Review of Sandisk 4GB Secure Digital SD HC Memory Card (SDSDB-4096, BULK, No Reader)

This is a must for loading music to listen to on my Palm TX. But BEWARE of eek Technoligies and buying at this price. They wanted $13.20 for shipping a 2 oz memory card? Buy from someone else even if it is a few dollars more and pay reasonable shipping rates. Don’t be fooled by their cheap price they make it up 2x in shippoing charges. When I saw it I cancelled my order..

Product Description
The SD High Capacity (SDHC) 4GB flash card is SanDisk’s newest format and capacity SD card. SanDisk cards give you plenty of room to capture and store all your precious photos, safely and securely. Fast, and built to last, you can count on SanDisk cards to be ready when you are, every day. Store high quality photos, videos, music and more with this high storage capacity (4 GB) and super, Class 2, speed performance.Not all devices support SDHC 4.0GB cards. Please contact your device manufacturer for details. To ensure compatibility, look for the SDHC Logo on the product or packaging of your new camera or digital camcorder.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Sandisk 4GB Secure Digital SD HC Memory Card (SDSDB-4096, BULK, No Reader)

Review of Nikon D80 10.2MP Digital SLR Camera Kit with 18-135mm AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor Lens

[Following is a reprint of my body only review.I placed a review of the lens at the end.]

The Nikon D80, destined to replace the popular D70 series, is a great camera for Nikon fans who wish to upgrade from their D50s, 70s or 100s. It’s also attractive enough to maybe get a few people to jump ship!

Here’s the highlights:

1) 10.2 megapixel. A substantial upgrade from the 6mp of the older cameras, performance should be very comparable to the highly regarded D200 camera;

2) 11-point AF system. Similar again to the D200 in performance (though not as easy to change);

3) Large viewfinder (.94x magnification). Again, taken from the D200, this is a clear improvement over the previous cameras. Spec wise, this is also better than all the competition, even though other, personal preference factors need to be taken into consideration (such as layout of LCDs and focusing points).;

4) 2.5″ LCD. Not only is it larger, it can also be viewed at a much wider angle–particularly handy when locked to a tripod.

The camera is small for Nikon (about like the D50), but has a good, firm grip for those with medium to larger hands. Controls are well thought out–easy to get to and use. Dampening of mirror noise is better than its competition.

Nikon’s use of the SDHC format should be commended. These small cards will have no real disadvantage to the older CF hards once the HC versions start hitting the shelves, and should relieve the danger of “bent pins”.

Things you’ve liked about previous Nikons have been retained. The D80 uses inexpensive wireless & wired remotes, and it still allows the built-in flash to control other Nikon Speedlights remotely.

Compared to the competition, the Canon Rebel XTi & Sony Alpha 100, the Nikon starts a bit in the hole, considering it’s the most expensive camera (by $200 & $100, respectively). The XTi offers a nice “anti-dust” hardware & software solution; while the Sony offers in camera stablization. Both use the rear LCD for info status. While many may prefer the traditional LCD on top (like the D80), the rear LCD does have the advantage of being considerably larger text for older eyes (and on the Alpha, rotates when you rotate the camera for verticals). Too bad the D80 doesn’t give you this option as well.

The XTi is smaller and lighter, maybe too small for many people. The XTi also does not offer wireless capability with the built-in flash (like D80/A100). It’s battery (hence capacity) is a bit smaller.

The Alpha 100 being Sony’s first modern digital SLR means that getting lenses and accessories my be a bit more difficult (even though it uses a lot from the older Maxxum cameras). It’s also a bit noiser in its operations.

The D80 adds more AF selections than either of the above cameras, has nice enhancements like grid lines and double exposures. It also comes with a protective cover for the rear LCD.

Lens wise, they greatly outnumber those offered by Sony, particularly in any considered “Pro” grade. While Canon can compete in “Pro” grade with Nikon (particularly in longer length lenses), Nikon has a bit of advantage in wider angles for digital. Nikon only offers one size digital sensor, where as Canon must offer two series (for 3 different chip sizes).

Is the D80 worth the money? For anyone with Nikon lenses, undoubtedly. My recommendation for anyone with Canon EF or Minolta Maxxum lenses: look at those cameras first…but be sure to look at the D80 before you buy.

Lens review: Tremendous!The Nikkor 18-135 gives everybody what they want, an affordable lens with above average quality.

First, the 18-135 range is excellent for a kit lens, equivalent of a 27-200 in 35mm photography.It looks great, zooms smoothly, and balances well.The Silent Wave focusing motor is quiet, quick and smooth, and allows immediate manual focus (no hunting for switches).The internal focus is great for anyone using polarizing filters, and allows for a more efficient tulip shaped lens hood (supplied).

Second, the image quality is very good. The aperture is of average size, so don’t expect images to jump out like large aperture lenses, but quality is good throughout the range.

Third, Nikon always includes a better than average 5 year warranty in the US on their lenses.

The only negative is that I always prefer a metal lens mount to a plastic one, although the latter keeps both the weight and cost down.

Product Description
One of the key advances developed for the D80 is its high-resolution image-processing engine, a dedicated new high-performance processing chip that greatly accelerates performance. ISO AUTO mode automatically adjusts sensitivity between ISO 100 to 1600, maximizing available light to help achieve optimal exposure7 automated Digital Vari-Programs (Auto, Portrait, Landscape, Close Up, Sports, Night Landscape and Night Portrait) optimize white balance, sharpening, tone, color, saturation and hue to match the scene User-selectable choice of optimization optionsNear-instant response with 0.18 sec. power-up Top shutter speed of 1/4,000 second and flash sync speeds up to 1/200 secondFast image transfer via USB 2.0 Hi-Speed interface and SD memory cardCreative in-camera effects and editing functionsMultiple Exposure modes Large 2.5-inch LCD monitor with ultra-wide 170-degree viewing angle for clear image preview and easy access to settings and information; Slideshow function (Standard or Pictmotion) SD memory card storage, SDHC compatibleHigh-energy EN-EL3e rechargeable lithium-ion battery delivers the power to shoot up to 2,700 pictures on a single chargeSupports more than 43 AF NIKKOR lenses in addition to the growing family of DX NIKKOR lensesBuilt-in Flash with i-TTL flash controlIncludes Nikon’s PictureProject softwareUnit Dimensions WHD – 5.2 x 4.1 x 3.0 inch; 1.3 lbs Supplied Accessories -EN-EL3e Rechargeable Li-ion Battery, MH-18a Quick Charger, EG-D2 Audio Video Cable, UC-E4 USB Cable, Strap, Body cap, DK-5 Eyepiece Cap, DK-21 Rubber Eyecup, BM-7 LCD monitor cover, Accessory shoe cover, PictureProject CD-ROM Kit 2 includes Nikkor DX 18-135mm zoom lens

Click Here to see more reviews about: Nikon D80 10.2MP Digital SLR Camera Kit with 18-135mm AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor Lens

Review of Nikon Coolpix S51 8.1MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Vibration Reduction Zoom (Matte Black)

I purchased this camera as an all-around point-and-shoot for my family’s use, and plan to return it and pick another – probably a Canon SD850 or similar.

First, the good.Photos are very good overall, with the exceptions noted below, and much better than my previous camera, a Nikon 4300.The camera is small, nice looking, and has a huge LCD.I also appreciated the integrated (and internal) lens cover and non-protruding optical zoom.The image stabilization was another selling point for me.

Then I got the camera home…The slick look is slick (as in slippery) to hold, too.The tiny buttons are not well differentiated, and like other reviewers I found myself accidentally hitting the power switch frequently.The big LCD always looks grainy, making me think my photos weren’t very good until I viewed them on my PC monitor.I also found the interface confusing (and I’m no electronics newbie).

But the real killer is the camera’s speed.Although it snaps open and lights up extremely quickly, it refuses to take a photo for about two seconds.Press the shutter button again, and you’re waiting 1 or 2 more seconds while it focuses and processes – by then the kids have turned away and are on to something else.In short, it’s just unbearably slow in everyday use.

Back in the box, then.

UPDATE: I returned this camera and purchased a Canon SD850 IS as a replacement.I am much happier – the Canon is SUPER quick so I no longer get photos of the backs of the kids heads, their ears and hair, or the background when I was setting up the shot…Other quirks with the Nikon that I noticed in a week of use: The battery/card door is VERY hard to open and feels flimsy; the charger requires a big bulky power cord; the slim design fit very nicely in a pocket.

Product Description
Seize the day, moment by photogenic moment, with the Nikon Coolpix S51. With the 3x zoom NIKKOR lens, you’ve got the quality optics to capture a great image, while the 8.1 megapixels ensure a fine high resolution for large prints and images. This model also has VR Optical Image Stabilization built in, eliminating motion blur from even the shakiest photographer’s work. You can use the One Touch Portrait Button to focus on faces and instantly fix red-eye, and the Auto adjusts up to ISO 1600, so you can even shoot in low light. When you’re done, you can review and show off your pictures on the 3.0 inch high definition LCD monitor. Finally, itsslim, compact design lets it find a home in any pocket or bag until the next memorable moment comes along. 3.0-inch high-level contrast LCD monitor with anti-reflection coatingHigh sensitivity of up to ISO1600, High-Sensitivity modeThree Unique Nikon Image Innovations for high performance – Face-priority AF, In-Camera Red-Eye Fix and D-LightingFace-priority AF can be selected outside of Scene ModesSophisticated wave-surface design characteristic of COOLPIX S seriesStores images on SD and SDHC memory cards (13MB memory built-in, additional 1GB memory card or higher recommended) Slim and compact, stylish black exterior Aluminum front panel exuding a sense of high quality, metal-plated side panel AV out for viewing images on TV screenUSB for data transfer to Windows PC or Macintosh computer Unit Dimensions (W x H x D) -Approx. 3.6 x 2.3 x 0.8 in. (92.5 x 59 x 21 mm) excluding projections; Weight -Approx. 4.4 oz.(125 g) without battery and SD memory card

Click Here to see more reviews about: Nikon Coolpix S51 8.1MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Vibration Reduction Zoom (Matte Black)

Review of Nikon Coolpix P6000 13.5MP Digital Camera with 4x Wide Angle Optical Vibration Reduction (VR) Zoom

I’m a Nikon enthusiast. I own two professional digital SLR bodies and several lenses, but I wanted something small to carry around when I didn’t want to lug a big SLR around. You know, night on the town or anywhere where a big camera would attract too much unwanted attention. So when Nikon announced a point and shoot (P&S) camera that supported a RAW file format, I was immediately interested. When I heard about all the other bells and whistles on this P&S, I was determine to get one. So does it live up to all the hype? Let begin with what I liked.

THE GOOD

13.5 Megapixel RAW files – Yep, it’s even got a higher pixel count than my D300 and depending on the settings I can get some great enlargements or a lot of flexibility to crop. With RAW files, there’s more latitude for post-processing adjustments.

Fully Automatic or Manual – Just like its bigger brothers, the P6000 has Programmed Auto, Shutter Priority, Aperture Priority or Full Manual modes. A large selection dial on top of the camera selects the mode. The command dial near your thumb controls the selection of speed, aperture or both in manual or programmed modes. It also has specific scene modes just like Nikon’s other P&S cameras.

Two User Modes – After you’ve customized the settings to what you like, you can save them to one of two user modes to recall anytime by just selecting U1 or U2 on the mode dial. Pretty handy.

Auto or Manual Focus – Yes, manual focus on a P&S. Select the macro/MF button and put the camera into manual focus mode and you have even more control. Another to the left of the screen activates a close up section of the screen–apparently to help focus–and also allows the same command dial that control everything else to also focus the lens. It sounds good in theory, but more about that later. Auto focus is probably easier and does a good job.

Facial Recognition – Select Face Recognition for focus mode and the camera will find the faces in the image shown on the screen and put a square yellow box around each face. A half-press of the shutter and the box changes to green to indicate it’s in focus. The caveat here is that the entire face must be visible for the camera to recognize it. If your subject has their face slightly turned, it won’t see it.

Geotagging – This is Nikon’s first foray into the GPS arena and when it does work, it works well. It’s not as quick in acquiring a position as the one I use on my SLR, but because it’s built-in, it’s always available and convenient. When you use it with good software or upload your pictures to Flickr, it proves to be very accurate. Great if you do location scouting or if you’re just getting old like me and having a harder time remembering where you took a picture.

VR (Vibration Reduction) – By default the VR mode is on. I can’t see any reason to turn it off. Even when mounted on a tripod, it works fine and causes no problems. Of course, I haven’t tried a long time exposure yet and that’s usually where VR gives me problems on my bigger cameras.

Optical Viewfinder – This is a rarity in this day and age, but I like to have this option when I really want to be discreet and not even have the viewfinder screen turn on. It zooms with the lens but only shows about 80% of the actual image.

Decent Movie Mode – It’s only TV quality and not HD, but it works for those few times I would want to record a short video. I captures the sound and allows you to zoom the lens during the movie, unlike some cameras.

Ergonomic Design – The camera has enough size and weight to be substantial but not too much to be difficult to carry around. Granted, it probably won’t fit into your shirt pocket, but it can certainly fit in places your big SLR won’t. The camera has a magnesium front and rubberized grip and feels like a bigger camera. The buttons are, for the most part, in logical places and the layout will seem familiar to Nikon SLR owners. The one thing that I had to get used to was the zoom control. On the P6000 it’s in the same place that the power control is on Nikon SLR’s.

Flash i-TTL Hot Shoe – You can use your big flash on this little camera. When I mount the SB-800 on this camera, it dwarfs the camera itself. I think the SB-400 would be ideal if you need more flash power than the built-in flash provides, but for most situation, I think the built-in is more than sufficient.

4X Zoom ED Lens – Equivalent to a 28-112mm in 35mm format. It’s more than enough for most needs. If I need more than than, I’ll grab my SLR. The two ED elements do a good job of correcting chromatic aberrations.

Lens Accessories – There’s a screw ring that allows a 0.75X wide-angle adapter to be used, making the effective focal length about 21mm.

THE BAD

Distortion – At the widest zoom, there is a lot of barrel distortion. You’ll especially notice it when taking pictures of building or anything that has parallel lines in the image. At the telephoto end of the zoom there is just a slight amount of pincushioning. Nikon must have been aware of this issue since they’ve included a menu option for Distortion Control. It works, but there are limitations which I mention further in this review. At the widest zoom, there is a fair amount of image softness in the corners which I would expect in a P&S.

Noise – Even though Nikon advertises that this camera goes from ISO 64 to 6400, The usable range is effectively 100-400. ISO 64 is just too slow unless you have a tripod. Everything above ISO 400 produces too much noise. Even at ISO 800, the number of artifacts in the image starts to get distracting. At ISO 3200 and 6400, the camera automatically reduces the resolution to 3 megapixels. So you end up with a photo that’s grainy from both the noise and the small resolution. In other words, barely usable. I can’t really think of a situation where I would want that.

Horrible Software and Mac Support – This is usually Nikon’s downfall. There software is so bad, it’s not even usable. As a matter of fact, I can’t even use the latest ViewNX software that the installation program downloads from Nikon. Every time I try to view my images, it crashes on my Mac. The RAW format is a new Nikon proprietary format: NRW, and it only seems to work natively on Windows Vista machines. To use it on my Mac, I need to convert them using Lightroom or ViewNX…which, of course, doesn’t work. I’ll need to wait until Apple releases Aperture NRW support so I can use my normal workflow.

Poor Battery Life – The P6000 is using battery technology developed nearly 4 years ago. It’s the same battery that my old 3700 P&S used: the EN-EL5. Good for maybe 250 shots if you don’t use the flash much and turn off the GPS. With the GPS on, and updating only every 5 minutes, the battery life can be measured in hours since the GPS updates even when the camera is turned off. With all the bells and whistles this camera has, you would think they would come up with better battery technology. A spare is essential.

GPS Acquisition – It takes a long time to acquire the satellites when you first get to an area and turn on the GPS. In an open area, it took over 5 minutes to first acquire. Thereafter, it still sometimes took up to 2 minutes to get a good signal. If you’re inside or amongst trees or buildings, it may take even longer and even then, it may only get three good satellite fixes which means your altitude measurement may be less than accurate.

Features Disabled in RAW mode – Talk about bait and switch. If you use RAW mode, many of the image adjustment features are disabled. True, you would probably do most of the adjustments in post-processing, but if the Nikon software doesn’t work, how do I correct the barrel distortion since the Distortion Control is disable? Active D-lighting isn’t a great loss, nor is the ISO 3200 and 6400 settings that won’t work in RAW mode, but Auto Bracketing is a nice feature to lose. They don’t tell you this in any of the advertising or on most of the trade sites.

THE QUESTIONABLE

Popup Flash – I’m not sure why Nikon did this. There was plenty of room to have the flash flush with the front. In the fully automatic mode, I would expect the flash to pop up and fire if needed, but that doesn’t happen. You have to manually pop up the flash if you want flash. Some people may like this feature as an easy way to disable the flash, which then begs the question: why is there a disable option in the flash menu?

Built-in LAN – Sounds like great idea until you realize that it’s wired Ethernet and it only connects to Nikon’s Picturetown service. Pretty much useless if you’re using wireless like most people.

2.7 inch Screen – There was room for a 3 inch screen but Nikon opted to use the smaller screen when everybody else is maxing out screen sizes.

No Battery Charger – With such poor battery performance, you’ll need an extra battery. But how to charge it? You only get an AC adapter with the camera which forces you to charge the battery IN the camera. Which means you’re tethered to a wall outlet until you charge two or more batteries. Add the separate MH-61 battery charger to your shopping list.

Remote Control – You can use an infrared remote to trigger the camera. Why didn’t they include it with the camera though? Minor, but annoying point. (I have the infrared remote from a previous camera, but most people will not and I always find it annoying when companies make you pay extra for these little things.)

SUMMARY

As a point and shoot camera, the P6000 is very good. It takes excellent pictures that you would typically use a P&S for. But for those occasions when you want to do a little more, and you would think with all the features of this camera, it’s not an unreasonable expectation that it should do a much better job. Unfortunately, even all the features have limitations if you choose to use the NRW format. And forget about making it work on your Mac.

After looking at this and the Canon G10, I’m tempted to return the P6000 and get the Canon. It’s priced competitively and has many of the same problems but at least it works on my Mac. But then, I’d have to give up the GPS.

Should you buy one? That depends. Do you really need 13.5 megapixel RAW images? Do you need the GPS feature? Can you live with poor battery performance and the need for a charger and extra batteries? Are you willing to spend $550 for the camera and necessary accessories? If so, you might consider the P6000. You might also want to consider a D40 or D40x. But if these features are a mystery to you, you’d be better off with a much cheaper camera without all the extra features. Any of the Nikon S-series P&S cameras or the Panasonics would do the job splendidly.

Product Description
Can any photographer be happy with a point-&-shoot camera? Precision built to enable photo and camera enthusiasts of all levels of experience to enjoy real photography, introduce yourself to the compact Nikon COOLPIX P6000. Class-leading imaging ability is a feature trait of the P6000. A new 13.5 megapixel image sensor captures the finest details with sharp resolution. A 4x Zoom-NIKKOR lens with ED lens elements covers focal lengths from a wide 28mm (35mm format equivalent), delivering clarity and precision throughout its range. And an optimized processing system based on Nikon’s original EXPEED digital image-processing concept quickly delivers quality results with faithful color reproduction and subtle tones. Wired LAN support offers easy access to the Internet for automatic and secure online image storage using the Picture Bank service of my Picturetown, which also provides the ability to send images directly to a blog or other websites. And a new built-in GPS (Global Positioning System) unit can record the location of shots when taken and attachgeotags” with information about latitude and longitude to each image file. This adds the fun of being able to view the location on maps available in ViewNX or my Picturetown, or to edit or add geotag information.New tab-format menu interface adapted from Nikon D-SLR cameras1 – 1 size (square) format with a choice of three black border options15 handy scene modes for optimized results in various shooting situationsFive movie modes with sound, plus time-lapse movie modeSD SDHC card compatibility for memory expansion / Approximately 48 MB of internal memory for immediate use USB (Hi-Speed) connectivityUp to 4224 x 3168 still image resolution Up to 640 x 480 (TV) video resolution Rechargeable Li-ion Battery EN-EL5 (supplied), AC Adapter EH-66 (supplied) / Battery life Approx. 260 shots with EN-EL5 batteryUnit Dimensions (W x H x D) Approx. 1

Click Here to see more reviews about: Nikon Coolpix P6000 13.5MP Digital Camera with 4x Wide Angle Optical Vibration Reduction (VR) Zoom

Review of Nikon Coolpix S210 8.0MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom (Graphite Black)

I just bought this camera two days ago from a camera store (yes, of course it’s cheaper here). I have four other cameras, two film (Nikons) and two digital (one Nikon and one Olympus), but I wanted something that I could fit in my purse or backpack. Many times I want to take pictures, but am too lazy to carry my camera gear unless I’m planning a photo outing. This camera literally fits into my jeans pocket so I will be able to carry it every day.

So far I find the camera’s menu systems are similar to the menu on my other Nikon cameras (N80, D70). This makes the learning curve easier. When you turn the camera off, the lens collapses into the body of the camera, and there is a lens cover that closes over the lens to protect it. That isn’t shown in the photograph.

I like that the camera allows you to turn off the flash if you don’t want it on. I like to do natural light photography; sometimes I don’t want the flash. Too many point-and-shoots try to think for the photographer and “fix” everything for you, but sometimes you want to do silly things when you’re doing experimental art! The camera has several white balance options, as well as monochrome, sepia, and cyanotype (blue). The photographer has the option of using these or adjusting the settings manually.

There is a good user manual with the camera. I found it easy to find things in the table of contents, or the index. Instructions are pretty straightforward so you can go to the section you want without having to read the whole chapter.

Product Description
Sleek, compact, Nikon Coolpix S210 is set to deliver still and movie images that it stores on SD and SDHC memory cards. Transfer images to PC and Macintosh or print directly on a PictBridge compatible printer. It’s a serious camera that’s fun to use and own!Storage Media slot accepts SD SDHCStorage System -JPEG -JPEG baseline-compliant; can be selected from Size priority and Optimal quality; AVI; WAVFile System -DCF 2.0, DPOF, EXIF 2.21 Optical Image StabilizationMovie Modes -Movie with sound, Time-lapse movie White Balance -Daylight, Cloudy, Fluorescent, Incandescent, Flash, White Balance Present / White Balance Bracketing Playback Functions -Full frame, Thumbnail (4 or 9 or 16 segments), Zoom, Slideshow, Shooting data, Auto image rotation, Sound playbackUSB Autofocus System -Contrast-detect TTL AF with AF-assist illuminator/ Maximum Autofocus Areas/Points -Auto (9-area automatic selection), Manual (99-area manual selection) / Focus Modes -Face-Priority AF, Auto Exposure Modes -Auto, Scene / Scene Modes -Face-Priority AF, Portrait, Landscape, Sports, Night Portrait, Party/Indoor, Beach/Snow, Sunset, Dusk/Dawn, Night Landscape, Close Up, Museum, Fireworks Show, Copy, Back Light, Panorama Assist Exposure Compensation –2.0 – +2.0EV in steps of 1/3EV Image Optimization and Edit on camera modes ElectronicFlash Sync Modes -Auto, Auto with red-eye reduction, AnytimeFlash, Flash-cancel, Slow sync Supplied Accessories -USB Cable UC-E6, Audio and Video Cable EG-CP14, Strap AN-CP18, Rechargeable Battery EN-EL10, Battery Charger MH-63, Software Suite for COOLPIX (Supplied accessories may differ depending on country or area.) Battery Life (shots per charge) -Approximately 220 shots (Based on CIPA standard) Unit Dimensions 90 x 55.5 x 18 mm (3.6 x 2.2 x 0.7 in.) excluding projections; Weight -Approx. 100 g (3.5 oz.) without battery a

Click Here to see more reviews about: Nikon Coolpix S210 8.0MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom (Graphite Black)

Review of Nikon Coolpix P60 8.1MP Digital Camera with 5x Optical Zoom with Vibration Reduction (Black)

Just bought one of these over weekend and tried it out extensively. Compact, solid design that feels good in your hand. At this price the feature list is superb: Electronic View Finder (EVF), 5x opitcal zoom, 8 megapixel, Auto/Program AND Manual controls. Movie mode that allows zooming while you shoot. Exceptional image quality. Vibration reduction image stabilization works great, too. I also was pleasantly surprised to see that it uses AA batteries–no expensive special purpose lithium batteries. These were all important features for me.

The EVF is very cool and unusual in a camera at this price and, it seems more and more, a viewfinder of ANY kind in a point & shoot camera is becoming unusual. So many of the newer models are eliminating this feature, requiring you to use the large LCD screen. The EVF is better than a traditional optical viewfinder, since it mimics the large preview LCD: it shows any menu options, too. In bright sunlight this makes the camera very easy to use. Without the EVF, I don’t know how I would have shot so many of my test photos over this past weekend in the bright sun.

The P60 is fun to use. Its various shooting modes offer real differences in image composition and creation. Lots to experiment with here, but at the same time it is an easy-to-use point and shoot camera for taking snapshots.

If you’re in the market for a small digital camera, seriously consider this one.

Product Description
Nikon Coolpix P60 is a simple to use point-&-shoot digital-camera that offers some creative options to extend your talents. It has optical image stabilization to reduce blur from normal hand movement. AA batteries power the P60 and that’s nifty when you’re touring around the world. The AA is a common battery found everywhere. You can shoot movies and stills and store them on an optional SD memory card. A USB port is built-in to transfer your images to a PC or Mac or MP3. It’s Internet friendly!Top Continuous Shooting Speed -Approximately 2 fps / continuous Shooting Options -Continuous, Single, Multishot 16Storage media – Internal memory (approx. 12 MB), SD SDHC memory cardsImage Stabilization -Optical Movie Modes -Movie with sound ISO sensitivity – ISO 80, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 2000, Auto (auto gain ISO 80-800)Exposure Modes -Programmed Auto (P) with Flexible Program, Manual (M); Scene Modes -Face-Priority AF, Portrait, Landscape, Sports, Night Portrait, Party/Indoor, Beach/Snow, Sunset, Dusk/Dawn, Night Landscape, Close Up, Museum, Fireworks Show, Copy, Back Light, Panorama AssistHi-Speed USBPowered by Two AA alkaline (supplied), lithium or oxyride batteries, two EN-MH1 rechargeable Ni-MH batteries (optional), AC Adapter EH-65A (optional) / Battery life – Approx. 190 shots with alkaline, 230 shots with oxyride, 650 shots with lithium or 350 shots with EN-MH1Storage System -JPEG -JPEG-baseline-compliant; can be selected from Size priority and Optimal quality; AVI; WAV File System -DCF 2.0, DPOF, EXIF 2.21Built-in ElectronicFlash Video Output -NTSC PAL Self-timer -10 seconds, 2 secondsUnit Dimensions (W x H x D) – Approx. 95.5 x 63.5 x 36 mm (3.8 x 2.5 x 1.4 in.) excluding projections; Weight – Approx. 160 g (5.6 oz.) without battery and SD memory card

Click Here to see more reviews about: Nikon Coolpix P60 8.1MP Digital Camera with 5x Optical Zoom with Vibration Reduction (Black)

Review of Nikon Coolpix S600 10MP Digital Camera with 4x Wide Angle Optical Zoom with Vibration Reduction (Slate Black)

I own a Nikon D70, so I’m a little jaded when it comes to image quality.This little thing with a slim profile and a big clear lcd screen feels well-made in the hands.It is point and shoot picture taking at its best.

I bought this for my husband who isn’t a natural photographer.He needed something that would fit in his chest pocket of his uniform on overseas deployments.The Nikon Coolpix S600 is about the size of a razor cellphone, but just slightly thicker.The buttons seem natural in their places and the features aren’t useless tacked on extras like in some cameras.Pretty much anyone can take good pictures with this camera (when the manual is read).

D-lighting in combination with the high ISO function makes pictures that aren’t washed out with flash.The background and the foreground are more even toned and subjects don’t look like ghosts.The VR (vibration reduction) lens accounts for camera shake and more pictures are likely to come out clearer which is always a good thing in those candid, spur of the moment shots.One thing that I didn’t see on this page is the mention of being SDHC capable.SDHC is the latest in SD memory (which memory cards this camera takes) and it basically means that there is a greater storage capacity without loss of quality.The transfer rate is also higher when uploading to a computer.In the end it means more good pictures!I also love the anti-glare coating on the lcd screen so you can see what is on the screen even in bright sunlight.

The only con that I’ve run across with this is the battery life.Because it is such a tiny little thing, the battery is pretty small.You can get approx 190 shots with it.Of course it is rechargable, but I like to always have a fresh extra one on hand.Get an extra one Nikon EN-EL10, and I suggest using only Nikon components with my cameras.Also, find a slim case that ZIPS to protect it.

Product Description
4x Wide Angle Optical Zoom / 2.7″ Wide LCD / ISO to 3200 / Image Stabilization / SD SDHC Memory Card Support / ElectronicFlash 2.7-inch high-resolution LCD monitor with anti-reflection coatingActive Child mode for automatic tracking and focusing on a subjectPastel mode for soft, impressionistic imagesThree Unique Nikon Image Innovations for high performance – Face-priority AF, In-Camera Red-Eye Fix and D-Lighting 45MB Internal Memory / Accepts SD or SDHC Memory Cards – 1GB advised for practical use Vibration Reduction (VR) Optical lens shift VRHi-Speed USBScene Modes -Active Child, Portrait, Landscape, Sports, Night Portrait, Party/Indoor, Beach/Snow, Sunset, Dusk/Dawn, Night Landscape, Close Up, Museum, Fireworks Show, Copy, Back Light, Panorama Assist Auto, Manual, Macro Focus modesPower sources – Rechargeable Li-ion Battery EN-EL10 (supplied), AC Adapter EH-62D (optional)Battery life – Approx. 190 shots with EN-EL10 battery (based on CIPA standard)Unit Dimensions (W x H x D) 88.5 x 53 x 22.5 mm (3.5 x 2.1 x 0.9 in.) excluding projections; Weight 130 g (4.6 oz.) without battery and SD memory cardSupplied Accessories -USB Cable UC-E6, Audio and Video Cable EG-CP14, Strap AN-CP18, Rechargeable Battery EN-EL10, Battery Charger MH-63, Software Suite for COOLPIX (Supplied accessories may differ depending on country or area.)

Click Here to see more reviews about: Nikon Coolpix S600 10MP Digital Camera with 4x Wide Angle Optical Zoom with Vibration Reduction (Slate Black)

Review of Nikon D300 DX 12.3MP Digital SLR Camera (Body Only)

Since 2006 I have owned a D200 for serious shooting situations and I got a D40 in early ’07 for everyday shots (an awesome camera – I give it SIX stars! – a whole separate review is needed!), and after hearing about the D300 release in late 2007 I debated over whether to get one.I was really happy with my D200, which I took on some overseas trips and it performed perfectly.After demo-ing a D300 in stores and reading some online reviews, I decided to take the plunge.It was a big investment but now I have no regrets – if not for the entire package, then for one thing: COLOR!Or one more thing: what Nikon calls ‘Active D-Lighting’ (translation: a significant change in the processor’s realistic rendition of contrast, highlights, shadows, etc. – the entire package of “TONE”).Also – can an LCD rear-screen get any better than this??In Jim Cramer-parlance I have to say that this model is definitely “best of breed”.

Pluses and minuses: (note: edited every once in a while since I’ve used it for almost 6 months now and thousands of captures – last edit was done on 4/9/08)

PLUSES:

- Incredibly vivid, pleasingly, really surprisingly saturated color reminiscent of Velvia (high-saturation Fuji film used in slides, etc.) is now made possible by selecting the “Vivid” option in the “Picture Control” menu and cranking up the “Saturation” option – there are three levels beyond the default “0″ – which sets it just about at the highest possible saturation that could be set in the D200.Even boring photos of things around the home, outside, etc. seem interesting and… well, exciting and vivid… with it set at +2 or +3 (although the +3 setting is a bit extreme for people photos, and renders their skin color a bit more intense than appears naturally).At the +3 setting even blase photos of ordinary things approach purposely-understated “art” in a MoMA-like way.For people I am finding Vivid+1 or Vivid+2 a bit more natural indoors with natural light, as the Vivid+3 saturates just a bit more than I prefer.Just like Velvia, these settings also do not warm the cool colors – one of the minuses of other cameras’ ‘vivid’ settings – this is what’s best (your cool blues, greys, greens, etc. stay cool, while the reds, yellows, oranges, bright blues/greens/etc. – watch out!)(Edited note: after about 3,000 shots I saw that indoors it might be best to do a manual white balance preset off a white wall or carpet or something and then shoot in vivid mode, since in the automatic WB mode the reds tend to get boosted quite a bit under typical indoor light and some of my subjects looked like they had a very dark suntan, or even a sunburn, in the middle of December!Careful with this… also tried standard – i.e. not vivid – color settings with +1 or +2 saturation, and these were very realistic, although the backgrounds can be dull if you’re intent on vivid colors all-around.Maybe best to use those on portraits only.Try them all out and see what works best.)

- On-board so-called “Active D-Lighting” renders shadows and highlights in an very realistic manner, with no raising up of delicate shadow tones to mid-levels (as my outstanding, near-perfect-in-its-class Nikon D40 tends to do) – this really must be seen to be believed.Coupled with the color quality (and deep saturation noted above), the detail in the highlights is excellent.The D40/D200 have this feature in post-capture (i.e. you adjust the captured image yourself) but this seemed rather crude; here it is said that the Nikon actually computes the needed adjustment and does it specifically for the scene you’ve captured.No more blown or off-color highlights in those ‘rare’ occasions when overexposure seeps into a shot in a very contrasty frame.

- The new LCD screen is 3″ in size and has a whopping 920,000 pixels (versus 230,000 for the D200, D80, D40, etc.) of resolution – which means image review to check focus, color, etc. is impossibly accurate and well beyond the already very high quality of Nikon’s 2.5 inch screens and way, way beyond that of the Canons with the greenish-greyish-tinted LCDs even on expensive models like the much-venerated full-frame 5D.Doesn’t even come with a LCD protector cover like the D200 did because it’s made with tempered glass and is super resistant to scratching, damage, etc.No more looking through plastic – however transparent – when reviewing shots or setting colors, lighting, etc.(Kind of always bothered me, that.)

- 100% coverage viewfinder – excellent, and not cluttered up, making composition cleaner; nothing engraved in the viewfinder to get in the way (although you can optionally set the horizon-level grid to be on all the time, which I do, since it leaves an open space in the middle anyway, and those off-balance shots are a pain to fix).

- 51-points of autofocus available – at first I didn’t really care much as I tend to do the old-school method of using one point for focus, then recomposing – but I started using the 51-point AF mode (the full-rectange setting that uses all sensors) and found that I don’t need to do this as the D300 always seems to pick the object I wanted to focus on – making things much, much easier – although for really unusual shots with a subject in focus and others way out of focus, I move to the manual mode; the AF system is excellent in speed and accurate tracking of the object of focus as well (i.e. a running child, etc.)The 51 points make this very easy to do.Fiddling around in the store I saw on the big $5k D3 the points are better looking (little red spots) and less intrusive when composing than these large-ish black rectangles on the D300, but I can live with that (although it reminds me “hey, you don’t have a D3!…”).

- There were issues about firmware and exposure on the D40, D80, where they tended to expose too brightly, and we had to set it manually to -0.3 or -0.7 to get back to normal exposure.Not on the D300.Perfect all-around.Still, adjusting WB and exposure can make or break the shot.Especially nice is the cloudy or ‘shadow’ setting for indoor shots in bright sunlight; everything looks pleasingly warm, even if just a tinge more than natural.Give it a try if you like warm colors.Interesting shots can be had using ‘tungsten’ outside in the snow – a blue-grey monochromatic world.(If you have snow, that is.)Manual WB setting is easy off of a wall, or carpet, or napkin, etc. as usual with the Nikons in this range, and makes quite a bit of difference in odd-lighting situations (i.e. very dim room, etc.) where the automatic presets, although excellent, don’t work well (especially that ‘tungsten’ – in normal home incandescent lighting in the evening everything is medium-blued-out – who uses this?Or am I using it incorrectly?I set WB in that situation off the wall or rug.)

- other than the full-frame sensor (no small difference, that is) and high FPS, there appears, from what I am reading, to be no major differences (unless you’re a sports or news shooter) from the highly-lauded D3, which costs 3x what the D300 costs; the D3′s awesome high ISO performance can be mimicked by turning off the high ISO noise reduction set “on” in the default mode in the D300 (see below)Of course, the D3 has many other features that make it best for pro sports shooters, etc. who need that size and power, and of course, full-frame has no comparison – but I have a bag full of DX lenses (and some non-DX primes) and not ready to put out $10k+ for a D3 plus a 14-24, the new 24-70 and the 70-200, etc. that I’d want.The differences in picture quality due to the full-frame sensor (and other features I wouldn’t need as I don’t shoot sports or news) are outweighed by the cost involved and the marginal nature of the difference overall.Image quality is essentially the same – except for the pluses of the full-frame, especially noticeable in really big prints.Also the usual full-frame focal length versus DX issue remains alive here – yes, that “35mm on a DX is equivalent to a…” continues, and probably will as long as DX lenses remain in our bags.Edit: I have tried the D3 for a shooting session and it does focus incredibly fast, much faster than the D300 in some cases.The speed of the focusing and the shutter itself are unbelievable; that camera is the Ferrari or Lamborghini of Nikons.The D300 may be the Porsche – hey, not a bad compromise – it’s unlikely that the average pro-sumer will need the power of the D3 (or of a Ferrari – ever try to do 140mph on the NJ Turnpike?).

These were my big main pluses which justified the transition from the D200, but there are a few more which don’t really appeal to me but will for some:

- Live View (you can see the image on the LCD screen) – perhaps this might appeal to a tripod-user setting up a photo, but I doubt I’ll ever use it.Smacks of “point-and-shoot”, I think, but could be handy in some cases where it is hard to position the eye at the viewfinder (behind the sofa?…)(Edited note: should not have panned this – gave the camera to my 21 year old niece, who tried to take a Christmas portrait of my family and I together – and got half of us in the bottom of the frame, and an empty top half of the frame! – for those who basically grew up using live view digital cameras, this feature is very useful – just set it and let them shoot – I think the weight of the D300 and the fact that she had to use a (gasp!) viewfinder (as opposed to the RAZR internal cellphone camera) threw her off.Some creative cropping may save the shot, anyway.)

- Ultrasonic Sensor Cleaner – like the Canons and Pentaxes, Sonys, etc., Nikon finally offers a sensor cleaner (which is user-operated, not constantly running at each power-up if you set it that way).Might be useful after hard shooting in dusty or otherwise camera-unfriendly environments, but I never had the need for it on any camera I ever had up to now.Just one more thing to possibly go wrong someday?

- HDMI output (if you’re lucky enough to have one of those big-screen HDTVs and want to show your photos to all on the screen; I don’t and won’t)

- 12MP versus 10MP (for the D200) – great marketing material but MP beyond 6-8MP or so has only marginal effect on the quality of the image and doesn’t really matter ultimately since all it does it highlight the limitations of the lenses or the technique of the shooter; I suppose it is nice to have that much more information recorded ultimately if you choose (via the size/compression settings) but I shoot with “large normal” JPG and don’t want 10MB+ file sizes when I’m making 5×7 or 8X10 prints at most (or way, way more MB for RAW files) – I am reminded by a post/commentor that the higher MP will be beneficial when cropping a photo considerably for printing – good point – if you’re taking 25% of that shot and cropping it, printing it out to 8×10, those 12MP will keep your image nice and sharp even at such extreme crops (provided, of course, you’re using the big filesize settings and have lots of storage space in the form of CF cards, hard disk space, etc.)I don’t do a lot of cropping and prefer to create in-camera since I have practically no time to fiddle with Photoshop and the rest.

- the new grip (sold separately, of course) that goes with it doesn’t stick far up into the camera, so you can use the camera’s battery as well as those in the grip as well, and decide which to drain first, etc.With the grip you get more FPS for action photography but I don’t do much of that, and for me the grip makes the whole package too big to fit in my current Lowepro bag (trivial but hey, it’s one more thing).

- if you’ve had any Nikon DSLR before, especially a D200, you will feel immediately at home, with no ramp-up period; you don’t even need to open the sealed manual, since the new features are so easily located and adjusted that all you do is adjust your settings and start shooting; what won’t feel immediately familiar is the super-bold color you’ll notice on the intricately detailed 3″ LCD.Of course, ergonomics are nearly perfect; this camera is like a brick wrapped watertight in rough-textured rubber, perfect to grip and hold for long periods of time.

- Capture NX software is included – get this – free! – in a selected number of initial sales of the D300.It’s panned by some but, if you don’t have another software package, it’s not a bad thing to get a reasonably pro-quality image software package for free.The easy-to-use three-point pinpoint adjustment tool is excellent.Edit update – there is a Mac Leopard (OS 10.5) version now available – yeah! – so all computing formats are supported.

MINUSES

- Quite a bit more expensive than the D200 – naturally, since it’s a new model, but is it worth it? – for me it was for the top two reasons; for others, the D200 (or the D80, or the D40) will be way more camera than is enough – also still appears to be hard to get at the right price initially; some supply issues reminiscent of the D200 were being seen but appear to have levelled off; now it’s hard, I hear, to get the D3.

- When I initially got it I thought that for some reason the highest ISO settings (i.e. 6,400) seemed to lead to somewhat hazier shots, likely due to high ISO noise reduction that is set ON to ‘Normal’ in the factory default – but who shoots up to ISO 6,400 anyway, unless you’re shooting hand-held at faster shutter speeds in very dark environments?I had my D200 set for maximum 1,600 in Auto ISO and that was always more than enough.You can always turn the high ISO noise reduction completely off (or set it to low for just a touch of clean-up) and get back to the D200′s, and close to the D3′s, level of quality.I did this and had no more issues that initially concerned me, but a side-by-side comparison of a very magnified crop might yield otherwise.The ISO settings are also odd in that there is no stated ISO 100 but the camera does have ISO options which Nikon calls various degrees of “LO”, confusingly; just need to learn the terminology and adapt.High ISO noise is also really only visible, however, if you make 3-foot-wide prints, mural-size images or crop and magnify on your computer screen to unrealistic levels and look really, really closely.You won’t even notice on a 5X7 or 8X10, or bigger, print in normal circumstances.The fact that there is Auto ISO at all (versus not having it in the Canons) makes shooting a breeze; no fiddling around with ISO settings when you’re trying to capture an image.(Edited note: lots of high ISO shots without NR on have been excellent throughout the holidays, including plenty of dark, candlelit tables, Christmas trees with onboard lights only on, outdoor shots of decor, etc.Not sure how noisy these would look blown up to big poster or mural-sized prints but for 8X10 or less, I am sure these are perfectly fine.)

- Wish the flip-up flash would have a rotating bulb enclosure which you could point upward and get a bounce-flash for indoor people photographs; fairly sure no other DLSRs have this but it would eliminate me having to (buy first and) carry around a Speedlight for indoor shots (i.e. Christmas present-opening by the tree in low light, etc.) lest I get the white-ghost effect of direct flash from the onboard unit.I rarely use the onboard flash except for fill-flash outdoors, so it is somewhat less useful than I would like.Then again, Nikon needs to sell Speedlights, so… the SB-600 is a perfect match.The SB-400 is also a nice one if you’re not doing shots with far-off subjects, and it fits nicely on the D40 as well.

- I don’t know if it’s my imagination but it feels like the two spinning dials (on the front and back, for setting aperture, shutter speed, etc.) are a bit more recessed into the camera body than those on the D200; when I spin them I get memories of cheap 1970s electronics when I would push a button, and it would wind up moving itself inside the radio (or whatever) and getting stuck in there – I sampled other demos on the store floor and they felt the same as mine – maybe this is to prevent accidental movement when shooting?It’s as if they are not at exact 90 degree angles to the camera body.Nice feel on the fingers, but I get memories of those “stuck buttons” when I use them sometimes.

- it probably would be nice to be able to stuff a CF card and an SD card in the camera for memory options; I prefer CF cards for their durability, but dislike having to invest in two types of cards – CF and SD – for the D300 and the D40, respectively.Don’t know who could possibly shoot so much to fill a full 8GB card (maybe if you shoot RAW+JPG, etc. for sports) but a two-card capacity would also be nice just to know it’s there.

- It’s still not full-frame – I know, it’s not supposed to be, and most DSLRs aren’t, but I might have paid another $500 (maybe $750?) if they’d made it full-frame.However, that means another $5Gs+ on 2 or 3 aforementioned full-frame wide-zooms (and effectively making obsolete my big 12-24mm wide, awesomely versatile 18-200mm, and sharp 70-300mm DX VRs) so probably better for the wallet that it’s not.

- No PC button: The new D3 pro version only available to select press members (the D3P, they’re calling it) has a “PC” button for “Picture Control” – that is, you can quickly switch between your own custom settings you set up in the menu for different picture parameters – say, for landscapes, a high-saturation setting (i.e. “Vivid” with saturation cranked up), and for people, a medium-color setting (“Normal” with moderate saturation), etc. – but on the D300 (and the normal D3, for that matter) you have to fiddle around with the menu.A button to be able to switch between picture settings would be a godsend for this camera; otherwise you might miss a shot switching from, say, a high-saturation, white-balance adjusted setting for a beach landscape, then trying to quickly capture your kids on that same beach – which would give them instant sunburns (on the image!) due to the oversaturation and WB adjustment – unless you go pressing buttons to get into the menus (with the sandy fingers) and fiddle around, making the change.I believe Canons have a button dedicated to this, which makes me wonder why Nikon isn’t thinking ahead and, in typical Japanese fashion, copying the best ideas and features from its competitors.

Other than these few minor (for me) minuses, this camera’s new color capabilities, wildly improved highlight-renditioning and other features more than justified my investment in it.I’m getting great captures from it.Naturally a lot of that is subjective – best to try it out yourself and judge before taking the plunge.One look at the images, the LCD, and the other features, and this one might be the one that makes all the Canon owners squirm in their chairs and wonder what to do with all those expensive “white lenses” now that they will want this Nikon!(Not that I myself wouldn’t mind having a 5D and a few of those white-bodied Canon L-series teles, of course!…)

Disclaimer: for quick shots around the house of my kids, etc., I still grab my D40 – soon to have a new 18-55mm VR lens shortly shipping from Nikon! – and capture away – it’s got to be the best camera in its class, and the images rival the D300 under normal conditions.It’s when things get a little complex (low light, action, the saturated colors, high ISO situations, etc.) that the D300 excels.Especially the saturated colors!Never seen anything like this in a DSLR and I’ve had ‘em all (Nikons) or tried ‘em all (Canon, Pentax, Sony, Olympus…).

Click Here to see more reviews about: Nikon D300 DX 12.3MP Digital SLR Camera (Body Only)

Review of Nikon D60 10.2MP Digital SLR Camera with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G AF-S DX VR and 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED IF AF-S DX VR Zoom-Nikkor Lens with 2 Nikon School DVDs

Having come full circle from owning Canon Rebel manual 35mm film cameras in the 80′s and 35mm automatic cameras in the 90′s, then using a relatively good Sony Point and Shoot digital, I have to say the Nikon D60 has reinvigorated my desire to get “the picture” rather than just snap “a picture”.I evaluated the Sony, Canon and Nikon models, and in the end the 60 provide the right blend of megapixels, comfort while shooting, available Vibration Reduction lens combinations, and at a price point under $1000 for body and 2 lens, 18-70 VR and 55-200 VR.I have found these VR lens do indeed add an extra level of forgiveness in your shooting.

In last 30 days, we have taken shots of Vegas sites, the Grand Canyon and of many sites along the Nile in Egypt, daylight and night, and the results are very good even for an amateur such as myself.

Product Description
18-55mm VR AFS DX Nikkor and 55-200 Lenses / Fast Start-up / Active Dust Reduction / 2.5″ LCD / Up to 3 Frames per second / SD and SDHC Memory Slot Up to 36 characters of alphanumeric text input available / Date imprint -Date, Date and Time, Date Counter, or None (selectable) Eye-level penta-Dach mirror single-lens reflex viewfinder File system -DCF (Design Rule for Camera File System) 2.0, DPOF (Digital Print Order Format), Exif 2.21 (Exchangeable Image File Format for Digital Still Cameras), PictBridge Type B BriteView Clear Matte screen Mark V Compatible lenses – AF-S and AF-I NIKKOR -All functions supported; Type G or D AF NIKKOR not equipped with an autofocus motor -All functions supported except autofocus; Non-Type G or D AF NIKKOR not equipped with an autofocus motor -All functions supported except 3D color matrix metering II and autofocus; IX-NIKKOR and AF-NIKKOR for F3AF -Not supported; Type D PC NIKKOR -All functions supported except some shooting modes; AI-P NIKKOR -All functions supported except 3D color matrix metering II; Non-CPU -Autofocus not supported. Can be used in exposure mode M, but exposure meter does not function; Lens with maximum aperture of f/5.6 or faster -Electronic rangefinder can be used Frame advance up to 3 fpsSelf-timer -2, 5, 10 and 20 second duration Metering method – Matrix -3D color matrix metering II (type G and D lenses); color matrix metering II (other CPU lenses); Center-weighted -Weight of 75 percent given to 8mm circle in center of frame; Spot -Meters 3.5mm circle (about 2.5 percent of frame) centered on selected focus point Dimensions (W x H x D) – 5.0 x 3.7 x 2.5 inch / 1.1 lb Supplied accessories (may differ by country or area) -EN-EL9 Rechargeable Li-ion Battery, MH-23 Quick Charger, UC-E4 USB Cable, DK-20 Rubber Eyecup, AN-DC1 Camera Strap, BF-1A Body Cap , DK-5 Eyepiece Cap, BS-1 Accessory Shoe Cover; Soft

Click Here to see more reviews about: Nikon D60 10.2MP Digital SLR Camera with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G AF-S DX VR and 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED IF AF-S DX VR Zoom-Nikkor Lens with 2 Nikon School DVDs

Review of Nikon Coolpix S550 10MP Digital Camera with 5x Optical Zoom (Cool Blue)

As a fairly cheap point-and-shoot camera, the Nikon Coolpix S550 is a pretty neat piece of hardware. It’s certainly not a high-end DSLR, but it’s good at what it does, and it offers some nice pluses over other cameras in its price range.

The good:
-5x optical zoom is very good for a little camera like this, and is tops in this camera’s class. I would like to remind readers that “digital zoom” really just crops out part of a picture to make it look bigger in the viewfinder while destroying actual shot quality, so please disregard the “digital zoom” on this or any camera.
-10megapixel resolution is pretty phenominal, especially in this camera’s price range, especially coupled with the 5x zoom. Dollar-for-dollar, you’re getting a lot.
-Shutter and record speeds seem great. Note that with megapixels this high, you’re going to need a high-speed SDHC memory card if you don’t want to see too much of the hourglass.
-The high resolution and zoom really combine for wow power when you take movies with the camera. Although the mic is terrible and you’ll probably just want to mute it, you can take movies of a pet where you can see every individual hair from a respectable distance if you so choose. On a one-gig card, I can shoot a half-hour of movies at this quality.
-The camera’s overall size is very comfortable. Not much taller and wider than a credit card, not much thicker than a thin paperback, and compeletely flat when it’s powered down. Yet it’s still roomy- I’m a 6′+ guy with stubby fingers, and I’ve never fumbled a button yet.
-Tons of modes. The camera can take widescreen pictures or regular format, PAL or NTSC, and resolutions from standard tv (640×480) through the roof (over 3,000 vertical pixels). It has smile recognition, stabilization, various compensation filters including red-eye. It has Portrait, Outdoor, Indoor, and even Copy for taking pictures of documents just in case you’re a secret agent on a budget. The basic Shoot and Smile modes seem wholly satisfactory, but this camera offers plenty of room to grow. Yesterday I took some very clear photos of moths in flight, with no adjustments other than setting the camera to high ISO.

The not-so-good:
-No optical viewfinder, only the digital screen. It’s a very good and very big screen though, so this is mostly just for nostalgia’s sake.
-The camera doesn’t have a dial for the various settings. Instead of just clicking over to Portrait or Outdoor, you have to hit a menu button and look around. This is a pretty small complaint overall, but I would have still preferred a wheel.
-I’ve noticed that with a lot of low-end digital cameras like this, you can see that as the camera auto-adjusts it will show a perfectly sharp picture in the viewfinder, but keep adjusting until the picture becomes a bit blurry. Maybe this is just something about the way I take pictures, but I know this camera is capable of clearer shots. This is especially evident in extreme close-ups, such as under a foot away. The camera will adjust right up to a perfectly crisp photo for a moment, then keep going to a blurry mess before it snaps the shot. If I could just cut out the last few moments of zooming, I’d have gotten a perfect photo. I saw this same thing with a number of comparable cameras while doing in-store tests, and I’m puzzled as to what causes it (maybe I need to turn off the assist beam sometimes, I don’t know). I’ll have to check the camera’s official site and such to see if I can find tips.
-5x zoom, while really wonderful for the price range, still seems a bit stifling. Maybe I’m just at the point in my life where I need to own up to the truth and save up for a high-end SLR. 5x optical is certainly much better than the 3x zoom that comes with most comparable cameras.

Overall, I really got this camera because it was time to upgrade from my old Canon A60. The A60 took really great photos in the right conditions, but it couldn’t adapt to conditions well, and it had a very big delay between pressing the button and getting a shot. The Coolpix has already paid for itself with smile recognition- I’m a “psychic blinker” who manages to always shut his eyes the moment a photo is taken, and I haven’t gotten a single photo of myself with my eyes closed, even doing close-ups with flash.

If you’re just starting out in the digital world, this camera has all the best features with a clear interface and instant point-and-shoot modes that require no calibration. If you’re like me and you just need to find a smarter digital camera, you could do a lot worse than this one for the same money. If this camera suits your price range, you simply must put it at the top of your list. The only reason I’d suggest passing on this camera is if you’ve got significantly more money to spend on a higher class of camera.

Product Description
Be it for movie or still images, the thin Nikon Coolpix S550 offers an enthralling experience with pictures of incredibly fine detail. Sleek, easy to use, the S550 has image stabilization and a long 5x zoom range. Go for Coolpix S550. It makes sense.Internal Memory -Approximately 52MB for immediate picture takingStorage System -JPEG -JPEG-baseline-compliant; can be selected from Size priority and Optimal quality, AVI, WAV / File System -DCF 2.0, DPOF, EXIF 2.21 Image Stabilization -Electronic Movie Modes -Movie with sound, Time-lapse movie, Stop motion movie White Balance -Daylight, Cloudy, Fluorescent, Incandescent, Flash, White Balance Present Play Functions -Full frame, Thumbnail (4 or 9 or 16 segments), Zoom, Slideshow, Shooting data, Auto image rotation, Sound playbackHi-speed USB 5x Optical Nikkor Zoom Lens Specification -Equivalent with 35mm format picture angle – 36-180mm, f/3.5-5.6 Autofocus System -Contrast-detect TTL AF with AF-assist illuminator / Maximum Autofocus Areas/Points -Auto (9-area automatic selection), Manual (99-area manual selection) Exposure Modes -Auto, Scene; Scene Modes -Face-priority AF, Portrait, Landscape, Sports, Night Portrait, Party/Indoor, Beach/Snow, Sunset, Dusk/Dawn, Night Landscape, Close Up, Museum, Fireworks Show, Copy, Back Light, Panorama Assist, SmilePower sources – Rechargeable Li-ion Battery EN-EL11 (supplied), AC Adapter EH-62E (optional)Battery life – Approx. 200 shots with EN-EL11 battery (based on CIPA standard)Unit Dimensions (W x H x D) Approx. 90 x 53.5 x 22 mm (3.6 x 2.1 x 0.9 in.) excluding projections; Weight Approx. 120 g (4.2 oz.) without battery and SD memory cardIncludes Supplied Accessories -AV/USB Cable UC-E12, Strap AN-CP14, Rechargeable Battery EN-EL11, Battery Charger MH-64, Software Suite for COOLPIX (Supplied accessories may differ depending on country or area.)

Click Here to see more reviews about: Nikon Coolpix S550 10MP Digital Camera with 5x Optical Zoom (Cool Blue)