The Coolpix 5000 is one of three 5 megapixel cameras in the Labs, alongside the Sony DSC-F707 and the Olympus E20-P prosumer model. Dont be too swayed by the average value rating: its $1,000 cheaper than the Sony and about half the price of the Olympus, making it a favourable choice for the megapixel-focused buyers on a budget.

The test showed an overall accurate reproduction of the test subject with colour reproduction being the main standout. Unfortunately it wasnt as bright as the other top performers like the Sony and Canon high-end models, however the Labs team has a lot of faith that fine-tuning would result in a better image.

A 32MB CompactFlash card is included in the package but at the maximum 2,560 x 1,920 resolution dont expect to get any more than two images per card. With such high megapixel cameras this is less of a flaw than with lower specified models, but it does mean you will be upgrading storage to take advantage of its higher resolutions.

The Coolpix 5000 is a good camera overall but it lacks the high performance of the Canon, Sony and Ricoh offerings. However, those who want a lot of features and a relatively inexpensive 5-megapixel camera can stop looking because the Nikon fits the bill.