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Using the L820 is straightforward. The controls and menu system are fairly uncomplicated, so it shouldn't be a problem to get started shooting. The menu system is broken into three tabs: Shooting, Movie, and Setup. The layout keeps you from having to do too much hunting through settings, not that there's all that much to adjust. (For example, you can't even turn off the digital zoom.) That's not to say it won't take a little effort to get the most from this camera, but the basics of shooting a photo or movie are easy.
This is a big plus for a any camera, particularly one without a viewfinder. It allows you to view the screen comfortably even when shooting at low or high angles and gives you more chance of keeping the sun off. It makes big difference to the handling of the COOLPIX L830 and of course is one of the big advantages it has over the PowerShot SX400 IS which has a screen that’s not only fixed in place, but which also has a much lower resolution 230k dot LCD panel. Lens Performance - Detail is decent at both ends of the lens, although a little soft in the corners. There is a slight hint of purple fringing in places, but it's fairly well controlled. The lens has a minimum focusing distance of 1cm which allows for a good macro shot to be taken. The COOLPIX L830’s built-in pop-up flash is activated by pressing a button on the left of the body just below the flash housing. It has four modes, Auto, Auto with red-eye reduction, Fill flash and slow sync. The flash has a quoted range of nine metres at the wide angle setting. My guess is that figure is derived at the maximum 3200 ISO sensitivity setting. That equates to just under 6.5m at 1600 ISO which compares with a quoted figure of 5m (also most likely at 1600 ISO) for the PowerShot SX400 IS.Start up time on the Nikon Coolpix L820 is fast. This is a camera that you can use around children when they do funny, candid stuff. From being powered down, the L820 will start up, focus and take a picture in just over two seconds. That's roughly half a second faster than the average speed of a digital compact camera. Now, although half a second is negligible in the grand scheme of things, when it comes to taking a picture of the kids, it's everything. So it’s compact, but the COOLPIX L830 isn’t the smallest bridge super-zoom around. Measuring 104 x 69 x 80.1mm and weighing a mere 313g the PowerShot SX400 IS looks like its baby brother. Of course the SX400 IS has a slightly shorter 30x optical zoom and a fixed 3 inch screen, so that compactness comes with some compromises, but if you’re looking for a really compact bridge super-zoom, the PowerShot SX400 IS wins that contest. At the other end of the scale a 765mm gets you pretty close in to fairly distant action and, providing your subject is reasonably large, people or vehicles, say, rather than birds, you can expect to get great shots. The other thing to be aware of with a massive zoom lens is that it can be quite difficult to hold steady at the maximum telephoto, but 765mm is quite manageable and the built-in stabilization makes framing subjects that much easier. High-quality, 1920 x 1080 full-HD movies with stereo sound can easily be recorded by simply pressing the camera's movie-record button. 4. Bright, high-resolution, 3-inch, approximately 921k-dot TFT LCD monitor with wide viewing angle Even the rear panel looks very similar, which is surprising given that it now houses an articulated screen. The new screen has the same 3 inch diagonal size and 921k dot resolution, but can now tilt vertically. The wide hinge joins the bottom of the camera body to the top of the screen, so it can be pulled away from the camera and folded up by 90 degrees or down by 85 degrees – more or less up or down.
Expertise Laptops, desktops and computer and PC gaming accessories including keyboards, mice and controllers, cameras, action cameras and drones Credentials Camera Strap, LR6/L40 (AA-size) alkaline batteries (x4), Lens Cap LC-CP25 (with cord), USB Cable UC-E16, Audio Video Cable EG-CP16, ViewNX 2 Installer CD, Reference Manual CD Audio/video (A/V) output; digital I/O (USB) HDMI micro connector (Type D) (HDMI output), DC input connector
With roughly the same compact size as the L810 (111 mm wide x 76.3 mm high x 84.5 mm deep)*, the L820 is equipped with a NIKKOR lens offering significantly greater zoom power than the L810 (increased from 26x to 30x). Support for a wide range of focal lengths, from the wide-angle 22.5 mm to the super-telephoto 675 mm (equivalent in 35mm [135] format), the L820 is the perfect camera for capturing a variety of scenes, from landscapes and group shots to close-up portraits using the zoom. In addition, adoption of a lens-shift vibration reduction (VR) function enables telephoto shooting with much less concern for blur caused by camera shake. Access the Firmware version item in the setup menu to confirm that the camera firmware version has been upgraded.
The long zoom will need higher ISO to be used from time to time and the great news is that the L820 can handle it. Normally, we'd suggest alternative strategies to avoid raising the ISO, but it's ok here. cm (3-in.), approx. 921k-dot, wide viewing angle TFT LCD with anti-reflection coating and 5-level brightness adjustment ISO Noise Performance - Images are low in noise at ISO 125 and 200, but they do become softer at ISO 400. Noise increases a touch at ISO 800 with detail lost and very soft images produced at ISO 1600. Noise causes a lot of detail to be lost at ISO 3200. We went into the image testing with low expectations, built on previous generation Nikon compacts that haven't stood up to the company's benchmark of excellence. Looking at the camera for what it is and how much it costs, the ISO performance, sharpness and colour reproduction are fantastic. The L820 is a revelation and such a relief to see.
The Nikon Coolpix L820 has a 30x optical zoom. That's not the largest by a long shot, but to keep the price affordable, the 30x is ample. It gives a 35mm equivalent of 22.5 – 675mm. There's certainly some image loss at the edges of the frame, but that's to be expected at this wide an angle. Added to this, the optical zoom is supported by lens-shift vibration reduction, and the Nikon L820's macro option can get as close as 1cm from your subject. Full HD 1920 x 1080 pixels video recording at a frame rate of 30fps is included as standard.
On the right side of the body is a covered panel with a small DC input for an optional AC adapter while on the left you'll find a Micro-HDMI port and a somewhat proprietary Micro-USB/AV port (it's not the widely available type used with many smartphones or other devices, but is easy to find inexpensively). The L820 doesn't seem to fit into the L series of the Nikon range at all. The L stands for Lifestyle and stands for ease of use, simplicity and is aimed at photographers with a point and shoot outlook. The L820 offers much more than this. It has over-riding features, such as ISO and white-balance, that the L series generally stay away from. Don't get us wrong, it's great to see this available on the camera, but we wonder how the target audience will perceive it. The L820 has many positive attributes such as the brilliant zoom, additional zoom switch on the lens barrel, stereo sound on the video and metal tripod bush. It also has a great lens fitted because we struggled to find any aberrations or distortions. Arguably, the best part is the image quality. The L28 is equipped with a CCD sensor with an effective pixel count of 20.1-million pixels for a significantly higher pixel count than its predecessor, the L26. It also offers a 5x optical zoom NIKKOR lens that covers the wide-angle 26 mm to 130 mm (equivalent in 35mm [135] format) range of focal lengths. This camera makes capturing everyday scenes, from group photos and snapshots to landscapes, easier than ever. 2. A design that is both elegant and easy to use Get the latest photography news straight to your inbox by signing up to our newsletter. Newsletter SignupThe sensitivity range is 125 to 3200 ISO and the shutter speed range is, as before, 1/1500 to 1s and 4s in the Fireworks scene mode. When Done is displayed in the camera monitor, follow instructions and turn off the camera. DO NOT shut off the camera until Done is displayed. Eject the SD memory card. I was planning to buy a new camera; I like to travel when I can and I wanted a camera with good zoom and wide angle capabilities. I'm practically a beginner, so I'm not interested in high-end stuff.
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