Learn & Explore Tip of the Day

May 22, 2013

Planning to take a vacation by the beach? Look for a compact digital camera that’s waterproof, such as the Nikon COOLPIX AW100, AW110, S30, S31 or get an underwater housing for your camera. You’ll be able to take your camera under water and capture what goes on below the surface.

May 21, 2013

When shooting nighttime landscapes, use a low ISO (400 or below if possible) while working from a tripod. Open your aperture to F/4 or F/5.6. This will allow you to have a shot full of detail and of good quality. Remember that night shots need a subject, just like day shots.

May 20, 2013

Don’t forget to bring your camera to holiday barbeques so you can capture all of the fun. Take pictures of the food being grilled, games being played, as well as groupings of friends and family.

May 19, 2013

Wait until the camera has finished writing the photo(s) to the memory card (green light is off) before turning off the camera or removing the card. You can lose pictures if you do either before the camera has had time to download the file(s) from its internal memory to the card.

May 18, 2013

You should format the memory card in your camera on a regular basis. By using the camera’s built-in “Format” function, found in the menus, you lessen the chance of having card problems in the future. Doing so is better than just deleting the images using the camera or the computer.

May 17, 2013

When you’re at a parade take photos of the parade goers, especially your children and the looks on their faces. You’ll see a lot of smiles and excitement.

May 16, 2013

Take a self-portrait each day for a week or month (or a year). It’s harder than you think to take an attractive photo of yourself, and if you do it for long enough you’ll have an interesting series that shows how you’ve changed over time.

May 15, 2013

Everyone loves a parade. For more interesting photos, look for details like the band’s uniforms, a cheerleader’s colorful pom-poms or a bright red fire engine.

May 14, 2013

When shooting groups of five or more people, make sure you stagger them. Put tall folks in the back and the shortest ones in front. It may seem simple, but blocking out just one face can ruin a group portrait. Always tell them, “If you don’t have a clear view of me, the camera can’t see you.”

May 13, 2013

Posing a bride and groom for photos is sometimes difficult. Concentrate on close shots of just the two of them, with clean backgrounds. Then create a fun group shot having them in the center, with others gathered around them. Just make sure no one gets in front of them. After all, it’s their day.

May 12, 2013

Take plenty of photos during your Mother’s Day celebrations. Remember to print multiple copies, so everyone can have their own photographs of mom to cherish.

May 11, 2013

Use a polarizing filter to lessen or eliminate reflections from glass. This works really well on windows of stores or cars. But the trade-off is that your exposure will be a bit longer, as the light is cut down by almost two stops.

May 10, 2013

Capture the hustle and bustle of the city at night. Place your camera on a tripod and use a long exposure (slow shutter speed) to blur the movement of cars and people. Try shooting for about 10 seconds first, and then adjust creatively to catch the motion of the lights and the feel of the city.

May 9, 2013

Make a great team picture. Get the team together in front of a nice background—maybe the goal, the net or the team logo on the field or floor. Shoot the ordinary, and then let the kids have some fun, making faces or funny poses. That’s the one they will always remember.

May 8, 2013

Try shooting panoramas if you’re at a sport stadium, beach or park, for more interesting images. Some Nikon Digital Cameras have an Easy Panorama mode or a Panorama Assist mode, which make these photos easy to shoot.

May 7, 2013

When photographing animals of any kind—pets, birds in flight, animals at the zoo—try to zoom in as close as you can or use a longer lens to isolate the animal from its background. By getting a close-up view you have a greater chance of capturing a wonderful expression on the face of the animal, which will give you a more interesting photograph.

May 6, 2013

Want a unique video of sports action? Use the slow-motion mode that many Nikon digital cameras offer. By shooting the action faster than normal and played back at normal speed, your subject’s movements are slowed down and look more deliberate.

May 5, 2013

When celebrating Cinco de Mayo, take plenty of photos of the colorful decorations in addition to candid photos of everyone having a great time.

May 4, 2013

Change your white balance during a sunrise or sunset. Take your camera off auto white balance and switch to Cloudy or Shady white balance. This will add more strength to the reds, oranges and yellows. Auto White Balance tries to keep colors neutral.

May 3, 2013

To get a shot of someone at sunset, turn on your flash and place the person with the beautiful sunset behind them. With the flash on, they will be illuminated. With the flash off, they will be silhouetted.

May 2, 2013

Spend a day capturing images only in black and white. You have to look at the world differently to take a good-looking photo in black and white, and that will help sharpen your artistic skills.

May 1, 2013

May is National Photo Month! Celebrate by taking photos every day. Give yourself an assignment such as taking a self-portrait each day of the month, or photographing an object every day.

April 30, 2013

If your camera can capture images in both RAW and JPEG format, do so even if you don’t work with RAW images now. These RAW files have the highest image quality possible, so you can edit them years from now and be sure you’re getting the best looking image possible.

April 29, 2013

Set your Speedlight to Rear Curtain Sync. This fires the flash at the end of the exposure, not the beginning, and can create interesting streaks and effects in moving subjects. Experiment with the different flash modes your camera and Speedlight offers.

April 28, 2013

Pick a day and use a fixed focal length lens instead of a zoom (or only one focal length on your zoom, like 35mm). By practicing moving you and the camera to re-frame your images you’ll become more engaged with your subject.

April 27, 2013

If you are photographing out of the window of a plane be sure to keep from touching the window, walls, armrests or other parts of the plane. The vibrations caused by the engines are transmitted through the fuselage and can make your photos blurry. Instead, sit up in the seat and hold the camera as still as you can, close to the window.

April 26, 2013

Arbor Day, which celebrates the planting and caring for trees is celebrated across the USA at different times of the year. Some states celebrate in February while others celebrate the holiday in April, so we decided to celebrate it twice! Use this holiday to take some cool photographs of trees.

April 25, 2013

Frame your storm photograph before it happens. Remember that the sky is your subject, so dramatic clouds are what you’re framing for, and then you hope that lightning will happen in that space. Keep the horizon in the lower third of the frame with the sky the top two-thirds.

April 24, 2013

Shooting a lightning storm can be exciting. Use a tripod and set you camera to record a long exposure. With D-SLRs, 15 seconds is a good start, but you may have to use up to 30 seconds, or bulb setting (where the shutter stays open as long as you hold down the shutter button). Because you never know when the lightning will occur, keep shooting for best results. And don’t forget the tripod! Otherwise you’ll have blurry photos.

April 23, 2013

Try different kinds of framing with your flower shots. Instead of centering the flower, try placing it off to the left or the right of the frame. This will allow for you to be creative with the negative space (areas without the subject). Look for the patterns of other out of focus flowers in the background.

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Archived Product

Product Number: 25596

Visit Product Support for additional product information

Key Features

8.0 Megapixels for stunning prints as large as 16 x 20 inches. Plenty of sharp resolution to capture the finest details, crop creatively and product incredible enlargements

New EXPEED image processor ensures high-quality pictures with stunning color and sharpness. Nikon’s comprehensive digital imaging processing concept incorporates know-how and technologies accumulated throughout our long history of photographic and digital imaging development. EXPEED is custom-tuned for COOLPIX and applied optimized technologies the render natural-looking pictures of incredible quality and quick response so you will not miss that special moment

Huge, Bright High Resolution 3.0-inch LCD makes it easy to compose and share your pictures. In addition, the high-contrast and anti-reflection coating on the screen assist in clear viewing, even in direct sunlight

Nikon Image Innovations include: In-Camera Red-Eye Fix™, which will automatically look for and fixes most instances of red-eye. You may never see red-eyes again, Face Priority AF is Nikon’s face-finding technology that quickly finds and focuses on up to 12 faces in a group portrait, and D-Lighting will rescue those photos that are too dark for printing by enhancing the underexposed areas of the picture while not touching the properly exposed areas

High Quality TV Movies with Sound is now just a press of a button away with your COOLPIX. Record TV-Quality movies with sound whose duration is only limited by the available space on your SD/SDHC card. Connect your camera to your TV and you have instant home-movies!

3x Optical Zoom-NIKKOR Glass Lens gets you close to the action. NIKKOR optics provide exceptional pictures. The lens is built on a proud heritage of producing precision camera optics that deliver superb color and razor-sharp results

Anti-Shake Mode minimizes the effect of camera shake by detecting slight movement of the subject and will overcome blur by adjusting to a higher shutter speed and a higher ISO

Adjusts up to ISO 1600 making new opportunities to take sharper, more natural-looking photos in lower light conditions

15 Scene Modes for optimized shooting in various settings. Chose from: Portrait, Landscape, Sports, Night Portrait, Party/Indoor, Beach/Snow, Sunset, Dusk/Dawn, Night Landscape, Close Up, Panorama Assist, Museum, Fireworks Show, Copy, Back Light modes. Match you current shooting situation with one of these Scene Modes and the camera will make the necessary adjustments to get you an incredible picture, automatically

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

Specifications

Type

Compact Digital Camera

Effective Pixels

8.0 million

Image Sensor

CCD

Sensor Size

1/2.5 in.

Total Pixels

8.29 million (approx.)

Lens Zoom

Lens Specification

5.7-17.1mm (35mm [135] format picture angle: 35-105mm); f/2.8-4.7

Autofocus (AF)

Contrast-detect TTL AF, with AF-assist illuminator

Auto-area AF Mode

Yes

Focus Range

Approx. 1 ft. 7.7 in. (50 cm.) to infinity
Macro close-up mode: Approx. 5.9 in. (15 cm.) to infinity

Focus Modes

Auto
Face-Priority AF

Focus Lock

Half press of shutter-release button (single-point AF in AF-S)

Single-point AF Mode

Yes

Viewfinder

LCD

Viewfinder Frame Coverage

Approx. 100%

Monitor Size

3.0 in. diagonal

Monitor Type

TFT-LCD

Monitor Resolution

230,400-dots

Storage Media

SD memory card
SDHC memory card

Not compatible with Multi Media Cards (MMC).

Internal Memory

Approx. 23MB

Storage System

JPEG: JPEG-baseline-compliant; can be selected from Size priority and Optimal quality
AVI
WAV

Storage File System

DCF 2.0
EXIF 2.21
DPOF compliant

Movie

Movie with sound

Voice Memo Function

Image Size (pixels)

2592 x 1944 (5M)
2048 x 1536 (3M)
1024 x 768 (PC)
640 x 480 (TV)
1920 x 1080 (16:9)

ISO Sensitivity

ISO 64-1600
Auto (auto gain ISO 64-1600)

Lowest ISO Sensitivity

Highest ISO Sensitivity

1600

Exposure Modes

Auto
Scene

Scene Modes

Back Light
Beach/Snow
Close Up
Copy
Dusk/Dawn
Easy Auto Mode
Landscape
Museum
Night Landscape
Night Portrait
Panorama Assist
Party
Portrait
Sports
Sunset

Image Optimization

B & W
Cyanotype
Sepia
Standard
Vivid

In-Camera Image Editing

D-Lighting
Small Picture
Trim

Exposure Compensation

± 2 EV in steps of 1/3

Exposure Lock

Yes

White Balance

Auto
Cloudy
Daylight
Flash
Fluorescent
Incandescent
White Balance Preset

Image Stabilization

Electronic

Top Continuous Shooting Speed at full resolution

Up to 2 shots at approx. 1.3 frames per second

Continuous Shooting Options

Continuous
Multi-shot 16
Single

Self-timer

Electronically controlled timer with duration of 10 sec.

Built-in Flash

Yes

Built-in Flash Distance

25 ft (7.7m)

Flash Sync Modes

Slow sync
Flash cancel/ flash off
Auto
Auto with red-eye reduction
Anytime flash

Interface

Hi-speed USB

Video Output

NTSC
PAL

Projector Playback Functions

Full frame
Thumbnail (4 or 9 or 16 segments)
Zoom
Slideshow
Sound playback

Battery

AA (Alkaline, NiMH, Oxyride or Lithium)

Battery / Batteries

AA (Alkaline, NiMH, Oxyride or Lithium)

Battery Life (shots per charge)

AA NiMH: 300 shots
Nikon Rechargeable: 180 shots (CIPA)

Tripod Socket

¼-20

Approx. Dimensions (Width x Height x Depth)

3.7 in. (95.0 mm) x 2.4 in. (61.0 mm) x 1.16 in. (29.5 mm)

Excluding projections.

Approx. Weight

4.4 oz. (125.0 g)

Supplied Accessories

USB Cable UC-E6
Audio and Video Cable EG-CP14
Strap AN-CP18
AA Alkaline Battery (2)
Software Suite for COOLPIX

*Supplied accessories may differ depending on country or area.

**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.

EH-65A AC Adapter$39.95

ViewNX 2

EN-MH1 COOLPIX Ni-MH AA-Type$10.95

{%= nikon.tmpl_queue.add(function() { YAHOO.ksv.relatedProducts.normalizeProductTileHeight({ "id": "ProductDetail.ProductTabs.Accessories_product-list-3", "region": "product-details" }) }) %}

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

ViewNX 2

{%= nikon.tmpl_queue.add(function() { YAHOO.ksv.relatedProducts.normalizeProductTileHeight({ "id": "ProductDetail.ProductTabs.Software_product-list-4", "region": "product-details" }) }) %}

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

COOLPIX L18 4.4 5 11 11

Best camera I've ever owned! I've owned and used many cameras in my life, and none of them produce the same quality as my L18. I'm badly wanting to upgrade to at least a D3100, but the L18 is doing very well for now. I'm just starting a photography business, and my L18 is what I'll be using until I can afford the D3100. And I know that I'll be able to provide my clients with good quality pictures. :) September 18, 2011

excellent camera i have been using this camera since last two years its image quality is excellent.I am in no mood to upgrade my camera .i have captured full 3 hours video in excellent quality .one thing i firmly believe by using this product that nikkon mean quality. August 8, 2011

Unbeatable I got my L18 by coincidence. My prior expensive Casio camera, was stolen from my car. I got this one as a used condition camera, since I didn't want to spend as much as I did with the one I had, and I can say that I am glad my Casio was stolen. my used L18 take way better pictures and is so easy to use. My goodness, I never thought I would be happy to be stolen. Even the price for the brand new, would be worthy for any one. June 22, 2011

Awesome!!! I bought a 12 MP Kodak Camera and then I purchased this little awesome Nikon. What a difference. I had been using Kodak my whole life and now I will never go back. This camera is only 8 MP and take way better and clearer pictures. I am recording both of my babies lives utilizing this camera. Thank goodness for the Nikon Seriously!! October 17, 2010

It's one great camera! Takes the best pictures! This camera was my life until it was stolen :( It takes really really great pictures and its really cute! (Yes, I think cameras are cute) I really hope to get a new Nikon! I'm a natural photographer and no matter how many pictures I took, the imaging was fabulous! It's really easy to figure out and it looks different from other cameras(: For those who are just starting out with Digital Cameras, I recommend it! September 19, 2010

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COOLPIX L18

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Exposure adjustment & focusing

Jan 4, 2012 by

Kelly

Florida

on COOLPIX L18

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Hello. I have some questions about my three-year-old Nikon CoolPix L18.

I might have the wrong term, but is there a function other than "sport" that allows the exposure (length of time to take the image) to be adjusted, such as for clear images of moving subjects? I don't mean "exposure compensation" (light/dark). I am curious because "sport" does not allow some settings to be adjusted, such as "white balance."

Also, I have difficulty sometimes trying to focus a subject (occasionally focusing on the wrong things or just being blurry), especially while using the close-up function and while photographing some indoor or dimly-/oddly-lit places (like some museum displays or the night sky with the moon).

Do you have any suggestions? Thanks.

6 months ago

Kelly

Florida

Location :

Florida

Age: 25-34

Nikon Family: 2-5 years

Experience: More than a year

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Answer:

Scenes modes on the COOLPIX L18 are already pre-set. White balance can only be set while shooting options is set to Auto mode. In the Shooting Options you have Continuous that can be set to Single, Continuous, Best Shot Selector and Multi-shot 16. Please see page # 67 of the user's manual for the COOLPIX L18 regarding Continuous shooting.

Jan 5, 2012 by

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COOLPIX L18

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My L18 has started to make noises as if it is refocusing constantly. It will take pictures but the noise continues? Can I fix this?

May 29, 2012 by

Rag

Buffalo, NY, USA

on COOLPIX L18

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1 month, 2 weeks ago

Rag

Buffalo, NY, USA

Location :

Buffalo, NY, USA

Age: 55-65

Nikon Family: 2-5 years

Experience: More than a year

Role: Occasional user, memory keeper

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Top 250 contributor

Answer:

After 20 years in the Photo Retail Business, I can say without even looking that the problem you are experiencing is most likely due to the lens getting bumped while extended. I'be seen this a gazillion times from every camera brand on the market. The impact didn't have to be very hard if it was at just the right angle. The telescoping lens barrel sleeves have been knocked off track, and will not permit the camera to focus properly. The small focus gears are no longer aligned, and will need to be re-set, that is the noise you hear. Nikon can repair this for you, but unfortunately since it's user-caused damage, it won't be covered under warranty.

Follow the instructions on this page to send your camera to Nikon for repair.

http://www.nikonusa.com/Service-And-Support/Nikon-Service-Information.page?goingto=inc_service

Sorry for your bad luck, hope your camera comes back quickly from repair.

If you're clumsy like me with your camera, you might want to consider the AW 100. It's built to be tough and waterproof as well. The lens does not extend outside the camera, so you'll never again bump it off track.

Cheers

Frank

May 30, 2012 by

Frank- Nikon Pro , 23 year Nikon shooter

Top 250 contributor

Location :

Age: 35-44

Favorite Subject: Landscape

Nikon Family: 21+ years

Experience: 6-12 months

Role: Professional photographer

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COOLPIX L18

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What does the message "lens error" refer to?

Jun 30, 2012 by

Anonymous

on COOLPIX L18

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2 weeks, 3 days ago

Anonymous

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Answer:

Please click on the link below for troubleshooting information:
Answer Title: Lens Error message
Answer Link: http://support.nikonusa.com/app/ans...

Jul 3, 2012 by

NikonStaff

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COOLPIX L18

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My camera says "battery exhausted" but when I change the batteries (AA alkaline) it will not turn on... How do I fix this?

Sep 11, 2011 by

Jenna

colorado springs, co

on COOLPIX L18

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10 months ago

Jenna

colorado springs, co

Location :

colorado springs, co

Age: 18-24

Favorite Subject: Family & Friends

Nikon Family: 2-5 years

Experience: More than a year

Role: Occasional user, memory keeper

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Answer:

Please reset the camera to default settings: Go to MENU > Setup > Reset All. Try back-up batteries. If the problem persists you're welcome to send your camera for evaluation.
Title: How do I get my Nikon product serviced?
URL: http://support.nikontech.com/cgi-bi...

Sep 12, 2011 by

NikonStaff

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June 2008, Nikon COOLPIX L18 Review