Nikon's 2013 budget 26x superzoom — 16MP CCD, 22.5-585mm lens, 720p video, AA batteries
The Coolpix L320 was a budget superzoom bridge camera launched in March 2013 for the UK and selected markets rather than as a global release. It slotted into Nikon's AA-powered L series between the L310 and the later L330, delivering a very long zoom at an entry-level price for family and holiday use.
It pairs a 16-megapixel 1/2.3-inch CCD with a 26x Nikkor zoom covering 22.5-585mm equivalent at f/3.1-5.9, steadied by lens-shift Vibration Reduction. The fixed 3-inch LCD has 230k dots, video tops out at 720p at 30fps, sensitivity runs ISO 80-1600 and the shutter covers 1s to 1/1500s. Storage is SD/SDHC/SDXC, power comes from AA batteries, and the SLR-styled body weighs about 430g.
It suits beginners who want reach above all: school sports days, holidays and garden wildlife. Operation is entirely auto-driven with 18 scene modes and no PASM control, continuous shooting is a slow 1.2fps, and the unusually wide 22.5mm starting point is genuinely useful for landscapes and interiors. Expect CCD-era limits in low light.
Used buyers get an easy-to-run camera thanks to AA power and standard SD cards. Run the zoom through its whole 26x travel and check it extends and retracts smoothly, confirm VR is working by comparing telephoto shots, and inspect the battery bay for alkaline leakage. The 230k-dot screen looks coarse by modern standards even when healthy.