Nikon Coolpix L340: Full Review

The Nikon Coolpix L340 is a budget-friendly bridge camera designed for novice photographers looking for an affordable option with ample zoom range. It features a 20.2MP CCD sensor and a wide-angle 28x optical zoom lens with focal length equivalent to 22.5-630mm.

Key specs include:

• 20.2MP 1/2.3" CCD sensor
• NIKKOR 28x optical zoom lens (22.5-630mm equivalent)
• 3" 460k-dot LCD screen
• 720p HD video recording
• ISO 80-1600
• Automatic scene selection
• AA batteries (not included)

While it lacks some of the features and performance of higher-end models, the L340 provides a solid set of capabilities for casual photography and videography at an affordable price point. Its expansive zoom range offers great versatility when shooting landscapes, portraits, sports, wildlife and more. We'll take a closer look at how this budget superzoom performs across various aspects in the sections below.

Design and Build Quality

The Coolpix L340 has a lightweight plastic body that feels relatively sturdy despite its budget price point. It weighs around 430g with batteries, making it easy to carry around for extended shooting periods. The handgrip is small but textured, allowing for a decent hold.

The buttons are generally well-placed for easy operation. There is a dedicated video recording button, and the zoom toggle surrounds the shutter release for convenient zooming while shooting. The mode dial provides quick access to frequently used shooting modes.

While the Coolpix L340 may not have a premium build, it should hold up well for typical real-world use. The plastic construction keeps it affordable while still providing reasonable durability. The size strikes a nice balance between portability and handling.

Another noteworthy model from Nikon is the Nikon COOLPIX L28, which is known for its user-friendly design and compact size. It features a 20.1-megapixel sensor and a 5x optical zoom lens, making it an excellent choice for casual photographers. The L28 is lightweight and easy to operate, making it a great option for those who want a simple yet effective camera for capturing everyday moments. Despite its simplicity, it offers a range of shooting modes and is powered by AA batteries, ensuring you can easily keep it running wherever you go.

Image Quality

The Coolpix L340 features a 20.2MP 1/2.3-inch CCD sensor, which produces images with reasonably good detail despite the high megapixel count. While it won't match the quality of a DSLR, the sensor delivers sharp images with good color reproduction in bright lighting conditions.

The maximum ISO is 1600, allowing you to shoot in dim conditions. Noise becomes more apparent at higher ISOs, but photos are very usable through ISO 800. The camera does a decent job controlling noise reduction, finding a good balance between noise and fine detail.

The 28-672mm lens has a maximum aperture range of f/3.1-5.9, which is fairly standard for a superzoom camera. This allows enough light for most daytime situations, but isn't ideal for low light photography without flash. The lens produces reasonably sharp images when zoomed out, with more softness present at the full telephoto end.

Overall, the L340 captures nice looking photos for a budget superzoom. While not a standout in terms of dynamic range or low light capabilities, the image quality is very solid for everyday shooting and outdoor photography. The high resolution sensor allows for larger prints if desired.

For those seeking a more advanced camera, the Nikon D500 is an excellent choice. It features a 20.9MP DX-format CMOS sensor and EXPEED 5 image processor, providing superior image quality and speed. With an impressive ISO range up to 51200 (expandable to 1640000), the D500 excels in low light conditions. Additionally, it offers 4K UHD video recording, a 153-point autofocus system, and a weather-sealed body, making it a versatile and durable option for both professional and enthusiast photographers.

Zoom Capabilities

The Coolpix L340 has a very versatile zoom range thanks to its 28x optical zoom lens, which provides a 35mm equivalent focal range of 22.5-630mm. This allows you to capture wide landscape shots as well as get very close to distant subjects. The optical zoom ensures images stay sharp when zooming in, versus digital zoom which can decrease image quality.

For even more reach, the L340 offers 56x Dynamic Fine Zoom, combining optical zoom and intelligent digital zoom while minimizing loss of image quality. The lens-shift vibration reduction (VR) image stabilization provides up to four stops of camera shake correction for sharper handheld shots and videos, especially helpful when fully zoomed in. Overall, the extensive zoom range gives great flexibility for different types of photography and filming needs.

Video Recording

The Coolpix L340 can record full HD 1080p video at 30 frames per second. It also offers 720p HD video at up to 60 fps. Videos are recorded in MOV file format with H.264 compression. The camera has a built-in mono microphone that can record audio when capturing videos. However, there is no external microphone input, so you are limited to the quality of the on-board mic. Overall, the video capabilities are decent for a budget point and shoot camera, but serious videographers may want more control and higher quality recording options. The optical zoom can be used while recording video which allows you to get closer to subjects without loss of quality, a nice feature for this class of camera. The autofocus does work during video recording but can be slow to react at times.

Autofocus and Shooting Speed

The Nikon Coolpix L340 has decent autofocus capabilities for a budget camera. It offers autofocus modes like face priority, manual focus, center, subject tracking and target finding AF.

Face priority mode is handy for portraits and prioritizes focus on detected faces. Subject tracking AF allows you to select a subject to stay in focus even if they move around the frame.

In terms of speed, the autofocus is relatively quick in good lighting but can struggle in low light conditions. The camera has a burst mode that allows shooting at around 1.2 frames per second, which is decent but not as fast as higher-end cameras.

The shutter lag is minimal at around 0.3 seconds which is good. Overall, the autofocus and burst shooting speed are decent for casual shooting and should meet the needs of most beginner photographers. However, it lacks the performance needed for fast action photography.

Display and Viewfinder

The Nikon Coolpix L340 features a 3-inch TFT LCD display with 460k dots of resolution. This provides a decent level of clarity and visibility for previewing shots and navigating the menus and settings.

The screen is fixed and lacks touch capabilities. It can tilt up to 85 degrees up and down to allow for overhead shots or shooting at waist level, but it does not flip out or rotate.

There is no electronic viewfinder on this model. The L340 relies solely on its rear LCD for image composition and review. This is typical for lower-cost superzoom cameras.

The lack of an electronic viewfinder may make the camera harder to use in very bright sunlight. The LCD can be tougher to view on bright days. But the screen is fairly bright with anti-reflective coating to help maximize visibility.

Overall the display and viewfinder are basic but get the job done. For the price point, having a fixed 3-inch LCD without a viewfinder is standard. More expensive superzooms upgrade to tilting/rotating screens, larger displays, and electronic viewfinders.

Connectivity and Additional Features

The Nikon Coolpix L340 offers several useful connectivity and additional features. For wireless connectivity, it has built-in Wi-Fi and NFC technology. The Wi-Fi allows you to transfer images wirelessly to a compatible smartphone or tablet using the Nikon SnapBridge app. NFC makes the Wi-Fi pairing process fast and seamless.

In terms of wired connectivity, the L340 has a micro USB port for charging and connecting to a computer. It also supports an optional remote control accessory for remotely triggering the shutter.

For location tagging, the camera has a built-in GPS that automatically geotags your images with the location coordinates. This allows you to view the capture locations directly on a map when using compatible software.

Power comes from a rechargeable lithium-ion battery that provides up to 370 shots per charge. Battery life is decent but could be better for an extended day of shooting. Using Wi-Fi and GPS does drain the battery faster.

Some other handy features include Creative Effects like selective color and miniature effect, as well as Short Movie Show that combines still images into a fun video. The camera also has built-in lens-shift vibration reduction to help minimize blur from camera shake when shooting handheld.

Pros and Cons

The Nikon Coolpix L340 has several pros that make it a compelling choice:

• Powerful 28x optical zoom gets you close to the action
• 20MP sensor captures detailed images
• Large 3-inch LCD makes framing and reviewing shots easy
• Full HD 1080p video with stereo sound
• Easy-to-use menu system and controls
• Good value for the price

However, there are some downsides to consider:

• No manual exposure controls
• Sluggish autofocus system struggles in low light
• High ISO performance is only average
• No RAW image capture
• No external mic input for video
• No wireless connectivity options

Overall, the L340 is a user-friendly superzoom camera that packs an impressive zoom range into an affordable package. Casual photographers will appreciate the point-and-shoot simplicity and excellent zoom reach. However, more advanced users may be frustrated by the lack of manual controls and performance issues in low light. Still, at this price point, the L340 is a compelling choice for those seeking an all-in-one camera with mega zoom capabilities without breaking the bank.

Conclusion

Overall, the Nikon Coolpix L340 is a solid budget superzoom camera that offers great value for the price. Its 28x optical zoom lens provides an extremely versatile focal range, allowing you to capture wide landscapes and get very close to distant subjects. Image quality is decent though limited by the small 1/2.3" sensor size. The camera produces nice colors and sharpness in good lighting, but low light performance is just average.

Video quality is only 720p resolution, but optical zoom can be used while filming which is a nice feature. Autofocus and shooting speeds are quite slow, so this isn't the best choice for action photography. The camera body has a lightweight plastic build that feels a bit cheap but allows it to remain compact and portable. Connectivity options are basic but include WiFi for wireless image transfer.

At around $150, the Coolpix L340 is an affordable way to get an expansive zoom range in a compact point-and-shoot. It's easy to use and capable of producing pleasing photos and videos in optimal conditions. Just don't expect top-tier image quality or performance. Overall it's a great value pick for casual photographers looking for high zoom capabilities without the bulk and expense of a DSLR.