Nikon's electronic Vibration Reduction takes camera movement data from an internal angular velocity sensor and applies in-camera image processing to clear up what would otherwise be blurred images. That all boils down to being able to take sharp photos in poor lighting or from slightly unsteady positions and so on. Vibration reduction can be switched on or off in the Settings menu. The new Nikon EXPEED processor seems to manage velocity data quite well and we manged to get a high percentage of sharp, richly and accurately colored photos during the review period.

I tossed the Nikon Coolpix P50 into my trusty shoulder bag and hauled it around for a week of business prowling around various properties in Toronto. I used the camera to take photos of everything from potholes in the roads, to pigeons in the parks, ice fog along the lakeshore and the glass and steel reflections in urban office building canyons. The P50 performed quite well. I found that using faster SDHC memory cards improved shot-to-shot times and that even under heavy load, battery life was acceptable. I was able to squeeze the rated 140 photos out of a pair of Energizer 2500 mAH NiMH batteries and then managed another 30 photos before having to recharge. Not great, but also not bad at all. Carry spare rechargeables.

Cons: The molded rubber grip insert works extremely well, but it's not the exact size of the recess in the body which leaves a small gap than can collect dirt and grime. The Help system in the menus is not particularly useful because it doesn't offer any detailed explanations. Set the Auto Focus Area Mode to Manual (which means you can use the control wheel to move a focus reticule on the LCD to the object/subject of choice before shooting) then take a picture or change modes—the reticule disappears. You have to press the OK button on the control wheel to re-display the reticule—not intuitive. ISO 2000 capability is largely useless, but may salvage the occasional shot. Nikon and its competitors make valiant attempts at trying to turn point & shoot cameras into wide-ranging powerhouses, but the fact remains that small cameras such as the P50 operate best in average or better lighting conditions which allow ISOs to stay below 400.

Pros: The Nikon Coolpix P50 provides above average auto White Balance and a wide variety of scene modes which makes the majority of snap shooting easy. Uses AA batteries which we think are ideal for small cameras. Uses regular SD memory cards or the newer SDHC memory cards. The new EXPEED image processing engine is terrific, helping to make good pictures out of shooting environments which only a short while ago would have been a complete write-off. Nikon's electronic VR works well in the P50 and offers lots of opportunities to take sharper pictures in low light and at slow shutter settings. Image quality is good to very good, depending on subject matter and light, and offers strong competition for that other well-known camera company. Well chosen zoom range coupled with a good quality small lens amounts to a versatile camera. Amateurs, enthusiasts, hobbyists and pros might want to consider the Nikon P50 for use as a handy snapshooter during casual situations in which hauling out the big gear is just too much bother or simply inappropriate. For everyone else, the P50 works perfectly and could become the only camera you'll ever need for events, family outings, business and travel. Good construction, with a solid, grippy feel, makes taking pictures more enjoyable. Very good value. Highly recommended.