Recording Features
Play, Edit and Print Functions
Battery Information
Inputs and Outputs Notes
Supplied Software
Recording
Features
3.2" Vari-angle LCD Monitor: The Nikon Coolpix P520
has a 3.2" Ultra-High resolution, Vari-angle LCD monitor featuring
approximately 921,000 dots, an anti-reflection coating and a five-level
brightness adjustment. The angle of the monitor can be rotated up to 270° for
better viewing when holding the camera at high or low shooting positions. The
LCD monitor has approximately 100% horizontal and vertical coverage in both
shooting and playback modes.
Electronic Viewfinder: In addition to the 3.2" LCD monitor,
the camera has a 0.5" Electronic Viewfinder with approximately 210,000 dots, and
approximately 100% horizontal and vertical coverage in both shooting and
playback modes. The EVF has a diopter adjustment to allow you to set the image
to your eyesight.
Image Sensor: The Coolpix P520 features a
1/2.3" CMOS image sensor with approximately
18.91-million total pixels and 18.1-million effective pixels.
Recording Media: Images can be recorded onto SD, SDHC, or
SDXC Memory cards. When an SD Memory card is inserted in the camera, the images
are automatically recorded onto the card. When no card is inserted, the images
automatically record to the internal memory. The camera can support 2 GB SD
cards, SDHC cards from 4 GB to 32 GB, and SDXC cards of 48 GB to 128 GB. In
addition, the camera is compatible with Eye-Fi cards.
Built-in Memory: The camera has a built-in 15 MB internal
memory for storing still images and movies with sound when no SD card is
inserted in the camera.
Optics: The Coolpix P520 digital camera uses a 42x Zoom-NIKKOR glass lens for superb image
quality. Every aspect of the lens manufacturing process is controlled by Nikon.
The Zoom-NIKKOR lens is designed for the specific camera and image sensor combination.
The lens has a focal length of 4.3-180mm that is equivalent
to a 24-1000mm lens in 35mm photography. Coupled with the 2x digital zoom, the
camera's total zoom capability is 84x. The angle of view is equivalent up to a
2000mm lens (35mm format).
Zoom Memory: When the zoom control is operated, the zoom
stops at the following preset focal lengths: 24mm, 28mm, 35mm, 50mm, 85mm,
105mm, 135mm, 200mm, 300mm, 400mm, 500mm, 600mm, 800mm, and 1000mm.
The function is similar to having 14 different prime lenses on a D-SLR camera.
You can select any or all of the presets in the menu. (Zoom Memory is only
available in the P, S, A, M, or U shooting modes.) You can set the camera to a
specific Startup Zoom Position in advance.
Vibration Reduction: The Coolpix P520 offers Vibration Reduction (VR)
image stabilization to reduce blurring caused by camera shake when shooting. The
camera automatically detects the panning direction (horizontally or vertically)
and compensates for camera shake by
shifting the lens.
Motion Detection: Motion Detection automatically
detects moving subjects and adjusts the shutter speed and the ISO setting to
compensate for camera shake and subject movement.
Optional Wi-Fi: You can attach the optional
WU-1a Wireless Mobile Adapter to the USB/AV connector. This will allows the
camera to be connected via Wi-Fi (wireless LAN) to a smart device, such as a
smartphone or tablet. Through the wireless connection (IEEE 802.11b/g/n), you
can automatically load photos and videos to your device as you take them, use
your smart device to remotely take photos on the camera, or download existing
pictures from the camera's memory card to your device. Once you have downloaded
images to your smartphone, you can share them via email, texts, or social
networking sites.
Note: The smart device must have the Wireless Mobile
Adapter Utility application, available for devices running Android 2.3 or
later (smartphones), Android 3.0 or later (tablets), or iOS 6.0 or later
(iPhone, iPad).
GPS: The camera's built-in GPS records location data with
each shot you take, allowing you to follow the path of your trip along the way.
A log of your trip can be created and displayed on a map, using the location
data recorded by the camera at regular intervals. Your photos can be displayed
on a map, showing precisely where the pictures were taken.
File Formats: The Coolpix P520 records still images in JPEG
format. 3D photos are stored in MPO format. HD and SD movies are recorded in MOV
format (Video: MPEG-4 AVC/H.264, Audio: AAC stereo). You can choose Fine (1:4)
or Normal (1:8) compression ratios for still images. There are nine still image size options and
nine movie options:
- Still Images:
- 18M: 4896 x 3672
- 8M: 3264 x 2448
- 4M: 2272 x 1704
- 2M: 1600 x 1200
- VGA: 640 x 480
- 16:9 13M: 4864 x 2736
- 16:9 2M: 1920 x 1080
- 3:2: 4896 x 3264
- 1:1: 3672 x 3672
- Movies:
- HD 1080/30p: 1920 x 1080 (30 fps) (Bit rate: 18.8 Mbps)
- HD 1080/30p: 1920 x 1080 (30 fps) (Bit rate: 12.6 Mbps)
- HD 1080/60i: 1920 x 1080 (60 fps) (Bit rate: 18.8 Mbps)
- HD 720p: 1280 x 720 (30 fps) (Bit rate: 8.4 Mbps)
- iFrame 540: 960 x 540 (30 fps) (Bit rate: 20.8 Mbps)
- VGA: 640 x 480 (30 fps) (Bit rate: 2.9 Mbps)
- HS Movies:
- HS 480/4x (640 x 480): 1/4x speed playback (record up to 7 min 15
sec; playback 29 min)
- HS 720/2x (1280 x 720): 1/2x speed playback (record up to 14 min
30 sec; playback 29 min)
- HS 1080/0.5x (1920 x 1080): 2x speed playback (record up to 29
min; playback 14 min 30 sec)
3D Photography: The Coolpix P520 can record 3D pictures
viewable on a 3D-compatible TV or monitor. The camera takes one picture for each
eye to simulate a three-dimensional image. After the first picture is taken
using the shutter release, you must move the camera horizontally to the right
and align it with the guide on the monitor. The camera then takes the second
picture automatically. Pictures taken in this mode are saved in MPO format with
Normal image compression, and 1920 x 1080 image size.
Shooting Modes: Using the top-mounted Mode Dial, you can choose one of the following shooting modes:
- Auto Mode: This is an automatic "point-and-shoot" mode
recommended for first-time users of digital cameras.
- Programmed Auto Mode: The Programmed Auto Mode is a
simple point-and-shoot mode in which the majority of camera settings are
controlled by the camera. The camera will automatically set the shutter
speed and aperture. This mode is recommended for most situations.
- Shutter-Priority Auto Mode: The Shutter-Priority Auto
Mode allows you to choose the shutter speed and lets the camera select the
aperture value for best results when freezing or blurring motion.
- Aperture-Priority Auto Mode: The Aperture-Priority Auto
Mode allows you to choose the aperture value and lets the camera select
shutter speed for best results when using to blur background or bring both
foreground and background into focus.
- Manual Mode: The Manual Mode allows you to control
exposure by adjusting the shutter speed and aperture manually. You can set
the camera's shutter speed from 1/4,000 to 8 seconds and adjust the
aperture value between f/3 and f/8.3 (W) and f/5.9 and f/8.3 (T).
- User Setting Mode: Settings that are frequently used
for P, S, A, and M shooting modes can be saved in the User Setting Mode. The
saved settings can be immediately retrieved for shooting by simply rotating
the mode dial to "U".
- Special Effects: Lets you apply special effects during
shooting. Choose from: Soft, Nostalgic sepia, High-contrast monochrome, High
key, or Low key.
- Night Landscape: For capturing the atmosphere of night
landscapes. You can choose between hand-held and tripod settings.
- Landscape: Enables you to shoot a sharp landscape with
a wide depth of field. You can choose between a Noise Reduction burst and a
single shot.
- Backlighting: Lets you shoot subjects with strong
backlighting with high dynamic range.
- Scene Mode: You can manually or automatically select
one of 18
scene modes with settings optimized for the shooting situation. Available
scene modes include: Portrait, Sports, Night Portrait,
Party/indoor, Beach, Snow, Sunset, Dusk/dawn, Close-up, Food, Museum,
Fireworks show, Black and white copy, Panorama, Pet portrait,
3D photography, and Scene Auto Selector.
Continuous Shooting: In the P, S, A, M, or U shooting modes,
you can select in the menu from the following single or continuous shooting options:
- Single: One image is shot each time the shutter-release
button is pressed.
- Continuous H: Up to 7 pictures are shot at a rate of
about 7 frames per second each time the shutter button is held down. Image
size is set to 18M: 4896 x 3672 pixels.
- Continuous L: Up to 30 pictures are shot at a rate of
about 1 frame per second each time the shutter button is held down. Image
size is set to 18M: 4896 x 3672 pixels.
- Pre-shooting Cache: To avoid missing a shot, the
pre-shooting cache begins when the shutter-release button is pressed
halfway, and continues when the button is pressed all the way. Frame rate is
up to 15 fps. Up to 20
frames are captured, including up to 5 frames captured in the pre-shooting
cache. Image size is fixed at 3M: 2048 x 1536.
- Continuous H 120 fps: Each time the shutter-release
button, 60 frames are captured at a speed of about 1/125 sec or faster.
Image size is fixed at VGA 640 x 480.
- Continuous H 60 fps: Each time the shutter-release
button, 60 frames are captured at a speed of about 1/60 sec or faster. Image
size is fixed at 1M 1280 x 960.
- Best Shot Selector: Camera captures up to 10 images while the
shutter release is held down, and the sharpest image in the series is
selected and saved.
- Multi-shot 16: Camera takes 16 shots at about 30 fps and arranges
them in a single image of 5M: 2560 x 1920.
- Interval Shooting: The camera shoots still images
automatically at a set interval. You can choose from 30 seconds, 1 minute, 5 minutes,
or 10 minutes.
Self-timer: The camera is equipped with a 10 second and
2 second timer for self-portraits. In addition, the camera can use face
detection to detect human faces, and automatically release the shutter when a
smile is detected (Smile Timer).
AF Area Mode: You can select between the following AF Area
Modes to determine how the camera selects the focus area for Auto Focus:
- Face Priority: When the camera recognizes a face (front
view only), the camera will focus on the face automatically.
- Auto: The camera
automatically selects the focus area (up to 9) containing the subject closest
to the camera.
- Manual: You can manually select one of 99 focus areas
in the monitor. This method is handy when the intended subject is not
positioned in the center of the frame, and is relatively still.
- Center: The camera focuses on the subject in the center
of the frame. You can choose from a normal or wide Center frame.
- Subject Tracking: Once you select a subject to focus
on, the focus area will move and follow the subject.
- Target Finding AF: The camera will adjust the focus on
what it determines to be the main subject. If no main subject is detected,
it automatically selects the subject closest to the camera as the subject.
Focus Modes: You can choose a focus mode according to the
subject and composition. The choices include:
- Auto Focus: Camera automatically adjusts the focus. Focusing
distances: 1' to infinity (W), 1'-8" to infinity (T).
- Macro Closeup: Macro mode is used for taking pictures
of objects as close as 0.4"
- Infinity: For use when shooting distant scenes through window
glass or when shooting landscapes.
- Manual Focus: The focus can be adjusted for any subject
0.4" to
infinity from the lens. The rotary multi-selector is used to adjust the
focus while viewing the image on the monitor. (Only available in certain
shooting modes.)
Focus Lock: The Focus Lock
feature is used to focus on off-centered subjects in the frame while shooting in
Center AF mode.
AF-Assist Illuminator: If lighting is poor, the AF-assist
illuminator may light to assist the focus operation when the shutter-release
button is pressed halfway. The illuminator has a range of about 13' at the maximum
wide-angle position and 7'-2" at the
maximum telephoto position. You can turn this function on or off.
Blink Warning Function: The Blink Warning function is
available when you are shooting in Face Priority mode. When the camera detects
that one or more human subjects may have blinked, the blink warning screen is
displayed. The subject is framed by a yellow border, allowing you to check the
picture and decide whether or not to take another picture.
Exposure
Compensation: You can alter the exposure from the value suggested by the
camera, making pictures brighter or darker. You can adjust the exposure from
-2.0 to +2.0 EV in 1/3 EV steps, using a rotary dial on the top of the camera.
Exposure Bracketing: The exposure can be changed
automatically during continuous shooting. With Exposure Bracketing, the camera
takes three images, one at the set exposure, one overexposed, and one
underexposed. You can set the compensation interval to +/-0.3, +/-0.7, or +/-1.0
ISO Settings: Sensitivity is
the measure of how quickly the camera reacts to light. The higher the
sensitivity, the less light needed to make an exposure. The camera features the
following ISO settings:
- Auto: Sensitivity is set to ISO 80 when there is sufficient
lighting, and raises the sensitivity to a maximum of ISO 1600 when lighting
is dim.
- Fixed Range Auto: Select from two ranges in which the
camera automatically sets the sensitivity: ISO 80-400 or ISO 80-800.
- Manual: Sensitivity is locked at the set value: ISO 80,
200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200, Hi 1 (equivalent to ISO 6400).
White Balance:
You can set the White Balance to Auto Normal, Auto Warm, Daylight,
Incandescent, Fluorescent (FL1 to FL3), Cloudy, or Flash. You can also choose
Preset Manual and use a neutral-colored object as a reference to set the white
balance under unusual lighting conditions.
Built-in Flash: The Coolpix P520 has a built-in pop-up flash with a range of
1'-8" to 26' (Wide angle) and 5' to 14' (Telephoto). You can choose from the following flash modes:
-
Auto: Flash fires automatically when lighting is poor.
-
Auto with Red-eye Reduction: Pre-flash fires before main flash to reduce
red-eye effect.
-
Fill Flash: Flash will fire whenever a picture is taken.
-
Slow Sync: Auto flash combined with slow shutter speeds.
-
Rear Curtain Sync: Fill flash fires just before the shutter closes,
creating the effect of a stream of light behind moving objects.
In-Camera Red-Eye Fix: If the camera detects red-eye after the pre-flash has fired, advanced
red-eye reduction processing is used to further reduce red-eye, slightly
increasing the time required before the next picture can be taken.
AF Modes: When shooting still images or movies you can choose between two auto-focus modes:
- Single AF: The camera focuses when the shutter-release button is pressed
halfway and locks at this position during recording.
- Full-time
AF: The camera constantly adjusts focus, even when the
shutter-release button is not pressed.
Voice Recording: Audio voice memos for pictures can be recorded over
the camera's built-in microphone and played back over the unit's built-in
speaker. Memos can be up to 20 seconds in length. Memos are saved as WAV files.
Play, Edit and Print Functions
Slide
Show Playback: View pictures in the internal memory or on the memory card in an
automatic slide show with 2, 3, 5, or 10 seconds between pictures. If
desired, you can loop the slideshow so it will continuously play. Maximum
slide show duration is 30 minutes without operation.
Thumbnail Playback: During playback, you can view multiple thumbnail images
(4, 9, 16, or 72) at a time.
While these "contact sheets" are displayed, you can use the multi-selector to
highlight individual pictures. Highlighted pictures can be deleted, if desired.
Calendar Display: This feature displays a calendar allowing
you to select and view pictures taken on the same date.
Playback Zoom: During playback,
you can enlarge a still image up to 10x. Once the image is zoomed, you can use the
multi-selector to scroll around to non-visible portions of the image. You can
record a new picture of the cropped image by pressing the shutter button.
Rotate Image: Recorded pictures
can be rotated 90-degrees clockwise or counter-clockwise on the unit's LCD
screen.
Editing Picture: You can use the Coolpix P520 to edit
recorded pictures in-camera and store them as separate files. You can choose
from the following editing functions:
- Quick Retouch: Quick Retouch can be used to easily
create retouched copies in which contrast and saturation have been enhanced.
- D-Lighting: D-Lighting can be used to brighten dark or backlit subjects. While playing back
an image, you can select the D-Lighting function, apply it, and save the
corrected image without harming the properly exposed areas of the image.
- Skin Softening: The camera recognizes faces in pictures
and creates a copy with softer facial skin tones.
- Filter Effects: You can apply the following digital
filter effects: Soft, Selective Color, Cross Screen, Fisheye, Miniature
Effect, Painting, and Vignette.
- Resizing Pictures (Small Picture): You can create a
small copy of a recorded image. The copy will be stored as a JPEG file with
a compression ratio of 1:16. You can choose from the following sizes: 640 x
480 (suited to television playback), 320 x 240 (suited to display on web
pages), or 160 x 120 (suitable for email attachments).
- Crop: Creates a copy containing only a portion visible
on the monitor.
Multi-Language Menu: You can
choose from 34 different menu display languages including English,
Spanish and French.
Printing Pictures: You can print pictures stored in the internal memory or on the memory card by
using the Print Set option in the playback menu. Using DPOF (Digital Print Order
Form), you can designate which images to print, and how many copies to print.
Pictures can be printed as followed:
- Printer
or Photo Lab: insert the memory card into a printer, or take the memory
card to a digital photo lab (images stored in the internal
memory need to be transferred to a memory card prior to printing).
- PictBridge-compatible Printer: connect the camera to a PictBridge-compatible
printer via USB cable
- Transferring to Computer: transfer the images to a computer before
printing them via USB
Battery Information
Power Requirements: The Coolpix P520 is powered by a supplied rechargeable Lithium-Ion battery (EN-EL5).
The battery is charged using the supplied EH-69P Charging AC adapter. The supplied rechargeable battery will
last up to approximately 200 shots on one charge. A fully-exhausted battery
charges in about 4.5 hours using the supplied EH-69P Charging AC Adapter, or 2.5
hours using the optional
MH-61 Battery Charger. You can also charge the battery in the camera when it
is connected to a computer via USB.
Auto Off: When the camera is operated on battery power, the
Auto Off mode will automatically turn off the monitor to reduce the drain on the
batteries if no operations are performed for the length of time specified in the
Auto Off menu. The time limit for the Auto Off mode can be set to 30 seconds, 1
minute, 5 minutes or 30 minutes.
Inputs and Outputs Notes
HDMI: The Coolpix P520 is equipped with a mini-HDMI (Type
C) output, allowing you to connect the camera to an HDTV. An optional
mini-HDMI-to-HDMI cable is required. The camera's HDMI output can be set to
Auto, 480p, 720p or 1080i.
USB/Audio-Video
Output: The camera features a single proprietary jack on the side of
the camera for connecting the supplied AV (EG-CP16) cable or USB cable (UC-E6). This one output allows you
to download your photos to your computer or printer via USB using the supplied
USB cable, or view your photos
on a TV using the supplied AV cable. The USB interface is USB 2.0 Hi-Speed compatible. The video output is NTSC or PAL compatible.
Supplied Software
ViewNX 2 Software CD-ROM: The supplied ViewNX 2 CD-ROM
contains the following modules:
- Nikon Transfer 2: to copy (transfer) pictures from the
camera to the computer
- ViewNX 2: for viewing, editing, and printing your
transferred images
- Nikon Movie Editor: for basic editing of transferred
movies
- Panorama Maker: for
creating a single panoramic image from a series of images shot in panorama
assist scene mode
System Requirements: The supplied software will work with
the following Operating Systems:
- Windows: Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows
XP
- Mac: OS X 10.6, 10.7, 10.8
