Nikon Coolpix 5400 Digital Camera

WHAT'S HOT: The Coolpix 5400 looks similar to its Coolpix 5000 predecessor, but it has several updates, including 15 new scene modes (the 5000 had none) and a 4X zoom lens (up from 3X). Starting at 28mm (35mm equivalent), the lens is wider than most fixed-lens digital cameras, which typically start at 35mm to 38mm. The lens permits macro shots as close as 0.5 inch.

In our output judging, the 5400 scored near the top of our rankings. All shots looked very sharp, and colors looked perfect. The camera illuminated a still-life shot superbly, bringing out shadows without obliterating highlights. The only flaw was some minor color interference in several parallel-bar patterns.

Credit the larger-than-usual 64MB internal buffer for improved continuous shooting modes. In one mode, you can take seven full-resolution shots in succession at 3 frames per second; in another, the camera will take shots as long as you hold down the shutter button, saving only the last five after you release it. The latter mode lets you keep firing until you're confident you've got the shot you want. A time-lapse mode enables you to set the camera to take shots at predefined intervals (as long as the battery holds out).

For a sophisticated 5-megapixel camera, the Coolpix 5400 is relatively small and light, and the pronounced right-hand grip makes holding it with one hand easy.

WHAT'S NOT: The camera body is littered with buttons and dials. After you've used the camera for a while, you'll probably have a better sense of where they all, but we often had to stop and study them. You must dig into the menus simply to change the resolution and image quality settings (you can assign one of the external buttons to that task, however). To focus manually, you must hold down a button and spin a wheel--a very awkward arrangement.

The 1.5-inch LCD display is much too small, especially on an expensive camera designed to appeal to serious photographers; in contrast, the Coolpix 5000 had a 1.8-inch display. At least the display swivels outward from the body for self-portraits or shooting with the camera overhead.

WHAT ELSE: The Coolpix 5400 records video with sound, at up to 640 by 480 resolution. That's high compared to most cameras, but the exposure changes slowly when you move from shadows to well-lit areas. In its panoramic assist mode, the camera shows you semi-transparent images of a just-taken shot to help you line up the next shot; it's easier to use than Olympus's panoramic mode (which relies on framing lines), but it's not quite as good as Canon's, which shows the overlapping images more clearly.

The rechargeable lithium ion battery held out for 338 shots (about 2 hours) in our tests. That's near the average for cameras priced at $500 or more. The camera comes with a small external battery charger that requires you use a 6-foot-long cord; it's great if you need to reach a distant power outlet, but unwieldy when you take it on trips.

UPSHOT: The Coolpix 5400 takes fantastic pictures, and it can handle nearly any shooting situation. But pausing to remember where each of its many features is buried can cause you to miss some shots.