Nikon COOLPIX P520 | COOLPIX Digital Camera from Nikon

Learn & Explore Tip of the Day

January 30, 2013

Turn your flash on during the day. Harsh shadows often show up in your portraits in the daylight. Fill in those shadows by turning on your flash, brightening up those dark areas. Just go to your flash setting and force your flash to shoot all the time. It will work even in bright light.

January 29, 2013

Keep your camera with you as much as possible. You never know where you’re going to find that great photo. Have the camera loaded with memory, charged up and ready to shoot.

January 28, 2013

Get yourself in the picture. Nothing is worse than a vacation with no shots of the family photographer. Get in the picture by using a tripod (or a steady surface such as a wall or a car hood) and the camera’s self-timer to make sure you're included in the family memories.

January 27, 2013

When working with light, try to keep it off to the side or behind your subject. Light coming in at an angle almost always makes for a more interesting photo, creating patterns and shapes that straight-on light doesn’t.

January 26, 2013

Jump for fun. Have your kids line up for a picture. As the photographer, get low, and get ready to shoot. Have the kids all jump in the air at the same time. Capturing them mid jump can bring out their true personalities.

January 25, 2013

When shooting in bright sand or snow, experiment with the exposure compensation settings (the +/- button) on your camera. Set it for +1 to make the image brighter, which often will make sand or snow look better.

January 24, 2013

Carry your camera manual, especially if your camera is new. When traveling you'll probably have a chance to try some new shots. It can also be the time you’re likely to forget the function of a particular button. Or you may just want to explore all the cool things today’s cameras offer.

January 23, 2013

Protect your SLR lenses. Get a good UV, Skylight or Neutral Clear filter for the front of every lens. This will help protect the expensive front piece of glass in your lens. When you get in dirty or rainy conditions, you'll be wiping the filter clear instead of risking the front element.

January 22, 2013

In bright sunlight, when you may be focusing on the sky, set your exposure compensation for -1 to darken the image and the sky. This adjusts the meter to allow less light into the exposure. If you have a subject in the foreground, make sure he doesn’t become too dark.

January 21, 2013

If you’re taking really important photos that you won’t be able to recreate, bracket your exposures to ensure the photos look great. Most Nikon digital cameras have an exposure-bracketing mode that you can set. It is faster if you let the camera do the bracketing, instead of you having to snap a photo, change the exposure, snap another frame, change it again, and snap a new frame.

January 20, 2013

When photographing a lot of people at a party, use your camera’s Smart Portrait System to help you get better pictures. The blink mode lets you know if your subjects blinked, and the smile timer can snap the photo when the camera sees that your subjects are smiling.

January 19, 2013

If you’re using a GPS-enabled COOLPIX digital camera and are on vacation and not sure where to go next, check out the POI (Points of Interest) feature which will let you know of landmarks that are nearby to your location.

January 18, 2013

Use the pet scene mode when photographing cats and dogs. If your camera doesn’t have a pet mode, disable the audible beeps and focus assist lamps while photographing them so the lights and sounds aren’t a distraction.

January 17, 2013

Successful close-ups of babies often involve eye contact. Focus on the eyes. Use a longer lens, or a macro lens, and get in tight on the eyes and nose.

January 16, 2013

Like the look of HDR (High Dynamic Range) photography but not sure you’d be able to pull off the technique? A number of Nikon cameras have a built-in HDR mode where the camera does the hard work for you. Check your manual to see if your specific camera offers this feature.

January 15, 2013

Looking for inspiration for your photography? Look no further than Learn & Explore, the area on the Nikonusa.com website that is packed full of educational articles, how-to tutorials and inspirational pieces on all sorts of photography topics.

January 14, 2013

Take a moment to look at the photo framed in the viewfinder or LCD before you snap it. Make sure you can see over the tops of your subject’s heads, and all the way to their feet if you’re taking a full-length portrait. It is easy to cut off part of a person if you’re in a rush to snap a picture.

January 13, 2013

Sometimes you just need to throw out the rules. Tilt the camera for different angles and unique compositions. An old filmmaking term is called “Dutch Tilt” (made famous by Alfred Hitchcock). As long as something is recognizable, it will work.

January 12, 2013

Compose photos using the “rule of thirds.” Think of the frame as being broken into nine rectangles (like a tic-tac-toe grid over the picture). Place your subject at one of the intersections of the lines for a more visually stimulating photo.

January 11, 2013

Photograph pets at their eye level—then try photographing them from way up high or down low for a really unique image.

January 10, 2013

To get the starburst effect you often see in photos, use the smallest aperture possible on your camera (this is usually f/16 or f/22) and shoot towards the sun. Shooting towards the sun will cause you to see flare in an image sometimes but this can add interest to your image. Shoot a bunch of frames—capturing the starburst with and without flare.

January 9, 2013

Add drama to an image by shooting when the shadows are long and deep. Try to photograph just a person or object’s shadow for a unique image.

January 8, 2013

When you want to tell a story with your photographs, take multiple pictures—close-ups, wide-angle views, different perspectives. A photo essay can include as few as three photos or as many as it takes to fully document a subject, and will often tell a better story than just one image.

January 7, 2013

Adding objects—man-made or natural—to a landscape will add interest and scale.

January 6, 2013

When shooting video of an event, add interviews for a unique viewpoint. Shooting a birthday party—talk to the birthday boy or girl; shooting your kids sport—interview them or the coach—at a wedding—ask the bride and groom to comment.

January 5, 2013

When shooting food, simple compositions are always better. Zoom into the dish so you don’t capture the table, or zoom tighter so you don’t even see the plate. If you’re taking a shot of your meal at a restaurant, move some of the cutlery or glassware out of the frame for a better shot. It will only take you a moment to do so.

January 4, 2013

Use contrast to separate a subject from its background. A light subject will stand out against a dark background and visa-versa.

January 3, 2013

The eyes, it is said, are the windows to the soul. Capture the personality of your subject, through his/her eyes. Make sure you can see them by zooming in on your subject or moving in close to her.

January 2, 2013

One of the rules of composition says that horizon lines should not be placed in the center of an image, but closer to the top or bottom of the frame. Sometimes rules are meant to be broken. When you’re photographing a subject and its reflection, its perfectly fine to place the horizon in the center of the frame.

January 1, 2013

Be creative with your posing of groups. Don't just line everybody up. Use the steps or the arm of a couch to experiment with some people standing and others sitting. Have kids sitting in laps or someone sitting on the floor or kneeling. Mix it up.

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Conquer distance like never before

The ultimate in COOLPIX zoom power, image quality and versatility. An astounding 42x zoom NIKKOR glass lens with Vibration Reduction technology delivers 1,000mm of super-telephoto reach to an 18.1-megapixel low-light CMOS sensor. Cutting-edge technologies like built-in GPS and compatibility with the optional Wireless Mobile Adapter WU-1a accessory helps ensure this camera will be the centerpiece of your creative output for years to come.

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$429.95

Product Number: 26397

Supplied Accessories

42x zoom power, professional-quality photos and videos, endless capabilities.

For those seeking a comprehensive compact camera for zoom, image quality, versatility and technological innovation, look no further than the COOLPIX P520. Create pro-caliber photos and Full HD 1080p videos from mind-boggling distances, even in extremely low-light conditions. Track your travels and explore points of interest with built-in GPS. Take control of your vision with full P, S, A, M exposure modes. Add the optional WU-1a Wireless Mobile Adapter and share your shots in an instant, or control the camera with your compatible smartphone or tablet. From its superb 42x zoom NIKKOR glass lens and 18.1-megapixel low-light CMOS image sensor to its D-SLR-inspired design and 3.2-inch Vari-angle LCD, the COOLPIX P520 delivers the pinnacle of performance and zoom.

First Look at the COOLPIX P520

Learn more about the WU-1a Wireless Adapter

18.1MP

CMOS Sensor

42x

Zoom NIKKOR Glass Lens

3.2"

VGA Vari-angle LCD

1080p

Full HD Video with Stereo Sound

Get close from afar

Capture distant images with a 42x wide-angle to telephoto NIKKOR glass zoom lens.

Every COOLPIX is designed around a genuine NIKKOR glass lens, the legendary optics that have made Nikon famous. The COOLPIX P520 features a 42x zoom NIKKOR lens that takes you from wide-angle group shots to telephoto close-ups in an instant. And don't worry about a little camera shake—lens-shift Vibration Reduction helps keep the shot steady even when your hands are not.

View 42x Zoom Sample Photos

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See where you've been

Built-in GPS with Points of Interest (POI) for creating amazing photo journals

Relive the excitement of your travels in a whole new way. The COOLPIX P520 records the exact location of each shot you take, so you can follow the path of your adventure and every stunning view along the way! Share your journeys on Google Earth™, Google+™, and other social media sites or with the included Nikon View NX2 software. Built-in GPS helps you navigate unfamiliar destinations, and Points of Interest (POI) show you nearby photo-ops like scenic lookouts and historic landmarks. The COOLPIX P520 is the ultimate travel companion!

Share to your compatible smartphone or tablet

Compatible with the WU-1a wireless mobile adapter for anytime, anywhere sharing

Connect the optional WU-1a Wireless Mobile Adapter and wirelessly transfer photos to your smartphone, tablet or any compatible Wi-Fi® enabled device. Use your smartphone to instantly upload your shots to the web or email them to a friend. Install Nikon's free Wireless Mobile Adapter Utility and remotely control the COOLPIX P520—see what the camera sees from your smartphone or tablet and fire off shots!

Learn more about the WU-1a Wireless Mobile Adapter

Superior low-light performance

High-performance CMOS image sensor lets you shoot without a flash

Imagine being able to shoot without a flash at weddings, concerts, parties—anywhere your flash normally fires. You won't have to interrupt a moment to capture it, and your photos and HD videos will look more natural and true to your memory. The COOLPIX P520 performs so well in low light situations that, in most cases, using the flash is optional. Of course, when the lighting is extremely poor and you need a flash, it'll be there.

View COOLPIX P520 Low-light Sample Photos

Record superior videos

1080p Full HD videos with stereo sound for dazzling movies

If you want a compact camera that shoots stunning Full HD videos, the COOLPIX P520 delivers. 1080p Full HD means exceptional video quality. Record the action, then connect to an HDTV and watch your videos come alive. A built-in mic records high-quality audio in stereo. Your videos will look and sound phenomenal.

Don't sweat a little camera shake

Lens-shift Vibration Reduction helps keep the shot steady, even if your hands are not. Say goodbye to blurry photos, shaky videos and tripods.

Take control of your vision

When you want to take control of exposure, the COOLPIX P520 is ready. Select from P/S/A/M exposure modes and the creative options will seem endless.

Gain new perspectives

Use the 3.2-inch ultra-high-resolution (921,000 dot) Vari-angle LCD monitor to capture some really unconventional angles.

Freeze action in its tracks

When the action speeds up, simply hold the shutter button and fire off up to 7 continuous shots per second. Catch views you may not have seen before in your photos.

WI-FI COMPATIBILITY

This camera's Wi-Fi^® capability using the WU-1a Wireless Mobile Adapter can only be used with a compatible iPhone^®, iPad^®, and/or iPod touch^® or smart devices running on the Android™ operating system. The Wireless Mobile Utility application must be installed on the device before it can be used with this camera. For compatibility and to download the application, please visit:

Apple, the Apple logo, iPhone, iPad and iPod touch are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. App Store is a service mark of Apple Inc.
Android and Google Play are trademarks of Google Inc.
Wi-Fi® and the Wi-Fi CERTIFIED logo are registered trademarks of the Wi-Fi Alliance.
All Nikon trademarks are trademarks of Nikon Corporation.

*SRP (Suggested Retail Price) listed only as a suggestion. Actual prices are set by dealers and are subject to change at any time.

LCD, Video and Photo Gallery images are for illustrative purposes only.

Specifications

Type

Compact Digital Camera
Effective Pixels

18.1 million
Image Sensor

CMOS
Sensor Size

1/2.3 in.
Total Pixels

18.91 million (approx.)
Lens

42x optical Zoom, NIKKOR glass lens
Lens Focal Length

4.3-180mm (angle of view equivalent to that of 24-1000 mm lens in 35mm [135] format)
Lens f/-number

f/3-5.9
Lens Construction

14 elements in 10 groups
Lens Zoom

42x
Digital Zoom

Up to 2x (angle of view equivalent to that of approx. 2,000mm lens in 35mm [135] format)
Vibration Reduction

Lens-shift VR
Motion Blur Reduction

Motion Detection (still pictures)
Autofocus (AF)

Contrast-detect AF
Autofocus (AF) Focus-area selection

Auto (9-area automatic selection)
Center (wide, normal, spot)
Face priority
Manual with 99 focus areas
Subject tracking
Target Finding AF
Focus Range

[W]: Approx. 1 ft. 8 in. (50 cm.) to infinity
[T]: Approx. 5 ft. (1.5 m.) to infinity
Macro close-up mode: [W]: Approx. 0.4 in. (1 cm.) to infinity
(All distances measured from center of front surface of lens)
Focus Lock

Yes
Maximum Autofocus Areas/Points

9 area automatic selection, 99 area manual selection
Viewfinder

Electronic viewfinder, 0.5 cm (0.2-in.) approx. 201K-dot equivalent LCD with the diopter adjustment function (-4 to +4 m-1)
Viewfinder Frame Coverage

Approx. 100% horizontal and 100% vertical (compared to actual picture) (shooting mode)
Approx. 100% horizontal and 100% vertical (compared to actual picture) (playback mode)
Monitor Size

3.2 in. diagonal
Monitor Type

Vari-Angle TFT-LCD with 5-level brightness adjustment
Monitor Resolution

921,000-dots
Monitor Frame coverage (shooting mode)

100% horizontal (Approx.)
100% vertical (Approx.)
Monitor Frame coverage (playback mode)

100% horizontal (Approx.)
100% vertical (Approx.)
Storage Media

SD memory card
SDHC memory card
SDXC memory card
Internal Memory

Approx. 15MB
Storage File System

DCF
EXIF 2.3
DPOF and MPF compliant
Movie

Full HD: 1920x1080p / 30fps
Full HD: 1920x1080/ 25p
Full HD: 1920x1080 / 60i
Full HD: 1920x1080/ 50i
HD: 1280x720p / 30fps
HS 1920x1080 / 15fps
HS 1280x720 / 60fps
HS 640x480 / 120fps
iFrame® 540: 960x540 / 30fps
VGA 640x480/ 30p
VGA 640x480/ 25p
Voice Memo Function

Yes
Image Size (pixels)

4896 x 3672
ISO Sensitivity

ISO 80-3200
Hi 1 (equivalent to 6400) (available when using P, S, A, or M mode)
Hi 2 (equivalent to 12,800) (available when using High ISO monochrome in special effects mode)
Fixed range auto (ISO 80-400, 80-800)
Lowest ISO Sensitivity

80
Highest ISO Sensitivity

3200
Exposure Metering

Matrix
Center-weighted
Spot
Exposure Control

Programmed auto exposure with flexible program
aperture-priority auto
exposure bracketing
manual
shutter priority auto
Exposure compensation (-2.0 to +2.0 EV in steps of 1/3 EV)
Exposure Modes

Programmed Auto
Scene Modes

Back Light
Beach
Black and White Copy
Close Up
Dusk/Dawn
Fireworks Show
Food
Landscape
Museum
Night Landscape
Night Portrait
Panorama
Party/Indoor
Pet Portrait
Portrait
Scene Auto Selector
Snow
Sports
Sunset
3D Photography
In-Camera Image Editing

Copy
Crop
D-Lighting
Filter Effects
Print Order
Protect
Quick retouch
Rotate image
Skin softening
Slide Show
Small Picture
Sequence display option
Choose key picture
Exposure Compensation

± 2 EV in steps of 1/3
Exposure Bracketing

Yes
±0.3, ±0.7, ±1.0 in P, S or A mode
White Balance

Cloudy
Daylight
Flash
Fluorescent
Incandescent
Preset Manual
Auto 1
Auto 2
Shutter

Mechanical and CMOS electronic shutter
Shutter Speed

1/4000-1 sec.
1/4000 * - 8 s (when ISO sensitivity is fixed at 80 or 100 in P,S, A or M mode)
Top Continuous Shooting Speed at full resolution

Up to 7 shots at approx. 7 frames per second
Aperture

Electronically-controlled 6-blade iris diaphragm
Aperture Range

10 steps of 1/3 EV
Self-timer

Can be selected from 10 or 2 seconds duration
Built-in Flash Control

TTL auto flash with monitor preflashes
Built-in Flash

Yes
HDMI Output

Can be selected from:
Auto
480p
720p
1080i
I/O terminal

Audio/video (A/V) output
Digital I/O (USB)
HDMI mini connector (Type C) (HDMI output)
Wi-Fi Functionality

Yes
GPS

Yes (Built-in)
Supported Languages

Arabic
Bengali
Chinese (Simplified and Traditional)
Czech
Danish
Dutch
English
French
German
Greek
Hindi
Hungarian
Indonesian
Italian
Japanese
Korean
Marathi
Norwegian
Persian
Portugese (European and Brazilian)
Romanian
Russian
Spanish
Swedish
Tamil
Telugu
Thai
Ukranian
Vietnamese
Power Sources

One Rechargeable Li-ion Battery EN-EL5 (supplied)
AC Adapter EH-69P and plug adapter (supplied)
Charging Time

4 h and 30 min (when using Charging AC Adapter EH- 69P and when no charge remains) (Approx.)
Battery / Batteries

Rechargeable Li-ion Battery EN-EL5
Battery Life (shots per charge)

EN-EL5:
200shots

Based on Camera and Imaging Products Association (CIPA) standards for measuring the life of camera batteries. Measured at 23(-/+3)°C (73(-/+5.4)°F); zoom adjusted with each shot, flash fired with every other shot, image quality set to Normal, image size set to 4896x3672 (18.1MP). Battery life may vary depending on shooting interval and length of time menus and images are displayed.
Tripod Socket

¼ in.
Approx. Dimensions

Height: 3.4in. (84.1mm)
Width: 5.0in. (125.2mm)
Depth: 4.0in. (101.6mm)
Excluding projections. Method of noting dimensions and weight is in accordance with CIPA DCG-005-2009 guideline.
Approx. Weight

19.4 oz. (550g)
With battery and SD memory card. Method of noting dimensions and weight is in accordance with CIPA DCG-005-2009 guideline.
Operating environment

Temperature: 0 to 40°C (32 to 104°F)
Humidity: Less than 85% (no condensation)
Supplied Accessories
- UC-E6 USB Cable
- EN-EL5 Rechargeable Li-ion Battery
- EH-69P AC Adapter/Charger
- AN-CP21 Strap
- LC-CP24 Lens Cap
- NikonView NX 2 CD-ROM

*SRP (Suggested Retail Price) listed only as a suggestion. Actual prices are set by dealers and are subject to change at any time.

**Specifications and equipment are subject to change without any notice or obligation on the part of the manufacturer.
***Refer to the product manual or the Compatible Lenses Specification for additional details.

LCD, Video and Photo Gallery images are for illustrative purposes only.

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*SRP (Suggested Retail Price) listed only as a suggestion. Actual prices are set by dealers and are subject to change at any time.

LCD, Video and Photo Gallery images are for illustrative purposes only.

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*SRP (Suggested Retail Price) listed only as a suggestion. Actual prices are set by dealers and are subject to change at any time.

LCD, Video and Photo Gallery images are for illustrative purposes only.

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Conquer distance like never before

Supplied Accessories

42x zoom power, professional-quality photos and videos, endless capabilities.

Capture distant images with a 42x wide-angle to telephoto NIKKOR glass zoom lens.

See where you've been

Built-in GPS with Points of Interest (POI) for creating amazing photo journals

Share to your compatible smartphone or tablet

Compatible with the WU-1a wireless mobile adapter for anytime, anywhere sharing

Superior low-light performance

High-performance CMOS image sensor lets you shoot without a flash

Record superior videos

1080p Full HD videos with stereo sound for dazzling movies

Don't sweat a little camera shake

Take control of your vision

Gain new perspectives

Freeze action in its tracks

WI-FI COMPATIBILITY

Experience It

Sample Photography

1080p HD Sample Videos

42x Zoom Photos

Low-light Sample Photos

First Look at the P520

Specifications

User reviews are coming soon

Product Registration

Nikon Answers Site

Manual

Resources