Matt Grayson looks at the Nikon Coolpix L100. An easy to use compact with a very big zoom.
| Nikon Coolpix L100 in Digital Cameras

- Zoom: 15x optical (28-420mm)
- Resolution: 10Mp
- Sensor size: 1/2.33in
- Sensor type: CCD
- Max. image size: 3648x2736
- File type: JPEG
- Sensitivity: ISO80-800 (auto only), 720-3200 (HiISO or Sport)
- Storage: 44Mb internal, SD, SDHC
- Focus types: Centre, face detection
- Normal focusing: 50cm
- Close focusing: 1cm
- Metering types: Matrix, centre-weighted, spot
- Exposure compensation: +/- 2EV in 1/3 step increments
- Shutter speed: 2sec-1/4000sec
- Flash: Built-in 0.5m-11m (wide), 0.5m-9m (tele)
- Monitor: 3in TFT LCD
- Interface: USB 2.0
- Power: 4x AA batteries
- Size: 110x72x78mm
- Weight: 355g (excl. battery and card)
Alternatively the Sony DSC-H50 offers a slightly lower 9Mp, similar 15x optical zoom and a Carl Zeiss lens.
Nikon Coolpix L100: Features
As part of the 'Life' series, the Nikon Coolpix L100 sits in the Nikon range towards the bottom end. Still, a 10Mp sensor and 15x optical zoom aren't anything to be sniffed at. On the surface it does seem that the only reason this camera was released was to satisfy the consumers who wanted a big zoom and nothing else.
You won't find the latter on this camera because there isn't an option to change the ISO unless you select the HiISO option and even then it chooses from between ISO720-3200.
On the back is the expected 3in LCD screen and very little else. A few buttons are sat to the right of the screen for changing the mode you're in or selecting macro, flash and drive options. The main modes are brought up for selection when you press the camera button. Easy auto makes everything point and shoot to a level I don't normally experience. In this mode, the main menu allows you to change the resolution. That's basically it for that mode, if you want to do anything else, you'll have to choose the normal auto mode found at the bottom of the list.
There are only fourteen modes in the scene menu which is a little unusual for a camera that essentially takes control away from you. This could be down to the predictive auto systems that all cameras are having installed in them since Panasonic developed it. It works in the normal auto system and detects what type of photograph you're taking then adjusts the mode the camera is in to suit. Of course, it can't tell when you're in a museum so there's an option for that in the scene selections.
There's also the possibility that it could get it wrong, so options such as macro are still accessible on the navigation pad. I sit here complaining about this but secretly I'm happy because it means that we're not having more and more features added to the cameras with each new release, so maybe Panasonic did us a favour in that respect?
Looking at the menu and it's just as simple as the rest of the camera. I mean that in a complimentary way as it doesn't get too confusing. In auto mode there's only two tabs to choose from for recording options and set up. You can also change the resolution, white balance, drive modes, colour options and take advantage of the distortion control. This could be a distinct advantage with the wide angle lens as it will cause distortion otherwise they wouldn't include the feature on the camera.
Nikon Coolpix L100: Build and handling
As part of the range that it's in, I didn't expect much but holding it feels surprisingly solid. There's little wobble in the lens and I can happily report that the camera has a metal tripod bush.
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The Nikon Coolpix L100 feels comfortable to hold with its chunky grip allowing plenty of space to grasp and letting the index finger fall straight onto the shutter release. The flash is a manual pop-up type in the way that it doesn't even have a button to activate a mechanical switch. You have to get your fingernail under it and flip it up yourself.
Despite a resolution of 230,000dots, the screen is very bright and colourful with only a mild hint of motion blur and the purple banding seen at bright areas soon disappears when the camera compensates for the light.
Nikon Coolpix L100: Performance
There are three modes to take advantage of in the drive mode although one of them isn't technically a continuous shooting mode. Continuous mode takes five shots in ten seconds giving it a rating of 0.5fps (frames per second) which isn't the best but the camera is capable of up to 13fps. BSS stands for Best Shot Selector and works by taking several images and choosing the best one from the bunch. Not really continuous shooting as it doesn't record all images but uses the feature in its execution.
Finally, you can choose multi-16 which takes 16 small thumbnail shots and places them all on one image. I've often thought about what benefit this mode could have and I can only come up with it being a handy option for making a zoetrope.
I flicked the camera into sports mode to see if I could find the 13fps mode and it seems that this could be the one. It managed to take 31 images in just over three seconds which is actually a little under 13fps but I'm testing the camera in more realistic terms and not a laboratory.

I like the portrait image as it's given a balanced skin tone and a decent white balance result. Using auto flash wouldn't get a response as Nikon seem to prefer upping the ISO at the moment so I forced the flash and it didn't do anything to try and amend the power. A harsh reflection has appeared on the forehead and the whole image is over exposed.
![]() I like the portrait image for skin tone and warmth while retaining good detail.
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![]() Using flash has let the camera down from an otherwise decent performance.
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In the lock image, I like the amount of detail that the camera has managed to capture and there's a healthy amount of depth of field. I also like the priority of colour given to green and blue as the sky wasn't that deep in colour.
There are a number of Nikon cameras that don't feature a sensitivity option so you can adjust ISO. Unfortunately, the L100 is one of them and it's really quite unnecessary. Even the most basic digitial cameras have ISO change in the menu but not the L100.
The noise test proved interesting as I had to lower the amount of light in the room to force the ISO higher. I only managed to get four readings of ISO102, ISO211, ISO400 and bizarrely, ISO2438. Unbelievably specific values to allow the camera to use.
As expected, ISO100 is a nicely detailed image although I'm sorry to say that noise is coming through on the grey area at this level. Disappointingly, ISO211 has aggressive noise for such a low setting with white flecks littering the area and coloured blobs settling in for the night.
Luckily there's not a great deal of difference between ISO211 and ISO400 but the bump up to the top setting of ISO2438 has lost all detail in the petals, reduced the resolution and makes you think you're looking at a television screen.
![]() The ISO102 test.
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![]() The ISO211 test.
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![]() The ISO400 test.
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![]() The ISO2438 test.
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If you've always wanted a bridge camera but couldn't afford it or you didn't like the look of all those pesky buttons and switches, this could be your ideal camera.
Nikon Coolpix L100: Plus points






Nikon Coolpix L100: Minus points




FEATURES

HANDLING

PERFORMANCE

OVERALL

The Nikon Coolpix L100 costs around £219 and is available from Warehouse Express here:
Nikon Coolpix L100
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