there’s sufficient area for a good sized thumb relaxation. On the high of the Nikon Coolpix L310, the button with the pink spot is for direct video recording. This lets you begin recording video with out having to entry the video mode within the menu system. This characteristic appeared a number of years in the past on some Casio cameras however it’s unclear who truly developed the concept as many producers introduced out related cameras on the similar time.

The decision of the Nikon Coolpix L310 is 14 megapixels. This provides a decision dimension of 4320×3240 pixels on a 1/2.3 inch CCD sensor. It is attention-grabbing that Nikon have not shoved a couple of additional million pixels in there simply to make it somewhat extra tempting to the purpose and shoot crowd who assume decision is an important issue in a digital digital camera. Clearly, you are extra clued up than that. Actually on a small sensor like this, a decrease decision is a profit.

High	Facet

The L310 is a mixture of construct qualities. For instance, the casing is plastic which is typical of the L sequence cameras (L stands for Way of life and is the funds vary of Nikon digital compact cameras). The digital camera is powered by 4 AA batteries which – whereas it isn’t essentially a nasty factor – you not often discover a digital camera extra costly that takes AA’s, preferring rechargeable lithium ion variations. AA batteries are advantageous as a result of they are often discovered in lots of retailers across the world which is beneficial for holidays and hole years. Nevertheless, regardless of a surge in battery know-how in recent times, they nonetheless do not final so long as lithium ion do. They’re additionally significantly heavier which may have its downsides when strolling round for a day, nevertheless it additionally balances out the load of the lens.

On the flip facet, the battery door is nicely made with sturdy plastic and loads of steel on the again to conduct the facility and provides to it is integrity. The tripod bush is additionally made from steel. Now, that is one thing that is beforehand been the benchmark to say whether or not it is a funds digital camera or has had some cash ploughed into it. Cameras within the vary of the L310 usually have a plastic tripod bush, however this one is steel. It is refreshing to see that good high quality objects are being fitted into what can be classed as an inexpensive digital camera.

Due to the place the Coolpix L310 stands within the Nikon vary, the menu techniques have been designed to be as easy to make use of as potential. The digital camera provides two menus; a easy Mode menu for figuring out the mode you want to shoot in and the Predominant menu for drilling down into the extra indepth options that the L310 has to supply. To entry the Mode menu, press the button with the inexperienced digital camera icon. There’s 5 choices out there together with Auto (located on the backside regardless of being arguably probably the most used mode), Sport steady, Sensible portrait, Scene mode and Simple auto. This latter mode has been designed to make every part as fear free as potential. All you, must do is level, zoom and press a button. The digital camera will resolve should you’re taking a portrait or panorama or macro shot (for instance) and select the suitable mode to make use of to get the very best outcomes.

Entrance	Pop-up Flash

The Predominant menu is accessed through the Menu button on the backside of the Nikon Coolpix L310. There are three tabs to the left of the display for various sections of menus. They’re allotted an icon relying on the modes which might be out there in it. The digital camera icon is for taking pictures modes and holds options reminiscent of decision, ISO, steady taking pictures, white-balance and color choices. The video digital camera represents the Video part. It permits yout o change the decision of the video recording, focus modes, picture stabiliser (on or off) and Enhanced decision. The ultimate icon (a spanner) is for the extra core options of the digital camera. This space is reserved for options that you will use not often or will have an effect on the best way the digital camera operates at a pc stage (ie; not image taking). Due to this fact, it permits you to change issues from the trivial such because the Welcome display you see if you swap the digital camera on, to extra vital options reminiscent of  formatting the cardboard, choosing the language and setting the time & date.

The menus are very simple to observe and Nikon have made them that method purposefully. The black background of the menu has gray pages with white writing on them. The highlighter is yellow so it is simply distinguishable. 

From a chilly begin (switched off), the Nikon Coolpix L310 can energy up, focus and take an image in a little below 2.5sec. That is on the leaner facet of common, so it is a good end result. In steady mode, we managed to take eight photos in a ten second interval. That is slightly below 1 body a second, which is not good, however ought to be adequate for primary use. It will not seize the levels of a balloon popping, however it can document a horse operating over an affordable distance, for instance. Shutter lag is round the usual time of 0.08sec.

Reminiscence Card Slot	Battery Compartment

The playback mode might be accessed whether or not the digital camera is switched on or off.  Urgent the playback mode for round 5 seconds will open the playback mode when the digital camera is off. A easy faucet will suffice when it is on. The photographs will seem full display and you may make them smaller or zoom in by toggling the zoom lever. Primary taking pictures info will show for round 5 seconds earlier than leaving simply the battery icon on the display with the shot. There is not any method so as to add further info. You are caught with The date & time, file quantity, decision and picture quantity within the sequence.

Within the playback menu, you’ll be able to enhance your photos barely reminiscent of including D-Lighting (enhances element in shadows and caps burn out on highlights). There’s provision to set a slide-show, shield any photographs you could maintain with out threat of unintended erasing, copy and set a print order. The spanner icon accesses the identical set-up menu as discovered within the taking pictures Predominant menu.

As quickly as you open the field, you are confronted with the 2 CDs which maintain numerous info and software program reminiscent of the total Customers guide in numerous languages and View NX2 which is a sort of modifying and submitting software program program. There’s additionally a fast begin information, European guarantee info and a security leaflet. Beneath this paraphernalia is the digital camera, a set of AA batteries, a neck strap and a lens cap.

Picture High quality

The entire pattern photographs on this evaluation had been taken utilizing the 14 megapixel Positive JPEG setting, which supplies a mean picture measurement of round 5Mb.

Noise

The bottom sensitivity ranking on the Nikon Coolpix L310 is ISO 80. The outcomes from this setting look nice. There is not any noise evident in any photos with this ranking, edge definition is sharp and the colors are faithfully reproduced. Nevertheless, to use this setting, it’s a must to have the digital camera within the brightest mild potential and both not zoom in or use a tripod. This is without doubt one of the major drawbacks with having an extended lens with a tiny sensor; the shortage of sunshine. This loss in out there mild means you as a rule must ramp the ISO up. We shot on auto ISO in our pattern photographs to get a  number of outcomes in addition to see if there was a minimal setting the digital camera would not go beneath. Whereas there is not any discernible sample, we discovered that the digital camera would usually keep round ISO 800 if no sky was within the shot – even when flash was used.

Being extremely important, there is a smidgen of noise beginning to creep in to the darker areas of our take a look at photographs however it could actually solely be seen at full magnification. Regular viewing could have no bearing on it and we’re completely pleased with our photographs at ISO 100. Begin to step by means of the ranks and it turns into extra noticeable even from ISO 200. Inexperienced spots seem within the darker sections which exacerbates at ISO 400 in addition to a noticeable drop in sharpness. Edge definition begins to undergo because the noise discount takes it is toll.

At ISO 800, noise discount software program tries to take away color noise by desaturating the image. This impacts pure color within the picture they usually begin to look wishy washy. Edge definition is starting to fail extra dramatically at this setting. By ISO 1600, the noise discount software program has eliminated all element from black areas in a bid to scale back noise. Edges are wanting dicey and colors are even extra pallid. The ultimate two levels use a lowered decision to be able to take away among the noise points by permitting the pixels which might be in use to attempt to stay cool. Warmth generated from neighbouring pixels can create a sort of digital noise. By spacing them out, it is much less prone to have an effect on the pixels that stay in use. Picture element returns to a level however colors are nonetheless bland. By the ultimate ISO 6400 setting, even the picture element has began to decay.

Focal Vary

The focal vary of the Nikon Coolpix L310 is 4.5 – 94.5mm or 25 – 525mm in 35mm phrases. Surprisingly, that is fairly low by at present’s requirements. It is a 21x and with cameras popping out now with as much as 40x optical zoom, a 21x appears as if it is developing somewhat quick. Nonetheless, it acquired us nearer to the place we wished to {photograph} however could not both by means of restrictions of the realm we had been in or basic lethargy. At vast angle, there is a diploma of barrel distortion.

Sharpening

We discovered that in photographs the place there’s loads of fantastic element, including to the already sharpened photographs will not assist in the slightest. Nevertheless, with photographs which have clear strains or easy element, it could actually assist to run the images by means of the fundamental Sharpening instrument in an modifying suite reminiscent of Adobe Photoshop.

File High quality

At full decision, there are two JPEG high quality settings out there together with Regular and Positive, with the latter being marked with a star within the menu. The L310 doesn’t save photographs in a Uncooked format.

Chromatic Aberrations

We did discover situations of chromatic aberration, though it is truthful to say that among the proof discovered on photographs taken outdoors had been lens flare. When it does happen, it is on excessive distinction strains in direction of the perimeters of the body though we did see situations of it nearer the centre of the body.

Macro

The macro specializing in the Nikon Coolpix L310 is 1cm based on the Nikon web site however we could not get close to that vary. We had been extra like across the 5cm distance. Zoom can be utilized in macro and a small blue bar will seem on the zoom vary on-screen to point if you go away the macro vary.

Flash

Whether or not you employ flash or not, the Nikon Coolpix L310 suffers from vignetting very mildly at wide-angle. The flash would not take away this, however it would not matter that a lot as a result of it is solely a hint.

And listed below are some portrait photographs. As you’ll be able to see, each the On or the Auto/Purple-eye Discount settings trigger a tiny quantity of red-eye.

	Flash On (100% Crop)

Evening

The Nikon Coolpix L310 has a evening scene mode which is accessed through the Scene menu. It is represented by a constructing with a crescent moon over it. On this mode, you aren’t getting to regulate the ISO and in our shot at nightfall, it used a ranking of ISO 400. Switching to Auto mode, we modified the sensitivity to ISO 80 and took a shot. The publicity was one second. Picture high quality is not at all good. The picture is blurry from digital noise with some over sharpening from the processor in within the highlights. Noise is apparent within the Scene shot. It is troublesome to make out any cheap element, though the publicity is extra balanced because of extra mild being recorded.

Pattern Photographs

This can be a choice of pattern photographs from the Nikon Coolpix L310 digital camera, which had been all taken utilizing the 14 megapixel Positive JPEG setting. The thumbnails beneath hyperlink to the full-sized variations, which haven’t been altered in any method.

Pattern Film & Video

Product Photographs

Entrance of the Digicam

Isometric View

Isometric View

Isometric View

Entrance of the Digicam / Pop-up Flash

Rear of the Digicam

Rear of the Digicam / Picture Displayed

Rear of the Digicam / Turned On

Rear of the Digicam / Taking pictures Mode

Rear of the Digicam / Taking pictures Menu

Rear of the Digicam / Playback Menu

High of the Digicam

Backside of the Digicam

Facet of the Digicam

Facet of the Digicam

Entrance of the Digicam

Entrance of the Digicam

Reminiscence Card Slot

Battery Compartment

Conclusion

Whereas out taking pictures with the Nikon Coolpix L310, we had a little bit of a tricky time as a result of one of many days was actually overcast and boring. In a scenario like this, you count on the digital camera to step as much as the plate and do what it has to to be able to get the very best shot. We discovered that we needed to reshoot various occasions or use a tripod to verify the shot was regular. Even in auto ISO, typically the images weren’t sharp, due to digital camera shake.

Of what photos we did take that appeared sharp on the display, round 1 / 4 of them weren’t when considered on a pc display. It was a predicament as a result of the drizzle prevented us from checking every shot to be able to maintain the digital camera dry. It is at all times a special story if you get the images residence, although and by chance, we had the possibility to revisit.

The Nikon Coolpix L310 is straightforward sufficient to make use of. When you get a grasp of the controls, you may get to them rapidly with none fuss. We discovered that the batteries died before we anticipated, however as luck would have it, we weren’t out and about on the time. We did use the batteries offered by Nikon and it is at all times dicey predicting whether or not they’ll be okay.

Regardless of our reservations on the construct high quality, it is a strong little digital camera to carry. There is not any want to make use of child gloves as it could actually maintain its personal with the remainder of them. We just like the lockable battery door, though given the stress that AA batteries placed on the door, it is a regular requirement. We particularly just like the steel tripod bush. It is a small factor however a superb one.

The one failing of the Nikon Coolpix L310 when it comes to picture high quality is the unhealthy noise efficiency. The vary goes as much as ISO 6400 and actually the digital camera ought to be capable to cope higher than it does. Picture high quality was beginning to present indicators of failure at ISO 200. Noise discount on the DSLRs is superb, so it perplexing why it is this unhealthy on the L310. There are a selection of mitigating components, such because the smaller sensor and decrease classification of digital camera. But when individuals see how good a Nikon DSLR performs, they will count on the same efficiency and shall be disenchanted with the L310.

That being stated, the remainder of the picture high quality is fairly good with good colors, sharp edges and good distinction. Should you’re in search of a superzoom that does every part for you, check out the Nikon Coolpix L310.

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