Nikon COOLPIX L620 Pro Reviews

The Lifestyle range of digital compact cameras from Nikon generally tend to be low quality point and shooters, so the new Coolpix L620 is a big surprise. It feels well made and while it lacks the metal tripod bush of a higher quality model, it does have a locking battery door and thicker-than-usual rubber on the port covers. It's designed in a stylish way with the curved top plate and pop up flash. Old school digital users may remember the Kodak we previously mentioned. The grip will allow easier handling and one hand shooting while you have the other hand in your pocket. The Nikon Coolpix L620 is very easy to take pictures with. The point and shoot simplicity will appeal to all members of the family; young to old and the additional filters will keep younger generations and Instagrammers happy. While we're on the subject of the digital effects, there doesn't seem to be a way of previewing the effect when in playback. It's shown as a thumbnail and then processed when you select it. If you then don't like it, it's a case of delete and start again. A tedious and exhaustive task what with all the selective colour and cross processed options.

The L620 is clearly aimed at two kind of user: photography first-timers, and anyone who wants to point, shoot and not worry. On both fronts it scores well on account of its pared down options and clear menus. The trouble is, entry-level cameras with largely automated settings are increasingly competing with smartphones, which are easy to carry around and, with resolutions averaging around 8-megapixels, in many cases produce results that are good enough for what many will want. You have to ask, then, if there are sufficient extra features here to justify spending £170 on this particular pocket snapper. The answer is yes because the L620 has that 14x optical zoom tucked up its sleeve which puts the camera into a far more versatile position than a smartphone. But the camera still has some potential issues. We're not big fans of AA batteries, and the mid-high ISO sensitivity didn't produce the best of quality in normal shooting conditions, and the control limitations won't suit all. If anything we'd have preferred a lower resolution for the sake of improved results as 18-megapixels is overkill. Nonetheless, the L620 is an inexpensive, no-nonsense camera that performs well in good light and, at £180, isn't one you'll be afraid to take to the pub or a party, or even entrust to your kids. Would you do that with your phone? We thought not. It might not be super-exciting, hence its score, but there's an ample amount on offer for the money here.

The Nikon Coolpix L620 is a mixed bag. It has a decent set of features such as full 1080p HD video recording, optical image stabilisation and 10 fps continuous shooting, but the camera can leave you waiting to process shots and focus, the battery life is also quite poor. Ultimately though, image quality is good and you can shoot all the way up to ISO 3200 without image quality suffering too much, this is great for shooting in low light. The 14x optical zoom lens is also handy for a pocketable camera.