Nikon 14.1 Megapixels Coolpix L120 21x SuperZoom Review by StevesDigicam

The Nikon COOLPIX L120 is listed for retail at $279.95 MSRP in black, red and bronze colors. It is currently selling at around $190. Here is the summary of review by Steve's Digicam:

"Image quality is pretty average for a 14-megapixel camera that costs under $300. When shooting outdoors under the bright summer sunlight, we saw bright exposures, vivid colors, and a good amount of detail. Exposure is a bit strong for my tastes, as you can see some blown out highlights from overexposure even at simple fullscreen viewing. This is common under the harsh summer sun, however some cameras handle it better than others; and the L120 is not one of the better ones. The majority of images are nice and sharp from edge to edge, with pleasing contrast. I did notice that when the camera chose a smaller aperture, there was more edge softness than when compared with wide open apertures; which is kind of odd. Easy Auto mode seems to capture slightly more vivid colors when compared to Auto, which is something we've found with the majority of point-n-shoots. Overall, the L120 can capture pleasing photos outdoors, which should have no problem creating usable prints. The most impressive feature on the L120 is the NIKKOR 21x optical zoom lens. This unit offers a 35mm equivalent zoom range of 25-525mm, which is sure to cover almost all of your framing needs for various types of photography. The 25mm end of the zoom is nice and wide for vast landscapes and hassle free interior shooting, while the telephoto capabilities allow you to get as close to the action as you want or need. The lens zooms smoothly, but not continuously. There are about 18 steps from wide angle to telephoto, which doesn't give you the ability for real precise framing. You might still find yourself moving your position slightly to get the shot framed just how you want it, as the zoom might jump to far when you simply bump the control. There is also a digital zoom option, however we highly recommend you only use this option sparingly; if at all.

Video mode on the L120 is a breeze to use, just press the dedicated Movie record button, and you can start shooting 720p HD video no matter what exposure mode you are in. You have three resolution settings to choose from (720p 1280x720, iFrame 960x540, and VGA 640x480), and the frame rate is locked at 30fps. You have full use of the 21x optical zoom lens while recording, and you do have an option to enable their "electronic VR system". If you plan on zooming often, we recommend you set the Autofocus mode to Full-time AF. Just remember that you will pick up some focusing noise in your video. If that's unacceptable, we recommend you set the desired focal length before hand, and stick to single AF. Video quality is average for a point-n-shoot camera; nothing that will replace even a lower-end camcorder. The stereo microphones are very sensitive, and they pick up all kinds of background and wind noise; however there is a Wind noise reduction setting to help reduce this.

Bottom Line - Nikon's Coolpix L120 is a very appealing compact super-zoom for those looking for an affordable, easy to use, yet versatile digital camera. The L120 captures images that are up to par with most 14-megapixel cameras on the market, and as long as you are using Auto mode, or one of the 19 Scene modes, I think you'll enjoy the photos it produces. We noted some issues, mainly with Easy Auto and white balance, but each camera has its downfalls. With a street price of just $279.95 US or less, the L120 does provide good bang for your buck if you need the reach of a 21x optical zoom."