Camera Reviews - Nikon Coolpix L20 10MP Digital Camera

Affordable point-and-shoot digital cameras like the Nikon Coolpix L20 usually don't offer very good image quality but this 10MP digital camera delivers exactly that along with the ability to use AA size batteries. Lets take a closer look at this digital camera model.

Design: Since the Nikon Coolpix L20 uses two AA sized batteries the camera body is a bit thicker and bulkier compared to other digital cameras that use proprietary li-ion batteries. Thankfully, Nikon have formed the grip around the bulkier battery compartment making the camera easier to hold even with wet hands. Utilizing a large three inch LCD, minimal controls and a shiny surface finish the camera looks great and feels good in your hands. At 4.8 ounces it is quite lightweight.

Specifications: The Nikon Coolpix L20 offers 10 megapixel images with a 3.6x optical zoom and a 38mm-136mm focal length lens (35mm equivalent). This allows it to zoom in a bit further and take slightly wider than average images. The camera uses SD and SDHC memory cards and two AA sized batteries. This means that you can use normal off-the-shelf alkaline batteries or rechargeable ni-MH batteries. The camera takes JPEG still images and even allows you to use the optical zoom while taking 640x480 movies running at 30fps, something which not many digital cameras allow you to do. With digital image stabilization the camera is surprisingly rock-steady and lasts a respectable 230 shots on two AA-sized batteries.

Features & Performance: If you're used to pressing the shutter button half-way to auto-focus first then the Nikon Coolpix L20 is extremely easy to use with pretty fast shutter speed. While the camera does offer various image-recording modes you cannot manually adjust exposure or ISO. Instead the camera automatically adjusts ISO to suit current lighting conditions. Thankfully, the camera is intelligent enough to create great images which are sharp in detail and have accurate exposure. Other automatic features of note include a Blink mode that warns if somebody blinked while the shot was being taken and a guided panorama mode for easy panorama shots. All in all the Nikon Coolpix L20 is a surprisingly good point-and-shoot digital camera with intelligent automatic functions. It should suit any new point-and-shoot user or just the average tourist, thanks to its ease of use and easy to get AA sized batteries.