Nikon's P5000 10 megapixel prosumer cam

If you're set on keeping it compact and fashionable, but still want to take some legitimate pictures, Nikon would like to tempt you with its new P5000 cam, which along with a 10 megapixel CCD, 3200 ISO and 3.5x zoom can accept add-on lenses or accessory shoe peripherals. We're pretty skeptical about that ISO 3200 mode, pictures at that ISO rarely look passable with a DSLR, much less a compact like this, and Nikon limits such pics to 5 megapixel shots, but we suppose having the option doesn't hurt anything, and Nikon claims its new image processing engine with "enhanced noise reduction and an improved signal-to-noise ratio" should help. The camera includes all those Face-priority AF, In-Camera Red-Eye Fix and D-Lighting perks in the new S and L Series cameras, along with optical image stabilisation. The 2.5-inch LCD doesn't sound stellar in an age of 3-inch viewfinders, but Nikon did leave room for an optical viewfinder, which is always nice. We're also digging the i-TTL compatible accessory shoe, which supports external flashes, and the optional 24mm wide-angle lens and 378mm telephoto converter lenses. You can pick one of these up in March for $400, but be sure to pick up a hefty SDHC card while you're at it, those 10 megapixel pics are going to want some leg room.

Gallery: Nikon's P5000 10 megapixel prosumer cam

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[william woods @ Feb 20th 2007 12:13AM]

Ahhhhhhh too much camera news!!

[David W. @ Feb 20th 2007 12:25AM]

...looks like a canon to me...

[Eh @ Feb 20th 2007 1:00AM]

Whats the point of taking crappy taken pictures at extremely high resolutions? Is there a big demand for printing the family dog on a poster?

I'm still waiting for them to make current technology cheap rather than keeping the prices high by continuing to evolve to new technology. Who the hell cares about 10mp compact cameras?

[cpt @ Feb 20th 2007 1:40AM]

This one is kinda Nikon's answer to Canon G7, although way cheaper. Optical viewfinder, manual dials, hotshoe, converter lens options... together with the relatively slim and pocketable size, this could be a strong candidate for DSLR user's alternative camera.

[cpt @ Feb 20th 2007 1:42AM]

oh, and the battery grip seems way better than the G7!

[???? @ Feb 20th 2007 3:27AM]

Nikon is of the best camera in Japan.

Love....
由佳小阪

http://yukakosaka.blogspot.com/

[Nick @ Feb 20th 2007 6:36AM]

Sure, if you're completely ignoring Canon's existence ;)

I, for one, can't take a product seriously that has 'Cool' in the name.

[matt @ Feb 20th 2007 3:21PM]

wow - when I saw the picture, I thought it was a powershot a640 until I looked a little closer...

[stretchsje @ Feb 20th 2007 8:09AM]

It looks like a camera that combines the best parts of the Canon A640 and G7, sold at the A640 price. Go Nikon.

[jdavidse @ Feb 20th 2007 11:21AM]

No RAW mode? No thanks.

[Michael @ Feb 20th 2007 3:23PM]

It has RAW mode, and a mode that simultaneously records RAW and "basic" jpeg.

[KC @ Feb 20th 2007 5:25PM]

When are they ever going to make left-hander cameras?

[Vik @ Feb 20th 2007 7:29PM]

The fact that this sucker has RAW mode should make this a G7 killer. The problem is the g7 has such a nice retro feel and a great user interface. It remains to be seen whether this Nikon offering can trump the G7 in those categories.

[kombizz @ Feb 23rd 2007 10:01AM]

It is very look like Canon PowerShot A640 !
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canona640/

[filmproducer @ Mar 1st 2007 10:13AM]

It's a Nikon and it is in a class by itself so far. The new canon G7 has dropped a few notches into the simple cameras since there is no Raw and it is smaller than the previous G versions. G-7 cannot handle the red eye problem. Let's hope this P5000 can do what Nikon says it will do.

[grantmasterflash @ Mar 10th 2007 11:14PM]

dpreviews says it has no raw mode. The G7 also has a longer zoom and a slightly better movie mode but costs more. I own a G7 and love it but had the P5000 been out a couple of months ago I would have seriously considered it just around the size factor. The G7 weighs twice as much and is about 1/4" bigger in height and length plus the wide angle lens is much smaller than the G7 wide angle. The telephoto for the P5000 is huge though. I guess this would be a better camera if you were looking for small size and did a lot of wide angle shots but the G7 is still better for small size and telephoto because out of the box it's equal to the P5000 with the tele converter.

[gregoron @ Apr 23rd 2007 2:05PM]

Nice try Nikon. Seriously, keep it coming. I'd like so see more manual features on your prosumer cams. You're lagging far behind Canon, which is now actually slowing down for you by taking some of it's manual features from its A series digicams.

What I'd want is a larger CCD. What's the point of cramming a gazillion pixels in a 1/8th of an inch sensor? It would have been better to just keep it a reasonable 6 megapix. I doubt any increase above 6 MP would improve image quality on 4 by 6 inch prints.