CapsuleReview: Nikon Coolpix L6

The Nikon Coolpix L6packs in great features for the low price. Long battery life, simple controlsand a bright 2.5? LCD screen make this a great camera for the casual shutterbugor as a first digital camera. Nikon promises 1,000 pictures on one pair oflithium AA batteries (or 400 on alkalines), and offers easy-shot features likeFace Priority, D-lighting and In Camera Red-Eye Protection to appeal to entrylevel users. Easy to find at less than $150 USD, the Nikon Coolpix L6 gives youthe features that most new users want in a digital camera ? and trulyimpressive battery life.

Summary

The Nikon Coolpix L6 isNikon's latest entry in their line of Coolpix digital cameras. It features lowprice, long battery life and simple controls that make it easy for anyone toshoot good digital pictures. The Coolpix L6 is lightweight, easy to use andperfect for the entry level shutterbug who wants a reliable camera that's easyto use and offers good picture quality. Nikon has aimed the camera squarely atthe young and young-at-heart crowd with its advertising, styling and userfriendly features that make the Coolpix line popular.

Highlighted Features ? LongBattery Life

By far the mostimpressive feature of the Coolpix L6 is the record-breaking long battery life.Nikon has partnered with Energizer (yes, the company with the bunny) toresearch and engineer energy saving features that conserve battery life. Theirinnovations give this camera a very impressive 1,000 shots per set of AAlithium Energizer batteries ? and just to get you started, they include a setof Energizer lithium batteries. With most other cameras in any price rangeaveraging 200-300 shots of battery life, Nikon has good reason to wave the flagabout their performance in this area.

As the mother whomissed the shot of her daughter being handed her sheepskin because I waschanging the batteries on my digital camera, this is a feature I trulyappreciate. Even with alkaline batteries, you'll get about 400 shots out of theCoolpix L6 before you have to change the batteries.

EasyControls

Nikon bills the CoolpixL-series of cameras as ?memories made easy?, and the L6 delivers on thatpromise. The camera does away with complex controls and gives you features thatmake it easy to take high quality pictures with very little experience. This isnot the camera for the experienced shutterbug who wants total control overevery technical aspect ? but it doesn't pretend to be. This is the camera formy mother, who has a professional quality digital that she routinely hands tothe nearest grandchild at every opportunity because she has no idea how to setthe lens speed, adjust the flash or any of the other myriad settings itoffers.

With the Coolpix L6,you really can just point and shoot. If you want more control, though, thereare fifteen ?scene? settings that allow you to choose from settings with easyto understand names like daylight, low light or portrait. You can choose to addfun extras like color effects,

ImageCorrection Features

The Nikon Coolpix L6also offers three in camera innovations that let even inexperienced picturetakers eliminate common picture problems. In camera red eye protectionautomatically corrects the infamous red-eye effect when taking flash pictures.The Face Priority mode will automatically recognize facial features when takingportrait shots and enhance the facial area of subjects so that you don't getout of focus faces. And the D-light detection will automatically correct underand over exposed shots by making a copy of the photo and adding in detail toonly the out of balance areas of the photo.

SuperCool Coolpix Features

The Coolpix L6 alsooffers two special features that help the amateur photo buff get the most outof a digital camera. The Best Shot Selector will automatically select and savethe sharpest image from a series of up to ten pictures taken in sequence. Andif you've ever ended up with a blurred, out of focus memory of a specialmoment, you'll really appreciate the Blur Warning, which will let you know whena photo you've shot is out of focus so that you can retake the shot beforeleaving the scene.

ImageQuality

The Nikon Coolpix L6offers great image quality for even the newest of users. With 6.0 megapixelcapability and a 3x Niktor Zoom lens, the L6 gives users the ability to take awide range of photos from tight close-ups and full panoramic scenery shots.Nikon technology puts high quality digital images within the range of anyonewho can point and shoot.

OtherCoolpix L6 Features

-         Lightweight and compact, easy to hold and shoot. The L6 isslim and comfortable to hold, with all the controls on the right hand side ofthe camera, making it possible to take one-handed shots. It weighs in at just4.4 ounces without the battery or SD memory card. The dimensions (3.6 x 2.4 x1.0 inches) make the Coolpix L6 a slim pocket-size camera.

-         Menu available in choice of 20 languages

-         USB capability to transfer pictures to your PC for editingand sending in email.

-         In camera editing and fun effects let you trim and framepictures without connecting to the PC

-         Movie mode lets you record at up to 15 frames persecond

-         23 MB internal memory, supports SD memory card for morestorage capability

-         Built in flash with four modes for best flashselection

-         2.5? super bright LCD monitor for excellent pictureviewing

         Slideshow capability for playback of images

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-         Slideshow capability for playback of images

-         Included Nikon's Picture Project software for organizing,sharing and editing pictures