Nikon Coolpix 5900 5MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom

by Nikon

Product Details

Product Manual [5.24mb PDF]

• Item Weight: 7 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 3 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S. and to APO/FPO addresses. For APO/FPO shipments, please check with the manufacturer regarding warranty and support issues.
• ASIN: B0007KQWEG
• Item model number: Coolpix 5900
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (41 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #13,547 in Camera & Photo (See Top 100 in Camera & Photo)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: February 16, 2005

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

From the Manufacturer The 5.1-megapixel Nikon Coolpix 5900 combines state-of-the-art technology, image quality, and speed with a unique all-metal design to give consumers what they truly desire in a digital camera. This sleek all-metal digital camera features state-of-the-art digital technology, such as the first, big two-inch LCD screen in the Coolpix lineup and the new Face-Priority AF feature, along with a sharp design that is perfect for the customer who values style along with substance.

In-Camera Solutions to Common Photo Hang-Ups
Nikon has provided the Coolpix 5900 with more features that improve the image directly within the camera and streamline the process of receiving great prints using a favorite retailer, online service or home printer. Furthermore, with its big, bright two-inch LCD screen, images are easier to review and correct than on most consumer digital cameras.

The Nikon Coolpix 5900's Face Priority AF automatically detects a person's face and autofocuses on the face area.

Imagine a camera smart enough to find a face in a portrait. Nikon's new Face-Priority AF function can do just that when selected using the Portrait Scene Mode. As its name suggests, Face-Priority AF ensures crisp focus when shooting portraits by automatically sensing the presence of a human face within the frame and setting accurate focus accordingly. The result is crisp, sharp portraits with the press of a button.

Beyond faces, Nikon Coolpix cameras can also automatically detect and remove red-eye directly within the camera. The Coolpix 5900 boasts Nikon's renowned In-Camera Red-Eye Fix technology, which detects and corrects red eyes in most typical situations without the need to press buttons or select and highlight the eyes in playback. Without the hassle of additional software, photographers will experience less red-eye photos in the print-ready portraits.

The Coolpix 5900 also uses intelligent technology to help ensure a balanced exposure and sharpness. Nikon's exclusive new D-Lighting function is another new addition that can literally turn throwaway shots into frame-able memories. The D-Lighting feature can be selected in Playback mode, automatically compensating for insufficient flash or excessive back lighting in order to obtain balanced exposure throughout the frame. The 5900 is also equipped with Blur Warning, another feature unique to Nikon which alerts the user when a shot is compromised by camera or hand shake, allowing another shot to be taken before leaving the scene.

To further address a common need among digital camera users, Nikon has also focused its technology to reducing power consumption, allowing the Coolpix 5900 to take significantly more shots per battery charge. In fact, the 5900 is able to take an impressive 270 shots (approximately) with a single fully charged EN-EL5 lithium-ion battery. The camera is also compatible with the widely available disposable Duracell CP1 lithium batteries.

To add speed to precision, the Coolpix 5900 offers continuous shooting at approximately 2 frames per second. It also features high-precision Multi AF with a choice of 99 manually selectable areas and five choices for Auto select AF.

More Features in a Sleek, Compact Design

• 5.1 effective megapixels, 3x Zoom-Nikkor ED glass lens with a focal range equivalent to that of a 38-114mm lens in 35mm format.
• Compact dimensions of 3.5 x 2.4 x 1.4 inches
• Light weight of approximately 5.3 ounces (without battery and memory card)
• Selectable AF: 5-area auto, 99-area manual, center-focus area selection available
• AF-assist illuminator can be switched on and off at will
• 256-segment matrix metering with center-weighted, spot, or spot AF metering
• 7 manual white balance settings and white balance bracketing
• Direct printing with PictBridge compatibility
• 4 of the 16 Scene Modes offer Scene Assist (Portrait, Night Portrait, Sports, Landscape)
• World time function allows local time to be set easily anywhere
• USB compatibility enables swift transfer of image data to computers
• Voice memo function records up to 20 seconds of sound that can then be attached to an image
• 4x digital zoom capability
• Choice of Single AF and Continuous AF
• Options for playback--single, 4- and 9-segment thumbnail, slideshow, 10x magnification
• Built-in speedlight--features settings for auto, red-eye reduction by pre-flash, anytime flash, flash cancel, and slow sync.

Like all the other models in Nikon's popular Coolpix line, the Coolpix 5900 makes shooting in a range of common situations even simpler through the incorporation of Scene Modes. The camera offers four Scene Modess that feature Scene Assist, and even a new Underwater Scene Mode that brings the total choice of Scene Modes up to 16. Intended for use with the Waterproof Case WP-CP4 (not included), the Underwater Scene Mode enables true-to-life colors to be captured when taking shots while snorkeling or scuba diving. Like all the other Scene Modes, operation is extremely easy. Simply select the Scene Mode that best matches the subject, then point and shoot for optimal results.

The Coolpix 5900 also makes it easy to capture action in an expressive manner with the power to record VGA-size movies with sound at a smooth rate of 30 frames per second. They can also be easily connected to a TV, using the included video cable, to share the fun with friends and family. With a redesigned graphic user interface that lets the user navigate functions by either menu item list or icon, the cameras enable the total beginner to find the right mode at the right moment to achieve the best results time after time. It's all part of Nikon's dedicated effort to give users what they demand in a top quality digital camera.

The Nikon Coolpix 5900's technology is centered around making the entire digital process more convenient. Its PictBridge compatibility makes it possible to print directly to a printer, without the need for a computer. For those who enjoy organizing and sharing their photographs on a computer, all Nikon Coolpix cameras ship with Nikon's proprietary PictureProject software, a user-friendly photo management software designed expressly for use by Nikon Coolpix photographers, that offers a broad selection of cataloguing, editing, and sharing functions. This software package is aimed at providing a central location that is simple, intuitive, and seamless for Coolpix digital photographers.

Product Description

CL) NIKON COOLPIX 5900 DIGITAL CAM

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

102 of 103 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great camera., March 12, 2005

By 

PJ (Boston, MA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Nikon Coolpix 5900 5MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom (Electronics)

I purchased this camera as a replacement for a stolen Canon SD300. The camera is very light and only slightly less compact than the SD300 (while having a much better grip). The 2" screen is bright with very high refresh rate. Similarly to the SD300, the user interface is easy to navigate and the camera rips through images very quickly. I actually prefer the interface and the number of manual settings of this Nikon. The lens is fantastic and provides very nice and crisp photos with little noise. I am very happy with its picture quality and plethora of manual settings. The auto-focus is, in my opinion, not as fast and robust as the Canon's 9-point AiAF. However, I still need to experiment with it more. Pictures taken in the macro mode are exceptional. In my opionion, this is currently the best compact camera in the $350 range. Highly recommended.

77 of 81 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent quality:price ratio!, March 21, 2005

By 

R. Ryan Dacca (Seattle, WA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Nikon Coolpix 5900 5MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom (Electronics)

This is my first digital camera. Before this I owned a Pentax and a Canon SLR and a Canon ELPH APS camera. I was pretty set on getting a Canon, but after doing a lot of online research and visiting many camera stores, I decided on the Nikon CoolPix 5900 - and I'm glad I did.

As far as I can tell this camera beats every other in its price range on advanced features. I won't go over them here, you can look at the product description for a list of them, then go to the page for the Canon SD300 (or any other brand) and compair. Also note that the SD400, Canon's 5MP camera, is actually priced at $399 and the 4MP SD300 is at $349, though you can currently get discounts on both. More importantly, the standard image quality is on-par with Canon and Sony (the only real competition in this range if you ask me), and when you throw in in-camera red-eye removal and D-Lighting it goes a step beyond. I know there are many other quality companies making cameras in this price range, but after reviewing actual prints from just about every one, it became aparent that Canon and Nikon in particular always looked noticably better in my opinion.

Also of note are the quality Nikkor ED optics, sturdy and light aluminum body, 2" LCD with a stunningly (really) high refresh rate and an excellen user interface, 640x480 movie mode at 30FPS with sound and surprisingly long battery life.

I highly recommend this product to anyone looking into getting a digital camera or looking to replace their aging one.

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great camera, except...........red-eye problem (indoor), June 29, 2005

By 

H. Do (Denver, CO USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Nikon Coolpix 5900 5MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom (Electronics)

As an amateur photographer, I did a lot of research before I decided that it is time to join the 21st century and buy a digital camera--Nikon Coolpix 5900. Why this camera and not the best selling Canon A95? Because Nikon Coolpix 5900 has the best reviews I've read, and I've read plenty in the past two weeks. Ultimately, it came down to three important specifications that every buyer wants and this camera has: durability, quality, and price.

Coolpix 5900 has several good qualities: nighttime photography, auto focus, and zoom/macro features. I have tried these features many times and the images turn out sharp. If there is any blurred image, then the camera will alert you and ask if you want to keep the image. Be aware that when the battery is low, the camera takes its time between takes.

I've had my camera for a week now and I play with it often. All the points noted by other owners in the reviews below about the Coolpix 5900 are quite valid.

My one gripe about the Nikon Coolpix 5900 is the red-eye problem indoor with poor lighting. I attended a friend's wedding and the pictures that I took of the bride and groom inside the church constantly had red-eye. (I didn't think that the church was poorly lit, but in retrospect it could be.) I stood in one place and tried all the flash settings and none of them remedied the problem. Nikon boasts, "Coolpix cameras can automatically detect and remove red-eye directly within the camera." My Coolpix did not deliver on that promise. That disappointed me and the manual was no help. Luckily for me though, I have a picture software that can fix the red-eye problem easily; however, it was a pain having to go through all the wedding pictures to fix them.

Update: I recently took pictures on the 4th of July at a friend's rooftop party from sunset to almost midnight. The pictures turned out well and the red-eye problem was not present even though the lighting was even worse at this event than my friend's wedding. I kept the camera on automatic flash the entire time. So, quite honestly, I'm not sure why there was a red-eye problem at my friend's wedding and not at this party.

Nikon Coolpix 5900 is a good camera overall despite the red-eye problem I experienced. For now, I'll give this camera a 4-star rating because it has more good qualities than bad.