Released in late 2007, the Nikon Coolpix P5100 is a moderate update of the P5000. The camera offers a 12.1 megapixel CCD sensor and 3.5x optical zoom, using a Nikkor lens. Image stabilization is achieved through lens shift when the camera detects that is is not entirely stable. With full manual controls and ahotshoe to add external lighting accessories, the P5100 may appeal to hobbyist photographers who like more control over their images than standard point-and-shoot scene modes allow for. It should be noted that the P5100 does not record images in RAW format, ultimately limiting the amount of digital post-production a serious hobbyist can do. In addition to manual exposure, the camera does offer 16 scene modes to easily optimize image settings.
