it's definitely comparable to the canon g7.... but much lighter and more compact.. definitely recommended...

Ok so my last camera was a Nikon 3200 which we loved but the shutterspeed was slow and it was just a little outdated. We decided it was time for a new camera so we went to the store and ended up with an Olympus 1000 (great sale price). We got home and after we used it a couple of times we realy didn't like the camera because many pictures were blurred and just not very clear. So we sold the Olympus and splurged and got this camera. This camera is worth every penny! The pictures are so clear and the camera is actually much easier to use than I thought it would be. We took a picture of our ceiling fan while it was on high just to see how it would turn out and in the picture it is as clear as if the fan was off. This is an amazing camera with awesome features and my husband and I are both blown away by the picture quality. We can't wait to get outside and use the camera to try all the features.

I love this camera. My guess is you'll love it too, at least if your needs are similar to mine:

I cut my teeth on a Pentax Spotmatic in the 1970s, and appreciate the flexibility of manual controls. Point-&-Shoot digital cameras are small and light, but (nearly) everything is automatic. The P5100 allows you to manually adjust the shutter speed and aperture, just like with a DSLR; but unlike a DSLR, the P5100 is (while a bit heavier and bulkier than I might ideally like) pocketable. It's a compromise between a DSLR and a P&S, and in that sense works really well for me.

The build is really solid, the controls are exceptionally easy to use, and image quality is superb. My only real complaints are that it's a bit slow (shutter lag seeems longer than most, and there's a lag while the image is being processed) and the on/off switch is located in the wrong place (the center of the grip, so I find myself turning the camera on & off when I don't mean to). I consider these minor inconveniences.

So if you're a photo enthusiast who wants more control than offered by most P&S cameras, but you don't want to deal with the bulk of a DSLR, you may love the P5100 too.

Great little camera....easy to operate....good pictures....a good companion to a MD80....12.1MP slows it a bit..but very handy to shoot on the fly....too many options for a small camera.....more advanced

Well, as a nikon user, I'd really recommend this brand-new camera, as long as it is very simple to have access to all the features previously avaiable on hi-cost cameras. I'm really satisfied.

First let me tell you what to buy with the camera. 1) the UR- E20 adapter tube. You can leave it on all the time as protection and for extra finger grip, I do. It weighs next to nothing 2) the wide angle converter lens, also very small gizmo, another hundred dollars but gives you a wide view of 24mm equivalent and the menu option allows the camera to correct some barrel distortion inherent in this type optic.Works pretty darn good except at extreme edges 3)Nikon's SB400 flash,which is a marvel. Small,light,dedicated to the system and has a swivel flash tube up front for bounce,unusual in anything this small and two celled. Flash uses two AA size standard power and delivers a lot more than the built in body flash pintsize runt,rechargeables are better natch. And if you get the flash you prolong the camera batter,a nice bonus and less less redeye4) a spare Li-Ion battery by Nikon another mere 20 bucks or so.Fast 2 hour charge will do it. Now this whole kit and kaboodle will run the tab up a bit more than you expected,but you will get shots that are equal or better than a heavy SLR with a heavy zoom lens.I do not joke. The camera's Program mode is one of the better ones out there. Meaning I trust it a lot.

Some professional reviewers tend to poke away at this camera's lack of zip to them, and forget it is powered by a minute size battery,about the size of a slice of cheddar on a buffet table:-). It can't do burst shots and start up in a microsecond, true. They are not accepting it for what it delivers at this price. What else is out there but heavier and pricier in this category I mean.


The lens will not open as wide at tele end as an indoor shooter would want without flash, and is not the speediest performer out there overall. BUT FAST ENOUGH if you pre- focus, and why not prefocus I say...it tells you that the lens has found its target. Nikon has done a good job on this product and you just can't go wrong at the price. I am really falling for this little fellow as a grab and go item. The LCD is hard to see outdoors except for the histogram playback. Indoors it is a delight to see. You may also want to pick up a wrist lanyard vs the neck strap which comes with it. Your preference.Battery delivers plenty juice for a day of reasonable shooting even with LCD viewing. When I go next trip to the Serengeti ,well, I take a generator and power inverter (:-), or maybe just a car battery adapter. I carry all this kit,if you are interested, in one half of a Mountainsmith Aurora II Camera Bum Bag/ Lumbar Pack with room for trail mix and cellphone..
Why schlep heavy stuff on a vacation? Enjoy.

Arthur Schopenhauer once wrote: "Truth goes through 3 stages: First it is ridiculed, second it is violently opposed, and third it is accepted as self-evident truth."

"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it."
- Francois Voltaire

UNLIKE YOUR AA BATTERIES, THE PROPRIETARY BATTERY MUST BE RECHARGED EVERY NIGHT OR YOU WILL END UP WITH .....A DEAD CAMERA!


What you'll read below is more than merely my opinion. What you'll read are factual statements about this camera.

This camera has no wide angle lens. A better choice is The Nikon Coolpix P50 which costs about $120 LESS and has a wide angle lens!

So, why give it one star, you ask? I give it one star because, for me, I would NOT buy this camera in preference to the Nikon P50. Because I would not buy this camera, for me it only rates one star. That does not say that it is a "bad" camera regarding its picture taking capabilities. You may love the camera and if it was the only camera on the market I might also. But, for me and possibly for you, The Nikon P50 is a better choice, in my opinion. If you wanna see some photos I took with the Nikon P50 email: boland7214@aol

Regarding the proprietary battery as compared with AA batteries, when you are out on safari in Africa living in a thatched hut or tent and your proprietary battery runs out of power, do you want to be running all over the jungle at night in a fruitless attempt to find a battery at a local "sari-sari" store while you hear lions and hei-enas roaring and sounding off all around you? With the Nikon P50, you can easily carry enough AA batteries with you on your trip so you won't have to risk your life searching for the proprietary battery all over the jungle on those cold nights with wild animals searching for YOU! Got it? :o)

So, you ask, "who needs a 28mm or 23mm lens?" You do! Most people concern themselves with how LONG is their telephoto lens. But, most people who "know" know that it is the WIDE ANGLE lens that is most important---most of the "best shots" are made with a WIDE ANGLE lens. For example, you're in Europe and you are trying to "get a shot" of that Cathedral of Notre Dame over there. You NEED a WIDE ANGLE lens. You are in the California Poppy Fields and you want to get the expanse of the golden-yellow poppy flowers with the huge blue sky filled with white clouds above---you need a WIDE ANGLE lens. You are sitting at thanksgiving dinner and you want to take a photo from the foot of the table with everyone sitting on the left and right---you NEED a WIDE ANGLE lens. You are in the garden of the California Mission and you want to take a photo of the ENTIRE garden surrounded by the mission walls---you NEED a WIDE ANGLE lens. It's Christmas day and you want a photo of the ENTIRE GROUP of visitors in front of the Christmas Tree---you NEED a WIDE ANGLE lens. This is where the 28mm lens comes in! So, you NEED a camera with a 28mm wide angle lens! Otherwise you'll be cutting off heads and leaving Aunt Sylvia out of the "Christmas Group Photo" this year---and she'll disinherit you and you'll live a life of poverty and misery everafter! :o) If you agree or disagree or know of ANY other digital point and shoot camera that has a WIDE ANGLE lens please write, Email:boland7214@aol.

PS: There is also a Canon SD800 which has a wide angle lens and an optical viewfinder. I like that one also. But the "killer" for me on that one is the proprietary battery necessary to operate the Canon SD800 over the use of AA batteries used in The Nikon P50 that are very cheap and you can find in almost any store in the world.

PPS: Why do you need an optical viewfinder when you have an LCD screen? The simple reason is that the LCD's SOMETIMES get "washed out" in bright sunlight. And, another reason, I think, is that the optical viewfinder is "faster to use" under "pressure circumstances" like when you want to "grab" that smile on your kids face. Why not have both is my opinion. If you disagree fine, but two ways to view and take photos seems better than one. It's just common sense. (Plus, some people are "far sighted" and have difficulty clearly viewing a small LCD screen a few inches from their eyes.)

One more reason having an optical viewfinder is a good feature is that: If you don't have an optical viewfinder you'll have to use the LCD Screen ALL the time....thus using up more precious battery power--but with an optical viewfinder you can turn the LCD off and conserve battery power so you won't run out of electricity to power the camera.

Arthur Schopenhauer once wrote: "Truth goes through 3 stages: First it is ridiculed, second it is violently opposed, and third it is accepted as self-evident truth."

"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it."
- Francois Voltaire

UNLIKE YOUR AA BATTERIES, THE PROPRIETARY BATTERY MUST BE RECHARGED EVERY NIGHT OR YOU WILL END UP WITH .....A DEAD CAMERA!


What you'll read below is more than merely my opinion. What you'll read are factual statements about this camera.

This camera has no wide angle lens. A better choice is The Nikon Coolpix P50 which costs about $120 LESS and has a wide angle lens!

So, why give it five stars, you ask? Actually, I would give it ONE STAR except that I would upset too many people! I would give it one star because, for me, I would NOT buy this camera in preference to the Nikon P50. Because I would not buy this camera, for me it only rates one star. That does not say that it is a "bad" camera regarding its picture taking capabilities. You may love the camera and if it was the only camera on the market I might also. But, for me and possibly for you, The Nikon P50 is a better choice, in my opinion. If you wanna see some photos I took with the Nikon P50 email: boland7214@aol

Regarding the proprietary battery as compared with AA batteries, when you are out on safari in Africa living in a thatched hut or tent and your proprietary battery runs out of power, do you want to be running all over the jungle at night in a fruitless attempt to find a battery at a local "sari-sari" store while you hear lions and hei-enas roaring and sounding off all around you? With the Nikon P50, you can easily carry enough AA batteries with you on your trip so you won't have to risk your life searching for the proprietary battery all over the jungle on those cold nights with wild animals searching for YOU! Got it? :o)

So, you ask, "who needs a 28mm or 23mm lens?" You do! Most people concern themselves with how LONG is their telephoto lens. But, most people who "know" know that it is the WIDE ANGLE lens that is most important---most of the "best shots" are made with a WIDE ANGLE lens. For example, you're in Europe and you are trying to "get a shot" of that Cathedral of Notre Dame over there. You NEED a WIDE ANGLE lens. You are in the California Poppy Fields and you want to get the expanse of the golden-yellow poppy flowers with the huge blue sky filled with white clouds above---you need a WIDE ANGLE lens. You are sitting at thanksgiving dinner and you want to take a photo from the foot of the table with everyone sitting on the left and right---you NEED a WIDE ANGLE lens. You are in the garden of the California Mission and you want to take a photo of the ENTIRE garden surrounded by the mission walls---you NEED a WIDE ANGLE lens. It's Christmas day and you want a photo of the ENTIRE GROUP of visitors in front of the Christmas Tree---you NEED a WIDE ANGLE lens. This is where the 28mm lens comes in! So, you NEED a camera with a 28mm wide angle lens! Otherwise you'll be cutting off heads and leaving Aunt Sylvia out of the "Christmas Group Photo" this year---and she'll disinherit you and you'll live a life of poverty and misery everafter! :o) If you agree or disagree or know of ANY other digital point and shoot camera that has a WIDE ANGLE lens please write, Email:boland7214@aol.

PS: There is also a Canon SD800 which has a wide angle lens and an optical viewfinder. I like that one also. But the "killer" for me on that one is the proprietary battery necessary to operate the Canon SD800 over the use of AA batteries used in The Nikon P50 that are very cheap and you can find in almost any store in the world.

PPS: Why do you need an optical viewfinder when you have an LCD screen? The simple reason is that the LCD's SOMETIMES get "washed out" in bright sunlight. And, another reason, I think, is that the optical viewfinder is "faster to use" under "pressure circumstances" like when you want to "grab" that smile on your kids face. Why not have both is my opinion. If you disagree fine, but two ways to view and take photos seems better than one. It's just common sense. (Plus, some people are "far sighted" and have difficulty clearly viewing a small LCD screen a few inches from their eyes.)

One more reason having an optical viewfinder is a good feature is that: If you don't have an optical viewfinder you'll have to use the LCD Screen ALL the time....thus using up more precious battery power--but with an optical viewfinder you can turn the LCD off and conserve battery power so you won't run out of electricity to power the camera.

I have no complaints about this camera. I am in Iraq right now and this camera is holding up better then I was expecting. The quality of this camera extremely good. I have some combat camera friends and they said it is on the professional level. I would recommend this camera for anyone that is looking for a high quality camera for a really reasonable price.

I bought the P5100 as it travels a lot easier than my D70 and can do more in some respects. The main reason to choose this one over the rest is that it has a hotshoe and is compatible with my Nikon SB600. Here is a comparison with my D70 nikon SLR a bit unfir but the P5100 holds up surprisingly well. The P5100 has a Mg alloy body and is sturdy but light enough to hold steady on a skinny pocket tripod. it has video capability although the built-in mic is awful. It does better than the D70 in very low light. built in VR is excellent and can drop at least 2 f-stops without distortion. It has a face id for focusing and a Panoramic shot assist--( when you use this setting the screen displays the edge of the previous photograph so that you can align the next shot perfectly when you pan the camera.).You cannot get dust on your sensor even if you try. and twice the megapixels compared to the D70! The limitations (compared to the SLR) are cannot shoot multiple frames per sec. very slight shutter delay compared to SLR. Slow autofocus and no focus area options and limited metering options.Cannot shoot in RAW format.
For less than Half the price of the D70 this is an excellet deal. Go for it! Make your Day!

just upgraded from a nikon 5400 because i wanted something more portable. this is a small, well-built, ergonomic little camera, that's feels great in your hand.

i've been really pleased by the upgraded performance too, compared to the 5400. the 12 megapixels gives significantly more detailed pictures. the built in vibration reduction software is amazing. it makes it possible to take sharp handheld pics at 1/8 or 1/4 of a second. and the d-light software magically transforms underexposed elements of a pic (like a backlit subject against a bright ground) without affecting the correctly exposed parts.

wish it had the 28mm of the p50; but a very pleasing little camera.

I bought this camera, it was the best purchase I ever did, I want to thanks every review I read before the purchase, I read one about the slow process when you take a picture, I went "Ohh what I did", I read it after I bought it and before I received it, but when I shot at 12M with all features at high and with a regular SD card, it was quite quick in my opinion, I don't know if he was comparing it with another camera, taking videos is good with this cam, and pictures are great, this camera for the price is a most!!! I recommend it 100%

First let me say that I was surprised by the very small size of the 5100. It literally fits in the palm of my hands.

My last Nikon was the Coolpix 950 and I never used most of its advanced options because the menu system was too complex. The 5100 is crammed with buttons and dials so that choosing most options can be done without paging through multiple levels of menus. Plus it has 15-preset types of "scenes" (portrait, sunset, museum, etc., plus the super-cool panorama setting) which make all the necessary settings for you automatically for a particular type of picture. Another cool feature is its ability to make time-lapse movies, as well as 640x480 30fps movies and sound recordings.

But the main attraction of the camera for me was its fast lens with Vibration Reduction. I've taken sharp pictures in very low light which I had been unable to take with the old Nikon.

Another feature I was not aware of until I got the camera is its ability to do digital zooms without image degradation (if you are shooting at less than maximum size, which I usually do anyway). When I shoot at 1600x1200 size, I can use digital zoom to get the equivalent of about a 7x optical zoom lens.

I was considering the Nikon S10 (too much noise in low-light and difficulty focusing in low light) and then the D40 (no auto-focus in-camera, no VR without buying very expensive lenses). It would be nice to have something like an 18x optical zoom on the 5100, but short of that, this camera is very, very good -- especially at such a low price.

I bought the cool-pix to go to China and it did not disappoint. The clarity and quality of these pictures is amazing. I was previously using a 4MP Sony and this 12MP wonder just blows it away. It is light and easy to carry, the controls are easy to manage, and the battery is tucked away neatly along with the memory card. A 1GB memory card allowed us to take over 600 photos, all of which were extraordinary. I especially liked the feature that allows you to delete a photo w/ one touch of the little "garbage can" icon - fast and easy and without 3-4 clicks. Love this camera and would highly recommend it for the price.

I'm a big fan of Amazon and over the years have bought many things from this site. This is only the second time I've written a review as I feel compelled to share my experience of this wonderful little camera.

First of all, I own a Coolpix 4500, so I am familiar with Nikon. I had it for several years and despite the fun using it and excellent pictures when I used it right, it was ultimately a frustrating camera-too big, very slow, with complex menus too troublesome to access. Like a previous reviewer and his 99x series, I too, found myself hardly using a lot of the available settings on that camera.

So when time came to switch cameras, I vowed to pick a different brand. I have used a Canon A-series from work, used and returned a Casio v7. I wanted something zippy, small. After using these cameras, I realized size was the most important to me, next was the manual controls. I didn't want a straight up point and shoot, I enjoy creative control with my camera. After returning the v7 I realized I wanted it durable.

Canon's A-series cameras did not appeal to me, I do not enjoy AA batteries, I find it cumbersome and awkward. I've used one from work where the lens were starting to have problems and I didn't like the construction of it. The Casio's greatest strengths were its slim build, lens that did not retract, really speedy and great movie mode. Plus it had a 7x zoom and all manual (albeit limited) control. But it was far too fragile and pictures were often soft and blurry in low light.

I went to a local store with these three things in mind:
1. Small/pocketable
2. Full Manual control
3. Good IQ
4. Reasonably priced

I wanted it speedy of course, but figured that I would be happy with somewhere between my old sloooow 4500 and the superfast v7.

The camera guy at the show showed me only two models: the 5100 and the g9. These are the two with fully manual functions. I knew about the Canon-A series but AA batteries are out of the question for me. I had my mind set on venturing beyond Nikon but when I picked up the 5100 it had me hooked. There is nothing like holding this camera in real life and trying it out. Everyone is right when they say this. It is something special.

The G9 I know is supposed to be a superb camera, but I was not paying 500 dollars for it and it was not quite pocketable. I hemmed and hawed about getting another Casio for its small size/manual functions.

Here's my take on the 5100 after having it for nearly three weeks. It is a great little thing. The size is unbelievable for what it can do. The image quality is great-you will notice this immediately. It is consistently well-exposed and sharp. Easily tweaked to fit personal tastes. Its terribly fun to use because there are so many buttons on the outside to easily access settings. No fiddling in menus.

The infamous autofocus lag-well its there, but only in low contrast/light situations. There are ways to go about it that's already been discuss: prefocus, or force centered focus. The latter really makes a difference.

Shutter lag-none. When focused, there is NO apparent shutter lag. I own the camera. I do know what I'm saying.

What the camera does well, it does very well. Size, ergonomics, handling is excellent. Image quality is really great. It is VERY reasonably priced. It has fully manual controls: p,a,s,m modes, this is no token-2-fstop-option. I do not know of any other pocketable camera with such a feature set.

Go pick one up at the store. Try it in your hand. It caught me totally by surprise.

This camera is the PERFECT camera for those of us who want the following: 1 a small camera easily carried in a laptop bag 2> want manual controls as well as automatic 3> utilizes excellent (and affordable) Nikon addon lens and external flashes 4> Of course takes great pictures and as a kicker has the BEST macro mode of ANY "point and shoot- even has anti pin cushion and barrel distortion mode for PERFECT close in pictures (Like ebay pics)
I am not a novice but not a professional and was looking for a small camera that gave me manual controls. And not only is this camera small but it LOOKS like a camera should (maybe not important to you) but this feels absolutely PERFECT in the hand and I have heard from many pros that the camera that is used is the one that feels the best when taking pictures and this one is perfect.
The P5100 is always compared with the Canon G9 and the G9 DOES take marginally better pictures but the P5100 is A> $100-150 less, B> much smaller and lighter (important to me) and C: has a 30 fps movie mode- the G9 is only 15 fps. Again that is important to me. And to me the pictures it takes are fantastic.
And for those who say this camera cant take good shots of moving objects I am not sure what they are referring to. Just yesterday we were drivng back from Houston and took pictures of car and truck wheels at 80 mph next to us and the camera froze the wheels perfect every time in both manual and sport modes. Maybe it is the version 1.1 firmware that the units ship with now. Also I set the camera to 8 mpixel and I experience only a slight shot to shot lag like 1 second no big deal to me at all.
I took the advice of another reviewer and bought the wide angle lens (very squat and fits the camera perfectly without sticking out too much. and the hot shoe flash- just takes great shots every time of everything.
I Love Canon cameras and have bought many SD700, 850 and own a S3 (great camera) but the P5100 is the one I carry with me and gives me, as a mid ranged experienced user, the ability to shoot almost as a good as a pro, at a fraction of the price and a fraction of the weight and bulk.
Yes having a RAW mode would be better and maybe a 5-7x zoom would be nicer ( a reason to upgrade to the 5200?). Anyway as you can tell I recommend Nikon P5100 highly.

Nikon got it right for a little camera. I also have the Nikon D40 and D40X and pretty much can't tell the difference in the resulting photos from these three wonderful cameras.
I applaud Nikon for putting in a view finder to use in sunlight. For indoors and at night, the LDC screen and the vibration reduction work wonderfully well.
I like the idea of 12 mega pixels so I can crop in the photos. It's almost like having a zoom lens with more power than the 3.5 that comes on this camera. Do be aware that a 12 mega pixel photo that is not cropped will result in a fairly large file size. So, if you plan to do a lot of work with your photos on the computer it is a good idea to have a fast computer with a fairly large hard drive.
This camera is so small and lightweight that it's perfect to keep in my purse for when an unexpected photo opportunity occurs.

Has anyone else experienced the "LENS ERROR" problem? Does anyone else agree with me that this camera has had way too many problems?

I was a bit disappointed with the Nikon Coolpix P5100. The camera was obviously designed to compete in a specific digital camera class - hi-res, feature-rich, and capable P&S digicams for photography enthusiasts. The P5100 is very user friendly and it consistently delivers good static images. It's an excellent choice for casual photographers who want a camera that's compact enough to drop in a pocket and take along everywhere they go, tough enough to stand up to the rigors of modern life, and cheap enough to be competitive. The P5100's tough as nails magnesium alloy body, nifty rubber clad hand-grip, logical control array, optical viewfinder, hot shoe for i-TTL Nikon Speedlights, and superb ergonomics make this camera an outstanding camera choice for casual shooters, but it's slowness, tendency to clip highlights, and noisy high ISO shots/poor low light performance will hurt its reputation with photography enthusiasts. The P5100's price and features are clearly competitive with the Canon Powershot A650 IS, but its performance just as clearly isn't.

Pros:

User friendly
Compact and lightweight
2.5" LCD screen
Nice ergonomics

Cons:
Slow
Tendency to clip highlights
Poor low-light performance

I bought the Nikon Coolpix 5100 as a compact camera to bring when my DSLR would be too big and bulky. The optics are as I would expect from Nikon; they are very good. The features I especially like are the Vibration Reduction and the ability to shoot a movie-- which is surprisingly good. Also, the ability to measure for white balance is nice. I have been in lighting conditions that just didn't look right with auto or the other white balance settings, and having the ability to measure for white balance was fantastic.

The one thing I did not like about this camera is that auto-focus tends to hunt a lot in low-light. By hunt, I mean that sometimes the auto-focus takes about to 3 to 4 seconds to focus on the subject. Other times, it won't be able to auto-focus at all-- even with the AF assist.

Wow what a great little camera! I bought this to photograph family members and to take with me on trips. This was a replacement for a much older 5 MP Sony that I had. I had traded my old Canon A-1 for the Sony after much careful shopping around. For this current iteration of camera shopping, I checked out the local Best Buy and Ritz to compare features on all of the latest cameras and decided on the Nikon P5100. The sales staff at both of these places did not know much about the Nikon as it had just come in. The Canon Powershot G9 was nice, but I was worried about design-flaws and quality issues that were described in recent reviews on Amazon (including tilted LCD screens, and extraneous lines and pixels on the display. After trying it out and comparing with some other cameras, I decided on the Nikon.

The Nikon P5100 Coolpix offers a mix of being simple and convenient to use and features that allow flexibility and some experimentation. It is a great looking camera and very light with its magnesium body. I was very impressed with the design and functionality included in this camera.
The placement of controls and the handle allows for easy one-handed operation while shooting. The wheel for review of photos was new to me as the Sony did not have this feature. Very nice.

Accessories -
I bought a Nikon SB-400 flash unit to go with thisNikon SB-400 AF Speedlight for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras. The SB-400 takes two AA batteries. I put the Energizer e2 Lithium AAs, which are lighter than many of the other AA batteries. Keeps it lightweight, but very functional. Having had experience with Sony and Canon Digital cameras previously, the built-in flash, while useful for close-ups do not work well in settings like the school auditorium for my children's events or out at night in an outdoor setting where distance is a problem. I can get about 80 to 90 feet range with the SB-400.

I also bought a Nikon TC-E2 2X converter and the Nikon URE20 Converter Adapter Ring. Putting these together, the camera looks, feels, and functions like something that cost twice as much to put together.
I can also strip it down to the the base unit and still have a very functional digital pocket-sized camera.

I did not like any of the cases available from Nikon. The base unit fit perfectly into the pocket case that came with the camera bag set from Expedition Outfitters - which I purchased from Sam's Club.

Trying it out -
The camera is fast and does not get caught up between shots like some of the other digital cameras I have tried. The camera is SD and SDHC compatible as far as memory cards go. I have had no problems with 1 GB SD, 2 GB SD and 4 GB SDHC cards. I have an 8 GB SDHC card on order.

I am finding that I need the larger cards to shoot any practical length of video with this camera. A 1 GB card will fit about 20 minutes of video using the 640 resolution or 333 still shots at 12.1 MB per shot. I have been trying out the difference between Class 2, 4, and 6, with Class 6 being the faster read/write for the SD cards. While technically, the speed may be faster, with day to day shooting of family shots and nature shots, it is not as important. However, I do notice the difference when I am uploading the photos onto my MacBook. The Class 4 and 6 really do reduce the down-load time. Also, they are much faster than my old Sony Memory Sticks that I had been used to.

The 12.1 MP resolution is great for blowing up the photos, or for cropping. The 5 MP on my old camera was pushing the resolution when I tried to make a poster or when I tried to print an 8 x 10 of a cropped shot.

The low-light function on the camera works well and I get some great photos in indoor situations when I would rather not use flash. The macro feature is great on this camera for my close-ups of plants and to record signage to mark Events with my photo batches (iPhoto on the Mac).

The videos are great and work well on this camera, even though it was not designed with that use primarily in mind. The zoom/wide angle feature is smooth and allows for some basic video technique.

The lithium powercell for the Nikon lasts a decent amount of time. I bought 3 to rotate out as they get used when I am on a trip. They are very light and compact. They are also easy to swap. The camera comes with an AC charger for the power unit, but not the AC adaptor for the camera, which you have to buy separately should you need one.

Summary -
Again, this is an all-around, great camera, light-weight, functional, and the best of the new 12.1 MP point & shoot cameras that is upgradeable as of late 2007. I hope that I will be as happy with this camera for the next several years as I had been with my Sony.

As someone who likes taking pictures for fun, this is the perfect camera for me. I really wanted something that provide better than average image quality and something easy to operate. I did some research and found some images of the Nikon Brand. I found out it is also one of the better camera brands. Before I used a Canon Sure shot - 35mm, I assumed the shots were good, and it was easy to operate. With this camara, I see the results immmediately, and it is still easy to operate. The rich colored, image quality is amazing and superb with this camera. I also like the feature to choose lower megapixels for smaller image size, if desired. I still do not know a lot about the camera especially the SLR cameras, but I know what I see looks good to me. The comments from the other customers are very informative and helpful. Right now, I will enjoy this camera as is, a great little camera with professional results with the option to advance with its' accessories.

Love my new camera. Works well and does everything it says. Just be sure to buy some 1 or 2 GB media cards and an extra battery. Battery life seems to be fine. Use this primarily for digiscoping birds and the 12 megapixels allows for excellent cropping ability.

I usually own at least two digital cameras, one DSLR and a smaller one that I can carry around. Currently, I have a Nikon D200 and a little Casio 7 mp Exilim. I like the Exilim because it's small enough for a pocket, but the picture quality is only so-so.

After reading the positive reviews of the Coolpix P5100 here, I decided to buy the P5100 to replace the Casio.

Picking up the camera for the first time was a joy. The camera just feels right in my hands and doesn't feel cheap (the body is magnesium alloy, not plastic).

The P5100's exposures were spot on, alhtough there tends to be some clipping of the highlights and shadows. The colors are very accurate.

If you are a beginner who doesn't want to get involved with post-processing, this camera is probably not for you. Nikon has decided to do minimal in-camera adjustment to the images, which can be a good thing if you know your way around Photoshop and don't mind working on the images on your computer. Some other cameras boost sharpness in-camera. You can set the P5100 to increase the sharpness, but at the normal setting, you may find yourself increasing the sharpness with Adobe Bridge or Photoshop.

I don't agree with the reviewer here who complained about the video. The video is as good as any digital SLR that I've used. It won't give you the same results as using a digital video camera, but no camera does. The only problem with the video is that the sound ends about a half-second before the image does, so you're left with a silent bit and the end. This isn't a big deal to me. If I want high quality video, I'll use my video camera. In 15 years, think I used a still camera to take video exactly once.

Another great feature is the hot shoe. I don't think there are other point and shoot cameras that allow you to use an external dedicated flash. I can use my Nikon SB-600 flash on this little camera. How great is that? The built-in flash works really well, too.

The menus are a little bit confusing and not as intuitive as I would have preferred.

If the P5100 did RAW, I would have given it 5 stars, because some other cameras in its class allow you to shoot RAW. Still, for the price, this is a sweet little camera that should fit the bill as a grab and go for times when you don't want to lug around a DSLR and a host of lenses.

I was in the market for the P5000 and found it was not available so I acquired the P5100 instead. What a fantastic camera! I recently also purchased a Pentax K10d (and it's a great camera but a bit too heavy to carry around on this old neck for any length of time) but this is the camera I use most and I carry it with me everywhere. The program modes are terrific and combined with the SB400 Speedlight this little jewel is just about impossible to beat. The price is great and the camera itself is very high quality construction. The all magnesium body feels great in your hands and the controls are all very handy and easily operated, even in very low lighting conditions. One added plus is the camera will allow you to record audio captions for each picture or you can also record audio alone. The video capture works very well and it's quite handy if you don't happen to have a video camera with you at the time and still want to be able to provide that little 'extra'. One very cool feature is the Panoramic Mode, which provides a 'ghost' image on 1/3 of the LCD screen that allows you to consistently match up with the previous image and makes it very easy to take images that stitch together flawlessly. Nikon really did a great job with this camera! Get one and you will absolutely be pleased with it. Don't forget to get the Nikon carrying case as well, which makes it very convenient to carry. Of course the previously owned Coolpix lenses and other accessories work with the P5100 as you would expect them to, flawlessly. This camera comes to as near to perfection as you'll find in a reasonably priced point and shoot.

Sounds like a wonderful little camera. I'd like to consider dumping my rebel xt for it. However it's useless to me without a remote control. Anyone familiar with this little camera know if a remote control option exists aftermarket?

Well, I am very disappointed.....From prior reviews I was expecting a miracle in point and shoots. NOPE, it's still not there yet. I have had other Nikon Coolpix cameras prior to this one and the quality of the images on the older models seemed to be better then this one. I shoot professionally with my Nikon D70 SLR for istockphoto. I was hoping the technology was becoming better in point and shoot (POS) cameras. Boy was I wrong. This cameras photos at 100% look MUDDY! or I should say like a watercolor photo instead of a real photo and there is artifact problems in the images as well. I think Nikon is trying to cover up the noise problem by having the camera process the images this way. Your pretty much stuck with muddy photos. You just can't win with this camera not even adjusting ISO speeds. You can't fix muddy photos but you can fix a little noise problems with computer softwares. I am sending this back and will continue to bring my big and bulky Digital SLR where ever I go. I rather put up with the SLR cumbersome rather then giving up the quality of my images for a small Point and shoot camera. Hope this clears things up for all you professionals looking for a small point and shoot camera comparable to a SLR because there isn't anything comparable yet. I don't think there ever will be, the lens are just to small. For all you amateurs if you really want the BEST all around photos, get a SLR camera. small cameras like this is a waste of money when you can have the better for a little more. An SLR has auto features too and you will be AMAZED on the difference in quality and technology. You really don't know the difference until you try a SLR or see the actual difference between photos at 100%. It's really the best way to go.

You can't beat this camera for the price. It is extremely user friendly and takes quality photos, typical of Nikons.
Also, it has a very comfortable grip (esp. if you are right-handed) which most digital cameras do not have.
FYI, it does not come with a camera case.

Is there an accessory battery pack for the Nikon Coolpix P5100?
Is the Nikon MB-E5000 Battery Pack For Coolpix 5000 compatible with the new Nikon Coolpix P5100? I wonder...

I recommend this for the amateur who would like a little more than point and shoot. Along with added wide-angle and close up lenses, the pictures are limitless. High quality and well worth the price!

This is a very good camera to bring along regardless of whether you have a DSLR or not. For people who generally shoot using a more powerful DSLR, this camera will give the shooter the luxury of having a point and shoot camera as well as a manual/semi-manual camera in one very small package.

With 12.1 megapixel, the images are highly detailed and the prints are good enough to have on the walls. I like taking pictures wherever I go, but I'm not always able to carry my DSLR around. With this camera, I no longer have to choose between hauling a heavy DSLR or miss the opportunity of capturing something interesting.

On the automatic side, the facial recognition and anitshake features are must haves when you only have seconds to take those pictures. The high ISO numbers allows proper exposures in many low light as well as high shutter speed conditions. On the manual side, the customizable "function" button lets me decide the kinds of setting I want at my finger tip under different situations. For example, I could put the ISO setting there so that I can change the ISO from picture to picture, or I could set the function button to call up the white balance setting when I'm trying to meet a ever-changing condition, i.e. from sunlight to shady skies. The flexibility of this camera makes experimenting part of the fun as well.

Some say this type of cameras are not serious, however, I think this camera is actually fun and yet serious enough to let photographers who enjoy taking pictures no matter what the situations and conditions are a good backup. After all, it is the finding of interesting images and the creativity of picture composition that we enjoy and not necessarily the joy of just owning more expensive equipments.

I'll take my DSLR AND this Coolpix !!!!

I changed from the Nikon 7900 to the Nikon P5100. The difference is better then expected. Briljant colors, easy to use.

I purchesed this camera as a replacement for my Nikon Coolpix 5600 (I'm a 100% "nikon girl" didn't even think to get enother brand, although I tested Canon, Sony and Fuji just to make sure if nikon still doing great on the market). I'm amazed how functual this little camera is! It does work like a professional camera (well, if you know at least what ISO, Shutter speed and aperture are..) and it has good auto modes for those who just prefer p&s. Quality is great and just outstanding for P&S camera. I absolutly love it, and would recomend this camera to anyone. Nikon knows best!

This little point-and-shoot digital camera from Nikon is a complete winner. It is as close to a digital SLR that you can get. Simple to use, and with 12.1 megapixels at your command you can make clear as life posters as big as your livingroom wall! And, the quality is Nikon: A1.

I've had at least a dozen digital cameras over the past seven years. My main camera is a digital SLR, but I like to have a small pocket size camera to keep in my purse. I was upgrading from a 5 MP camera and read tons of reviews on this camera.... pretty much everything I read said this was an awesome camera and I loved the price tag, so I got it. I have never been so disappointed in a camera! The pictures are almost always out of focus, and unless you're in *really* good light, the pictures are very grainy! And probably the most annoying part is that you have to wait a long time for it to say it's ready to take the picture.... and then it still turns out blury! I messed with it for almost two weeks and finally gave up. I returned it and ended up with the Digital Elph - the MP's aren't as high, but it takes really nice pictures and a heck of a lot faster! I will never buy a nikon point and shoot again.

every option is great!
quality of pitures is also nice!
as a popular product, it gives me satisfaction.

The rubber pads of the camera serves its purpose, it has good handling. Also the hot shoe attachment is really great when taking pictures of far away objects in low light.

First off, I am an amateur photographer. Amateur as in, just really getting into it in the past year. I do own a pair of 4 MP cameras, a Kodak and Pentax, and decided I wanted something with a few more bells and whistles. I didn't want to go full on DSLR though, mainly because, as I say, I am new to this. So I ended up getting a hybrid. This is a point and shoot that you can throw a wide angle or teleconverter on. It also has some manual settings. As far as pictures, I see no problems with them. Definitely better than anything I can get from my other cameras.
I do agree with a few of the other reviewers though, in lower light situations, it does take the camera a tad more time to focus and adjust. I can live with that though.
I don't have any of the auxiliary lenses (yet), so I can't comment on how well they work or how the pictures look with them. For me, if you don't want or aren't ready to plunge into DSLR mode and want something better than the cookie cutter digital point and shoot, this seems to be the one. I'm sure there are probably better cameras out there, but this seems to be a good camera for 90%+ of the average persons needs: vacation, birthday parties, whatever.

I purchased this camera a few days ago. So far I am very very pleased with it. I was trying to decide between this camera and the larger Canon G9. Yes...the Canon G9 might be the "in" camera to have and has a few more features, it is also bigger, heavier, bulkier and much more expensive than the Nikon 5100. Being a female, I know that portability will be a lot important to me over time. Think practical. It fits perfectly in my pocket and in my purse without weighing me down. It is the perfect size. I love the hand grip it has as well. And if I want to add a lens to it I can.

Yes, the camera is just a little slower than I would like, but it is something I can live with.

I am definately not sure why a few people are complaining that this camera does poorly in low light. I have not had any problems at all.

I have tested the camera around my house in very very low light AND IN PITCH BLACK...and the pictures have come out perfectly as if I were in a well lit room. I was amazed!

I did notice that when I review the pictures on the camera they do take 1/2 sec. to focus perfectly. Not a problem...just something I noticed. Has anyone experienced this?

I would definatley recommend this camera. I will return with updates. :)

I bought this camera with some Christmas gift cash. My husband and I bought a digital camera (our first) two years ago so we could share pictures of our first child with friends and family. We hated that camera almost from the day we bought it and continued to grow more annoyed with it over the next two years. THIS time, I did some serious research and narrowed down my selection to two. I got a GREAT price on this camera through Amazon, and I LOVE it. So much faster, better shots, less red eye. Now we have two kids to take pics of and this one makes picture taking much more pleasant. I'm considering buying the extra lenses and trying them out because the price point is so low. I will say that the controls and menus are a little difficult to navigate if you haven't looked at the instructions but for the better quality camera and pictures, I'll put in the extra effort.

OK but not thrilling camera. pictures good but overall slow operation makes it a pain! I wouldn't buy it again.

This is my third Nikon Coolpix camera over several years and each one has gotten better (and the first one was quite good). I am an Art History teacher in a high school and so I shoot a lot of pictues inside museums. This latest Coolpix does an excellent job in low light and no flash. The camera is adaptable for special usages and it is perfect for snapshots both indoors and outside. Never have I been so satisfied with any camera.

I fancy myself a prosumer who like to work the manual features of an SLR but prefer the size and inconspicuousness of a point and shoot. The two clear choices were the G9 and the Nikon P5100. I read professional reviews one after the other and they all seem to indicate photo quality to be similar. The G9 however packs more features and feels like a professional camera. But when I went into a store to handled both cameras side by side, the choice was obvious. The P5100 is a true point and shoot; the G9, although nicely weighted was to bulky to be considered a point and shoot.

When I brought the P5100 home and test drove it, I knew I made the right choice. The photo qualities are stunning (for a point and shoot). Mind you, I don't print anything larger than 8x10. From landscape scenery to portraits taken at social gatherings, my photos turned out a lot better than I expected. Flash was rather balanced, even indoors. The quality was good enough that I could fix through the computers. As for RAW capabilities, I could care less. As a digital amateur, I still can't yet figure how my prints can benefit significantly from RAW.

As for video recording, I use my point and shoot mainly as a camera, so any video capaibility I consider extra.

So if you have no pretensions of being a professional photog and you care more about ease-of-use and convenience over features and looking 'substantial,' than the P5100 is the clear choice. It's best among its class of true point and shoot cameras with dSLR capabilities.

This camera is one of the best in the small camera market. My manager of the media department at the college where I worked was so impressed when he tested it out, he bought another one to have for student organizations to use for various functions.

I go through cameras like hogs go through mud. Not because I drop them in the mud, but because I like to buy a lot of technology. This little guy has stuck with me and here's why:

- I tried the G9 first. I always noticed the extra girth when trying to discreetly carry it in my jeans pocket. The p5100, even with a soft case, can be forgotten about while I'm carrying it in said pocket.

- Have you seen the images that can be made when using the wide angle and sb400 bounce flash? HOLY **** I'm no pro, but the results are creative and dramatic, to a much higher degree than any other P&S I've ever had. Without the attachments, the pictures are still just as good as any other P&S I've ever tried as well, and I used to even have the "legendary" Fuji F30. Even if the latter has better dim light results, the former makes up for it hundreds of times over with the bounce flash option.

- I won't beat the horse with the "performance issues." I'll just say I don't notice them, even though I originally owned the G9 for a month. That said, when I had both cameras at the same time, the interface of the G9 was a lot more user-friendly and "snappy."

- I took hundreds of pictures with both of them in the same conditions with various camera options. Subjectively, the ones taken by the p5100 consistently looked better and more alive than the G9 (without attachments). However, I could get much better "quasi-bokeh" with the G9, esp with the lens zoomed in and macro mode on.

- Finally, p5100 + attachments = much better pictures than G9 alone, and in that configuration it weighs about the same as the G9 without attachments.

- Result? FIVE STARS. Not because it's going to be as good as my friend's 40D, but when considering PRICE SIZE and RESULTS, it is.

For a Nikon this camera should be better, the lcd display is to dim outdoors and the camera, for being the top of the line point and shoot camera, is not worth the money.

I have had this camera for a few weeks and am astounded with the quality of the images it takes. I zoomed in on a gecko on the screen on my back porch and snapped away. The gecko had a fly in its mouth and the camera caught the yellow and black markings on the bug and the veins in the wings. highly recommended.

I use 35mm and 6x6 film cameras and wanted a good, small, non-SLR digital camera to throw in a camera bag and use on shoots to preview shots and do lighting tests. True this doesn't have the range of my pro lenses but has the ability to attach speedlights ( it even works with NON-iTLL flashes like the SB-28 if you set it up properly) and allows me to attach my radio transmitter to the hotshoe and remotely fire my strobes for test shots.

And it's a good performer in it's own right. The advanced features are great, and it's intuitive and easy to use. The magnesium & rubber construction makes it feel a rugged as my pro Nikon gear and it's rangefinder-like design looks surprisingly similar to my Mamiya 6 (though much smaller of course).

This is a great little digital camera, maybe one of the best non-slr choices out there.

My primary camera is a Nikon D300! I have times where using this camera is simply not prudent. The Nikon 5100 is frankly the best possible answer! It's F stop is adjustable down to approx. 2.8 and the lens lets in plenty of light. The addition of the adapter ring allows you to use "Wide Angle" & "Telephoto" lens made by Nikon!

This camera has features that would make it an excellent backup for a high level amateur, and dare I say, a professional photographer.
The video feature is most handy.
It has enough features which allows the professional good control over exposure, but, the automatic or preset exposure modes are excellent overall.
The hot shoe for the flash is actually usable, and gives us more flexibility, and D-Lighting dramatically enhances the camera's dynamic range.
If I were to have a "minicomplaint", it is the fact that the viewing screen does not swivel, which would give this camera even more flexibility.

Very disappointed in this purchase. Device was defective. Not all of the items were included in the shippment.
I purchased another identical camera from eBay that was used. This used device was in much better condition. The shipment included all of the items that come with a new camera.

It's the perfect almost professional little camera, with the possibility of adding a wide angle lens.

A small camera that achieves big results. A must have for nikonists that want to forget the weight of digital reflexs for a while.

Great value for price, decent video capabilities, and many special (and useful) modes of exposure.

Only two points to improve: the wideangle is not too good, and the optical visor is not too exact. If you can live with that, this is one of the best compacts you can buy. Specially if like to take control of what's happening.

I have the G7 (one model before the G9) and also this P5100. First the good of the P5100.
1) Size matters...it fits easily in a pocket or in my wife's purse!
2) Weight...much lighter...she doesn't realize it when i put it in her purse!
3) Can use with my nikon SB-800 flash for nice bounced flash photography, allowing creative portraits or images.
4) Decent images if in nicely lit areas
The Bad:
1) Very very ...very slowwwwww focusing...and i mean SLOW!!
2) images above ISO 400 are so noisy, that its is not usable for any decent printing
3) video images are of so-so quality (compared to G7)

If size and weight don't matter, i seriously recommend the Canon G7 or G9. Image quality and response time are also better on the canon. Though i love the nikon small form factor.

I upgraded my Coolpix P5000 to Coolpix P5100 for enhanced image quality and overall performance. I was so disappointed that my Coolpix P5100 yielded blurry and hazy pictures taken in broad daylight, even with its "fine" mode on. Its indoor performance was even more deplorable (even under well-lit conditions for shooting still-life objects). The major factor contributing to Coolpix P5100's poor picture quality is probably its slow-reactive auto focus, which takes a few seconds (and several seconds when shooting indoor or in a shaded area outdoor) to lock in a target. If you are looking for a digital point-and-shoot with high MP, you should definitely avoid Coolpix P5100. I do digitized photo repair as a hobby, and therefore am highly attentive (and sensitive) to image details. Believe me, you will be disappointed with Coolpix P5100, if you have a refined taste for image quality. It looks cool, but its pictures are clearly not.

OK, so it was my "friend" who spilled my beer on the camera; I probably shouldn't have left it on the table, but it's so light and fun to use that I like to keep it handy. (The beer only splashed onto the front lens area, so not much damage. I was on it right away with napkins then cleaned it later with rubbing alcohol. The auto lens cover still sticks a little, but no long term effects as of yet.)

Two months ago, I was shopping for a camera for my first ever trip to Yellowstone Nat'l Park. I was torn between the Nikon P5100 and the Canon G9. I agonized over all the reviews and sample pictures. The Canon was great, but cost $200 more and weighed a lot more. The Nikon was lightweight, more pocket friendly and still 12 megapixels.

Believe it or not, this is my first digital camera. I have a couple film cameras, a Nikon 35Ti point and shoot and a Canon T90 SLR. I used to be a professional, toting bags of heavy equipment with me everywhere, and I wanted to get as far away from that as possible, even if it meant sacrificing "picture quality." And by that, I mean the difference between something you'd see in a scrapbook versus in a published book. This little camera does a great job; overall I was very happy with it. Most of my disappointments came from the rustiness of my own photography skills.

However I did hit a enough snags to reduce the rating to 4 stars. The camera sometimes had a hard time metering, especially at the Paint Pots or waterfalls. I usually used either Aperture or Shutter priority, depending on whether I wanted depth of field or stop-action -- I love having that ability. But when the meter was fooled, I would have to switch to Manual. I never tried the preprogrammed settings (Portrait, Landscape, etc). The other problem was focusing -- the camera does great with people, but terrible on landscapes with no contrast (again, the paint pots or thermal features with lots of steam). I found that setting the focus from AF to landscape helped a lot, but I was frustrated enough to take away a star.

So I'm sure I would have gotten much better pictures had I spent $1500 on a new SLR and lenses and a tripod and hauled 40 pounds of equipment with me instead of carrying a $300 camera (with the extra telephoto extender too) that fits in my pocket. But would I have had as much fun? I doubt it.

P.S. I spilled coffee on it too. That I can't blame on anyone but me.

I have been a Nikon digital user for several years, usually having multiples for different uses. My main camera is currently a D40X SLR, but I like to have a pocket size also. I bought the Coolpix P5100 to upgrade from a Coolpix 4200 which I had for 4 years. It was highly recommended by sales people at 2 different camera stores over other models I was considering. But it is a big disappointment. Because I am primarily an SLR user, my expectations are high. But even comparing it to my old 4200, this camera is a loser. It is extremely slow to focus and take the picture (the worst I have ever used). It does great on landscapes or posed pictures, but forget anything that is moving, such as kids at play or animals. It seems not to be able to focus on moving objects at all. Other features (or lack of them) that I dislike:
- the mode dial does not have frequently used modes such as landscape or sports; you have to use scene and then cursor through a whole list of modes to get to them (very annoying)
- I'm used to using the viewfinder (no other option with the SLRs), and monitors are difficult to see in sunlight. This camera has a viewfinder, but there is no way to turn the monitor off (there is with my old 4200), so the battery drains much faster.
I expected something better than what I had, but I didn't get it. Sorry, Nikon, but you let me down on this one. I would return it if I could.

I purchased a P5100 from Amazon - one week into its first use (during a vacation), it stopped working - the lens refused to exit the body. I just have been in touch with Nikon where I learned that I will need to pay for the return of the camera for warranty repair. I will never ever again buy a camera from Amazon since unlike a bricks and mortar shop, they seem to have no responsibility for products like this once they sell them.

I have owned semi-professional Nikon film cameras for many years but somehow got sidetracked into buying Canon for my point-and-shoot digital cameras. No more! This camera is GREAT. The build is soooo substantial you know you're handling a serious machine. Controls are extra solid and intuitive, with the right balance between function-specific "real" buttons and screen menu selections. The fact that it has a hotshoe makes it extra flexible, eventhough the built-in flash normally does the job. It's fast and really easy to handle, eventhough it's aimed to a serious amateur segment. Finally, regarding the image quality: SUPERB. I was astounded at the sharpness, detail, color accuracy, and saturation of my latest set of prints. My only quibble with this awesome camera is that it doesn't have a wide-angle lens... its zoom starts at 35mm equivalent which is a bit of a pain for taking panorama or quirky wide angle close-ups, which happen to be my favorite! If you're OK with the lens, do not think twice and buy this baby. You'll love the photos it takes.

I've had/used this camera for 2 weeks now and i'm pleased with my purchase. It performs well but based on expert reviews does not beat its main compeditor i.e. canon G9 but still gives good performance in its class...and for $150 less than its rivals...THIS IS A DEAL!
I believe its even better that the P6000 that has the same sensor size but costs more.
Get it if you can, while not as popular as others its a much better deal if cost is a factor.

This is my first digital camera and I am greatly impressed with its versatility and general ease of use. Yes, I agree with others, the lag time is somewhat daunting, but for most applications it is acceptable. The overall excellence in picture quality alone, especially with regard to clarity and exacting color, should thoroughly delight most discriminating photographers. The camera is extremely sensitive to very subtle light sources and automatically adjusts to accept poorly illuminated environments. It is hard to believe that anyone would not be happy with this camera.

First of all, let me address one of the major complaints about this camera: low light AF hunting. I've never had a digital camera that did NOT have trouble getting its focus in low light. The Canon XTi has the problem, my Minolta digital had the problem and, from what I've read the Olympus E510 and Nikon D60 also have that problem. But with the P5100 there are ways around it using the landscape setting.

The other problem, overblown and overstated, is the noise factor. If you are seriously thinking about this camera and like low light photography, as I do, then I would suggest you go to this Flickr link and have a look at how capable the P5100 truly is in low light situations. The noise is not a factor if the settings are correct. Link: http://www.flickr.com/search/?ss=2&w=all&q=P5100+night&m=text

I bought this looking for a camera capable of doing film-like work (or as close as possible)with a very small body. That does not mean I am necessarily looking for razor-sharp resolution (though you do get that with this fine Nikkor lens). I wanted a certain "look" to the photographs that this camera can indeed produce.

No RAW? Who cares! I don't do PS anyway and would rather have an excellent camera that takes great photographs in the first place and doesn't require the use of RAW and hours slaving away over Photo Shop rebuilding a flawed photograph piece by piece. No thank you. If that appeals to you then get the G9 or G10, but don't try to put it in your pocket! But if you want what is, IMHO, a better camera and lens to use on site and get it right the first time, on location, then this is a better choice. Have a look at this link to see the P5100's low light capability and film-like qualities: http://www.flickr.com/photos/atemzeit/2312242297/

Or here to see its beautiful bokeh: http://www.flickr.com/photos/soul-san/2585370492/

And bear in mind that this camera does this with 12.1 pixels on a tiny little sensor. How? The secret is the custom application of the EXPEED digital image processing engine. Something the G9 and G10 don't have. You get the advantages of a huge pixel count (on a small sensor) but without the excessive noise found on cameras not possessing such a capable processing engine. And, regarding the G9 and G10, not only is this camera much smaller but the build is far better and it has a hard substantial feel, thanks in part to the magnesium front plate.

But, for me, all it boils down to is this: is this camera able to deliver the look you are searching for or not? If you like what you see when you brouse Flickr then give it a try. If you don't like what you see, give it a pass. The proof is in the pudding and you can read ten different reviews and everyone says something different. So just go by the results you can see on the net.

This review is my opinion only and, as I said, you can certainly find people who do not agree with me about this. I read many reviews and finally just decided to peruse Flickr to see actual results. So don't take my word for it, look for yourself.

It pains me to say 1-star. I have been using the P5100 since it was released and I must say that the images are extremely poor. This could come down to old firmware in the camera or a faulty component. I've worked hard to try every setting on this camera and it just produces images that I would expect come from a sub-$70 camera.
I bought the original Coolpix camera ~10 years ago and I wish I hadn't given it away.

I have been taking pictures since 1975, digital pictures since 1996, and this is one hot little camera. I have an expensive 35 mm SLR and all the accessories that I use when I want to take great pictures, but there are times when I do not want the 8 to 10 pounds of camera equipment hanging from my neck. So, I carry a small digital camera in my shirt pocket or in my coat to capture those special moments that only come once in a lifetime. Small Casio and Richo cameras have worked well in the past, but this Nikon beats them all hands down. The picture quality (8 by 10) rivals that of my expensive SLR and it is more handy, so I actually get the shot of my son and wife skiing down the slope while I schuss past them.

I have owned this camera for more than 6 months and have taken more than 1000 pictures with it. The camera powers up quick, is easy to use without having to memorize the users guide, and is not a battery hog like some other digital cameras. For the price, you cannot beat this little gem for picture quality, ease of use, and raw megapixel power. The only shortcoming I have found is the relatively slow shutter release - making fast action photos tough to capture without some anticiaption and timing.

I highly recommend this camera for the casual photographer. If you get this camnera, take the time to order extra batteries and a large memory card, you won't be disapointed.

The bad news first, there is a significant delay from pressing the trigger button until the shutter fires, like one to two seconds. The camera is small and compact, but offers many control settings that other cameras do not offer in this compact class. The flash is extremely powerful, and the image quality is outstanding. If you want a small camera to carry in your pocket, and you are shooting in a dark room at a shutter speed of 1/250, with a ISO of 150, this is the camera... and the images are excellent! My other camera is a Nikon D300, so I know quality images.

This is a super camera for digiscoping birds and other distant animals. It seems to be a bit slower than my Nikon P80, but otherwise it's a great choice.

Dix Smith
Ft. Collins, CO

I have always been fascinated by photography especially how the photographers come up with their amazing shots. Reading various online contents regarding photography I have decided to get the Nikon P5100 which could give me a result as close to a DSLR image at an affordable price.

This is my first time to own a digital camera and I found Nikon P5100 fairly easy to use.

I'm very happy with my purchase and the delivery time it took to reach me.

This is an excellent camera. I absolutely love it. The only complaint I have is it is difficult to hold without getting fingerprints over the screen; otherwise, it is great. It is my first digital camera.