Amazon.com Product Description

Delivering top-notch performance and high resolution at an affordable price, the Nikon D70 digital SLR offers easy-to-use yet powerful features to a wide range of users--from novices to serious and experienced photo enthusiasts. Its DX format 6.1-effective megapixel CCD sensor is optimized to deliver images with excellent sharpness and clarity, and it's compatible with Nikon's DX Nikkor lenses. This D70 digital camera body also includes a 18-70mm AF-S DX f/3.5-4.5G IF-ED zoom Nikkor lens.

Optics and Resolution
The D70 incorporates a next-generation 6.1-effective megapixel DX format CCD image sensor that produces 3008 x 2000-pixel images, and is optimized to deliver a wide dynamic range and superbly sharp details. It als has 2240 x 1488 and 1504 x 1000 resolution modes.

Nikon programmed the D70's advanced system LSI processor for improved performance to produce vivid colors and clarity, optimized auto white balance, auto tone and color control, and to run real-time processes that diminish digital noise in long exposure shots for cleaner overall results.

Nikkor Lens
The included 18-70mm Nikkor lens has a 3.8x zoom capability, easily covering portrait to wide view. It's constructed of three Nikon ED glass elements, plus an aspheric element for low distortion and minimized chromatic aberration

The Nikon SLR DX image sensor built into the D70 incorporates individual micro-optics on each of the sensors pixels. This micro-optic construction ensures that the image from the camera's lens will be precisely aligned with each pixel's sensor and that performance will be optimized.

More Features
The Nikon D70 has been designed to offer faster operation at nearly every level of performance, with the camera ready to shoot the instant it's turned on. Compressed NEF (RAW) files are processed and stored exponentially faster, making shooting in compressed NEF mode easier and more convenient than ever. It can shoot a rapid 3 frames per second for a continuous burst of 144 pictures (using the JPEG Normal/Large setting and a 256 MB CompactFlash card) due to improved buffer memory handling, faster image processing, increased memory card access speed, and greater system bus bandwidth.

Other features include:

• Built-in Speedlight flash with auto pop-up
• 1/8000 second shutter speed and a synch speed of 1/500 second for flash
• Auto modes include Portrait, Landscape, Close-Up, Sports, Night Portrait, and Night Landscape
• 25 Custom Settings allow you to personalize the operation of your D70 to match your shooting style or the demands of different shooting conditions
• Shoot in any lighting environment with the D70's built-in creative lighting system and 3D Color Matrix meter with 1,005-pixel RGB Sensor
• The D70 displays menus with simple or detailed information on a 1.8-inch LCD viewing screen
• Choose from a variety of file formats, including Nikon's RAW mode (NEF), TIFF, JPEG formats or Nikon's exclusive compressed JPEG + NEF combination
• ISO standard hot-shoe with safety lock
• Optical viewfinder features high magnification, diopter correction, complete info display, and On-Demand grid lines to aid in composition
• High-speed, high precision 5-area AF system with predictive focus tracking and Lock-on ensures quick response and sharp focus

Power and Size
The camera is powered by a rechargeable lithium-Ion battery pack (EN-EL3, included) or three CR2 lithium batteries (with supplied MS-D70 battery holder). It measures 5.5 x 4.4 x 3.1 inches and weighs 21 ounces (camera body only without batteries).

What's in the Box
This package includes the Nikon D70 camera body, 18-70mm Nikkor lens, strap, body cap, eyepiece cap, LCD monitor cover, USB and A/V cables, rechargeable lithium-ion battery (EN-EL3), battery charger (MH-18), CR2 battery holder (MS-D70), and Picture Project CD-ROM. Optional accessories include: Rechargeable Li-ion Battery (EN-EL3), Multi Charger (MH-19), Quick Charger (MH-18), AC Adapter (EH-5), Speedlight SB-800/600, Nikon Capture 4 (ver.4.1) Software, Semi-Soft Case (CF-D7)0, Remote Controller (ML-L3). ... Read more

Features

• Image sizes to 3008 x 2000 pixels
• Up to 1/8000 second shutter speed -- synch speed of 1/500 second for flash
• Flexible Digital Vari-Program modes include Portrait, Landscape, Close-Up, Sports, Night Portrait, Night Landscape & Auto
• File formats include Nikon's RAW mode (NEF), JPEG formats or exclusive compressed JPEG & NEF combination
• Built-in creative lighting system and 3D Color Matrix Meter enable effective shooting in any lighting environment

Reviews (14)

WOW NIKON! You outdid yourself with the D70!
I have had Nikon cameras for most of my adult life, and that is more years than I care to count. The Nikon D70 is the best I have ever used. It is fast, comfortable, and elegant. Its pictures are sharp, properly exposed, and always in focus with Nikon's fast AF system.

The batteries last for months with regular use, provided you don't upload your pics direct to your PC from the camera. I suggest you purchase an inexpensive card reader for the upload process.

I suggest buying the package, which includes the body, a battery, and a great 18-70mm AF lens. I do not recommend that you buy from Amazon. They are several hundred dollars more than most of their online competitors.

In closing, take the plunge with this great camera. It is easy to use, versatile, and an absolute best buy that will give you many years of pleasure. Great for the professional, the amateur, and those happily in between.

The D70 is worth the wait
I just received my camera last week and so far I love it. I haven't found any negative things yet. I bought the kit with the 18-70 lens. The Nikon is better than the Canon Rebel I had a month ago. I also bought the SB-800 flash and it's great. I love the flash sync of 1/500 second. It will take me a few weeks to learn the new features but I'm loving every photo I take.

The best dSLR for under $3k without question.
Simply an amazing piece of work. I'm an advanced amateur who felt somewhat dejected that Nikon had let Canon outdo them with the 10D vs. D100 comparison. Thankfully, that was a short reign for Canon as this camera blows the doors off of both the 10D and D100. It has everything, and everything done well that all be the professional photojournalist would want in a dSLR.

If you are considering a 300D, please, please reconsider. This is a far superior camera. It is better than the 300D's big brother the 10D and is untouched by any of the other <$2k range cameras out there.

If you have no interest learning how to use the flexibility the D70 will provide you, consider asking yourself why you are spending over a thousand dollars on a camera.

I'd strongly recommend getting a 512M CF card of the faster type (min speed maybe 12x). Why? because one of the neater things about he D70 is the ability to shoot very, very fast. With a normal speed card, like the standard Sandisk 512, you slow down and wait for the card. In most digitals, it is the camera that is slower, not the card.

The kit lens is quite nice. It isn't a drop dead top of the line Nikon, but it is better than most, and is a great standard every day lens. Given the crop factor of the CCD, it is equivalent to a 27-105mm lens on a 35mm camera. You may want to get a 70-200mm Nikkor to go with it, or to save money one from Sigma or Tamron. I also use a Tamron 28-200mm, which works well for this camera since its one major flaw, vignetting at large apertures, goes away completely for the same reason, the crop factor. Note that a 70-200 acts like a 105-300, and the 28-200 behaves like a 42-300.

A final note, shoot in raw format, not jpeg. One of the nicest things is that you can really, really see a significant improvement in picture quality by doing some quick touch up of the 12 bit image before saving to jpeg for printing or emailing. Also, for reference, the 512 Meg card holds 95 raw images even though the camera indicates half that when powered up. That is the one bug in the firmware I've found, but it is a very minor issue.

Goodbye film!
Pros:

1.Turns on instantly, no waiting for it to boot up.
2. Batteries last a very long time. I've had this camera for about 2 weeks and have taken several hundred shots and the battery shows no signs of getting week
3. No shutter delay.
4. Good solid construction
5. Excellent picture quality, of course.
6. Menus are easy to navigate.
7. Uses Nikkor (Nikon) lenses. I suggest getting the outfit with the lense included. The digital format is smaller than 35 mm, so multiply the focal length of your lenses by 1.5. Your existing lenses will not have the same focal length range as they do for 35 mm.

Cons:

1. High price, although competitively priced compared to similar digital SLR camera
2. CF flash card is not included. You will need to purchase one if you don't already have one. I suggest at least a 256 MB, preferably a 512 MB or larger.
3. Lense is an odd size 67 mm, may be hard to find filters. I was able to find them, but I had to go to several stores.
4. Accessories can be a little difficult to find. Nikon is notorious for sending out press releases and product literature months before the items are available.
5. Lately accessories for the D-70 are in short supply,e.g. lenses, filters and the SB-600 speedlight(...)I am extremely happy with this camera. I have been waiting for Nikon to come out with a more affordable digital SLR since I already own several Nikkor lenses. The qualities of pictures I have taken have been excellent. I guess I will be selling my old N70, since I am done with film.

The BEST DSLR on the market!!
This camera is FAST!!! It's a great relief to finally be able to take a digital photo with almost no shutter lag and/or wait time to take another photo. The startup time can probably be scientifically proven to be a value greater than 0 but is 0 for real world purposes. After flipping the 'on' switch the camera is ready to shoot before I can press the shutter release no matter how hard I try! Now that's progress!!

The auto focus is quick and accurate. I have not experienced 'Back Focus' problems as some have described. In low light, it does have difficulty focusing on objects with little or no contrast such as the bedroom wall, but this is of no consequence.

In case you haven't heard already from the other reviews, the battery life is absolutely legendary. I had my camera 2 weeks before it needed to be recharged. In those 2 weeks, I shot approximately 1000 photos. Many of which were with the flash or continuous focus. Continuous focus seems to be the biggest battery drainer.

My biggest concern about purchasing the D70 was the moiré problem that is in many of the sample photos I've seen and apparently in many of the photos of other reviewers. I can certainly say that I have not been able to produce moiré in any photo no matter how hard I try. I've taken photos of many complex patterns, near and far, under many lighting conditions and camera settings and still no moiré. Hooray for me, I guess.

The construction feels solid even though it is plastic. We shouldn't be haphazardly throwing our cameras around anyway.

If you're one of the many out there trying to decide between the Canon 300D and the Nikon D70, the choice is very simple. Ounce for ounce, dollar for dollar, the D70 offers more features than the 300D. Also, the kit lens for the 300D is a joke when compared to the 18-70 kit lens of the D70. All of that being said, if you have a bag full of Canon lenses, buy the 300D. If you have a bag full of Nikon lenses or no lenses at all, buy the D70. It's worth the price difference.

No camera is perfect and as such, this camera does have areas that could stand some improvement.

- The Auto White Balance is virtually worthless. 'Worthless' might be a bit harsh but it's rather inaccurate. Manually setting the White Balance takes care of that problem.

- The default and preset color profiles seem either too flat or too extreme. I recommend going into the custom settings and boosting the saturation +1 and sharpness +1.

-The view finder is a tad on the dark side.

These shortcomings are minor and should not really affect your buying decision.

As far as additional features for future models, should Nikon be reading, I would suggest a short cut to switch from single to continuous shooting mode and custom digi-vari programs to be able to switch from one group of custom settings to another in an instant. ... Read more

Product Description

5.1-megapixel effective recording * 3X optical Zoom-Nikkor ED lens (4X digital/12X total zoom) * 35mm equivalent lens focal length: 38-114mm * approximately 13.5 MB of built-in memory (holds about 5 images at highest quality setting) * 2" color LCD * ... Read more

Features

• Macro shooting as close as 1.6 inches
• Powered by a Lithium-ion battery (included); stores images on SD memory cards
• 5.0-megapixel CCD captures enough detail for for photo-quality 13 x 17-inch prints
• 3x optical zoom through a quality Zoom-Nikkor lens (zoom is equivalent to 38-114mm in a 35mm camera)
• 2.0-inch LCD display; exclusive Nikon In-Camera Red-Eye Fix

Reviews (6)

What else can be said? This is an excellent camera.
I just recently purchased the 5900 a couple of weeks ago, and have been extremely pleased with the quality, features and ease of use that this camera brings. I used to own a Coolpix 4300 and it too gave me great shots. But one thing that the 5900 improves on besides the in-camera red-eye sensor, is the fact that I no longer have to contend with a camera lens cover. When you hold this camera, you know you have a sophisticated piece of equipment. It doesn't feel like some cheap toy you picked up from the toy store. For it's size, it has nice balance. Quite simply the best camera for the buck. If there was one thing I would improve on, it would be to add better photo editing software.

First Digital Camera
So after a weekend Cinco de Mayo party where everyone attending owned and was operating a digital camera, I figured it was time to join the revolution.After some research, I decided to go with this camera for the price, and the reviews that I had read in digital camera forums across the net.I am not an expert on digital cameras, nor will I even attempt to elaborate on shutter speed or anything of the sort.What I do know is that this 5.1MP camera captures incredibly vivid pictures, which when viewed on my camera for the first time last night solidified my decision to purchase this fine piece of electronics ingenuity.The video capture mode is also amazing, except I'm going to have to figure how to run them smoothly on my comp, but that could just take some simple editing.Size of the camera is amazing, and it literally fits in your back pocket( it may be slightly larger in construction vs. the canon SD series, but for the prices its unbeatable).I recommend this camera highly, and I'm pleased to add another 5 star rating to this wonderful camera.

Impressed so far
I have been researching/shopping for my first digital camera for a little while now. My first camera was Nikon 6006 and after 14 years is still producing amazing pictures. That probabaly played a role in my leaning towards Coolpix. I have been using 5900 for 4 days now. So far this is what I know
-Easy to shoot (without a tripod)
-I don't like reading manuals and so far didn't have to
-Bought a 1 GB Ultra 2 SD card from Costco(89), easy to install and format (not as fast as I thought it would be)
-Good quality movie capture (not the audio part), although that is not what I intend to use it for
-Not overly impressed with digital zoom, optical works as it is suppose to

Haven't decided on a printer yet. If you plan to buy one of the Epson printer, buy it with the camera or else you would not be able to use the advertised rebate. (Read the fine print on back page of rebate form.) From what little I have read so far, I am not leaning towards Epson. I will report back in a few weeks after I have used the photo software and made some prints.

Pleased, but not entirely thrilled. sample photos link here
Here's a link to some 3MP and 1 5MP random pics I took.Click on the dog to view more.
http://www.pbase.com/digitaltim/nikon_5900_pics


Overall I'm very happy with this camera.

I'm not crazy about the lack of sharpness, but I think it might be from motion blur. Some shots are fairly clear, but I'm often deleting fuzzy pics. I have a couple digital olympus cameras that are 2X the size, but much clearer. The 640 X 480 30fps videos w/ sound are great, especially considering its a compact camera - no complaints in the videos. The sound in the video is better than I expected, not perfect -->adequate. (my latest camcorder is a canon zr-85, which I'm weighing my opinions against in the video department) The cam lightens videos when needed. It's useful for candle or dimly lit rooms.

The camera feels solid, its fun to use, and easy. For me its a nice point and shoot.

Its tough to say whether or not I'd buy this again. The pics are good, not excellent. I think alot of the sharpness problems would be fixed with a tripod.I'm really happy with the video quality from this camera, but I'd look at other cams before deciding.

Excellent quality:price ratio!
This is my first digital camera. Before this I owned a Pentax and a Canon SLR and a Canon ELPH APS camera. I was pretty set on getting a Canon, but after doing a lot of online research and visiting many camera stores, I decided on the Nikon CoolPix 5900 - and I'm glad I did.

As far as I can tell this camera beats every other in its price range on advanced features. I won't go over them here, you can look at the product description for a list of them, then go to the page for the Canon SD300 (or any other brand) and compair. Also note that the SD400, Canon's 5MP camera, is actually priced at $399 and the 4MP SD300 is at $349, though you can currently get discounts on both. More importantly, the standard image quality is on-par with Canon and Sony (the only real competition in this range if you ask me), and when you throw in in-camera red-eye removal and D-Lighting it goes a step beyond. I know there are many other quality companies making cameras in this price range, but after reviewing actual prints from just about every one, it became aparent that Canon and Nikon in particular always looked noticably better in my opinion.

Also of note are the quality Nikkor ED optics, sturdy and light aluminum body, 2" LCD with a stunningly (really) high refresh rate and an excellen user interface, 640x480 movie mode at 30FPS with sound and surprisingly long battery life.

I highly recommend this product to anyone looking into getting a digital camera or looking to replace their aging one. ... Read more

Features

• 8.0 Effective Megapixels for photo-quality prints beyond 20" x 30"
• 10x Ultra Telephoto Optical Zoom-Nikkor ED 35-350mm Lens (35mm equivalent) for wide-angle, telephoto, and macro shots
• Vibration Reduction (VR) System helps you take sharper handheld shots in low light and other conditions
• D-Lighting improves images shot with strong back lighting or in shadow
• 15 Scene Modes automatically adjust controls for great pictures instantly

Product Description

4-megapixel effective recording * 3X optical Zoom-Nikkor lens (4X digital/12X total zoom) * 35mm equivalent lens focal length: 34-102mm * 14 MB of built-in memory (holds about 7 images at highest quality setting) * 1-13/16" color LCD * ... Read more

Features

• Powered by AA-size batteries; stores images on SD memory cards
• 4.0-megapixel CCD captures enough detail for for photo-quality 11 x 15-inch prints
• 3x optical zoom through a quality Zoom-Nikkor lens (zoom is equivalent to 34-102mm in a 35mm camera)
• 1.8-inch LCD display; exclusive Nikon In-Camera Red-Eye Fix
• New Underwater Scene mode

Reviews (6)

WONDERFUL!Digital for Dummies!
If you're a "digital dummy" or "photograpy phool" like me, then this is THE camera for you - and even if you're not!! This camera's easy-to-decipher directions had me taking excellent photos the very first night. The software was very user-friendl, easy to install, and quick to load even on my sloooow computer system.

The zoom capabilities are terrific and the superior focus makes it impossible to take a bad picture. Its small size was a bit intimidating - I worried about dropping it - but it fits right in your hand, no fumbling! Forget about clunky 35mm cameras and their heavy cases - the Nikon fits right on your belt, as light as a cellular phone. The viewscreen helps you see what your photo will look like, and lets you instantly play back what you've just taken so you can keep or delete. A friend who owns a more expensive model says this is as high-quality as her model.

Highly recommend this camera! GREAT for anyone of any age, and the low price- not much more than what my Canon 35 mm cost -puts the wonders of digital within everyone's price range.

love it!
I know nothing about digital cameras or how to use them.I had a Sony Cybershot that I barely could figure out how to use and although very fast, most of the pictures I took came out blurry.I dropped that camera and went to buy a replacement but instead decided on this one--I love it!Yes, it is slow between pictures after using the flash but the pictures are much clearer and crisper than the ones I managed to take with my Sony.I haven't had a blurry picture yet and the quality of the pictures is great.I have beenable to figure out how to everything I have wanted to do so far withouteven looking at the instruction manual.The buttons are self explanatory and very easy to use.This may not be the camera a professional would choose but as a mom with four kids and no knowledge of digital cameras and no time to learn about them, I am glad I chose the Nikon Coolpix--I love it!(love the size too!)

Shop and compare
I looked at the Nikon Coolpix 4600 in a store and it sure looked exactly like my Nikon Cooplix 4100.
I have been looking over the specs and they also look the same, except that I see the 4600 is 10 grams lighter, with the body a few millimeters smaller. I do not see this as an advantage, since presumably the case was designed for a degree of sturdiness, and this may be sacrificed.
Whether there is any difference in performance, I do not know.
I suggest you compare the two models and then look at the reviews for the Nikon 4100 before you buy. Some people like the 4100, some do not.
Whether Nikon corrected any of the deficiencies in the 4100, I do not know. The firmware may have been changed.
Some of the negative comments about the 4100 are unfair. For example, in the continuous mode it will shoot fairly fast, a little faster than one frame a second. Like any digital camera, you have to know all the bells and whistles to get the most out of it.
The big problem is the slow "film" speed. It is rated at 50 ISO, but my tests with a light meter say it is actually 25 ISO. This is fine if, like a professional photographer, you plan to use a tripod for all your shots, for that is what professional photographers would do if they were using film this slow. It leaves me wondering how accurate the speed ratings of other Nikons are. Given that the Nikon 4600 specs here do not list the ISO film speed, I would assume the worst.
Also, I contacted Nikon about how big a SD card it can handle and never got a response. Some discussion groups say it is only 256 MB. My 4100 needs 2 mb per high rez picture, even though the file is only about 1.4 mb
I find the 4100 is OK for snapshots with a tiny camera you can carry around in your pocket. But for higher quality shots, I have since bought a much better, slightly larger camera for about the same price as the 4100. And so the Nikon is usually gathering dust.
The bottom line: I suspect Nikon may have wanted repackage the 4100 because the reviews weren't so good.

A good start up camera
Pros: Excellent picture quality, Ease of use
Cons: Slow recharge after flash, Slow image processing, LCD turns off after each shot.
Excellent quality pictures, ease of use, battery life,
affordable pricing, and it's compact size and
design all make this a good start up camera. Why just a
start up? Here's why?
NOT SO GOOD:
The biggest problem is the lenght of time the camera
takes to recharge after flash. Not only that but also
the slow image processing rate after a picture is taken
and this is both with or without the flash on (3 to 5
seconds wait). Also, after you take a picture, while
the camera is processing the image, the LCD shuts off
for about 2 seconds then turns back on. Reviewing
picture you've taken is also be a task. Also, there
is no center gridline or center marker on the LCD or
viewfinder for centering your object.
If you can overlook, or not be annoyed by the NOT SO
GOOD, then this is excellent camera. Great picture
quality.

Nikon Coolpix 4600
I have had many 35mm cameras in the past.As a matter of fact I go back to the days before auto focus and automatic cameras.I finally came out of the datk ages and joined the 21th Century by buying my first digital camera.I found the Nikon Coolpix 4600 easy to use and was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the photos I took.In addition, I found the manual clear and easy to understand.But, I would have liked more detail of some items.Overall, I love the camera. ... Read more

Product Description

5.1-megapixel effective recording * 3X optical Zoom-Nikkor lens (4X digital/12X total zoom) * 35mm equivalent lens focal length: 35-105mm * 14 MB of built-in memory (holds about 5 images at highest quality setting) * 1-13/16" color LCD * ... Read more

Features

• Powered by AA-size batteries; stores images on SD memory cards
• 5.0-megapixel CCD captures enough detail for for photo-quality 13 x 17-inch prints
• 3x optical zoom through a quality Zoom-Nikkor lens (zoom is equivalent to 34-102mm in a 35mm camera)
• 1.8-inch LCD display; exclusive Nikon In-Camera Red-Eye Fix
• Macro shooting as close as 1.6 inches

Reviews (7)

Best in Class
Replaced my Konica/Minolta X50 with this camera.Pictures are WAY BETTER quality.No contest.Other advantages: 1) uses normal AA batteries (which are easier to replace when traveling abroad), 2) lense sticks out (which prevents guest users from putting their fingers on the lense), 3) easier to hold than the flat Konica/Minolta X50, especially in one hand.Worth every penny!

Highly Satisfied
Its sleek design enables you to carry it anywhere in pretty much any bag.I am a teenager, therfore, I dont carry many bags with me...I just stick it in my pocket! Its that small.I LOVE IT!! The images come out crystal clear.Highly recommended if your shoping for a high-quality digital camera for a low price...c'mon, 5 MPIX's for $250? That's pretty good.

Value for money
I bought this camera a week ago.
This is my first digital camera that i have bought, but i have used lots others in the past.
This camera is outstanding. Extremely easy to use, great-great-great picture quality. It can fulfil the expectations of many starter amateur photographers and can nearly satisfy a professional one. Vivid colours....great.
The recharging of the flash is a lit bit slow.I think that this is this only negative element.
With a 512MB SD memory card you have up to 365 photos of 5mp....what else can an amateur ask?

Its the absolute "value for money" digit cam....maybe the best in its category!

very very slow
This camera is great for picture quality but there are some big negatives.The biggest problem is the slow flash recharge--6 seconds!By then, if you're taking pictures of kids, they're long gone.Also, you have to wait for the LCD to be ready to take the next picture.You can turn the LCD off to save battery, but you have to go through 3 or 4 menu steps to do it, so it's not practical to switch off between using the LCD and not using it.Finally, on some the fixed focus modes (landscape), which cuts down on shutter lag since the camera is not hunting for the autofocus, you can't use a flash.Bottom line is that this is NOT a good camera if you take indoor pictures of anyone in motion.

The small wonder
I am a camera buff and have used many cameras. I would say that this is by far the best camera its size. It is probably a matter of personal tastes, but I think this camera takes much better pictures than the Canon A95.

White balance is wonderful, as with most Nikons.

here are the things that rock:

1. Compact and cute, fits in my jeans pocket
2. Uses just two AA batteries and is light weight( weighs less than the A95)
3. Has a lot of programming modes to handle almost all your day to day shooting needs
4. Crisp and clear images
5. Warns you that the image is going to be blurred before you shoot and also tells you if an image did turn out blurred so you dont have to waste memory saving it
6. EXCELLENT Macro mode, look at the sample image I have posted
7. Silent focusing
8. Super fast USB file transfers
9. Excellent value for money

What could improve:

1. The command dial feels flimsy
2. The battery compartment door feels very flimsy and if you are not careful, you will break it in no time

But in all, the very best value for your money. ... Read more

Product Description

5.1-megapixel recording * 3X optical Zoom-Nikkor ED lens (4X digital/12X total zoom) * approximately 12 MB of built-in memory (holds about 5 images at highest quality setting) * 2-1/2" LCD screen * Face Priority autofocus for in-focus portraits * ... Read more

Features

• Ultra-compact--a mere 3/4 inches thin
• Powered by Lithium-ion battery (rechargeable battery included); stores images on SD memory cards
• 5-megapixel CCD captures enough detail for photo-quality 13 x 17-inch prints
• 3x optical zoom with Zoom-Nikkor lens; 2.5-inch LCD display
• Exclusive Nikon in-camera red-eye fix and face-priority autofocus

Reviews (6)

O like it so far
--hi hi hi
I just recieved my S1 yesterday
I haven't had this camera for a long time,
but so far, I like it! :D

this small thing take so beautiful natural shots
I took about 40 random shots so far
- everywhere without flash, with flash, outiside in office, etc..
green color is little strong and that's why some pictures look so pretty

if it's little dark, and if you don't want flash,
the shutter speed can be little slow.
when it's bright enough, it's faster and I think nobody will have any problem.
Compared to Sony V1 (I have it here) which is also 5 megapixel camera,
and which is huge,
I really like this tiny camera with great color and function :D

Especially I had so hard time choosing this camera over Canon SD400.

I chose this one because when canon take pictures of people, it tend to make their face bit red.

I was going to take lots of portraits with this camera, and I thought Nikon would be a better deal for me! :D

I"m not really a technical person,
so I don't really care or know about what soft edge is or anything like that.
If pictures look clear and pretty, I'm just fine with them.

somebody here showed review pictures of S1 from dcresource.
they were horrible pictures! I was so worried because I already ordered it.
However, I don't understand now how that person came with those pictures.

I'll summarize it

good -
good and pretty color (pretty green and blue :D)
nice design (I think it's prettier than SD400)
nice color for portraits
reasonably good indoor pics..(w/o flash)
(I like pictures without flash)

bad-
-little bit slow shutter speed

-not doing real well in shots that have a very close distance (like tiny flowers)

I really like this camera so far
and I'm glad I got this one!

I checked SD400 and took some shots in stores

and that small thing was really great, too! if you like pictures that are very clear and if you are going to take lot of natural shots,

I recommend SD400. I have seen lots of pictures of SD400, it takes great pictures, too!!!!

anyways. I hope this review helps! :-)

I don't know how to post pictures here. but I can certainly send you pics if you want! :)

Nikon's first ultra-compact digicam is simply great
Nikon is the last of the Japanese digital camera makers to come out with a ultra-slim (<= 0.8 inches thin) digital camera, and Nikon has apparently taken many a page from its competitors' playbooks and come out with a deliciously good camera.

Before I continue with my review, let me point out that there's a jet black version available (unfortunately not on Amazon yet) which simply looks much better than this silver version.If possible, I recommend you get the black S1.You'll surely impress everyone on your block.

Despite being a small and light -- and pocketable -- camera, the S1 takes surprisingly good pictures.Of course, it's unreasonable to expect the kind of quality you can get on a Nikon D70 SLR or Coolpix 8800 "bridge" camera, because these latter models are bigger and therefore have a larger lens (very important for great optical quality) and a larger sensor (important for better color accuracy and lower noise), but I can say that the S1 has the best picture quality in its class, even bettering the great models from Canon (SD400, SD500, etc.)In normal lighting, S1's pictures are sharp and very accurate in color.This latter is very important for getting eye-pleasing photos.Even indoors, the S1 does a decent job; since the lack of light always makes photography difficult, the S1 is better than most.BTW, when indoors, using a camera's built-in flash always results in harsh-looking pictures where the background is dark and ugly.Instead, try mounting the camera on a tripod -- the S1 has a tripod mount -- and taking a picture without the flash.The picture you get will be much more pleasing to the eye.

In short, the S1 is a trustworthy performer when it comes to picture quality -- once again, with the necessary caveat that you don't compare this with a D70 d-SLR.I've seen thousands and thousands of digital images, on screen and on paper, and I'm pretty impressed with the S1's image quality.I simply don't think you'll find another ultra-slim camera that can take better pictures than this.

Nikon has put in a lot of effort -- and marketing -- in creating in-camera software editing, such as in-camera red-eye reduction and the new D-lighting (which lightens up dark shadows and darkens blown highlights).Both of these are done during playback.

What amazes me is Nikon's exclusive "face-priority" autofocus (AF) mode when shooting: it can automatically identify the faces in a picture and focus and expose on the closest or centerist face.This is truly AMAZING and works very well -- provided the lighting is not too shabby, or the facial skin tone not too dark.This works especially well in restaurants.You know the drill: you gather your friends at the dining table for a picture, and lo and behold, all too often the camera focuses on the white table cloth in the background or that giant Coors neon sign in the back instead of your faces.Nikon S1's face-priority comes to rescue.The only caveat is indoors, it doesn't seem to work as well as outdoors when lighting is aplenty.

The S1 does not have an optical viewfinder, so for framing you rely on the 2.5" LCD screen.The screen is bright and covers 97% of the shooting frame, but its 110,000 pixel resolution is only average.This pales in comparison the 230,000 pixel count on the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T7's 2.5" LCD.The Sony's LCD is also brighter, but the Nikon S1's is not shabby at all and compares favorably to the LCD on most ultra-compact cameras.

One area in which the S1 does lag market share leaders such as Canon and Casio and, to a lesser extent, Sony, is the shutter lag speed.The latest models from Canon and Casio are super-fast and have negligible shutter lag, meaning when you press the shutter button, the camera takes the picture in milliseconds.The S1 has a noticeable shutter lag: the camera takes a fraction of a second focusing and taking the exposure before the shutter releases.This can be a problem when you demand instantaneous response from the camera, such as when you want to capture those Kodak moments of an energetic baby or child.Many people place a lot of emphasis on shutter lag, so this may be a serious problem for them.

There are, however, two solutions.First, you could press the shutter button half-way and hold it there to pre-focus and pre-expose, and when the moment you want arrives, just press the button further down to release the shutter.I'm not saying this to excuse Nikon for not including better shutter lag performance (esp. given the S1's price point), but in general, it's always a good idea to pre-focus, even with a fast digital SLR such as the Canon Digital Rebel XT or Nikon D70.One benefit from pre-focusing is you minimize the handshake when pressing the shutter button, since your finger travels less than from the "up" position.Second solution is use the S1's nice continuous-focus feature which allows you to focus on a moving subject without pressing the shutter button.This continuous-focus (also known as servo AF) feature always keeps the subject in focus, at the expense of battery life and slightly more wear on the focusing motor in the lens.

Conclusion regarding shutter lag: if you absolutely demand as little shutter lag as you can get on an ultracompact camera, consider the Canon SD400 or the Casio EX-Z55/Z57.The Fuji Z1 is reportedly very fast, too, although I haven't played with it yet.If you don't mind shutter lag or are willing to use one or both of the solutions outlined above, then you'll love S1 for its other great features (excellent image quality, big LCD, easy interface, ultra-cool styling).My advice: if you don't know much about shutter lag and its implications, check out the S1 and other cameras in a store and pay attention to the time between pressing the shutter button and hearing the "click" sound characteristic of shutter release.My OWN personal preference is I always pre-focus (solution #1) when I need to minimize shutter lag, whether I'm using the S1 or my beloved D70 d-SLR.

What else can I say?You get 3x optical zoom (equivalent to 35mm-105mm focal range in 35mm format), a LiIon battery that's about average in performance (the king in this department is the Casio Exilim EX-Z55/Z57 series), and a cradle which you need in order to transfer pictures.(I myself use a USB card reader that takes the SD card.)Speaking of this, the Nikon S1 kit does not come with an SD card, but the camera itself has 12MB of internal memory, which isn't a lot at all.

Supposedly the "S" in S1 stands for style, and Nikon has definitely created a very stylish and very desirable ultra-slim digital camera -- especially in the black-body version.But great looks are not the only thing the new S1 has; its picture quality is simply the best in its increasingly crowded class.Finally, you can impress your friends and speed-dating dates with a camera that not only looks good and goes into your pocket, but flatters your subjects as well.

Finally, some quick advice: 1) be sure to hold the camera very steady when pressing the shutter; fuzzy pictures from handshaking is the #1 complaint with these tiny cameras; 2) don't let your left hand block the lens; 3) protect the huge LCD screen well; 4) there's a new model called "S2" that's coming out which you might want to investigate before deciding (I think the S1 looks much better).

Nice small form factor but not so great pictures
I have a Canon Powershot G2 and my wife\'s cousin bought this camera (Nikon Coolpix S1). We both took pictures at lots of different light settings and here is my conclusion about this camera.

Pros:
1. Very small and thin. Easily put in pocket.
2. High megapixel resolution and pictures are good in proper lighting.

Cons:
1. Very small and thin. It is good for small people but for someone big, the camera is too delicate and buttons very small.
2. The screen is unprotected and can be damaged easily in the pocket.
3. Low light photos are not illuminated well enough by the flash so you might just have the subject lighted up and the background dark.
4. Don\'t know if it is due to small size but if you casually take out the camera for a picture, the chances of picture being blurred are high.
5. Also, almost 80% pictures had red-eye problem which can be removed easily but still is cumbersome.

Summary :
Camera is an entry level camera good for small people. The main asset is the small size.

Nice Form Factor and phote quality
I've been looking for a replacement for my Canon S230 3mp camera off and on for a couple of months now. When I saw this camera; its size and 5mp quality I made the leap.

First impressions of this camera are very positive. The learning curve is basically flat. The menu's are very intuitive and easy to use. The 17 or so different shooting modes are very easy to understand and to actually use. The unit itself slips into your pants pocket and feels like its not even there. In fact this is the first camera I will carry with me everyday because of its sleek and light weight design.

As far as photo quality is concerned, I'd agree with one of the other reviewers - its good, not great. I'd have to say its a half step up from my Canon. Having said that I have to remember this is not a Nikon D70, its a handy and very capable everyday shooter with lots of cool features.

The one minus that I've noted now that I've been shooting everything under the sun with it is this; I have big hands and this unit is so petite that I've found my left ring finger showing up in the pictures. I have to be constantly aware of where my digits are when shooting as, with the lens so close to the left edge of the camera they easily get included in the shot.

The other thing I don't particularly care for is the docking station. It appears to be mandatory for recharging the battery which is a bit clunky especially if you want to travel with this unit. The docking station is required in order to recharge, you've just doubled the size of the camera in terms of packing and carrying along on trips. I would much prefer to have a recharge cradle like the Canon uses or just a single cord that I could plug into the camera but there doesn't seem to be an option for one.

Finally, the PhotoProject software that comes with the unit is really a joke. Don't even think about using it. I download my shots via Windows Explorer as the unit shows up as just another USB storage device. The software is bloated, slow, (and I have a very fast computer), and basically useless.

The camera does come with a nice little application that allows you to stitch together multiple pictures to create panaromic photos. When used in conjunction with the Panoramic shooting mode on the camera the results are really great. I have for years taken shots and then tried to stitch them in Photoshop or PhotoElements with the results being disappointing but this little application gets it right and its a snap to use.

I also purchased a 1gig SecureCard for the unit. At present it hasn't arrived but I'm using a 256meg card I previously had it it works great but I want to have the most storage I possibly have as the shots tend to average 1.5m shot. 256Megs gets you 99 shots at 5mp.

Summary

I'm very happy overall with this little camera. Its easy to take with you everywhere you go, the pictures are very clean and of high quality. Again, remember its mission - to deliver a compact, capable and affordable camera that is pure point and shoot. It delivers. Oh, and I can't stop before I mention the beautiful 2.5 inch rear display - very cool and viewable even direct sun.

Nice design, only OK pictures
I bought this camera primarily for it's compact size so I could carry it in my pocket anywhere I go. Nikon has always produced a quality product, and this camera feels solid and looks good. The screen size is a major plus.

As far as the images go, they are only OK. For a 5 megapixel camera, there is more "noise" or grain than I would expect. The redeye feature works fairly well, though I actually had one image's red MOUTH touched up by the camera's internal software. When the picture was printed, the lips of my subject were recolored as if they were redeye! I guess the camera was fooled in that case, and it only happened once.

All in all, it serves its purpose OK. A small compact camera that is easy to carry with satisfactorysnapshot qulaity images. ... Read more

Product Description

7.1-megapixel effective recording * 3X optical Zoom-Nikkor ED glass lens (4X digital/12X total zoom) * 35mm equivalent lens focal length: 38-114mm * approximately 13.5 MB of built-in memory (holds about 4 images at highest quality setting) * 2" color LCD * ... Read more

Features

• Macro shooting as close as 1.6 inches
• Powered by a Lithium-ion battery (included); stores images on SD memory cards
• 7.1-megapixel CCD captures enough detail for for photo-quality 11 x 15-inch prints
• 3x optical zoom through a quality Zoom-Nikkor lens (zoom is equivalent to 35-105mm in a 35mm camera)
• 2.0-inch LCD display; exclusive Nikon In-Camera Red-Eye Fix

Reviews (3)

What glitters is not always gold.
I had this camera for 14 days. I went to the store to buy the Canon SD500, and the design of the Nikon Coolpix 7900 grabbed my attention. The sales person informed me that the only difference between the Nikon and the Canon was the name.

She was wrong.

In a series of 100 photos, the Nikon took around 6 crystal clear shots. The remaining 94 shots were blurry and lacked quality.I upgraded my Olympus C3040 (3MP) with the Coolpix 7900. My Olympus outperformed the Coolpix in all respects, except for battery type, weight, and size of camera.

When I returned the camera to the place of purchase they asked if I was sure I was "doing it right."I am an artist and published photographer. I've been taking pictures with digital camera for 5 years. I carefully read the instructions, I even called Nikon to ask for assistance.

This camera cannot take QUALITY photographs consistently. Especially in low light. Bottom-line--I found it to be a horrible camera. A typical case of what glitters is not always gold.

I returned the camera for the Canon Powershot SD500 and my first three photos were pristine.

Good luck,
JAS

Sweet Little Thing
My wife's Nikon SQ died so I wanted to get a *small* travel camera as a replacement. The 7900 is indeed small. It takes great photos outside and will take good full frame 30 fps movies until the SD card is full (bar graph on screen). I've taken blury low-light candid photos w/o flash, but most are due to camera movement rather than focus problems (when looked at in Photoshop). The camera is a little /too/ small for me to grip steadily and hold against a door frame for candids. It'll be a great travel camera for her. Large LCD, good battery life, 7MP images, Image Stabilization.
Disappointed that it's built in China like most everything else and Noise Reduction mode is a little too painterly for me -- I'll clean up my images myself.

Nikon Needs to Get Focused
The 7900 sure is an attractive little camera with it's sleek body and high mega pixel count. Like several other Coolpix cameras, including the Nikon 8800, this camera can't focus well in low light. I don't know why Nikon continues to release these cameras with the same flaws. The AF system on the Coolpix line is contrast based and in less than ideal lighting it can lock focus, but get wrong repeatedly. You can visit DPreview.com and Nikonians.com for more info on AF weaknesses with the Coolpix line.
This is a serious warning for buyers! Website forums for Nikon are filled with rabid supporters of the products, even when they haven't tried them. Another funny move is when the focus problems are mentioned by someone they quickly post a shot taken on the dark side of the moon! What exactly does this prove? The 7900 CAN take a low light shot, but it will often miss the shot as well. Don't trust samples taken in low light since you have no idea how many missed shots it took to get it. Buyer's remorse makes camera owners say and do anything to defend their purchases.
Point blank: The 7900 has poor auto focusing compared to MANY other cameras. To make matters worse it has a VERY weak AF assist light just like the 8800. Insult to injury. A Pentax Optio S5i focuses better in low light without the lamp and costs far less. A Canon A95 also has superior focus ability, though not the best of it's class. High count sensors mean little when you miss a shot due to focus, right?
When the 7900 DID get the focus right, images seemed slightly soft overall. While it has many modes there's no real manual control of the camera. This is not good for the growing photographer or the shooter who likes to fine tune.
There's little point in discussing the Nikon's other merits. Inability to focus in many indoor settings is a deal killer. Like the 8800, I have no idea why Nikon can't do what other designers have done at half the cost. I own a Nikon D70 DSLR and I LOVE IT, so I'm not bashing Nikon. I just don't know what the problem is with their line of P&S units. The 7900 I tested belongs to a friend and she's returning it for a Canon A95 or Fuji 550. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Delivering top-notch performance and high resolution at an affordable price, the Nikon D70 digital SLR offers easy-to-use yet powerful features to a wide range of users--from novices to serious and experienced photo enthusiasts. Its DX format 6.1-effective megapixel CCD sensor is optimized to deliver images with excellent sharpness and clarity, and it's compatible with Nikon's DX Nikkor lenses.

Optics and Resolution
The D70 incorporates a next-generation 6.1-effective megapixel DX format CCD image sensor that produces 3008 x 2000-pixel images, and is optimized to deliver a wide dynamic range and superbly sharp details. It also has 2240 x 1488 and 1504 x 1000 resolution modes.

Nikon programmed the D70's advanced system LSI processor for improved performance to produce vivid colors and clarity, optimized auto white balance, auto tone and color control, and to run real-time processes that diminish digital noise in long exposure shots for cleaner overall results.

More Features
The Nikon D70 has been designed to offer faster operation at nearly every level of performance, with the camera ready to shoot the instant it's turned on. Compressed NEF (RAW) files are processed and stored exponentially faster, making shooting in compressed NEF mode easier and more convenient than ever. It can shoot a rapid 3 frames per second for a continuous burst of 144 pictures (using the JPEG Normal/Large setting and a 256 MB CompactFlash card) due to improved buffer memory handling, faster image processing, increased memory card access speed, and greater system bus bandwidth.

Other features include:

• Built-in Speedlight flash with auto pop-up
• 1/8000 second shutter speed and a synch speed of 1/500 second for flash
• Auto modes include Portrait, Landscape, Close-Up, Sports, Night Portrait, and Night Landscape
• 25 Custom Settings allow you to personalize the operation of your D70 to match your shooting style or the demands of different shooting conditions
• Shoot in any lighting environment with the D70's built-in creative lighting system and 3D Color Matrix meter with 1,005-pixel RGB Sensor
• The D70 displays menus with simple or detailed information on a 1.8-inch LCD viewing screen
• Choose from a variety of file formats, including Nikon's RAW mode (NEF), TIFF, JPEG formats or Nikon's exclusive compressed JPEG + NEF combination
• ISO standard hot-shoe with safety lock
• Optical viewfinder features high magnification, diopter correction, complete info display, and On-Demand grid lines to aid in composition
• High-speed, high precision 5-area AF system with predictive focus tracking and Lock-on ensures quick response and sharp focus

Power and Size
The camera is powered by a rechargeable lithium-Ion battery pack (EN-EL3, included) or three CR2 lithium batteries (with supplied MS-D70 battery holder). It measures 5.5 x 4.4 x 3.1 inches and weighs 21 ounces (camera body only without batteries).

What's in the Box
This package includes the Nikon D70 camera body, strap, body cap, eyepiece cap, LCD monitor cover, USB and A/V cables, rechargeable lithium-ion battery (EN-EL3), battery charger (MH-18), CR2 battery holder (MS-D70), and Picture Project CD-ROM. Optional accessories include: Rechargeable Li-ion Battery (EN-EL3), Multi Charger (MH-19), Quick Charger (MH-18), AC Adapter (EH-5), Speedlight SB-800/600, Nikon Capture 4 (ver.4.1) Software, Semi-Soft Case (CF-D7)0, Remote Controller (ML-L3). ... Read more

Features

• Image sizes to 3008 x 2000 pixels
• Up to 1/8000 second shutter speed -- synch speed of 1/500 second for flash
• Flexible Digital Vari-Program modes include Portrait, Landscape, Close-Up, Sports, Night Portrait, Night Landscape & Auto
• File formats include Nikon's RAW mode (NEF), JPEG formats or exclusive compressed JPEG & NEF combination
• Built-in creative lighting system and 3D Color Matrix Meter enable effective shooting in any lighting environment

Reviews (14)

The affordable digital SLR is here!
Simply put, the Nikon D70 is the finest camera I have ever used. As an amateur photographer I have owned a variety of Nikon SLRs during the age of film photography. That is until the digital bug hit me with the introduction of the Olympus C2020 (a superb camera in its own right). I have anxiously awaited the day when I could return to the SLR and do it digitally. The D70 has made my day! This camera is incredibly easy to use and intuitive right out of the box. You can easily operate exposure controls, flash, and etc. without going through menus. All the settings can be seen in the viewfinder and the control dials are in the right places so you don't have to take your eye off the subject. It felt like coming home again to use an SLR, shoot through a viewfinder, and quickly and easily adjust exposures. Since there is no shutter-lag with this camera, and image writing to the card is fast, you don't have to anticipate your shots. Image quality is phenomenal and the 6 megapixel count assures you of excellent "darkroom" control. There are so many image capture options available in its menu that it pays to test the camera for settings that satisfy your needs (e.g. regulating sharpness, contrast, and tonal distributions). But even the default automatic settings provide photographs that can be beautifully printed right out-of-the-box. The 18-70mm DX lense that comes with the kit (equivalent to 27-105mm for 35mm film) is a great buy and delivers excellent image quality. I only wish its filter size (67mm) matched any of the filters that I had acquired for my old lenses. For the serious amateur who wants the level of control and image quality that only an SLR can provide, the Nikon D70 is definitely it. The affordable digital SLR has arrived! Sorry, Kodak, the era of film photography has truly come to an end.

Ape finds mysterious monolith and . . .
No kidding, I'm almost a raw amateur. I put down photography 20 years ago and finally decided to buy another camera - I knew it'd be digital, hardly anyone talks about film these days - so I started looking around the very day the D70 came out. Knew nothing about it, only that I couldn't find one at five different stores I stopped at in the Boston area. One look at the specs and the price, though, and I knew a fixed lense digicam was a serious waste of money for a compromise.
Bought the camera with the 18-70mm lense as well as a 70-300mm zoom I needed for flexibility. Looked at the manual. White balance? What's that?
Took the camera out to a nearby lake. What pictures! Razor sharp. First vari-setting I tried I could see the needles in the tops of evergreens fifty feet away on the LCD screen. Bright display, fast starting, good viewfinder. Been learning its foibles ever since.
Comments: In bright sunlight there's a necessity to back off the ISO, white balance or exposure; but on the other end of the scale, I've taken images at 8:30 p.m., no flash, and liked the mood the camera captured.
Yes, incredibly flexible. I like to shoot close-ups of swamp plants 20 feet away. The 18-70mm seems to shoot a sharper picture, and the zoom leaves blur around the edges when I push its limits, but I'm really pleased with how handy this camera is, quick, adaptable, easy to use, high visibility.
Problems: No handgrip available, I have to make one. Also (maybe it's my big hands) the on-camera adjustment for shutter and aperture, done while focusing through the lense, seem a little difficult to adjust to. No biggies, considering everything else.
Seriously, I'm still marveling at my good luck! What a piece of technology!

Shutter Lag?? Not Hardly!
Lets get to the main point of buying a DSLR - I wanted fast & sharp results with versatility included. This is what I wanted and this is what I got! The price couldn't get much cheaper or it'd be an absolute steal (not that it already isn't). I feel like a real professional just HOLDING the D70. Truth is, I wouldn't give up this baby for the world. Digital SLR's are so much better than some cheap point and shoot restraintive camera. Break free and buy a D70! Look at the flawless reviews, try it out, and see for yourself. YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED!

Best color accuracy ever
Pros: All the advantages of a D-SLR (fast ISO speed, super-low noise, wide range of aperture and shutter speeds, versatility, huge buffer, compatibility with high-speed cards, etc.); unmatchable color accuracy and brilliance; beautiful style, battery life (After I took 500 regular photos and 20 flash photos, the battery still showed full. Nikon¡¦s claim that the battery can last 2,000 photos may not be too far from truth); reasonable price.

Cons: The camera has a few minor annoyances, but the most horrible thing about this camera which may apply to all other D-SLRs is the dust problem. Knowing that D-SLR is very vulnerable to dust, I never took off the lens (included in the kit) after I first mounted it on the camera. Yet, the dust still somehow managed to get into the low-pass of the CCD anyway, though I have strictly followed the professional standards in avoiding dust from getting into the camera. After less than two months of use, I found a few consistent light dots on bright areas of the photos such as the blue sky. However, I was delighted to find cleaning the CCD is not as difficult as I first thought. Just strictly follow what the manual says and it took me less than 2 minutes to get the dust off the CCD, though I couldn¡¦t see with my eye any dust on the CCD itself. I hope Nikon can make better seals around the lens¡¦ mount in its next version of affordable D-SLR or enable the camera to clean its CCD like Canon 10D or Olympus E-1.

Here comes the death of 35 mm film!
Well, I have 26 years of serious experience in film photography. Last years I switched to "digital darkroom" and used to scan 35mm film with dedicated film scanner. The modern films (especially Fuji Astia 100F) give you far more detail (even in 35 mm format) than "six miserable megapixels" could handle. Because of that, I was not in the rush to switch to dSLR. But I've compared a few digital cameras, applying my own standards and quality expectations. Prosumer models were frustrating because of noise and slow performance. I liked the "bold" feeling of images produced by Pentax *istD, but the resolution was far below expectations (many prosumer cameras give you more detail). And the Nikon D70 finally seduced me! The resolution is really high, for the megapixel count, and the color is neutral, with "cold and digital" feeling (not as "live" as one of Pentax *istD or Fuji S2 Pro), but this is really a subtle thing. What is really amazing is the speed of performance: D70 takes the shot almost instantly and in the next fraction of a second you can see the result on LCD display! Even at ISO-1600, the noise was lower than I could imagine, so this level of sensitivity is not "just there" but is really usable, for extream conditions. However, I would use the lowest ISO when possible. The camera is is FAT-32-aware, so I enjoy the ability to use a 4 Gig microdrive, which can store almost 400 pictures in RAW format or countless thousands of jpegs. As to file formats, I was not impressed by jpeg compression in this camera, even in "fine" setting, but this may be a result of my "puristic" standards. However, when I converted a couple of RAW files in my Photoshop CS, the conclusion was like this: "Hmmm... I can work with that!". This camera will make me forget about 35 mm film. However, it does not substitute film completely (the resolution for big enlargements is still low, and the dynamic range is still narrow). So, I will use the combination of medium format Penatx 67 II for "seroius" landscaping/portrature and Nikon D70 for action shots and experimentation. I give 5 stars to D70 not because it would satisfy all my photography needs but because of amazing value for money it offers today. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Nikon's exciting, advanced 5.1-megapixel Nikon Coolpix 5400 digital camera adds a new dimension to the popular Coolpix line of digital cameras and combines a host of enhanced features and design elements. With superior 4x Zoom-Nikkor ED optics, wide-angle coverage and the exclusive new Best Shot Selector (BSS) feature, the Nikon Coolpix 5400 provides the ideal tool for digital photographers who are serious about the art of photography. The durable and lightweight Nikon Coolpix 5400 is the perfect tool to enhance any advanced photographer's creative imagination.

Optics and Resolution
The Coolpix 5400 uses a 5.1 effective-megapixel CCD to capture images at a maximum native resolution of 2,592 x 1,944 pixels. This allows for clear printouts up to 20x30 inches in size. The camera incorporates a wide angle Zoom-Nikkor lens with a maximum optical zoom of 4x coupled with a stepless 4x digital zoom for a 16x total zoom. The lens contains nine elements in eight groups, with the Zoom-Nikkor lens using Extra-Low Dispersion (ED) glass and two aspherical lenses completing the setup. With a focal length range of 5.8 mm to 24mm, the 4x optical zoom is equivalent to a 28-116mm lens on a 35mm camera.

The camera has fifteen preset shooting modes for easily shooting portraits, panoramas, landscapes, and many more. Users can select center-weighted, spot, AF spot, or a special 256-segment matrix metering mode in conjunction with TTL white balance to provide incredible exposure and color balance. Shutter speeds vary from 1/4000 second to ten minutes, making it possible to capture a wide variety of shots, and the Ultra Macro Mode allows for close-ups from a range of .4-inches.

Storage and Transfer
The 5400 stores images on either Type I or Type II CompactFlash cards and is compatible with 512 MB and 1GB MicroDrives. Shots are stored in either uncompressed TIFF-RGB format or compressed JPEG format. The camera uses a USB 1.1 interface and also outputs (selectable) NTSC or PAL video.

Movie Mode
It is possible to capture 70 seconds of video with audio using the 640 x 480 TV mode, or 180 seconds of video with audio using the 320 x 240 Small Movie mode.

More Features
It's always easy to get the perfect pictures thanks to the 5400's Best Shot Selector. In this mode the camera snaps five consecutive shots, analyzes them, and saves only the best of the bunch based on several selection parameters. A similar Auto Exposure Best Shot Selector mode does the same thing by comparing the tonal range and gradation of five consecutive shots snapped in quick succession. All the other pictures are then discarded to conserve storage space. All this is made possible by the camera's integrated 64 MB buffer that can quickly store several shots without committing them to the slower CompactFlash card.

Other features include:

• Advanced flash modes including Rear Curtain Sync and Repeating flash
• Record up to three minutes of QuickTime video with audio
• Hot shoe for adding powered accessories

Power and Size
An included rechargeable Li-ion EN-EL1 battery powers the camera for up to 110 minutes when using the LCD monitor. The camera measures 4.3-inches by 2.9-inches by 2.7-inches and weighs 11.3 ounces without the batteries and storage media.

What's in the Box
The 5400 comes with a lens cap, camera strap, AV cable, Nikon Coolpix Starter Memory Card, USB cable, rechargeable Li-ion battery, external battery charger, and a Nikon View software CD-ROM. ... Read more

Features

• 5 megapixel sensor (2592 x 1944 pixels) for enlargements up to 20 x 30 inches
• 4x optical plus 4x digital (16x total) zoom lens with autofocus
• Fully-articulating 1.5" LCD; shutter speeds from 1/4,000 second up to 10 minutes; 256-segment matrix metering
• Includes 16 MB CompactFlash card; compatible with MicroDrives
• Powered by rechargeable lithium-ion battery(EN-EL1, included); connects to PCs and Macs via USB 1.1

Reviews (23)

Nikon's Coolpix 5400 is full of Great Features
Finally decided to get the Nikon 5400 from Amazon at the regular Nikon suggested price, because I have grown to trust Amazon, and my impression is that the "lower priced" 5400's out there are mostly gray market. This made-in-Japan wonder, has not let me down. Have been using the 5400 about 10 days now. I took camera and manual up to a lean-to in the Adirondacks for an overnight, and had a great time trying the various features. I took pictures in the deep forest in a misty rain, using a Leki Photo walking stick as a monopod and got great results. I set the white balance for "cloudy" and colors were rendered accurately. Subsequently, on a clear day in the shade, with white balance set to "shade", greens were nice and warm - not blue as with slide film (unless you put on a filter.) You can even bring along a piece of white paper, aim the camera at it, and set the white balance precisely for any lighting situation. I have methodically plodded through the manual, and pleasant surprises abound. The camera is a joy to use, controls are well deployed. And with battery, it only weighs 13 oz - a backpacker's dream camera, with 28 - 116 zoom. This is possibly the only 5 MP camera on the market with a 28mm equivalent wide angle lens integral to the camera. In macro, it will focus as close as 1/2 inch! If you are into scenics and nature, this is the camera to own. The only down side so far is the viewfinder (the glass one you look through) which has a somewhat restricted view.

solid 5MP camera with 4x zoom, but compare vs competition
the nikon coolpix 5400 is a solid 5MP, 4x zoom camera with a strong feature set. but it has a few shortcomings so make sure to consider its competition.

pros:
- 5MP and 4x optical zoom.
- good color response, average resolution for 5MP.
- photos have very low noise.
- allows a great deal of manual control.
- macro mode better than most.
- low redeye occurrence.
- virtually free of chromatic aberrations.
- shadow highlights maintained.
- timed exposures up to 10 minutes.
- expandable with a boatload of lenses, flashes, and other accessories from nikon.
- wider lens than most.
- supports CF card types I and II.
- flip-out LCD display - protects LCD when not in use.
- high resolution LCD with anti-reflective coating that actually works.
- very comfortable to hold with a deep hand grip made of soft rubber.
- compact body feels solid.
- reprogrammable FUNC button, and initial record menu.
- above average battery life (i still recommend getting a spare though).

cons:
- some lens distortion, especially at maximum zoom.
- images occasionally appear soft around corners.
- slow response interface, non-intuitive menus.
- no AF assist light - very puzzling why nikon doesn't provide this.
- to add insult to injury, this camera has a hard time focusing in low light so an AF assist light would really come in handy.
- average auto focus speed.
- buffering issue? the camera locks towards the end of write process.
- slow CF write speed / processing.
- you're on your own when using manual focus - it doesn't show focus distance.
- LCD smaller than competition.
- RAW mode not supported.
- flimsy cover for CF slot.
- no live histogram in record mode.
- no support for external Speedlight features such as AF assist or flash zoom.
- connectivity options all over the place rather than in a central location.
- uses proprietary battery so make sure you add some $$ to your budget to get a spare.
- the supplied 16MB CF card is inadequate - again, more $$ for more memory.

the coolpix 5400 is a solid camera from nikon with a very strong feature set. it will produce very good pics in point and shoot mode but still has full manual control if you want to be more creative with your shots. i've given this a 4-star rating because of two important factors for me: the lack of an AF assist light and the dead time at the end of write process. i would suggest that you consider the canon g5 and the sony dsc-v1 before committing to the nikon 5400.

i hope this helps with your buying decision. peace.

A Pro's camera
Having had some doubt about the ability to get high performance from a digital camera (below stratospheric costs), I decide to try the Nikon 5400. It has delivered consistent, fine images and allows many pre-set modes to shoot as well as manual control. A top piece of equipment with Nikon know-how.

Powerful Camera in a Compact Size
This camera measures roughly 4"x3"x2.5". It weighs 0.8 lbs with the battery. As I am 200 lb size man, this camera definitely is compact for me.
The camera is powerful. It has a wide angle lens, standard. The optical zoom is 4x. Shutter speeds range from 10 mins (bulb) to 1/8000 sec (ultra high speed); but, 97% of my shooting uses 1/8 sec to 1/700 sec shutter speeds. f/ values range from 2.8 to 8.0 (8.0 reached at 4x zoom). In 1600x1200 jpg fine picture mode, it can snap 7 frames in 2.7 sec (high speed continuous), or 54 frames in 33.5 sec (low speed continuous). For faster continuous shooting, I recommend using the QuickTime movie mode (includes sound), rather than the ultra high speed continuous mode. The movie mode is 15 fps, 3 mins max at 320x240 pixels or 70 secs max at 640x480 pixels. You can combine and edit the movie clips, using QuickTime Pro software ($30 extra).
The camera can be used in fully auto mode, or for the best pictures, you will want to go to the fully manual mode ( this will be a learning experience for the novice). Also, available, if you need extra high quality pictures (better than jpg), you can use the TIFF 2,592x1,944 pixel mode (5 mega-pixels is also available for the jpg images).
The color accuracy of this camera is very high. While photo editing the pictures, I seldom need more than one click of adjustment to achieve perfect color, and half the time , zero adjustment is needed.
Auto focus will be 97-100% accurate in average or bright light, but if the light is very dim, then the auto focus quits working. Also, the natural focus of the lens tends to be soft, so that a setting of high image sharpening, + contrast, and +1 color saturation is recommended. The lens has rather low chromatic and linear aberration.
The auto ISO sensitivity and the auto white balance of the camera is generally very good , so no manual adjustment is needed or recommended. Image "noise" is almost zero at ISO's of 50 to 150.
The monitor measures 1 1/4" x 7/8" , 1.5" diagonally. It is easy to see the image in bright sunlight, and has good resolution at 134,000 pixels. The monitor is big enough for me - I am nearsighted, but a lot of people would prefer the 1.8" size monitor.
I can't give this camera a 5 star rating, because, then you would have to give the professional league cameras a 6 star rating. But, for its size and weight, Nikon has made a very powerful camera.

Doesn't deserve to be called a Nikon
In recent weeks, I put many hours into researching the pros and cons of particular prosumer cameras; finally I settled on the 5400, a camera that was to be an upgrade from my three-and-a-half-year-old Nikon Coolpix 990. The old 990 had proved to be a dependable workhorse; other than some self-inflicted problems that occurred after I spilled some sugary soda on it (I had to have it professionally cleaned to the tune of $200!), it never let me down. Still, I'm getting more serious about my photography, and wanted something with better resolution and more advanced options.

I had been really looking forward to receiving the 5400 and was predisposed to liking the camera a lot. In reality, I soured on the thing within 72 hours.

First of all, BELIEVE what camera cognoscenti say about the inability of the 5400 to autofocus in low-light conditions. What I hadn't understood until I was shooting with the camera is that 'low light' doesn't necessarily refer to broom closets or dinners by candlelight. I was snapping pics of my two-year-old in the living room today, on a sunny afternoon, with the blinds mostly open. Half the time, I couldn't get the camera to lock no matter what. Moving to the hallway, where there's only indirect light sthat streams in from the living room and dining room, effectively rendered the camera inoperable. I encountered no such problems outside, so if the great outdoors is where you do all your shooting, the 5400 may be for you.

Except for one other thing -- and this is a biggie. What absolutely DESTROYS this camera's performance is its pathetic color accuracy. Maybe I got a lemon -- I find it hard to believe that Nikon, the top-of-the heap manufacturer of pro-quality imaging equipment, would release a model that is so wildly off in how the internal chip processes color. But at least with the specimen I have, all the colors come out hyped. I photographed a still life that included some salmon-colored paper; it acquired a distinct, troublesome reddish tint in the picture I took with the 5400. This is a CRITICAL area for any camera; if it doesn't render reds and pinks accurately, it's an almost useless tool, as Caucasian faces, especially, will look ruddy and unappealing. And my 5400 has trouble with other hues, too, first turning a purplish blue shirt into a something much more like ROYAL blue, then pulling the exact same feat with a baby blue yogurt lid in another still life. It makes no sense to me either, but there it is.

I spent HOURS tweaking white balance and playing with the camera's saturation settings, all to little avail. Was the 5400's (too-small) display at fault, perhaps, as opposed to its internal color-rendering chip? I wish. After transferring the pictures to my Mac G4 and opening them in Photoshop 7, the same problems were immediately evident on the big monitor. To a degree, the 'off' colors can be corrected in Photoshop, of course. But sorry Nikon, I'm not prepared to do that kind of digital cosmetic surgery on virtually every picture I take.

My old Nikon 990 has better color accuracy by a mile; so does a more recent four-megapixel Canon A70 point-and-shoot that a friend was using to photograph the same test scenes on which I trained the 5400.

I should note that I am not a professional photographer, and that I'm probably much more forgiving of mild deviations in color and sharpness than a pro lensman would be. But the problems I mentioned are far from mild. They were, in fact, easily picked up and commented on by my wife, who is supremely uninterested in tweaky, geeky stuff, and who would presumably be happy with an old Kodak Brownie if it took halfway decent pictures.

I still give the 5400 two stars because the macro pictures it takes are nothing short of astounding (if you can forget about the patently incorrect colors for a moment). A picture of the engraving inside a ring brought out awesome detail, even specks of dust and scratches that were hard to pick up with the naked eye. A photo of a piece of transparent sticky tape I'd pulled off an envelope showed paper fibers in such detail, it seemed that by zooming in just one step further, actual atoms would appear in the image...

Still, all told, I'm sorely disappointed, and so this camera is going back to Amazon for a refund. Guess I'll be trying out the twice-as-expensive Nikon D-70 next, hopefully with much better results. ... Read more

Product Description

The D70s builds on the success of its popular predecessor, the D70, with multiple internal and external refinements including an improved autofocus system, larger LCD monitor, the addition of a remote cord port, new graphic user interface, among several other enhancements. Designed for a broad range of consumers from experienced and amateur photographers to beginning photo enthusiasts and hobbyists, the D70s offers a proven track record of superior image quality, robust performance, and advanced new features. Its DX format 6.1-effective megapixel CCD sensor is optimized to deliver images with excellent sharpness and clarity. An improved autofocus system delivers enhanced performance, especially in Dynamic area AF and Dynamic area AF with closest subject priority modes. This combined with Nikon's unique Dynamic Buffer technology (that allows the camera to continuously take up to 144 pictures at a speed of three pictures per second*) makes the D70s even more responsive when photographing fast moving subjects. Nikon has taken the internationally best-selling D70 digital SLR camera and made it even more appealing to hobbyists and photo enthusiasts by incorporating a range of enhancements and new features that were based largely on the feedback they received from their customers and research findings. The D70s represents a combination of performance and value for photo enthusiasts, and offers superb image quality, advanced speed and simple, intuitive usability. ... Read more

Features

• Supplied Accessories -Rechargeable Li-ion Battery EN-EL3a, Quick Charger MH-18a, Video Cable, USB Cable UC-E4, Strap, Body cap, Eyepiece Cap DK-5, Rubber Eyecup DK-20, LCD monitor cover BM-5, PictureProject CD-ROM software

Amazon.com Product Description

Boasting an impressive 8-megapixel resolution and 8x optical zoom lens, the Nikon Coolpix 8700 is a great choice for professional and advanced amateur photographers. Compared with its predecessor--Nikon's Coolpix 5700--the Coolpix 8700 has a faster start-up time, faster data recording, shorter release time lag and a new AF-Assist illuminator for quick AF operation in low light. It also features a movie mode with audio, a lightweight magnesium alloy body, PictBridge compatibility, and much more.

Optics and Resolution
The ultra-high resolution Coolpix 8700 has a 2/3-inch-type CCD that captures up to 3264 x 2448 images for poster-size print enlargements. Other resolution modes include 3264 x 2176, 2592 x 1944, 2048 x 1536, 1600 x 1200, 1280 x 960, 1024 x 768, and 640 x 480. The 8x optical Zoom-Nikkor lens (f/2.8 - 4.2) offers a focal range of 8.9-71.2mm (equivalent to 35-280mm in 35mm format). It also has a 4x digital zoom. The lens incorporates two ED (Extra-low Dispersion) glass elements that minimize chromatic aberration for sharp, clear images. Additionally, the Optical Low-Pass Filter is optimized, which helps the high-definition CCD image sensor get the best optical performance.

See detailed views of the 8700's features: Front Back Top

Movie Mode
In addition to snapping brilliant still photos, the Coolpix 8700 can also capture video with audio. It offers four movie modes: TV movie (640 x 480 pixels; 30 fps) with audio, Small movie (320 x 240 pixels; 15 fps) with audio, sepia movie (320 x 240 pixels; 5 fps) with audio, and time-lapse movie (640 x 480 pixels; 30 fps).

More Features
The Coolpix 8700 offers Programmed Auto, Shutter-Priority Auto, Aperture-Priority Auto, and Manual, as well as Exposure Compensation for an exceptional degree of exposure control. Nikon's 256-segment Matrix Metering system enables optimal exposures in even the most challenging lighting conditions, while its Matrix Auto White Balance neutralizes color deviations created by ambient light sources.The convenient Best Shot Selector (BSS) function automatically selects the sharpest image from a series of consecutive shots--especially valuable during macro or telephoto shooting.

The 5-shot buffer mode retains the last 5 shots when the shutter button is continually pressed and then released in order to capture unexpected or fleeting moments. The continuous shooting feature captures 2.5 (H) or 1.2 (L) frames per second. Alternatively, you can use the new Multi-shot mode to capture 16 consecutive frames in a single image.It's equipped with a large, vari-angle 1.8-inch LCD monitor for increased visibility--even during bright daylight and a high-resolution EVF (Electronic Viewfinder) that offers greater contrast and clearer images.

Other features include:

• Continuous shooting of up to 5 full-size (3,264 x 2,448-pixel) pictures at 2.5 frames per second (fps)
• 12 Scene Modes: Portrait, Party/Indoor, Night portrait, Beach/Snow, Landscape, Sunset, Night landscape, Fireworks show, Close up, Copy, Back light, and Panorama assist
• RAW mode image recording
• Accessory shoe to accommodate attachment of external Nikon SB-series Speedlights
• Fast shutter speed of 1/4,000 seconds and maximum 10 minute long exposure mode (along with noise reduction mode for long-time exposures)

The camera's magnesium alloy body is rugged and lightweight.

Storage and Transfer
Images and video are stored on CompactFlash memory cards (Type I/II), and the Coolpix 8700 is compatible with MicroDrives (no memory card is included with this package). Files can be downloaded to either a Mac or PC via USB 1.1 connectivity, which means it can be connected to any USB-based Windows 98/Me/2000/XP and Mac OS 8.6 or later computer without installing any software.

Power and Size
The camera is powered by a rechargeable lithium-ion battery (EN-EL1, included, captures approximately 210 images). It can also be powered by the optional MB-E5700 battery pack (6 AA batteries). It measures 4.4 by 4.1 by 3.1 inches and weighs 17 ounces (excluding battery).

What's in the Box
This package includes the Coolpix 8700 digital camera, rechargeable lithium-ion battery (EN-EL1), battery charger (MH-53), lens cap, camera strap, USB and A/V cables, and CD-ROM with Nikon View editing software and drivers. Optional accessories include: Fisheye Converter (FC-E9), Wideangle Converter (WC-E80), Telephoto Converter (TC-E15ED), Step-Down Ring Lens Adapter (UR-E12), Lens Hood (HR-E5700), Lens Hood (HN-CP11), AC Adapter (EH-53), Car Battery Charger (MH-53C), Remote Cord (MC-EU1), and Soft Case (CS-CP11). ... Read more

Features

• 8-megapixel sensor captures 3264 x 2448 images for poster-size plus print enlargements
• 8x optical zoom and 4x digital zoom (for 32x total zoom)
• Movie mode with audio; 5-shot buffer mode; fast start-up time
• Store images on CompactFlash type I/II memory cards; Microdrive compatible; no memory card included
• Powered by rechargeable lithium-ion battery (included); connects via USB 1.1

Reviews (8)

Flexible high resolution camera
This camera is well made and capable of creating very high quality images, if you take the time to learn to use it. Some of its functions are less than intuitive, but it will reward your time spent with the manual with professional quality images. In particular, the metering, white balance and macro capabilities are pro-quality. However, due to shutter lag, this isn't a good choice for shooting sports. The 8 megapixel resolution lets you make 13X19 inch prints or larger that are photo quality. Using a tripod will also pay off with razor sharp close ups and excellent color saturation. This is a wonderful camera for portraits, scenics, and especially close up shots,where the fold out, tilting LCD screen really can be helpful in getting unique angles on your subject. This camera also allows you to use many of Nikons Speedlights (electronic flashes) to get the light on your subject when it is too far for the built in flash. This is a very flexible and capable machine. I do recommend getting a second battery and the lens hood to eliminate lens flare under most conditions. I highly recommend this camera to those who choose not to go with a digital SLR. It is the next best thing and it is MUCH more portable and flexible.

The Best Out There!
Okay, I tested all the 8MP out there and so far this is the one I have to say is the best. It is a little bit harder to get used too, but believe me. Once you get the hang of it, there is no going wrong. I do recommend getting the fastest memory card there is. I am shooting "raw images" and the faster the card the faster you get the picture. It is a NIKON.

Undecided..Great Tool but...Color Cast is too Blue for Me.
Dont misunderstand, this is no dought a wonderful Camera, but I have to compare these Images to My Sony 5meg all the time and this camera is just not as easy and doesnt take photos of people as well. I have studied the Manual since day one, and have taken over a thousand pics...The Sony has Very rich fleshtones, Nikon is Blue, thats the only way I can describe it, I have to Import alot of the images into photoshop to get rid of the Blueish cast, probably my fault and need to study the book more but why should I have to?..The Sony has much better AUTO features, and way better focusing abilities...I bought this camera because of the power and size of the lens...It will fit through a chain link fence, where as the Sony will not, and I am constantly behind fences at sporting events, The Size of the Sony 8meg was just too big to throw into my pack, the Nikon is easier to carry and has an unbelievable lens range for a camera of this size...35-280 is the best of the bunch in the 8meg range...So..my humble opinion, if you want a compact 8meg...this camera is a good tool, just be ready to study and practice with it...If you want 8megs and an easy auto camera, with better focus and much better pictures of people then get the Sony8meg...This Nikon has frustrated me from day one and I am pretty good at photography...I own six digital cameras and this is my first Nikon...Nikon does have an incredible range of accesories for this camera and it is a keeper, I will just have to keep practicing with it and try to figure out why the Hue seems too blue for me...It takes incredible photos of landscapes and the outdoor shots are wonderfull, the lens range is worth keeping it alone...It is so much smaller than my Sony F717...8megs is better for printing 13x19 high quality...No pixelation with my Canon S9000...So...Nikon=serious tool and learning curve....Sony=Auto mode point and shoot with not much study/practice...I now own both so I know...If you aint gonna practice with the Nikon then Get the Sony 8meg or 5meg...Hope this is helpful...cause these are thousand dollar choices.

Great Camera!!
I upgraded to a Coolpix 8700 from a old Kodak DX3500, now my kodak took wonderful pictures, and continued to amaze me. But after download the first pictures I took with this camera in their eye popping glory I was caught, hook, line, sinker.

While this camera is perfect for an amateur aspiring professional it would probably be lacking to any real professional, and I plan to compliment it with a 35mm SLR.

The learning curve on this camera can be quite high, with alot of features and buttons to learn, but after a few hours of playing I managed to get most of the features down. The button layout is also nicely placed, I find it easy to navigate the buttons by touch while using the view finder.

But why talk when you can show! Here are some pictures I took the day I received this camera not 20 minutes after the battery finished charging! No special lighting, in fact it was overcast and raining and sorta dark the day these were taken. (...)Simply amazing! (...)

The best fixed-lens SLR digital camera.
This is Nikon's upgrade from the excellent Coolpix 5700, and it is a truly excellent piece of engineering. If I were in the market for a digital SLR with a fixed-lens, this would easily be my choice. Cameras such as this one illustrate convincingly that film is all but dead for serious photographers. This camera's 8 megapixel resolution will produce stunning images that the user can view at once, without the hassle of the processing lab.

The 8X optical zoom lens on this camera seems excellent both for portrait shots, landscapes, and nature shots, and only professionals or very serious amateurs will miss the ability to switch between lenses. The pictures I took were sharp and bright. Make no mistake, this camera produces excellent images.

Finally, Nikon put an AF-assist on a prosumer-grade camera. This is a significant improvement over the excellent Coolpix 5700, the predecessor to this camera. The buffer is bigger too, allowing the user to take more shots before the camera has to write to the CF card.

With this camera, the photographer can take a large number of digital photographs, upload to one's personal computer, and either print out pro-grade prints with an inexpensive printer (OK, the ink cartridges aren't that cheap but the printers are) or email the photos to any of several processing labs, who will mail you your prints in a day or so. Or, you can do it the old-fashioned way, and take your images to a processing lab and download the images there for printing, similar to dropping off a roll of film in the old days. You can do this AFTER you pick only the pix you want to keep--one of digital's many and major advantages over film. Further, Nikon's Capture 4 program, or Adobe Photoshop or Photoshop Elements gives us a "digital darkroom" that is more powerful than what pros can do in a $20,000 chemical film darkroom. With just a moderately powerful personal computer. The digital darkroom has truly arrived.

Ergonomically, I really like the size and layout of this camera. It is significantly smaller than the interchangeable-lens SLRs, although this is no pocket camera. It has a wonderful quality feel to it--the user knows immediately that this is a world-class precision instrument. I found the camera to be a joy to handle and use. The pictures are commensurate.

The main issue with this camera is one of choice and preference: do you spend the money for this camera, with its excellent fixed zoom lens, or do you opt for a full SLR digital camera such as Nikon's D70, D100, or other comparable cameras that allow one to use the full line of autofocus lenses. This camera costs almost as much as these semi-professional grade SLRs, so the buyer should think about this before buying.

This is an excellent upgrade over the superb Coolpix 5700 and users will enjoy taking excellent images with this precision instrument. ... Read more

Features

• 4.0-megapixel sensor captures enough detail to create photo-quality 11-by-15-inch enlargements
• 8.3x optical zoom, 4x digital zoom
• 15 versatile scene modes automatically handle focus, exposure, and white balance
• Store images on 13.5 MB internal memory or use SD memory card slot
• Powered by EN-El1 Lithium-ion rechargeable battery

Product Description

The D50 is the smallest, lightest and easiest-to-use Nikon digital SLR camera to date, The Nikon D50 outfit, including the new AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED lens is designed for the broadest range of photographers including family memory-keepers looking to take advantage of the image quality, speed and responsiveness Nikon digital SLR's offer, as well as photo enthusiasts and amateur photographers who want to capture brilliant digital pictures with vibrant color and immaculate sharpness. The new entry-level D50 makes exceptional digital SLR photography a reality for everyone. Nikon is intend on bringing a fulfilling digital SLR photography experience to more photographers than ever before and help them capture their most precious memories with great quality and ease. The D50 inherits the high image quality, responsiveness and speed consumers have come to expect of Nikon's digital SLR cameras, while also embodying a simple, intuitive and compact design, so anyone in the family can use it without hesitation. The Ultimate Family Camera - The D50 stands out as ideal for families searching for that perfect camera to capture timeless memories during important occasions and life events such as weddings, first homeruns, birthdays, prom night, and golden anniversaries, among others. The D50 is the perfect combination of intelligent, easy-to-use features and impeccable image quality, and represents an excellent value for its capabilities. ... Read more

Features

• Stores images on SD cards; powered by Lithium-ion battery (battery and Quick Charger supplied)
• 6.1-megapixel sensor captures enough detail for photo-quality 14 x 19-inch prints
• Compatible with AF and DX Nikkor lenses; kit includes 18-55mm f3.5-5.6G ED AF-S DX Zoom Nikkor lens
• Continuous shooting at 2.5 frames per second for bursts of up to 137 pictures
• 2.0-inch LCD display; 7 scene modes, including new Child mode

Product Description

The D70s builds on the success of its popular predecessor, the D70, with multiple internal and external refinements including an improved autofocus system, larger LCD monitor, the addition of a remote cord port, new graphic user interface, among several other enhancements. Designed for a broad range of consumers from experienced and amateur photographers to beginning photo enthusiasts and hobbyists, the D70s offers a proven track record of superior image quality, robust performance, and advanced new features. Its DX format 6.1-effective megapixel CCD sensor is optimized to deliver images with excellent sharpness and clarity. An improved autofocus system delivers enhanced performance, especially in Dynamic area AF and Dynamic area AF with closest subject priority modes. This combined with Nikon's unique Dynamic Buffer technology (that allows the camera to continuously take up to 144 pictures at a speed of three pictures per second*) makes the D70s even more responsive when photographing fast moving subjects. Nikon has taken the internationally best-selling D70 digital SLR camera and made it even more appealing to hobbyists and photo enthusiasts by incorporating a range of enhancements and new features that were based largely on the feedback they received from their customers and research findings. The D70s represents a combination of performance and value for photo enthusiasts, and offers superb image quality, advanced speed and simple, intuitive usability. ... Read more

Features

• Near-Instant Power-Up in 0.2 Seconds -Turn the D70s on and with a power-up time of a mere 0.2 seconds, it?s ready to shoot. Pictures are processed and recorded extremely quickly. Preview images appear on the LCD monitor almost instantly.

Product Description

7.1-megapixel effective recording * 3X optical Zoom-Nikkor ED glass lens (4X digital/12X total zoom) * 35mm equivalent lens focal length: 38-114mm * 14 MB of built-in memory (holds about 4 images at highest quality setting) * 1-13/16" color LCD * In-Camera Red-Eye Fix * Face Priority autofocus for in-focus portraits * ... Read more

Features

• Powered by AA-size batteries; stores images on SD memory cards
• 7.0-megapixel CCD captures enough detail for for photo-quality 15 x 20-inch prints
• 3x optical zoom through a quality Zoom-Nikkor lens (zoom is equivalent to 38-114mm in a 35mm camera)
• 1.8-inch LCD display; exclusive Nikon In-Camera Red-Eye Fix
• Macro shooting as close as 1.6 inches

Features

• 4-megapixel sensor captures enough detail to create photo-quality 11-by-15-inch enlargements
• 3x optical Zoom-Nikkor lens combines with 4x digital zoom for 12x total zoom
• One-Touch Red-Eye Fix feature; movie mode with sound; PictBridge compatible
• Store images in 14.5 MB internal memory or optional Secure Digital (SD) cards
• Powered by 2 AA-size batteries (alkaline included; rechargeable Ni-MH recommended); connects to computers via USB

Reviews (1)

Great deal!
It's the best deal if you wanna spend around 250$. ... Read more

Features

• 3x optical zoom Nikkor lens (35mm equiv of 35mm - 105mm)
• 1.5-inch color LCD screen; voice recording of up to 5 hours; One-Touch Red-Eye Fix feature
• Stores images on Secure Digital (SD) memory card (16 MB SD card included)
• Powered by a EN-EL5 rechargeable lithium-ion battery (included with AC adapter that charges the battery in-camera)
• 3.2-megapixel resolution for photo-quality 11 x 14 sized prints

Reviews (11)

Fantastic digicam, you can't go wrong with this one.
I purchased the Nikon CoolPix 3700 after much research and chose it over the Canon S400. I've been extremely satisfied with the quality of the pictures and videos. This camera was rated #1 Best Buy by PC World and for good reason.

Pros:
-rediculously light and very sturdy
-has a long, narrow shape that is more natural in your hand and your pocket as compared with the more square Canon S400 and other Nikon Coolpix cameras
-almost NO SHUTTER LAG, a big plus when photographing people who don't like to hold still for too long.
-EXCELLENT PICTURE QUALITY, 3MP is PLENTY for most uses.
-takes such great videos (with sound) that it might just replace your video camera.
-easy to set up and fairly straightforward menus
-uses SD memory which is generally better than CF.
-pretty good battery life, recharges fast, most users probably won't need an extra battery.
-if you need it, Nikon's tech support line is very helpful (toll-free and 24/7!)

Cons:
-Performance in low-light isn't great, but that is the case with most other cameras of this type.
-No case included and only comes with 16MB SD card. A leather case and 256MB SD card will set you back about a hundred bucks. (256MB is the ideal size, I recommend Panasonic SD cards because they record at 10MB/s)
-on/off switch and zoom buttons are awkwardly placed/shaped, should be switched, takes some getting used to.
-included USB cord is a bit fragile, I had to get a replacement from tech support
-3x optical zoom isn't much. If you want a lot of zoom go 10x.

Overall a great camera with the best performance in this price range. Highly recommended, it's really a hidden gem. Perfect as a first digicam or for someone who wants to upgrade.

Excellent Value (With some major caveats)
I've owned and used all sorts of digital cameras. My three last digital cameras were Sony and they all had some things in common: 1)the picture quality was not up to par, 2)the MemoryStick(tm) has very slow write/read speeds. When I decided to browse for a new camera, the usual brands came to mind...Olympus, Minolta, Kodak. However, the product offerings were not tantalizing to me. I then looked-up for Nikon and to my surprise they had the product I was looking for at a price I could afford.

Let me tell you, the camera is very small and light. The picture quality is DEFINITELY superior to that of Sony's and Kodak's I've used. The full-quality, full-TV-screen video option is very good and comparable to full-fledged DV cameras. The options are vast. The user interface is very intuitive and easy to get around of. The versatility of using SecureDigital media is definitely a plus, since it can be used in PDAs, cell phones, et cetera. The voice-recording option can be very handy. The flash recharge time is minimal (it used to take my Sony good 10 seconds to do the same). The auto-shutter is pretty good. And the Auto-Focus is very precise. It's worth its price and then some. I highly recommend this device. A must for digital photography enthusiasts.

***Ok, I wrote this review before trying night-time shots. To my dismay, in low-lights the camera it's incredibly useless. It won't let you shoot w/o flash-- period. I'm incredibly frustrated. It does not let you choose manually the shutter spped and the pre-set scene options are ludicrous. It's a shame, because it took such a good pictures with good light...but tonight was nothing short of catastrophic.

Compact size, metal body
Pros:
-compact size, stylish
-metal body, nice build quality
-selectable AF sensor and metering in M-record mode, each AF bracket acts as spot meter, useful for tricky lighting
-framing guides on LCD
-generally competent metering, Auto white balance, focusing. again, for difficult lighting, the AF sensor acts as spot meter in M-record mode
-straightforward transfer with Nikon View, although a separate card reader is recommended instead of connecting camera directly to computer, this is to save those USB contacts in the camera from wearing out prematurely.

Cons:
-movie mode exhibits that notorious audio-sync problem
-hot or dead pixels on my unit, resulting to those annoying white spots on the image when viewed at full size
-Scene Modes disable features here and there, and that set up may not be what you really want
-no option to set ISO, camera adjusts ISO on its own, which may result in noisy images
-more on noise, you really need lots of illumination, either daylight or flash, to keep the camera from bumping the ISO up, and with it, the noise
-still having difficulty dealing with the green cast of fluorescent lighting (as do most cameras)
-button operated zooming, with those tiny Wide-Tele buttons, especially when in Macro mode, is not the easiest thing to do

Overall, a decent picture taker that requires well-lit scenes to perform well. That means it is a "flashy" camera. For someone used to the Olympus Stylus, this is not an issue, however, this camera is not for those who prefer shooting without flash, especially indoors. There's the auto-ISO issue mentioned above, which leads to noise, also, the lightweight and small size of the camera, not to mention all those buttons which get in the way of the left hand, prevents any decent steady handhold. This maybe the reason for those soft lens comments from other reviewers, among other variables (e.g. how is the Sharpness set?).

Many of the cons are limitations imposed by the small size of the camera. Regardless of make, for compact cameras, these limitations are something one must live by. If you want more control (to prevent the ISO from bumping up by itself), and you want to stay Nikon, the larger Coolpixes (4500, 5xxx) maybe the better choices. The Canon A70/75/80 also offer greater controls, but at the expense of compactness. However, I cannot believe that Nikon or any other manufacturer for that matter, cannot make a compact that allows manual ISO setting.

The decent build and finish of this camera are regrettably offset by noise issues, and in my sample, dead pixels, which prevents me from giving this camera a higher rating.

Good Product
Fully function, good price and the mail-in rebates process is faster. Highly recommend.

nice body, so-so lens
The CP-3700 is my 5th camera I owned in 5 years due to my traveling need. The last one I use was Nikon CP-3100 and which have been lost by my friend, I then bought this Nikon CP-3700.

This camera is very handsome and small. Its whole metal body is stylish and well built. It can easily fit into any pocket, so you can carry it all the time and never lose a scenery. This camera is fast and its vedio mode is super that takes 640*480 vedio with sound, and the length is only limited by the memory card you installed. And this camera has assistance beam to help focus at low light condition. However, when talking about image quality, I am not impressed.

The color of the pictures are always very good, and seems they were always well exposured, however, most of the images are not very sharp, even compared to the cheaper and older CP-3100. besides, serious distortion occurs at the wide angle, which makes those pictures looks very bad especially when there were big buildings near the edge.

So, if you want a small nice-looking camera and you are going to take family pictures or party pictures or for flowers or yor dog, this one is good. However, if you are going to take picture with part of building in it, say you are going to shot in New York or Paris, then avoid this one, or you will find curved skyscrapers and cathedrals in your picture.

I already gave this camera to my girl friend. I may buy the Sony DSC-W1 for my next digital camera, it is slitly bigger but it comes with Carl-Zeiss lens, some manual controls and can attach with some converters. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

Building on the success of the amateur range of Coolpix cameras, Nikon has introduced the Coolpix 5700 in an attempt to bridge the gap between the amateur and professional markets. This time around Nikon has gone for a semicompact feel, combining an almost palm-size unit with a powerful features one would expect to find on a high-specification midrange digital camera.

The swiveling, swing-out screen on the Coolpix 5700 makes it easier to frame self-portrait, overhead, and floor-level shots.

The Coolpix 5700 comes equipped with an automatic pop-up flash, plus a hot-shoe for additional flash units. The bundled NikonView 5 browser software makes it simple to download, organize, and print images. The package includes a lens cap, camera strap, 16 MB CompactFlash card, AV cable, USB cable, rechargeable lithium-ion battery, and battery charger. It is compatible with CompactFlash memory cards (Type I or II), as well as IBM Microdrives.

The 5700 allows the use of the viewfinder or the LCD monitor (which rotates through 180 degrees after it's opened out) for framing a picture, providing full freedom of movement and allowing you to capture a picture at any angle--no matter how obtuse. Zoom capability has been increased on the 5700, and the camera features an impressive 8x optical zoom, the results from which are good at all levels and distances. Supporting a maximum resolution of 2,560 x 1,920 (4.91 megapixels), an ISO range of 100 to 800, and a top shutter speed of 1/4,000, this camera is definitely a good all-rounder, providing you with great flexibility under different conditions.

The 5700 performs admirably, producing results way above expectation. Color balance is good, and the overall results are of a very high quality. We did have a middling complaint about its size, which actually feels a bit on the small size. With an extra couple of centimeters added to the bodywork, the 5700 would have felt much easier to handle and control in everyday usage. The position of the camera strap attachment also seems awkward, being as it is located on the upper right quadrant of the lens housing, making it sometimes difficult to gain a good grip when in use.

These criticisms aside, the Coolpix 5700 is bound to be another sure-fire hit for Nikon, balancing the huge 5-megapixel image size against a competitive pricepoint. For those not yet ready to move up to the professional level of 35mm digital SLRs such as the Nikon D100, the Coolpix 5700 proves to be a worthy alternative. --Elly Russell

Pros:

• Palm-sized 5-megapixel camera with a powerful feature set
• Includes sizeable 16 MB memory card--can accept IBM Microdrives
• 8x optical zoom

Cons:

• Could be slightly larger for easier handling

Features

• 5.0 megapixel sensor creates 2,560 x 1,920 images for prints at 11 x 14 and beyond
• 8x optical zoom and 4 x digital zoom for 32x total; provides an equivalent zoom range of 35mm-280mm in 35mm photography
• Includes 16 MB CompactFlash card; MicroDrive compatible
• Connects with PCs and Macs via USB port
• Uses 1 rechargeable Li-ion EN-EL1 battery (included)

Reviews (93)

Nikon 5700, first 1000 pictures
I have owned this camera for 6 months and find its picture quality superb. The ability to preprogram for certain functions such as cloudy lighting, movie mode, and a third incandescent light ( you can program many other features easily yourself) all easily accessible through the turn of a dial, are wonderful to have. Accessing the macro function is also readily accessible. I mad 700 pictures in the Galapagos islands, and having 5 mega pixels to crop and enlarge to make great 8X10 pictures that are really wonderful. The movie function with sound is much better than my Nikon 880. the 8X zoom functioned well. Comparing my photos with those of my fellow travelers, I think the colors are more saturated and clearer.

Reading the instruction manual is important to use all the features of this camera. Battery life is shorter than I would like. Focusing when there is not much light and at times for close-ups is slow. Since I had read about this from others, I was prepared and accepted it. I have not tried manual focusing yet. Taking pictures of fast moving objects is possible, but difficult, as with most non-professional digital cameras. I enthusiastically recommend this camera.

Color Print Film is Dead
The 8x zoom and 5 megapixels finally lured me from film about 6 months ago. I am a nature/landscape photographer using medium and large format, and gave up my 35mm equipment a few years ago. I just came back from a month long trip to the Antarctic, and the prints I've made from the Nikon are sharp,in focus, and colorful. Plusses: very good lens, great zoom, excellent meter compensation for different light levels (think ice); good color balance; good beginner photo software;a heckuva lot lighter than a view camera. Minuses: shutter lag is annoying for action shots; forget the digital zoom; automatic preview gets in the way of repeated shots (can be overridden); buy an extra battery. Overall: This is a great little camera with the right mix of automatic features for the beginner, but with plenty of options to appeal to the more advanced (and particular) photographer. Put it on a tripod and it's awesome. Well worth the price premium over lesser offerings.

I love this camera to death
This is my second digital camera and it is the best. My mom has the 35mm Nikon and she loves it. Nikon is the best name in photagraphy and it shows. I just printed out my first photos and i am so impressed with the quality. I will never buy an other brand of cameras.

Fantastic Camera
As a novice shutterbug, a simple point & shoot digital was fine at first, but as I gained confidence, and became a little more serious, I found that I had quickly outgrown my Cannon A40. The Nikon 5700 seemed to be exactly what I needed, so I purchased one. To say I love the camera, would be an understatement! I'm still learning how to do what I want to, but being completely self-taught as far as photography, I understand there will be a learning curve. The features are supurb, without being overwhelming. While I'm sure the professional would consider it "not enough"... it more than suits my needs as my "hobby" grows. Perhaps one day, I'll want/need/be ready for a high end camera, but for under 1K, this one will definately help me develop my skills for quite some time!

One of the Best for the Price!
After reading these reviews I am starting to wonder if we are even discussing the same camera; people either love it or hate it. I am of the former persuasion: I really love this camera. No, it's not perfect, but all in all it is the best digital non-SLR machine I've ever used. First I'll discuss the things I'm not happy with; then I'll cover the features of which I am. After that section I'll address some of the complaints that I've read in some of the other reviews.

Let's get started:

What don't I like? I do wish the buttons on the side of the barrel were moved as they are a bit too easy to push by mistake, though once you get used to their location that sort of goes away. I also wish the tripod mount was directly in-line with the lens, not in the middle of the bottom of the case (though to be fair, that's the way it is with most cameras).

Nikon refers to the included 16 MB Compact Flash card (think of it as your digital film, if you aren't familiar with the digital camera world) as a "starter card"; and that unfortunately is true. 16 MB only holds 12 pics at 5 megapixels.. For the price of this instrument I strongly feel Nikon could include a larger capacity card; 64 MB or higher would be ideal but I'd settle for 32. Finally, it would be nice if the camera would accept other forms of media in addition to the compact flash or micro drive. However, this final observation isn't really a major complaint. It's more like a wish.

The things I love

Picture quality is first rate! The color and clarity of the pics are superb, as is the tolerance of slight hand shake. I've taken quite a few snaps where I've known I moved my hand a little at the last moment, and the pics came out razor sharp (not so with other cams). It has auto bracketing (it will take a series of shots that vary between a range you select for white balance/exposure, adjusting slightly between shots, and display the results with the data, allowing you to choose which is the most satisfying), best shot selector (you hold the shutter release button down and the 5700 takes a series of pics-up to 10-and saves the best focused to the card), image sharpening, noise reduction, and about a million other settings. It also allows you to save up to three sets of options or settings as "user settings", so you can recall the settings with just one menu choice, instead of resetting everything again.

One of my favorite features is the macro mode. You can take sharp amazing snaps up to 3 cm or 0.8". If any of you are interested in seeing a sample, send me an email.

The printed user guide is good; not great, but good. I haven't seen any that were better, and quite a few that were worse. You could buy a third party guide to the 5700, and they are usually worth the price, as they give you tips and lessons that the manual doesn't include. Also, the Nikon web site has a multimedia manual/lesson feature for the 5700, and it is a very good overview and covers the basics well. This is provided free of charge.

The case is metal, which makes it feel substantial and allows the quality of the build to come through. I don't feel that it is too small, in fact, it feels pretty much just right and I am rather ham-handed. I also love the fact the camera can save in the RAW format for use in programs such as Photoshop CS. Working with RAW images really opens the field of creativity.

Complaints Others Have Expressed
The most common seems to be the auto-focus at low light. I've not had any trouble at all with this feature. I've taken pics in pretty dim areas and the AF worked fine. I wonder if the folks who had problems had the selected the correct settings; a read of the manual could solve the apparent problems. In addition, you can turn the auto-focus off and use the manual (focus)

I've also read some have found the buttons confusing. Now here I feel I must get on my soapbox. "Prosumer" level cameras are called such and cost the amount they do because of the quality of the images as well as the user controlled settings/features/options. If you are going to spend the kind of cash these machines cost, then it only makes sense to devote some time to learning how everything works. Any camera at this level is similar, there are just too many options to be able to make everything appear when/where every single user expects them to.

I've taught enough people to know that some folks become very frustrated very quickly no matter what the subject. If this is you then I suggest you avoid the Coolpix 5700 or any of the other cameras at this level; you'll just drive yourself nuts. There are a number of good quality point and shoot models in the market and these will be a much better match. If you are one of the folks who enjoys learning new things and the challenge of such, then these types of cameras are great. In the case of the 5700 I found the menus quite intuitive; however, you do have to read the manual to get an overview of how the camera works.

Some people also complained about the battery life. I've not experienced any problems. In fact, I own dig cams from Kodak, Olympus, Pentax and Canon, and all operate about the same as the 5700. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Introducing the first digital camera to remove redeye in the camera--the Nikon Coolpix 5200. This metal-bodied compact digital camera features a thinner body and more stylized feature than its predecessors (the Coolpix 2200 and 3200). It offers a resolution of 5 megapixels, a 3x optical zoom, and image storage in the 12 MB built-in memory or Secure Digital memory cards.

Optics and Resolution
The 5.0-megapixel CCD lets you capture spectacular images at resolutions up to 2,592 x 1,944 (a 15 MB file) and print enlargements at sizes up to 16 x 20 inches. It also features 2,048 x 1,536 (3 MP), 1,600 x 1,200 (2 MP), 1,280 x 9,600 (1 MP), 1,024 x 768 (PC), and 640 x 480 (TV) resolution modes. The retractable 3x Nikkor zoom lens has a focal range of 7.8 to 23.4mm (equivalent to a 38-114mm lens in 35mm format), and features aspherical elements and an ED glass element. The Coolpix 5200 also has a 4x digital zoom.

Movie Mode
Capture video with audio at 30 frames per second (fps) at three different settings: 640 x 480, 320 x 240, or 160 x 120 pixels. Movie length is only limited by the amount of storage you have on hand (either in internal memory or on external memory cards).

More Features
Nikon's exclusive in-camera redeye fix function analyzes image data and corrects typical instances of redeye in less than 3 seconds. It's activated when the camera is set to redeye-reduction flash mode, where the typical preflash first minimizes the redeye effect. The camera then analyzes the picture using powerful image processing and analysis technology, which is completely automatic and transparent.

The 5200 features a 3x optical and a 4x digital zoom

You have a choice of automatic, preset, and seven manual white balance modes. Additionally, the Coolpix 5200 divides the shooting area into segments to determine the most appropriate setting for the faithful capture of colors. There's also a white-balance bracketing function, which takes a series of three shots at different white-balance settings with just a single press of the shutter release.

Other features include:

• 1.5-inch, 110,000-pixel LCD and real-image zoom viewfinder
• Built-in flash with redeye reduction, auto, anytime flash, flash cancel, and slow sync modes
• 15 scene modes, including four with Scene Assist (Portrait, Night Portrait, Landscape, Sports); others include Sunset, Close Up, Museum, Beach/Snow, Fireworks Show, Back Light, Party, Copy, Dusk/Dawn, and Night Landscape
• Best Shot Selector (BSS) takes a series of shots, then automatically picks and records the clearest one
• Macro shooting capability as close as 1.6 inches

Get as close as 1.6 inches in macro mode

Storage and Transfer
Images are stored in either the internal 12 MB flash RAM memory (with a capacity of approximately 10 high-resolution images) or on optional Secure Digital (SD) or MultiMedia (MMC) memory cards. Images can be downloaded to either Macs or PCs via USB 1.1, which means the camera can be connected to any USB-based PC running Windows Me/2000/XP or Mac running OS 8.6 or later without your having to install any software.

Power and Size
The camera is powered by a rechargeable lithium-ion battery (EN-EL5), which has an approximate battery life of 150 frames. It measures 3.5 by 2.3 by 1.4 inches (W x H x D) and weighs 5.5 ounces without the battery or memory card.

What's in the Box
This package contains the Nikon Coolpix 5200 digital camera, a hand strap, USB and A/V cables, a lithium-ion rechargeable battery (EN-EL5), a battery charger (MH-61), a quick-start guide, and an instruction manual. The CD-ROM features PictureProject photo management software, VideoImpression to edit QuickTime video files, and Panorama Maker to stitch together a number of images captured using the Panorama Assist Scene Mode. ... Read more

Features

• 5-megapixel sensor captures enough detail to create photo-quality 13-by-17-inch enlargements
• 3x Nikkor optical zoom lens combines with 4x digital zoom for 12x total zoom
• 1.5-inch LCD display; 15 Scene modes; movie mode with sound; PictBridge compatible
• Store images in 12 MB internal memory or optional Secure Digital (SD) cards
• Powered by rechargeable lithium-ion battery (included with charger)

Reviews (7)

Just whant to say
Hi-I just wanted to say that the guy who gave this 2 stars wrote that same review for a lot of cameras so dont be fooled by there review. Its a GREAT CAMERA!

a HUGE disappointment
I really wanted to love this camera - but alas, it was not to be. The ability to capture video with sound at VGA was a real big selling point for me, but of course, it is primarily a still camera....which is where it falls terribly short.

The first one I bought I had to return because the focus was defective. I called Nikon and they said to take it back. The second one took decent quality photos, but not only was there a pixel out on the display (which would be okay if the camera wasn't $525), but there was also a defect on the ocular viewfinder which showed as a "warped" area in the form of a line right across the center.

I have a Kodak DC290 2.1 MP that is about six years old and it takes much sharper pictures that this Nikon. I was really shocked by the lack of overall quality control (two cameras defective) and the lack of sharp images. For now, I will stick with my old Kodak until something with all the features that are in this Nikon comes along --- and works.

***UPDATE***
I returned this and got the Sony Cybershot DSCP100 instead. WOW! What a difference! With the Sony, all of the same horrible test photos I took with the Nikon came out excellent! Not only that, but I saved $100. Thank you Sony...

Nikon Quality Evident
This one is indeed stylish in design. An excellent camera in the 5.1MP, compact Range. Small but big on features. With such wide range of features, I am surprised how very intuitive the user interface is. You really dont need the manual. You will be up and running in minutes.

Picture quality is excellent in all its modes. The Nikkor Lens with its ED & Aspherical elements, provides an impeccable quality of pictures. Sharp, crisp and vibrant colours. Low light focussing is fast. Interface to the computer? You dont need any driver software if you are on XP, 2000 or Mac. All USB. Just Plug it and you see a drive configured on your windows explorer which you can manage it just like a hard disk. Pictures in seconds!! The 1"X1" 256 MB SD memory card can store 270, 6"X4" high quality images. Movie recording is smooth, not at all jumpy, very powerful microphone. Treats it just like a picture. Make movie in seconds and send it...

I indeed recommend that you look at this one before you make a decision.

Just bought mine.
I really like my new 5200. I am new to the digital camera scene but I'm glad I bought the Nikon. The salesman explained the diferences between the many 5 Meg cameras in stock and I found the Nikon to be the easiest to learn to operate. My wife is usually the camera person in the house but I believe this camera will be much more fun than a regular film camera. I love the idea of snapping loads of shots, looking at them on the computer, and THEN deciding which ones to keep. Digital is the way to go and this Nikon is the way to get there.

Studied for months and bought the 5200
I have been looking at digital camers for a very long time. I wanted a 5 mega-pixel at the consumer price range that was easy to use and small enough to place in a pocket. The Nikon 5200 meets these simple needs and far exceeds any other expectation. From the start this was an easy camera to operate. I was taking pictures right out of the box. After spending some time to read about it's other capabilities, I learned that there are some super cool things it can do. The "sport" mode is wonderful. I can take a picture of a golf swing, my son pitching, or any other action shot with a series of 21 pictures in rapid succession. You get to see the progression of the action through each frame. The Movie mode is also cool. It is very easy to move from pictures to movies. You don't have to be a member of Mensa to maneuver through the options. I love the ability to add voice memos to the pictures AND, this to is very easy. Nothing complicated about this camera. Loads of options, easy to use, OH and did I mention great looking pictures....So happy I waited for the Nikon 5200. ... Read more

Features

• 3.2-megapixel resolution for photo-quality 11-by-14-inch enlargements
• 3x optical Zoom-Nikkor lens with 4x digital zoom
• In-camera cropping; Quicktime movie mode with audio
• Store images on 14.5 MB internal memory or optional Secure Digital (SD) cards (not included)
• Powered by 2 AA-size batteries (alkaline included; rechargeable Ni-MH recommended); connects to computers via USB

Reviews (17)

Great Buy
After researching digital cameras for a month I finally decided on the Nikon CoolPix 3200. I'm astounded by its great picture quality and battery life. When I received my camera I was using it for two hours (taking pictures, fiddling with the settings, etc.) and the batteries held up. Two weeks later after some use, the batteries are still great! The picture quality is amazing for a digital camera! The image is sharp and the color is balanced.

Another great aspect of the camera is the ability to zoom in and out after the picture has taken. It's not grainy at all, in fact it was so good I was able to see the tiny writing on a poster almost 30 feet away after zooming up close!

The recycle time is good, under a second and the features are easy to use even if you don't read the manual.

If you're a novice at digital photography or even a professional this camera is for you!

Very satisfied
I'm a novice at digital camera photography, and just got the Coolpix 3200 three days ago. I'm loving it! The pictures I take are sharper than expected, and the camera is very easy to use. The uploading to the computer is a snap, and the editing software included with the package (I bought) makes for easy use.

The camera is small, and fits nicely into a shirt pocket, so I carry it every where I go - including a recent fishing trip with one of my sons. I shopped for a long time before deciding on one of the many digital cameras available, and took the Coolpix. I have not been disappointed.

I used it nearly all day yesterday at a grandson's birthday party, taking lots of picture, and the batteries still have power. We even reviewed the pictures on the TV, which is a great feature. I have a recharger, but so far, battery life has been long.

Big mistake by Nikon
I have had only 2 digital cameras in the past, a Sony and a Pentax, so I still have a short experience.

I was told by a work mate how good was nikon 3100. So when 3200 with more options came out I thought to buy it.

Now that I have used the camera for 2 weeks I can say that it is very easy to use it has a lot of features but ........

with low light condition the pictures are so noisy that are almost useless

So if you want daylight camera maybe it's for you, but if you are going to use it with low light or flash think in another option.

In my case I'm going to send it back to the store.

Thanks

Julio

Fun but flawed
I bought this camera recently, after spending an afternoon comparing reviews of simple 3MP cameras. My verdict after testing it on various common photo ops is somewhat less positive than most of the reviews.

The main drawback for me, and this may apply to other digital cameras, is that the photos appear much brighter on the LCD than the actual JPG images turn out to be. Even after manipulating with sophisticated programs, the final images have black/grey areas where the LCD shows colourful detail. I'm using the highest quality storage format.

Another nasty surprise I had, which may or may not be related to the camera, is that one of the two SanDisk 256MB cards I bought became corrupt beyond repair while I was taking photos. This card is listed in the camera manual as supported. The problem was easily diagnosed, since I had an identical card that showed no problems, and my PC wouldn't read/format it either. I've replaced the card for a new one, and maybe it was a rare malfunctioning card to begin with.

As some reviews mention, the adaptive autofocus makes loud click sounds in movies. This can be avoided by selecting fixed focus mode, counting on the distance from the subject remaining the same. The MOV file has considerable lag between sound and mouth movements, but that can probably be fixed afterwards with some programs.

On the positive side, I do like the simple interface, small size, and good looks. Like all cameras, it takes beautiful pictures when the conditions are just right. If you're buying your first digital camera, like I was, consider spending $100 more on a higher quality 4MP camera. I fear that my old point-and-shoot may give me higher quality photos than my new toy.

Great little camera
This is a great camera with a small size, good photo quality, cool features, and it's pretty intuitive to use. I was taking pictures straight away and the photos transferred to my iBook in a snap. My only complaint is the battery life. The batteries the camera came with lasted about 1 day and I wasn't even playing with it that much. Luckily, I had bought a battery pack and charger, but now I think I'll buy another battery pack so I can always have a spare set of charged batteries. Other than the batteries, this is a great camera and I'm very satisfied with my purchase.

I'm an amateur photographer but I do have my creative side, and I've been impressed with the photo quality. ... Read more