Nikon Coolpix L110 review
Image Quality & Value
Nikon Coolpix L110 review - Image Quality
Images when viewed on the L110's LCD screen can appear overexposed in areas where the actual images aren't. This was notable when viewing on a more accurate computer monitor. This is poor for shooting accurate exposures when using the camera - however, overall exposure is actually relatively accurate, but it can be tricky to tell due to this issue.
Images themselves aren't particularly sharp throughout the full zoom range. Also, as there is no Raw shooting capability or user-defined noise reduction control, meaning the output Jpegs do seem to come out processed a little muddied as well as soft.
Chromatic aberration - red and purple fringing - is also apparent in many image situations and isn't limited toward just the edges of the image.
Nikon L110 review - ISO sensitivity image noise test
ISO sensitivity ranges from 80-1600 at full resolution, dipping to 3MP when using the ISO 3200-6400 settings. Images begin bright and colourful, but colour intensity flounders as the ISO increases. Image noise doesn't vastly increase throughout the range due to significant noise reduction, yet even low-ISO images have more grain than would be liked and high ISO images lost much detail. Furthermore Jpeg artifacts seem to be present throughout the range, leaving image quality fairly poor at full size.
On the plus size, images at extended zoom settings do produce a pleasing shallow depth of field and there's not much colour noise at any of the ISO settings to be intrusive. The L110 even has an in-camera post-production D-Lighting feature to pull more shadow detail out of an image if desired.
Nikon Coolpix L110 review - Value For Money
The superzoom market has become more and more competitive of late, with models offering considerably better performance than previous generations. The Coolpix L110 may not be the strongest in all areas, but it doesn't half undercut the others on the market by price. And if that's a key point when purchasing then the L110 has got it bang on the money - it delivers a 15x zoom for under £200. Go elsewhere and the next nearest option is the mightily-similar Olympus SP-600UZ for £260, otherwise it's a case of stepping up the spec-ladder to the more fulfilled (yet pricier) 18x zoom Panasonic FZ38 for around £280. Beyond this most manufacturers place more significance on the zoom capacity- such as the Sony HX1's 20x 28-560mm equivalent - at a more premium (i.e. costly) price-point.
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Latest comments
August 21 14:38
charlie ball
i dont know wether to buy this camera or wether to save up for a better one.
August 29 00:59
Unhappy with Nikon
I really like this camera for the range that it falls into. BUT, after two repair send offs. video still jerky and sound is awful for any type of live music. A concert? Forget it. Nikons website is user unfriendly and their customer service is the same it seems. Gave up trying to find access.
August 29 01:00
Unhappy with Nikon
I really like this camera for the range that it falls into. BUT, after two repair send offs. video still jerky and sound is awful for any type of live music. A concert? Forget it. Nikons website is user unfriendly and their customer service is the same it seems. Gave up trying to find access.
September 03 21:32
Bob Smith
After living with the L110 for just under a year, I am pleased with the purchase, which in the main, does a good job. particular Praise for the movie mode with the exception of a certain fuzziness at full zoom, other than that, sound and picture quality are fine. Easy to use and navigate, the camera mode menu caters for most situations and image quality is fine, although a tripod is best employed in some situations. I would have liked to see the lens barrel screwed to enable a hood and to enable the lens cap fitted in, (so protecting the lens whilst in standby). In conclusion, I'd reckon it value for money.