Customer Rating: 
Summary: Mixed Feelings about the Coolpix 5400
Comment: My 5400 was a birthday gift from my wife. She purchased it from an online store (NOT Amazon, as she should have done)who called her for "confirmation" at which time the salesman talked her into a very expensive (over $200) filter add-on which is nearly useless and could be bought elsewhere for under $30. I should have waited for the d70 for just a little more money (actually I now have a d70 and it is amazing!). The 5400 takes great wide-angle shots, so you would think it would be a good camera for interior pictures, but it is hampered by its poor autofocus habits in low light. The 5400 is small, but its odd configuration means you will have to carry it in a larger case than you would expect. Images are generally very good, but the lcd is so small, you won't find it very useful for composition.
I also had the same experience as another reviewer, the tiny screws holding one of the strap lugs stripped out and gummed up the lens mechanism. This caused a complete breakdown. As it was just out of warranty, I opted to have it repaired at my expense($150), but now wish I hadn't. Nikon should make good on this issue, as I suspect it is far more common than they will admit. Save your money and buy either a d50 (same $ for new)or if you have an investment in CF cards, go with a d70.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Nikon Coolpix 5400 bites the dust after only 2 years
Comment: Get this: the eyehole that holds one of the strap ends broke free, and the tiny (internally mounted!) screws that held it in place jiggled their way to the lens mechanism and turned the camera into a paperweight. This was the second instance of fragility. Right after the warrentee expired, the USB port stopped working, so for two years I had to upload via a cardreader.
Save your money.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Don't buy from Adorama Camera
Comment: I ordered this camera from Adorama Camera in NY via a link in Amazon.com. Adorama did not send this item, as it was at a very good price. They claim it was a mistake in the posting on Amazon, they would not fufill the order and their customer service was extremely rude.
Customer Rating:
Summary: A nice camera, but no 4500.
Comment: Overall the 5400 works well. Nikon still has some of the the best macro capabilities (very important to me) out there, but the 5400 is not as good as the 4500, 995, etc, rotating body style cameras.
When in macro mode, the autofocus wants to hunt. The lens on the 5400 protrudes from the camera body and moves in and out when zooming. The bulk of the camera and protruding lens tends to shadow the maco subject more than the rotating body Coolpix cameras. Unfortunately, the SL-1 LED ringlight will not work with the 5400, so keep a flashlight handy!
In fact, most of the accessories that work on the 4500 (etc...) will not work with many of Nikon's newer cameras- a huge waste of my money on accessories that are now essentially useless. The protruding lens of the 5400 requires bulky adapters to connect to a microscope.
Overall, the 5400 is an average performer with good macro and a poor camera design.
Customer Rating:
Summary: 5400's wide angle and optical viewfinder are deal makers
Comment: I purchased the Nikon 5400 to replace my trusty Nikon 990 - the odd-looking one which has made more than 20,000 captures and cause me to set aside my 35mm SLRs forever. I loved my 990 from the first day I took it out of the box. The 5400 has taken a little "bonding" time and I'm still a little ambivalent about it. Some of the things I like best about it are also the things that annoy me the most.
The 5400 produces images of superior quality to the 990, not just in pixel count, but in dynamic range. It also produces sharper images over a wider range of the zoom, with less distortion and color fringing problems. The color balance is better, too, especially in the rendering of skin tones.
Most of my photography falls into two categories: Tabletop catalog-style shooting with external flash, and travel pictures using natural lighting, both outdoors and indoors. The Nikon 5400 fulfills both roles beautifully.
My budget would have allowed me to choose any of the prosumer cameras, including the more moderately priced SLR cameras, but given my shooting habits and requirements, none of them looked to be as good a bet at the 5400. And given what I know now about the camera I most likely would purchase the camera again today. The following is a listing of what I like least and best about the Nikon 5400.
What I hate about it:
1.) The optical viewfinder - The viewfinder has an excellent diopter adjustment, but the camera captures a signifcantly larger area than the viewfinder shows. This makes it very forgiving of sloppy ahooting. You're unlikely to accidently crop someone's head or feet off, but it's impossible to accurately frame an image. (He pauses and spits.)
2.) The small size of the LCD - It provides excellent performance in bright ambient lighting, but it's just too small for effective evaluation of the image after capture is completed. It compensates for varying image brightness to make it easier to see the image, but this kills your ability to judge the exposure. You can be in for some surprises when your view images in the computer that looked good in the camera may be underexposed or have blown-out highlights. Thank goodness there's a histogram view you can use to evaluate the exposure.
3.) Inferior dust seals on the sliding tube for the zoom lens - You have to be very careful when cleaning the lens on this camera. I don't know if it's a common characteristic, or if I just happened to get one with a bad lens barrel seal, but I put away the canned air after the first couple of times I cleaned the lens. Some tiny fibers apparently blew into the inside and you can see them on the inner element.
4.) The small size - Because of the 5400's small size and pretty much non-existant grip I fully expect it to slip out my hand at some point. I will always use a strap and wrap it around my wrist when I'm using this camera.
What I love about it:
1.) Its superb wide-angle zoom lens. The was a deal maker for me. The widest angle is roughly comparable to a 28mm on a 35mm camera. This is simply not available on many cameras, and it's far superior to using an auxilliary lens to achieve the wide angle.
2.) The swiveling LCD - Another deal-maker for me. It allows me use the camera at what would otherwise be very awkward high or low angles.
3.) It has an optical viewfinder - Awful as this one is, it does provides a real, live view that never freezes or blacks out at the moment of exposure. The lack of an optical finder is what prevented me from buying the Nilon 8400, which zooms on out to a 24mm equivalent.
4.) The small size - This is such a compact camera I can easily carry it along with me at times I would otherwise leave it at home. It fit easily into a jacket pocket, or hangs around my neck all day with no discomfort.
5.) Scene Modes - Especially the Panorama Assist. It's nice to be able to quickly select a scene mode to handle a particular type of shooting situation, such as backlighted portraits.
6.) Super-close macro - not as convenient or as versatile as the 990's but still superior to most of them out there. You don't get maximum macro capability unless the lens is nearly at its widest setting, but you can still get very close as long as the macro mode is turned on.
Summary: Mixed Feelings about the Coolpix 5400
Comment: My 5400 was a birthday gift from my wife. She purchased it from an online store (NOT Amazon, as she should have done)who called her for "confirmation" at which time the salesman talked her into a very expensive (over $200) filter add-on which is nearly useless and could be bought elsewhere for under $30. I should have waited for the d70 for just a little more money (actually I now have a d70 and it is amazing!). The 5400 takes great wide-angle shots, so you would think it would be a good camera for interior pictures, but it is hampered by its poor autofocus habits in low light. The 5400 is small, but its odd configuration means you will have to carry it in a larger case than you would expect. Images are generally very good, but the lcd is so small, you won't find it very useful for composition.
I also had the same experience as another reviewer, the tiny screws holding one of the strap lugs stripped out and gummed up the lens mechanism. This caused a complete breakdown. As it was just out of warranty, I opted to have it repaired at my expense($150), but now wish I hadn't. Nikon should make good on this issue, as I suspect it is far more common than they will admit. Save your money and buy either a d50 (same $ for new)or if you have an investment in CF cards, go with a d70.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Nikon Coolpix 5400 bites the dust after only 2 years
Comment: Get this: the eyehole that holds one of the strap ends broke free, and the tiny (internally mounted!) screws that held it in place jiggled their way to the lens mechanism and turned the camera into a paperweight. This was the second instance of fragility. Right after the warrentee expired, the USB port stopped working, so for two years I had to upload via a cardreader.
Save your money.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Don't buy from Adorama Camera
Comment: I ordered this camera from Adorama Camera in NY via a link in Amazon.com. Adorama did not send this item, as it was at a very good price. They claim it was a mistake in the posting on Amazon, they would not fufill the order and their customer service was extremely rude.
Customer Rating:
Summary: A nice camera, but no 4500.
Comment: Overall the 5400 works well. Nikon still has some of the the best macro capabilities (very important to me) out there, but the 5400 is not as good as the 4500, 995, etc, rotating body style cameras.
When in macro mode, the autofocus wants to hunt. The lens on the 5400 protrudes from the camera body and moves in and out when zooming. The bulk of the camera and protruding lens tends to shadow the maco subject more than the rotating body Coolpix cameras. Unfortunately, the SL-1 LED ringlight will not work with the 5400, so keep a flashlight handy!
In fact, most of the accessories that work on the 4500 (etc...) will not work with many of Nikon's newer cameras- a huge waste of my money on accessories that are now essentially useless. The protruding lens of the 5400 requires bulky adapters to connect to a microscope.
Overall, the 5400 is an average performer with good macro and a poor camera design.
Customer Rating:
Summary: 5400's wide angle and optical viewfinder are deal makers
Comment: I purchased the Nikon 5400 to replace my trusty Nikon 990 - the odd-looking one which has made more than 20,000 captures and cause me to set aside my 35mm SLRs forever. I loved my 990 from the first day I took it out of the box. The 5400 has taken a little "bonding" time and I'm still a little ambivalent about it. Some of the things I like best about it are also the things that annoy me the most.
The 5400 produces images of superior quality to the 990, not just in pixel count, but in dynamic range. It also produces sharper images over a wider range of the zoom, with less distortion and color fringing problems. The color balance is better, too, especially in the rendering of skin tones.
Most of my photography falls into two categories: Tabletop catalog-style shooting with external flash, and travel pictures using natural lighting, both outdoors and indoors. The Nikon 5400 fulfills both roles beautifully.
My budget would have allowed me to choose any of the prosumer cameras, including the more moderately priced SLR cameras, but given my shooting habits and requirements, none of them looked to be as good a bet at the 5400. And given what I know now about the camera I most likely would purchase the camera again today. The following is a listing of what I like least and best about the Nikon 5400.
What I hate about it:
1.) The optical viewfinder - The viewfinder has an excellent diopter adjustment, but the camera captures a signifcantly larger area than the viewfinder shows. This makes it very forgiving of sloppy ahooting. You're unlikely to accidently crop someone's head or feet off, but it's impossible to accurately frame an image. (He pauses and spits.)
2.) The small size of the LCD - It provides excellent performance in bright ambient lighting, but it's just too small for effective evaluation of the image after capture is completed. It compensates for varying image brightness to make it easier to see the image, but this kills your ability to judge the exposure. You can be in for some surprises when your view images in the computer that looked good in the camera may be underexposed or have blown-out highlights. Thank goodness there's a histogram view you can use to evaluate the exposure.
3.) Inferior dust seals on the sliding tube for the zoom lens - You have to be very careful when cleaning the lens on this camera. I don't know if it's a common characteristic, or if I just happened to get one with a bad lens barrel seal, but I put away the canned air after the first couple of times I cleaned the lens. Some tiny fibers apparently blew into the inside and you can see them on the inner element.
4.) The small size - Because of the 5400's small size and pretty much non-existant grip I fully expect it to slip out my hand at some point. I will always use a strap and wrap it around my wrist when I'm using this camera.
What I love about it:
1.) Its superb wide-angle zoom lens. The was a deal maker for me. The widest angle is roughly comparable to a 28mm on a 35mm camera. This is simply not available on many cameras, and it's far superior to using an auxilliary lens to achieve the wide angle.
2.) The swiveling LCD - Another deal-maker for me. It allows me use the camera at what would otherwise be very awkward high or low angles.
3.) It has an optical viewfinder - Awful as this one is, it does provides a real, live view that never freezes or blacks out at the moment of exposure. The lack of an optical finder is what prevented me from buying the Nilon 8400, which zooms on out to a 24mm equivalent.
4.) The small size - This is such a compact camera I can easily carry it along with me at times I would otherwise leave it at home. It fit easily into a jacket pocket, or hangs around my neck all day with no discomfort.
5.) Scene Modes - Especially the Panorama Assist. It's nice to be able to quickly select a scene mode to handle a particular type of shooting situation, such as backlighted portraits.
6.) Super-close macro - not as convenient or as versatile as the 990's but still superior to most of them out there. You don't get maximum macro capability unless the lens is nearly at its widest setting, but you can still get very close as long as the macro mode is turned on.
Nikon Coolpix 5400 5.1 MP Digital Camera w/ 4x Optical Zoom Reviews: Page 5 of 11
3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |