1. Home
  2. News
  3. 2003

Nikon COOLPIX 5400

May 28, 2003

TOKYO -- Nikon Corporation is pleased to announce the introduction of the COOLPIX 5400 Digital Camera.

Positioned the top of Nikon's COOLPIX lineup, the COOLPIX 5400 is a compact, lightweight digital still camera with 5.1 effective megapixels and a powerful 4x zoom lens. It delivers superior image quality -- the hallmark of Nikon products -- and features advanced ergonomics which greatly enhance operational ease and comfort.

The camera targets primarily users who demand the same degree of creative capability afforded by an SLR, will settle for nothing less than the best digital camera on the market, and will not compromise when it comes to image quality. The COOLPIX 5400 also suits film-camera users who wish to take advantage of the impressive array of accessories available, to further extend their photographic potential. Any user in search of an extremely versatile, high-quality digital still camera will find the COOLPIX 5400 to be an exciting camera loaded with possibilities.

Nikon's newly developed 4x Zoom-Nikkor lens, with its professional-quality 5.8-24mm (equivalent to 28-116mm in 35mm [135] camera format) focal range, offers outstanding optical performance thanks to the incorporation of an ED (Extra-low Dispersion) lens element to minimize chromatic aberration, and two ASP (ashperical) lenses for reduced distortion. Combined with the COOLPIX 5400's 5.1 effective megapixels, they virtually ensure remarkably clear, colorful images with excellent contrast.

Nikon has equipped the COOLPIX 5400 with the all-new, highly functional Mode dial, which allows users to directly select exposure modes and set various shooting parameters. The Mode dial works in conjunction with the Command dial and the center-click Multi selector to make camera setting a surprisingly simple task -- giving users the freedom to focus on capturing the images they want.

The camera incorporates four exposure modes: Programmed Auto [P], Shutter-Priority Auto [S], Aperture-Priority Auto [A] and Manual [M] combine to give you the greatest degree of creative control possible. The COOLPIX 5400 also offers [AUTO] mode, in which the camera automatically performs settings and gives users high-quality point-and-shoot capability. And for striking images in practically any situation, the new COOLPIX features 15 versatile [SCENE] Modes -- simply select the mode appropriate for the prevailing conditions, and characteristics such as exposure, focus, flash, contrast, sensitivity and white balance are automatically adjusted by the camera.

The COOLPIX 5400 features many advanced digital controls -- the new AE-BSS (Auto Exposure-Best Shot Selector) mode, Noise Reduction mode, Saturation Control and White Balance Bracketing among them -- which are highly valuable in obtaining optimum image quality. Multiple capture modes receive considerable support from the large 64MB buffer memory which enables the capture of up to 7 full-size (2,592 x 1,944-pixel) pictures at 3 frames per second (fps). To help ensure you don’t miss those unexpected or fleeting moments, the COOLPIX 5400 incorporates the new 5 shot buffer mode. And the versatility of the camera is further enhanced by handy, innovative features such as movies with audio and the new Time-lapse movie mode, ideal for observational recording.

The newest member of the COOLPIX family offers increased visibility even during daylight photography thanks to the new highly transmissible Vari-angle LCD monitor. And the compact, lightweight magnesium alloy body has been designed for maximum durability and portability, and affords a secure, comfortable grip for stability during shooting.

All essential accessories are supplied with the COOLPIX 5400 -- a battery and charger, a CompactFlash™ Card, an A/V cable, a USB cable and the comprehensive Nikon View software package. The camera is also compatible with a host of optional accessories, including wideangle and telephoto converters and a newly designed fisheye converter. And the COOLPIX 5400's accessory shoe accommodates a number of Nikon's external Speedlights.

This incredible collection of features and assortment of quality accessories help make the COOLPIX 5400 a truly special achievement in digital photography.

  • Note: Specifications, design, product name and standard accessories may differ by country or area.

Nikon COOLPIX 5400 Feature Highlights

Nikon-quality images
The COOLPIX 5400's professional-quality 4x Zoom-Nikkor lens offers a 28-116mm focal range (35mm [135] format equivalent), an ED (Extra-low Dispersion) glass element that minimizes chromatic aberration, and aspherical lens elements that maximize optical performance throughout the entire zoom range. They work in harmony with the camera's 5.1 effective megapixels to deliver unbelievably crisp, clear, highly defined images at up to 2,592 x 1,944 pixels.
Precise white balance and superb color rendering are ensured by Nikon's advanced image processing technology.
And you can enjoy the magnificent image quality in prints as large as A3 (297 x 420mm) size.
Amazing creative potential

The COOLPIX 5400 offers four exposure modes -- Programmed Auto [P], Shutter-Priority Auto [S], Aperture-Priority Auto [A], and Manual [M] -- all selectable using the new Mode dial. And for automatic adjustment of exposure, white balance and various other camera settings, there's AUTO mode for simple point-and-shoot photography, and 15 programmed Scene Modes that deliver optimal results in a variety of shooting conditions.
For enhanced creative control, the newly adapted AE-BSS mode automatically selects the image with the best relative exposure from a series of 5 consecutive shots by analyzing the tonal range and gradation of each image. Among the many shooting modes offered by by the COOLPIX 5400 is the new 5 shot buffer mode, which gives you the power to capture moments you might otherwise have missed. And the large 64MB buffer memory supports all shooting modes, including movies with audio (VGA, 640 x 480 pixels*) and the all-new Time-lapse movie mode.
The camera's built-in Speedlight, which fires automatically when ambient light is insufficient, features the new Rear-Curtain Sync mode, as well as Repeating Flash capability, making it extremely versatile.

  • *Vertical interpolation is employed.
Innovations enhance operational simplicity
The camera's Mode dial, a new COOLPIX feature, enables direct setting of a variety of options and controls, and is the ideal complement to the Command dial and the center-click Multi selector. Customizable menus let you create original menus displaying only the contents that you want. The body of the COOLPIX 5400 is designed for comfort and stability while shooting, and is so stylish you won’t want to be without it.
And for better visibility even when shooting in bright daylight, the COOLPIX 5400 features a newly developed, highly transmissible Vari-angle LCD monitor.
Unrivaled system compatibility
The COOLPIX 5400 is compatible with a great many quality accessories, including the Wideangle Converter WC-E80, the 1.5x Telephoto Converter TC-E15ED, the new Fisheye Converter FC-E9, Remote Cord MC-EU1, and a Lens Hood HN-CP10, to which a lens filter can be attached. And the COOLPIX 5400's accessory shoe accommodates a broad range of Nikon's high-quality external SB-series Speedlights for even more flexibility in flash photography.
Nikon View Software
The supplied Nikon View Software allows users to browse uploaded images in thumbnail format (for a comprehensive view) or in an enlarged format (for closer inspection). The software also allows users to adjust color balance, change the size of images for e-mailing or web posting, run a slide show of selected images, print images directly, and eliminate red-eye effect with the touch of a button. Nikon View offers the features to satisfy professionals, the ease of use that makes it accessible to hobbyists, and the adaptability to serve in a diversity of commercial and industrial applications.

Nikon COOLPIX 5400 Major Features

  • 5.1 effective megapixels
  • High-quality 4x wideangle Zoom-Nikkor ED lens with focal range of 28-116mm (35mm [135] format equiv.) and 4x digital zoom
  • Nikon's updated, advanced image-processing algorithm on the system LSI for clear, crisp, color-accurate images
  • Continuous shooting of up to 7 full-size (2,592 x 1,944-pixel) pictures at 3 frames per second (fps)
  • Simplified ergonomics with new Mode dial, Command dial and center-click Multi selector offering intuitive, professional-grade operability
  • Quick response: instant startup, reduced shutter release time lag and fast image processing
  • 15 versatile preset Scene Modes
  • Programmed Auto [P], Shutter-Priority Auto [S], Aperture-Priority Auto [A] and Manual [M] exposure control modes
  • Stunning Macro shooting capability as close as 1cm (0.4 in.) supported by convenient Best Shot Selector (BSS) function
  • AE-BSS (Auto Exposure-BSS) for automatic selection of the best relative exposure -- choose from Highlight mode, Shadow mode and Histogram mode
  • Nikon's exclusive 256-segment Matrix Metering, complemented by Center-Weighted, Spot and Spot AF metering
  • Fast, accurate Five-Area Multi Autofocus operable via Multi selector for easier photo composition
  • Fast shutter speed of 1/4,000 sec. (available in all exposure modes) and max. 10 min. Long-time exposure modes (Bulb and Time)
  • Noise Reduction mode for long-time exposures
  • Saturation control (5 steps and B&W) for in-camera color control
  • New 5 shot buffer mode retains the last 5 shots when the shutter button is continually pressed and then released to ensure that an unexpected or fleeting moment won’t be missed
  • Movie with audio -- select TV movie mode (VGA, 640 x 480 pixels*) or Small movie mode (QVGA, 320 x 240 pixels)
  • New Time-lapse movie mode enables creation of Motion JPEG sequences to capture slow-moving or long-duration events
  • Rear-Curtain Sync for creative flash photography and Repeating Flash function for stroboscopic image capture
  • Accessory shoe to accommodate attachment of external Nikon SB-series Speedlights
  • Vari-angle highly transmissible advanced TFT-LCD monitor for greater visibility even in daylight
  • Tough, lightweight magnesium (Mg) alloy body featuring highly ergonomic design
  • Extended battery life of approx. 110 min. with Rechargeable Li-ion Battery EN-EL1
  • Superior system versatility, featuring compatibility with a wide range of COOLPIX converter lenses (Fisheye/Wideangle/Telephoto) and other accessories
  • Nikon View Software makes image viewing and management easier than ever
  • *Vertical interpolation is employed.

Nikon COOLPIX 5400 Specifications

Type Digital Camera E5400
Effective pixels 5.1 million
CCD 1/1.8-inch-type (total pixels: 5.26 million)
Image size 5M (2,592 x 1,944), 2M (1,600 x 1,200), 1M (1,280 x 960), PC (1,024 x 768), TV (640 x 480), 3:2 (2,592 x 1,728) selectable
Lens 4x Zoom-Nikkor; 5.8-24mm [35mm (135) format equivalent to 28-116mm] f/2.8-4.6 with macro; 9 elements in 8 groups (one ED lens and two aspherical lenses are used); all elements are made of environmentally friendly glass; Nikon Super Integrated Coating (SIC) applied
Digital zoom Up to 4x
Autofocus Contrast-detect TTL AF; 5-area Multi AF or Spot AF selectable
Focus modes 1) Continuous AF mode (when using LCD monitor),
2) Single AF (when not using LCD monitor and/or selectable from shooting menu),
3) Manual Focus (from 1cm [0.4 in.] to infinity (∞) with focus confirmation indication)
Focus range 50cm (19.7 in.) to infinity (∞);
1cm (0.4 in.) to infinity (∞) in Macro mode
Optical viewfinder Real-image zoom viewfinder; Diopter adjustment: -3 ~ +1m-1
LCD monitor 1.5-inch type, 134,000-dot highly transmissible advanced TFT-LCD (white LED backlight); brightness/hue adjustment; frame coverage: approx. 97% (Through, Freeze), 100% (Play)
Storage System: Exif 2.2 file (uncompressed TIFF-RGB or compressed JPEG), Design rule for camera file system (DCF), Digital Print Order Format (DPOF), QuickTime Motion JPEG (Movie, Audio)
Media: CF Card Type I/II, 512MB/1GB Microdrive™ Card
No. of frames with 16MB CF Card (approx.)
Image size 5M 2M 1M PC TV 3:2
Image quality
HI 1 - - - - 1
FINE 6 16 24 37 86 7
NORMAL 12 31 47 69 144 14
BASIC 24 59 86 121 229 27
Shooting modes AUTO, SCENE, P, S, A, M, MOVIE
Scene modes Portrait, Party/Indoor, Night Portrait, Beach/Snow, Landscape, Sunset, Night Landscape, Museum, Fireworks Show, Close Up, Copy, Back Light, Sports, Panorama Assist, and Dawn/Dusk
User setting 1) White balance, 2) (Exposure) Metering, 3) Continuous (Shooting), 4) Best Shot Selector (BSS/AE-BSS), 5) Image adjustment (Auto/Normal/More Contrast/Less Contrast), 6) Saturation control (-2 ~ +2/Black & White), 7) User setting (two combinations of mode setting can be memorized in #1-#2), 8) Image quality/size, 9) Sensitivity, 10) Image sharpening, 11) Lens, 12) Exposure options (AE Lock, Maximum Bulb/Time duration), 13) Focus options, 14) Zoom options, 15) Speedlight options, 16) Auto bracketing, 17) Noise reduction, 18) Reset, 19) My menu, 20) CF Card Format
Capture modes 1) Single,
2) Continuous H (3 fps; up to 7 frames),
3) Continuous L (1.5 fps; up to 18 frames),
4) Multi-shot 16 (consecutive 16 frames at 2 fps),
5) Ultra HS (high-speed) (QVGA-size images; 30 fps; number of frames selectable, up to 100 frames),
6) 5 shot buffer (1.5 fps),
7) Movie with audio: TV movie mode (VGA-size images, 640 x 480 pixels) at 15 fps; up to 70 sec., or Small movie mode (QVGA-size images, 320 x 240 pixels) at 15 fps; up to 180 sec. are selectable
8) Time-lapse movie mode
Exposure metering 4-mode TTL metering: 1) 256-segment Matrix, 2) Center-Weighted,
3) Spot, 4) AF Spot
Exposure control 1) Programmed Auto with Flexible Program [P], 2) Shutter-Priority Auto [S], 3) Aperture-Priority Auto [A], 4) Manual [M];
Exposure Compensation (±2 EV in 1/3 EV steps); Auto Exposure Bracketing (3 or 5 frames within ±2 EV); AE-BSS (three modes: Highlight, Shadow, Histogram)
Exposure range EV -1.0 ~ +18 (W), EV +0.5 ~ +18 (T)
Shutter Mechanical and charge-coupled electronic shutter; 1/4,000 (with minimum aperture) to 1 sec. in AUTO mode and Programmed Auto [P]; 1/4,000 to 8 sec. in Shutter-Priority Auto [S] and Aperture-Priority Auto [A], 1/4,000 to 8 sec. and Bulb/Time (up to 10 minutes) in Manual [M], 1/8,000 to 1/30 sec. in Ultra HS (high-speed) mode
Aperture 6-blade iris diaphragm; 10 steps in 1/3 EV increments
Sensitivity (approx.) ISO 50 equivalent; 100, 200, 400, and Auto (can be controlled in any exposure mode)
White balance 1) Matrix Auto White Balance with TTL control, 2) 6-mode Manual with fine tuning (Daylight/Incandescent/Fluorescent/Cloudy/Speedlight/Shade),
3) Preset, 4) White Balance Bracketing
Self-timer 10 sec. or 3 sec. duration
Built-in Speedlight Shooting range: approx. 0.5-4.5m (1.6-14.8 ft.) (W), approx. 0.5-2.8m (1.6-9.2 ft.) (T)
Flash modes: 1) Auto Flash, 2) Flash Cancel 3) Red Eye Reduction
4) Anytime Flash, 5) Night Portrait (Slow Sync. Flash), 6) Rear-Curtain Sync; Repeating Flash
External Speedlight Hotshoe connects to external Nikon Speedlight SB-80DX/50DX/30/27*/23*/22s; built-in Speedlight can be canceled when using external Speedlight(s)
Playback menu options 1) 1 frame, 2) Thumbnail (4/9 segments), 3) Slide show, 4) Movie with audio, 5) Enlarged playback (up to 6x); Shooting information;
Histogram indication and highlight point display; Hide and protect attributes can be set to each image; Focus confirmation indication
Interface USB interface
I/O terminal Power input; Audio/Video output (NTSC or PAL selectable); Digital terminal (USB/Remote Cord)
Power requirements One Rechargeable Li-ion Battery EN-EL1 (included), One 6V 2CR5 (or DL245) lithium battery (optional), AC Adapter (optional)
Battery life Approx. 110 min. when using LCD monitor and EN-EL1 battery at normal temperature (20°C [68°F])
Dimensions (W x H x D) 108 x 73 x 69mm (4.3 x 2.9 x 2.7 in.)
Weight Approx. 320g (11.3 oz.) (without battery and storage media)
Accessories included** Lens Cap, Camera Strap, AV Cable, 16MB CompactFlash™ Card, USB Cable UC-E1, Rechargeable Li-ion Battery EN-EL1, Battery Charger MH-53, Nikon View CD-ROM
Optional accessories Fisheye Converter FC-E9, Wideangle Converter WC-E80, Telephoto Converter TC-E15ED, Slide Copy Adapter ES-E28***, Step-Down Ring Lens Adapter UR-E9, UR-E10 and UR-E11, Lens Hood HN-CP10, AC Adapter/Battery Charger EH-21, AC Adapter EH-53, Car Battery Charger (12V DC in) MH-53C, Remote Cord MC-EU1, Soft Case CS-CP16
  • *Set “Speedlight control” to “Auto” or “Internal off” when using an SB-27 or SB-23
  • **Standard accessories may differ by country or area
  • ***Recommended for use with 1.1x digital zoom or higher

Nikon View System Requirements

Macintosh

OS Mac® OS 9.0 - 9.2 (only built-in USB ports supported), Mac® OS X (10.1.3 or later)
Models iMac™, iMac™ DV, Power Macintosh® G3 (Blue & White), Power Mac™ G4 or later; iBook™, PowerBook® G3 or later (only built-in USB ports supported)
RAM 64MB or more recommended
Hard disk 60MB required for installation, with additional amount equivalent to twice the capacity of the camera memory card plus 10MB required when Nikon View is running
Display 800 x 600 with 16-bit color (full color recommended)
Others CD-ROM drive required for installation

Windows

OS Windows® 98SE, Windows® Me, Windows® 2000 Professional, Windows® XP Home Edition, Windows® XP Professional pre-installed model
Models Only models with built-in USB ports supported
CPU Pentium® 300MHz or higher
RAM 64MB or more recommended
Hard disk 60MB required for installation, with additional amount equivalent to twice the capacity of the camera memory card plus 10MB required when Nikon View is running
Display 800 x 600 with 16-bit color (full color recommended)
Others CD-ROM drive required for installation
  • Microsoft® and Windows® are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. Macintosh® and QuickTime® are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Apple Computer Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. CompactFlash™ is a trademark of SanDisk Corporation. Products and brand names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.
  • Specifications and equipment are subject to change without any notice or obligation on the part of the manufacturer. May 2003

  • The information is current as of the date of publication. It is subject to change without notice.