Customer Reviews:
very pleased.......2007-09-25
My parents bought the Nikon D40 for me as a birthday present. I honestly am so amazed at what I can do just with the kit lens! I've used some other Nikon lenses on it, and I really can't say enough about it!
Best Cameras for the price and package D40 & D40X.......2007-09-22
I had been out looking to find a hobby and decided on photography as a way to get out of the house. Needed a camera and after an intense search, chose the Nikon D40. To get the D40 with two lenses (18-55mm and 55-200mm) and for the low cost was great. This outfit allowed me to jump right in and take some great shots. I mounted the D40 on a tripod and take it with me to work and back from work. I have taken some great pictures of sunrises as well as sunsets, etc. I now spend so much time shooting landscape shots in my off-time, that I ended up purchasing another camera (the Nikon D40X). I leave the D40 on the tripod to shoot JPEG shots and carry the D40X to shoot Raw shots that just need to be taken quickly and later corrected using software. I was able to purchase both cameras do what ever I needed because they were both affordable and had all the capabilities I needed to do the shots I wanted to take. With the money I saved of not having to pay for the more expensive systems with the same capabilities as these two systems, I have purchased additional lenses, gear etc. I am extremely happy with these two Nikons and feel Like I am a pro and have the ability to shoot like them with the same results. I might of started out as an amatuer, I now shoot like a PRO. Thank you Nikon.
The best!.......2007-09-20
I bought this camera after researching digital SLRs for a couple weeks. I've had in now for a couple months and love it. I bought the 18-200MM lens which is probably a large part of the reason it is such a pleasure to reach for when there's a photo op. That lens is wide enough to capture people in a room and brings in distance objects very nicely. The lens' VR (vibration reduction) feature is VERY nice too. I've hand-held long exposures and seen little blurring. The real purpose of VR is for those far away shots, but it's nice for slow sutter speeds too. The camera itself feels great in the hand and has a nice finger grip so the camera feels secure when walking around. The menus are pretty straight-forward and I enjoyed reading the manual and experimenting for an hour or so as soon as I unboxed it and charged the battery. You can get great pictures right from the start if you set it on auto, but this camera offers much more if you take the time to study the features. The battery lasts a long time (I think I took about 260 shots without recharging). I also bought the 1GB chip (why cut cheap corners?).
To be a perfect camera, it would give me better control of WHERE to focus on automatic, be easier to frame one area and hold the focus and light metering while I move it (I can do this, but it's not intuitive enough for my little brain to remember after a week!), it would have more than 6MP so I could crop out small areas without losing detail.
Great camera! You won't be disappointed. Oh yeah - I also go the ss-400 flash untit that lets you bounce it off the ceiling. It's great!
Get the camera - you'll love it!!
Best dSLR On the Market.......2007-09-16
There are certainly more capable cameras available that provide more adjustments and have bigger sensors, but for $500 this cannot be beat. It exudes quality and has a rather large 2.5" screen. Moreover, it is very small, yet fits my hand quite well (my hands are as big as Johnny Bench, so...). Best of all this camera has motivated me to get out and take pictures because it is so easy to use. It's simple: dust off your wallet and get one of these!
Nikon D40.......2007-09-15
As an average consumer I appreciate the ease with which this camera helps me take very good photo's.
Product Description
The D40x's high-resolution image quality 10.2 effective Megapixel Nikon DX format CCD imaging sensor and exclusive Nikon image-processing engine assures stunning sharpness and color. You'll be amazed at the power packed into a camera that you can start shooting with right out of the box. High resolution provides room for creative cropping. A fast 0.18 second startup combined with split-second shutter response and rapid-action shooting at up to 3 frames per second makes it easy to freeze special moments instantly. 2.5-inch, 230K Color LCD Monitor with 170-Degree Wide-Angle Viewing Playback images are easy to see and function menus are easier to use with a larger and brighter color LCD monitor. The large 2.5-inch LCD monitor enables image preview at up to 19 times magnification and has large type fonts with easy-to-view menus. The D40x's Image Optimize setting lets photographers adjust color, contrast and sharpening, as well as other image settings, according to the type of scene or output desired. The supplied EN-EL9 rechargeable battery will allow for shooting up to 520 images per charged based on CIPA battery testing standards. File System - Exif 2.21, Compliant DCF 2.0 and DPOF White Balance - Auto (TTL white balance with 420-pixel RGB sensor), six manual modes with fine-tuning and preset white balance LCD Monitor - 2.5-inch, 230K, TFT LCD with 170-degree wide-angle viewing Other Compatible Lenses - Nikon F mount with AF coupling and AF contacts Type G or D AF Nikkor Exposure Compensation - plus or minus 5 EV in increments of 1/3 EV Exposure Lock - Exposure locked at detected value with AE-L/AF-L button Self-Timer - 2, 5, 10 or 20 seconds Unit Dimensions (Body Only) - Width 5.0 x Depth 2.5 x Height 3.7 inches / Weight - 1 pound, 1 ounces
Customer Reviews:
D49X.......2007-09-26
Excellent SLR digital camera. Initial shipping report was in fact delayed a few days as camera was not in stock.
Excellent SLR. Very light and versatile........2007-09-24
Excellent camera in combination with 18-200VR lens. It does
not autofocus with non AF-S lenses, but I consider it an asset since it makes the camera significantly lighter for walking around. Also, AF-S lenses are focusing significantly faster and quieter than the old screw-type ones.
To use older AF lenses, consider getting Katz-eye for this camera to assist with manual focusing. I personally prefer manual focusing with prime lenses as it's faster and would get you exactly the results you want.
A little camera that can.......2007-09-19
I will assume if you're looking at buying this particular camera model, then: a. You are looking at upgrading from a point-N-shoot. Or, b. An intermediate to advanced photographer looking for a decent backup camera. Since I have owned this camera, I have been doing a lot of shooting with a friend of mine who happens to do photography for a living. My friend uses a Fujifilm S3 pro dSLR. Let me tell you, there isn't much difference in picture quality between the $700 d40x or $2,300 S3 pro when using the same lens. Both cameras are capable of producing almost identically amazing pictures. The main difference is when buying the d40x, you can get about the same quality photos for more than 3x cheaper than an average pro-level SLR camera.
If there was one thing I would do over again, I would definitely buy the d40x as a camera body only. Not that the kit lens is bad, but it's rather limiting to your d40's potential. Having the chance to use Nikon's 18-200mm VR lens has made me a real believer of how important a really good lens is for great photography.
My only major gripes about the d40x is the lack of adjustment buttons and no aperture dial the higher end dSLR's have. It can be somewhat annoying having to go into the camera's menu screen to make simple adjustments.
The PRO's for sure outweigh the few CON's this camera has. It's a great dSLR camera to start out with. The only real limitations of the d40x will be the skill level of the person behind it.
Great beginner dslr camera.......2007-09-13
I went to a camera store and it came down to this and the Canon and the sales person told me to get the Nikon. She said the d40x was really only if you wanted the extra pixels otherwise the d40 was fine. It's been a great camera and takes amazing photos. No shutter lag like on my point and shoot. I recommend getting the package with the telephoto to get close up to objects. I'm still learning all the features, but in "auto" mode you can use it like a point and shoot and already take better photos. I'll be happy to take it on many trips and look forward to testing it over time. In addition to the camera, I bought a 2GB SD memory card, camera bag and both a UV and polarizer filter (all highly recommended with the camera).
For the price, this camera is amazing..........2007-09-08
Having been an enthusiastic (old style, but highest quality) SLR user for many years and having then switched to several digital compacts, from the disappointingly basic (circa 2000) through to the brilliant latest versions (in my case, a 7.0 megapixel Panasonic Lumix), I was intrigued when a professional photographer friend said I should check out the new generation of low cost digital SLRs and, in particular, the Nikon D40x... you'll enjoy it she said... and she wasn't wrong.
First off, the price was only £150 or so more than a top end compact with the same 10 megapixel rating and, in the shop, it turned out to be smaller and much lighter than the old, dramatically more expensive SLRs I used to lug around... so, worth the plunge?
A resounding yes, not only does it deliver the most beautiful, high quality photos but the control options over virtually all aspects of shot selection, including a powerful built in flash unit, are quite incredible - far better and much, much more comprehensive than I'd expected - with the ever present, wholly effective, compact-style "point & shoot" option if you can't be bothered. Plus, you get a large preview screen and extensive "in camera" editing features that allow a wide range of post-shot manipulation if you don't have access to your PC. Just amazing... everything, plus a huge amount more, that I got from my previous SLRs.
Could it get any better? Well yes, because the stock Nikon autofocus zoom lens that comes with the camera (rated at 18-55 mm new digital style and equivalent to a just about perfect 26-83 mm old style) is now matched with Nikon's new, low cost, autofocus DX VR lens (rated at 55-200 mm new digital style and equivalent to 83-300 mm old style) which really does cut out camera shake to allow genuine "point & shoot" at its higher focal lengths. In other words, for a total cost of well under £600 I got a stunningly powerful and flexible camera plus a "tripod-less" combination of two lightweight autofocus Nikkor lens covering a full 26-300 mm range... which is nothing short of sensational for any "old style" SLR user like me.
SLRs are a different world from compact cameras - you definitely can't fit them in your pocket - but for anyone wanting to move up to a different level for not much more, or for anyone wanting to rediscover the lost joys of their SLR past at an incredibly cheap entry price, the Nikon D40x is a "must have" option... certainly it's got one more very happy user.
Product Description
The CoolPix S50c is equipped with a huge, bright 3.0-inch LCD great for viewing images anywhere, anytime. The larger high resolution LCD lets you make the most of smooth, sharp movies, great-looking stills and exciting Pictmotion shows. The 170 Degree wide viewing angle lets everyone see and enjoy images. The CoolPix S50c features 15 specially programmed modes to automatically handle focus, exposure, white balance and other adjustments that help you take great pictures easily. Pictmotion allows you to select your favorite images and movies, decide on a style, and pick one of five pre-installed music files or add your own. Pictmotion automatically combines a polished production with transitions and style synced to your music. The new CoolPix S50c with its CoolPix Connect 2 service allows you to both email and store your pictures remotely. The new CoolPix Connect 2 service lets you choose a photo, select recipients from your in-camera email address list and send the picture straight from the camera for viewing on a PC anywhere. In addition, this new service allows you to upload up to 2GB of images remotely, store them and/or retrieve them for download at a later time. Digital Zoom - up to 4x (35mm format picture angle - 456mm) Focus range from lens - 1 foot (30cm) to infinity Macro close-up mode - 1.6 inch (4cm) to infinity ISO sensitivity - ISO 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, Auto (auto gain ISO 100-800) Built-in flash - Wide Range 1 to 19 foot 8 inches (0.3 to 6.0m), Tele Range 1 to 13 foot 1 inch (0.3 to 4.0m) High-Speed USB 2.0 & 802.11b/g System Requirements - Macintosh Mac OS X version 10.3.9, 10.4.x, Windows Vista (32bit), Windows XP Home Edition/Professional and Windows 2000 Professional Dimensions - 3.8 x 2.3 x 0.8 inch (97.5 x 59 x 21 mm) excluding projections Weight - 4.4 ounces (125 grams) without battery and SD memory card
Customer Reviews:
Amazed! .......2007-09-25
This camera is the best bang for you buck, and for the so-called "tech" who had problems setting this camera up - its just nonsense. This camera couldn't be easier to setup and operate. Everyone should own this camera.
Shaking noise.......2007-09-25
Hold the camera and lightly shaking it u will hear a noise come from at cover/lens area. Any body have the same symtom like myself ?
Great Pocket camera .......2007-08-23
I love this camera it was just the thing that I needed I usually use a DSLR.
Nikon Coolpix s50c.......2007-08-13
This is a great camera. It takes excellent pictures. The only problem with it is the lens should be centered. It is too easy to put your thumb over part of the lens.
Nikon quality with WiFi.......2007-07-30
Great size and awesome pic quality for the price. The WiFi was a snap to set up and is great. You would be surprised how many places now have free WiFi. I was at a restaurant taking pictures and found they had it. Sent the pics to my girlfriend on the spot. Very nifty feature that alone is worth the price.
Nice large 3" screen is very bright and clear. Controls are easy to use and the camera is so thin and light fits easy in your pocket.
You wont be sorry if you pick one up and Amazon has the best price. Best Buy and CC were sold out.
Average customer rating:
- Excellent choice
- Alaskan Field Test of Nikon Action 8x40 Binocular
- Excellent buy
- Binoculars that work and cheap too!
- Great value for the cost
|
Nikon Action 8x40 Binocular
Manufacturer: Nikon
ProductGroup: Photography
Binding: Electronics
 GPS & Navigation
| Categories
| Electronics
| All GPS
| Handheld GPS
| Vehicle GPS
| Marine
| Digital Compasses
| Mapping GPS
| MP3 GPS
| Traffic-Enabled
| Travel GPS
| Bluetooth Enabled
All Binoculars
| Binoculars
| Optics
| Camera & Photo
| Categories
| Electronics
Spectator Sport
| By Use
| Binoculars
| Optics
| Camera & Photo
| Categories
| Electronics
Hunting
| By Use
| Binoculars
| Optics
| Camera & Photo
| Categories
| Electronics
Bird Watching
| By Use
| Binoculars
| Optics
| Camera & Photo
| Categories
| Electronics
Medium Magnification (8x to 11x)
| Binoculars
| Optics
| Camera & Photo
| Categories
| Electronics
All
| Nikon
| Custom Brands
| Custom Stores
| Specialty Stores
| Camera & Photo Features
| Electronics
Binoculars
| Used Photo & Camera
| Specialty Stores
| Camera & Photo Features
| Electronics
Sports & Outdoors
| by Interest
| Gift Ideas
| Special Features
| Camera & Photo Features
| Electronics
Sports Enthusiasts
| Gift Ideas
| Gift Ideas
| Specialty Stores
| Electronics Features
| Electronics
Under $100
| Gifts by Price
| Gift Ideas
| Specialty Stores
| Electronics Features
| Electronics
Nikon
| Brands
| Electronics Features
| Electronics
Categories
| Sports & Outdoors
| Accessories
| Fan Gear
| Apparel
| Shoes
| Sports Medicine
| Airsoft
| Archery
| Badminton
| Ballet & Dance
| Baseball
| Basketball
| Boating
| Bowling
| Boxing
| Camping & Hiking
| Climbing
| Cheerleading
| Crew
| Cricket
| Curling
| Cycling & Wheel Sports
| Disc Sports
| Diving
| Dog Sports
| Equestrian Sports
| Exercise & Fitness
| Fencing
| Field Hockey
| Fishing
| Football
| Game Room
| Golf
| Gymnastics
| Hockey
| Hunting
| Jai Alai
| Kayaking
| Lacrosse
| Lawn Games
| Martial Arts
| Motor Sports
| Paddle Court Sports
| Paintball
| Pilates
| Polo
| Racquetball
| Rodeo
| Rugby
| Running
| RV Equipment
| Scooters
| Skateboarding
| Skating
| Skydiving
| Sledding
| Snow Skiing
| Snowboarding
| Snowmobiling
| Snowshoeing
| Soccer
| Softball
| Squash
| Surfing
| Swimming
| Tennis & Racquet Sports
| Track & Field
| Triathlon
| Volleyball
| Water Polo
| Water Sports
| Windsurfing
| Wrestling
| Yoga
| Sports Equipment
| Sports Electronics & Gadgets
Similar Items:
-
National Geographic Field Guide To The Birds Of North America, 4th Edition
-
The Sibley Field Guide to Birds of Eastern North America
-
Bushnell Powerview 12x25 Compact Folding Roof Prism Binocular (Black)
-
Celestron SkyMaster Giant 15x70 Binoculars w/Tripod Adapter
-
Sibley's Birding Basics
Accessories:
-
Nikon Grey/Black Neck Strap
-
Bogen Tripod w/Head for Nikon Binoculars
-
Nikon Forest Green Neck Strap
-
Nikon Tan w/Emerald Green Logo Optics Strap
-
Nikon Blue/Black Soft Neck Strap
Product Features:
- Aspherical eyepiece lenses with multi-coated prisms
- Quick central focus system
- 420-foot field of view at 1,000 yards
- Magnification: 8x
- Objective lens: 40mm
ASIN: B0001AOGAO |
Product Description
Nikon 8x40 Action Binocular - Precision aligned sharp multicoated optics for bright, clear images Standard-size armored body
Customer Reviews:
Excellent choice.......2007-09-23
Excellent binoculars...and the shipping was very quick. Light weight binoculars that can be carried any where and comes with a solid carry on bag.
Alaskan Field Test of Nikon Action 8x40 Binocular.......2007-09-21
I bought Nikon 8x40 binoculars just in time for a cruise to Alaska. The binoculars were easy to handle, and gave super-sharp, and ultra-bright images. By the side of compact binoculars, the 8x40's are certainly quite large and somewhat heavy. However, the quality of the images, and the reasonable price certainly make the Nikon 8x40 binoculars well worthwhile ---- well engineered, with excellent, perfectly aligned optics!
Excellent buy.......2007-09-15
I love the way they have the wide view. It comes in handy so you don't have to move the binoculars as much. They have great in between range focusing as well. very easy and simple to use. a great buy.
Binoculars that work and cheap too!.......2007-08-23
Took my binoculars with me to go birdwatching in Costa Rica. They work fine! My guide thought the Nikon Action costs hundreds of dollars. I showed him the price on Amazon, and he was amazed. Although, I note the price has gone up a bit since I purchased them. Can't wait to see college football!
Great value for the cost.......2007-08-23
It was by reading the reviews of others for this product that caused us to buy these binoculars. We are very happy with them. They are certainly worth what we paid for them.
Product Description
The CoolPix L10 high light sensitivity up to 800 allows you to tackle low-light scenes and situations far beyond the capabilities of conventional compact cameras. The CoolPix L10 has a large 2.0-inch LCD, perfect for viewing and sharing images. You can shoot sharper, clearer and without blur with Nikon's ingenious Vibration Reduction. Detects and corrects for camera movement to give you rock-steady results time after time. The CoolPix L10 features 15 specially programmed modes to automatically handle focus, exposure, white balance and other adjustments that help you take great pictures easily. To ensure superb portraits with crisp focus, select Face priority AF (in Portrait Scene Mode). This feature automatically finds the subject's face and focuses on it. In-Camera Red-Eye Fix This in-camera feature automatically fixes most typical occurrences of red-eye. ISO sensitivity - Approximately equivalent to ISO 64 (auto gain to ISO 800) System Requirements - Macintosh Mac OS X version 10.3.9, 10.4.x, Windows Vista (32bit), Windows XP Home Edition & Professional and Windows 2000 Professional Dimensions - Width 3.5 x Height 2.4 x Depth 1.0 inch (89.5 x 60.5 x 26mm) excluding projections Weight - 4.1 ounces (115 grams) without battery and SD memory card
Customer Reviews:
Excellent for the money.......2007-08-31
Outstanding value for the money. Good quality pictures for the casual user. Be sure to get a memory card with it though, as the on-board memory is a bit small, especially if you tend to take high resolution pictures.
Good as expected.......2007-08-31
Great quality, nice camera, compact, sharp images and easy to use. Useful features compared with a good price. I can say it is a good cost-benefit product.
Great Camera!!.......2007-08-30
This is a great camera. It has all you need.
The only thing I didn't like it was that it records video in mov format. But that's personal... In general, a great, compact and smart camera!
Poor Poor Quality.......2007-08-26
I am returning this camera. The picture quality is poor. Left side of the pictures are always dark. Initially I thought that the issue was with the amera screen. However, moving the pictures to computer did not help. The darkness was stil there. It is quite possible that I have a defecteed unit. But after reading the reviews and my own experience, I have decided to look into other cameras.
Not a very great camera........2007-08-23
Don't expect that you are going to get great picture quality for this price. The photos doesn't look bright enough in the LCD. camera menu's are OK to use. If you are looking for really good camera, consider buying Canon SD series..
Product Description
Requires Nikon or compatible Nikon F mount (with AF coupling and AF contacts) lens / SD Memory Card Slot / USB 2.0 Up to 2,700 images per battery charge - High-Efficiency power systems featuring reduced power consumption and Real-Time Fuel Gauge with Nikon's EN-EL3e Lithium Ion rechargeable battery Nikon 3D Color Matrix Metering II, plus Variable Center-Weighted and Spot Metering. Nikon's 3D Color Matrix Metering II instantly and accurately evaluates brightness, color, contrast, selected focus area and subject-to-camera distance information, referencing the results against an onboard database of 30,000 scenes from actual photography. Vary the size of the center-weighted area reading and spot metering readings correspond to 11 focusing points 11-area AF system with Wide-area Center Segment and Auto-area AF functions 2.5 LCD screen ISO Sensitivity (Recommended Exposure Index) - 100 to 1600 In-Camera Image Editing with Retouching Menu Built-in Speedlight with Nikon i-TTL flash metering and two-group Wireless Commander option Shooting Modes - 1) Single frame shooting mode; 2) Continuous shooting mode - approx. 3 frames per second; 3) Self-timer; 4) Delayed remote mode; 5) Quick-response remote mode Images are stored on SD figital memory cards Unit Dimensions (W x H x D) - Approx. 5.2 x 4.1 x 3.0 inch; Weight - Approximately 1 lb. 5 oz.
Customer Reviews:
A camera for the transition to pro levels.......2007-09-23
OK. One year passed since I've bought this camera so I can get into a review of my personal experience with it.
First of all, if you consider into buying this model, you should know that this is not a dSLR that you can use on auto settings and get fabulous results. Get a point and shoot for that or a D40/ D40x. D80 seems to be tuned to provide best results with manual modes or semi-auto modes (fixed-aperture or fixed-shutter). I spent almost 1,000 shots until I got used with the behaviour of D80 in different light conditions and with different camera settings. The learning curve may vary, but definitely won't be a steep one.
EXPOSURE: the matrix metering mode is thought to overexpose but, IMO, those that said that use this mode in the wrong situations: high-contrast, high-dynamic scenes which require careful analysis of the zones (with spot metering and/ or center-weighted) and exposure settings should be chosen accordingly. Matrix is fabulous for shooting scenes with the sun to your back, overcast or uniform lighting: exposure is perfect. For all other situation I would highly recommend spot metering.
FOCUS: focus is always dependent on the lens you use. If you invest in this DX body, get a good (pro) lens to suit your needs. The 17-55DX (Click here: Nikon 17-55mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S DX Nikkor Zoom Lens) from Nikon is a fast-focus, super-sharp lens that allows you to take shots using all capabilities of the D80 AF system. However, there are some cheaper lens I would recommend, one of them is the 50mm f/1.8 prime (Click here: Nikon 50mm f/1.8D AF Nikkor Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras), super cheap bargain for the quality you get. The new 55-200VR (Click here: Nikon 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED IF AF-S DX VR [Vibration Reduction] Zoom Nikkor Lens + Hoya 52mm UV Haze Protector Glass Filter + CapKeeper Lens Cap Strap + 6-Piece Cleaning Kit - for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras including Nikon D40, D40x, D50, D70, D70s, D80, D100, D200 & D300) is also a bargain but don't expect to get similar sharpness as from the 17-55DX. Overall focus is very fast WITH a fast-focusing lens but will require some learning form you especially if you'll use single point focus so some recomposing technique should also be learned.
COLORS: You'll be ABSOLUTELY AMAZED by the colors this camera will provide you considering that you nailed the exposure and set correct camera settings. Skin tones are natural, vivid and well balanced, blues are deep, reds are explosive, greens are smoothly rendered. But please take tests on all three color modes (two sRGB modes, I and III and one Adobe RGB mode, II) and see which suites you best. If you intend RAW, go for Adobe RGB; for JPEGS use I or III sRGB modes. You should be aware, though, that deep reds tend to overexpose on I and, especially mode III, so either compensate exposure, either go for RAW and mode II. Overall, colors are marvelous and you'll get amazing results once you'll learn how to master the camera.
Please get yourself two rechargeable batts. One is not enough if you intend to shoot all day. Another option would be to buy the grip, the MB-D80 (Click here: Nikon MB-D80 Multi-Power Battery Pack for the Nikon D80 Digital SLR Camera), that allows you to stick 6 AA batteries or two EN-EL (Click here: Nikon EN-EL3e Rechargeable Li-Ion Battery for D200 Digital SLR Camera) rechargeable. With 2 nikon rechargeable batteries the autonomy is VASTLY improved.
HIGH ISO: From my experience, the limit of all-around ISO setting is 1250 for best-detailed photos. However, as you'll learn to better expose ISO 1600 is perfectly usable and ISO 3200 for Black and White or small-sized photos (4x6"). Please remember that higher you get with the ISO, more important is to nail the exposure in order to minimize the noise. In-camera high-ISO noise reduction does marvels IF you'll shoot JPEGs, but please don't use it if you go RAW: you'll loose details.
The camera body is made for middle-sized hands. For bigger hands, the D200 body is more suitable. Most important, for example, is the distance to the buttons than can be reached with the right thumb (the AE/AF-L and the multiple selector). But the controls operate smoothly and you can do a lot of customizing to fit your needs.
Overall, this is an excellent camera and don't get fooled by reviews that point to poor image quality. Almost all cases of poor image quality come from improper use and not enough testing of this camera capabilities. My first results were awful, but after a couple of weeks of continuous learning I started to get amazing results. I'm suggesting 5 topics you SHOULD learn/ cover before or simultaneous with using this camera:
1. Basic controls: aperture, shutter speed, ISO and how they interact;
2. Relationship between aperture and depth of field;
3. Ansel Adams zone theory; very educative
4. Color temperature and color temperature correction
5. RAW files processing
About #5 above, please get yourself good RAW processing software. I use, for my workflow, Nikon's Capture NX (Click here: Nikon Capture NX Software for Windows and Mac) and Adobe Photoshop (Click here: Adobe Photoshop CS2): I squeeze most of image from Capture NX, save it as TIFF and make final adjustments in Photoshop.
Good luck, D80 is worth each penny I spent on it.
And no, I'm not on Nikon's payroll. ;)
Waited so long for it, but disappointed...............2007-09-23
I had a Canon DRebel 300D for 1.5 years before I finally upgraded to the Nikon D80. I waited SOOOOOO long for this camera! I was so excited to get it! Well right off the bat I noticed the focus was off on the camera. I had an 85mm lens (I previously shot with a 50mm) so I thought maybe it was a focal length/shutter speed issue. Then I started noticing metering issues....so many of my pictures were either seriously over or underexposed. Again, I attributed it to user error. But it kept happening and finally I googled the D80 and metering problems and VOILA! It would appear there are quite a few of us struggling with this. Ken Rockwell actually has a good article on the D80 where he addresses these issues.
My camera works well as a studio camera (with strobes) but is very inconsistent for natural light photography. This is a huge disappointment for me. I find myself using my old Rebel to shoot often and that's just sad after spending so much money on a new camera.
This camera could be great if they worked out the "bugs".
Great Digital SLR.......2007-09-19
This is my first digital camera, well, not really, I had a Sony Mavica 1.1 pixels, cerca 1999.
Previously, for serious work, I used a Canon film body with a Nikon CoolScan which scans 3000 dpi.
The D80 is my first "real" digital SLR and I am completely satisfied with its performance.
I consider myself to be a "semi-pro" and this camera fits perfectly (I like the hand grip and features much better than its' sister D40 & D70 models).
Fantastic Upgrade to the D70/D70s.......2007-09-14
I had not planned on upgrading to the D80 from my D70, but around Christmas, a local camera store had a 20% coupon for nearly anything in the store, including the D80. So, my plans changed. I have been a Nikon shooter for a number of years, and my most recent 35mm SLR is a Nikon N80. So, the D70 had a very familiar look and feel to it, and I found the transition from film to digital was pretty comfortable. I researched the D70 for months before buying it and had extremely high expectations for the camera, all of which were exceeded. The D80 retains all the great features of the D70 with improved imaging, new features, and an excellent system of buttons, dials, and menus.
I have really enjoyed shooting with the D80 and find I use a number of different approaches depending on my shooting subject. Aperture preferred, shutter preferred, program, etc. All have their merits. I think that DSLRs today are fantastic, and all the good brands have great offerings. So we can hardly go wrong any more. Since I had the experience with Nikons and some good lenses, I decided to stick with Nikon and have been most pleased. Nikon's approach is to focus on image quality, no pun intended. There is less emphasis with bells and whistles, compared with some other brands. The competition among the big DSLR manufacturers is fantastic for us digital shooters.
This is a great camera, but I think that Nikon should provide Capture NX, its imaging software developed by Nik and Nikon, should not be an add-on at additional expense. Other manufacturers provide that imaging software for free, and I wish there were an ultrasonic dust remover, but this camera is a pleasure to use. Hope this helps you make a decision.
From F5 to D80.......2007-09-07
Well, I finally bit the bullet and stuck my toe into the digital pool. I'm glad I did, and chose the D80 as the vehicle.
I'm an old film fan from way back, and my standard was the F5, an absolutely outstanding camera in every way. I also have a couple of N80s, and a couple of FMs. So I know the Nikon product line pretty well, and of course have a significant investment in lenses, so there was no way I was going to switch to another brand like Canon and have to buy a whole new line of lenses also.
The D80 is a pretty outstanding camera, and utilizes the digital technology pretty impressively. Now that I have some experience with it, I'd recommend to other film users to go with at least this level camera, as the 10 megapixel capability is going to be important to you if you want to use it similarly to film as far as cropping, enlargements, etc.
This camera's easy to use, and if you're familiar with Nikons the learning curve will be very steep; it's all familiar territory. No surprises here.
Excellent quality, excellent image quality. Of course, the ease and speed of seeing your end result as soon as you shoot it -- as opposed to waiting for film processing and printing -- is a huge plus to the digital technology.
The only lens I had to add to my current line with this body was a super-wide zoom, as my 18-35 now became effectively a 28-52. On the up side, my 28-300 now effectively became a 42-450.
All well and good, BUT..... don't throw your film camera away. There are some things that film just does better. The ISO range of digital is much more limited. You can't crank it as low as the available film ISOs, which may impact your ability to take long exposures, especially in daylight. Also, above a relatively modest ISO of 400, you start running into issues that have to be addressed in the digital world that aren't a factor in the film world until much higher ISOs, such as artifacting (the digital equivalent of graininess), lessening of color accuracy, etc. Though there is some compensating programming built into the camera, ISO 400 is a pretty low speed at which to have to start thinking about these kinds of issues. With my F5, there are films available with ISO 3200 that can be pushed to 6400. Digital just comes nowhere near this.
So, a great camera for what it is. A wonderful capability to add diversity to your camera bag. But keep your film camera around.
Product Description
Includes 18-135mm F3.5-5.6 Lens / Uses F mount lenses / SD Memory Card Slot / USB 2.0 / 2.5-inch LCD / 3D Color Matrix Meter Up to 2,700 images per battery charge - High-Efficiency power systems featuring reduced power consumption and Real-Time Fuel Gauge with Nikon's EN-EL3e Lithium Ion rechargeable battery Nikon 3D Color Matrix Metering II, plus Variable Center-Weighted and Spot Metering. Nikon's 3D Color Matrix Metering II instantly and accurately evaluates brightness, color, contrast, selected focus area and subject-to-camera distance information, referencing the results against an onboard database of 30,000 scenes from actual photography. Vary the size of the center-weighted area reading and spot metering readings correspond to 11 focusing points 11-area AF system with Wide-area Center Segment and Auto-area AF functions 2.5 LCD screen ISO Sensitivity (Recommended Exposure Index) - 100 to 1600 In-Camera Image Editing with Retouching Menu Built-in Speedlight with Nikon i-TTL flash metering and two-group Wireless Commander option Shooting Modes - 1) Single frame shooting mode; 2) Continuous shooting mode - approx. 3 frames per second; 3) Self-timer; 4) Delayed remote mode; 5) Quick-response remote mode Images are stored on SD digital memory cards Unit Dimensions (W x H x D) - Approx. 5.2 x 4.1 x 3.0 inch; Weight - Approximately 1 lb. 5 oz.
Customer Reviews:
A camera for the transition to pro levels.......2007-09-23
OK. One year passed since I've bought this camera so I can get into a review of my personal experience with it.
First of all, if you consider into buying this model, you should know that this is not a dSLR that you can use on auto settings and get fabulous results. Get a point and shoot for that or a D40/ D40x. D80 seems to be tuned to provide best results with manual modes or semi-auto modes (fixed-aperture or fixed-shutter). I spent almost 1,000 shots until I got used with the behaviour of D80 in different light conditions and with different camera settings. The learning curve may vary, but definitely won't be a steep one.
EXPOSURE: the matrix metering mode is thought to overexpose but, IMO, those that said that use this mode in the wrong situations: high-contrast, high-dynamic scenes which require careful analysis of the zones (with spot metering and/ or center-weighted) and exposure settings should be chosen accordingly. Matrix is fabulous for shooting scenes with the sun to your back, overcast or uniform lighting: exposure is perfect. For all other situation I would highly recommend spot metering.
FOCUS: focus is always dependent on the lens you use. If you invest in this DX body, get a good (pro) lens to suit your needs. The 17-55DX (Click here: Nikon 17-55mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S DX Nikkor Zoom Lens) from Nikon is a fast-focus, super-sharp lens that allows you to take shots using all capabilities of the D80 AF system. However, there are some cheaper lens I would recommend, one of them is the 50mm f/1.8 prime (Click here: Nikon 50mm f/1.8D AF Nikkor Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras), super cheap bargain for the quality you get. The new 55-200VR (Click here: Nikon 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED IF AF-S DX VR [Vibration Reduction] Zoom Nikkor Lens + Hoya 52mm UV Haze Protector Glass Filter + CapKeeper Lens Cap Strap + 6-Piece Cleaning Kit - for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras including Nikon D40, D40x, D50, D70, D70s, D80, D100, D200 & D300) is also a bargain but don't expect to get similar sharpness as from the 17-55DX. Overall focus is very fast WITH a fast-focusing lens but will require some learning form you especially if you'll use single point focus so some recomposing technique should also be learned.
COLORS: You'll be ABSOLUTELY AMAZED by the colors this camera will provide you considering that you nailed the exposure and set correct camera settings. Skin tones are natural, vivid and well balanced, blues are deep, reds are explosive, greens are smoothly rendered. But please take tests on all three color modes (two sRGB modes, I and III and one Adobe RGB mode, II) and see which suites you best. If you intend RAW, go for Adobe RGB; for JPEGS use I or III sRGB modes. You should be aware, though, that deep reds tend to overexpose on I and, especially mode III, so either compensate exposure, either go for RAW and mode II. Overall, colors are marvelous and you'll get amazing results once you'll learn how to master the camera.
Please get yourself two rechargeable batts. One is not enough if you intend to shoot all day. Another option would be to buy the grip, the MB-D80 (Click here: Nikon MB-D80 Multi-Power Battery Pack for the Nikon D80 Digital SLR Camera), that allows you to stick 6 AA batteries or two EN-EL (Click here: Nikon EN-EL3e Rechargeable Li-Ion Battery for D200 Digital SLR Camera) rechargeable. With 2 nikon rechargeable batteries the autonomy is VASTLY improved.
HIGH ISO: From my experience, the limit of all-around ISO setting is 1250 for best-detailed photos. However, as you'll learn to better expose ISO 1600 is perfectly usable and ISO 3200 for Black and White or small-sized photos (4x6"). Please remember that higher you get with the ISO, more important is to nail the exposure in order to minimize the noise. In-camera high-ISO noise reduction does marvels IF you'll shoot JPEGs, but please don't use it if you go RAW: you'll loose details.
The camera body is made for middle-sized hands. For bigger hands, the D200 body is more suitable. Most important, for example, is the distance to the buttons than can be reached with the right thumb (the AE/AF-L and the multiple selector). But the controls operate smoothly and you can do a lot of customizing to fit your needs.
Overall, this is an excellent camera and don't get fooled by reviews that point to poor image quality. Almost all cases of poor image quality come from improper use and not enough testing of this camera capabilities. My first results were awful, but after a couple of weeks of continuous learning I started to get amazing results. I'm suggesting 5 topics you SHOULD learn/ cover before or simultaneous with using this camera:
1. Basic controls: aperture, shutter speed, ISO and how they interact;
2. Relationship between aperture and depth of field;
3. Ansel Adams zone theory; very educative
4. Color temperature and color temperature correction
5. RAW files processing
About #5 above, please get yourself good RAW processing software. I use, for my workflow, Nikon's Capture NX (Click here: Nikon Capture NX Software for Windows and Mac) and Adobe Photoshop (Click here: Adobe Photoshop CS2): I squeeze most of image from Capture NX, save it as TIFF and make final adjustments in Photoshop.
Good luck, D80 is worth each penny I spent on it.
And no, I'm not on Nikon's payroll. ;)
Waited so long for it, but disappointed...............2007-09-23
I had a Canon DRebel 300D for 1.5 years before I finally upgraded to the Nikon D80. I waited SOOOOOO long for this camera! I was so excited to get it! Well right off the bat I noticed the focus was off on the camera. I had an 85mm lens (I previously shot with a 50mm) so I thought maybe it was a focal length/shutter speed issue. Then I started noticing metering issues....so many of my pictures were either seriously over or underexposed. Again, I attributed it to user error. But it kept happening and finally I googled the D80 and metering problems and VOILA! It would appear there are quite a few of us struggling with this. Ken Rockwell actually has a good article on the D80 where he addresses these issues.
My camera works well as a studio camera (with strobes) but is very inconsistent for natural light photography. This is a huge disappointment for me. I find myself using my old Rebel to shoot often and that's just sad after spending so much money on a new camera.
This camera could be great if they worked out the "bugs".
Great Digital SLR.......2007-09-19
This is my first digital camera, well, not really, I had a Sony Mavica 1.1 pixels, cerca 1999.
Previously, for serious work, I used a Canon film body with a Nikon CoolScan which scans 3000 dpi.
The D80 is my first "real" digital SLR and I am completely satisfied with its performance.
I consider myself to be a "semi-pro" and this camera fits perfectly (I like the hand grip and features much better than its' sister D40 & D70 models).
Fantastic Upgrade to the D70/D70s.......2007-09-14
I had not planned on upgrading to the D80 from my D70, but around Christmas, a local camera store had a 20% coupon for nearly anything in the store, including the D80. So, my plans changed. I have been a Nikon shooter for a number of years, and my most recent 35mm SLR is a Nikon N80. So, the D70 had a very familiar look and feel to it, and I found the transition from film to digital was pretty comfortable. I researched the D70 for months before buying it and had extremely high expectations for the camera, all of which were exceeded. The D80 retains all the great features of the D70 with improved imaging, new features, and an excellent system of buttons, dials, and menus.
I have really enjoyed shooting with the D80 and find I use a number of different approaches depending on my shooting subject. Aperture preferred, shutter preferred, program, etc. All have their merits. I think that DSLRs today are fantastic, and all the good brands have great offerings. So we can hardly go wrong any more. Since I had the experience with Nikons and some good lenses, I decided to stick with Nikon and have been most pleased. Nikon's approach is to focus on image quality, no pun intended. There is less emphasis with bells and whistles, compared with some other brands. The competition among the big DSLR manufacturers is fantastic for us digital shooters.
This is a great camera, but I think that Nikon should provide Capture NX, its imaging software developed by Nik and Nikon, should not be an add-on at additional expense. Other manufacturers provide that imaging software for free, and I wish there were an ultrasonic dust remover, but this camera is a pleasure to use. Hope this helps you make a decision.
From F5 to D80.......2007-09-07
Well, I finally bit the bullet and stuck my toe into the digital pool. I'm glad I did, and chose the D80 as the vehicle.
I'm an old film fan from way back, and my standard was the F5, an absolutely outstanding camera in every way. I also have a couple of N80s, and a couple of FMs. So I know the Nikon product line pretty well, and of course have a significant investment in lenses, so there was no way I was going to switch to another brand like Canon and have to buy a whole new line of lenses also.
The D80 is a pretty outstanding camera, and utilizes the digital technology pretty impressively. Now that I have some experience with it, I'd recommend to other film users to go with at least this level camera, as the 10 megapixel capability is going to be important to you if you want to use it similarly to film as far as cropping, enlargements, etc.
This camera's easy to use, and if you're familiar with Nikons the learning curve will be very steep; it's all familiar territory. No surprises here.
Excellent quality, excellent image quality. Of course, the ease and speed of seeing your end result as soon as you shoot it -- as opposed to waiting for film processing and printing -- is a huge plus to the digital technology.
The only lens I had to add to my current line with this body was a super-wide zoom, as my 18-35 now became effectively a 28-52. On the up side, my 28-300 now effectively became a 42-450.
All well and good, BUT..... don't throw your film camera away. There are some things that film just does better. The ISO range of digital is much more limited. You can't crank it as low as the available film ISOs, which may impact your ability to take long exposures, especially in daylight. Also, above a relatively modest ISO of 400, you start running into issues that have to be addressed in the digital world that aren't a factor in the film world until much higher ISOs, such as artifacting (the digital equivalent of graininess), lessening of color accuracy, etc. Though there is some compensating programming built into the camera, ISO 400 is a pretty low speed at which to have to start thinking about these kinds of issues. With my F5, there are films available with ISO 3200 that can be pushed to 6400. Digital just comes nowhere near this.
So, a great camera for what it is. A wonderful capability to add diversity to your camera bag. But keep your film camera around.
Product Description
The CoolPix L12 high light sensitivity up to 1600 allows you to tackle low-light scenes and situations far beyond the capabilities of conventional compact cameras. The CoolPix L12 is equipped with an incredible 2.5-inch LCD great for viewing images anywhere, anytime. The 115K Dot LCD monitor with anti-reflective coating makes composing and playing back images easy. You can shoot sharper, clearer and without blur with Nikon's ingenious Vibration Reduction. Detects and corrects for camera movement to give you rock-steady results time after time. The CoolPix L12 features 15 specially programmed modes to automatically handle focus, exposure, white balance and other adjustments that help you take great pictures easily. To ensure superb portraits with crisp focus, select Face priority AF (in Portrait Scene Mode). This feature automatically finds the subject's face and focuses on it. In-Camera Red-Eye Fix This in-camera feature automatically fixes most typical occurrences of red-eye. ISO sensitivity - Approximately equivalent to ISO 50 (auto gain to ISO 1600) System Requirements - Macintosh Mac OS X version 10.3.9, 10.4.x, Windows Vista (32bit), Windows XP Home Edition & Professional and Windows 2000 Professional Dimensions - Width 3.6 x Height 2.4 x Depth 1.0 inch (91 x 61 x 26mm) excluding projections Weight - 4.4 ounces (125 grams) without battery and SD memory card
Customer Reviews:
good Pictures Faulty Lens.......2007-09-05
I bought the L12 because I saw my son's L11 and I liked the camera. Both my son and I have problems with the lens that make the camera useless at this time. The lens went out and is stuck in that position (don't tell me to change the batteries, we tried). The screen says lens error, but it will not retract and will not work other than to tell us there is a lens error. This happened the second time I used the camera. My son used his a little more, but they were both essentially new cameras that died.
A nice, user friendly camera, especially for it's price range.......2007-09-05
Wanted a new digicam to replace my Nikon Coolpix 880 which was given as a gift. It worked well, but my main issue was it barely fit even in a large front pocket. I wanted something compact,
<200 dollars, preferably cheaper. I decided to stick with Nikon since my 880 worked and held up pretty well, had a nice interface, and to continue using SD cards from my other electronic gadgets (PDA, GPS device, etc.). Nikon's L series has several Coolpix models to choose from that fit the bill. After some research, I've determined...... the L6 is old and inferior overall in specs, L10's 2" LCD could be bigger, and the L12 had the following over the L11:
-2.5" LCD vs 2.4"
-7.1MP vs 6MP
-21MB internal RAM vs 7MB
-automatic ISO of up to 1600 vs 800
-has Vibration Reduction (VR) mode (aka "no shakey" effect or Image Stabilization)
-one touch access to VR mode and Assisted Frame portrait mode (automatically recognizes faces and puts better focus on them)
-wider selection of image resolutions
-flash with range of 26 feet vs 11 feet
It appeared to be worth the extra money for those features.
As for the L12, for an advanced point & shoot camera, it's not too bad given its low price point (probably even lower since this review was written). My old camera had a plethora of manual controls and other features, but I never used them even when I did realize they existed, so the lack of manual controls doesn't particularly bother me. Navigating the menus and interface is quite intuitive, and you'll only need to consult the manual to find the few things that elude you or to check to if they're even there. The bulge on the side where you the 2 AA batteries go gives it more bulk when put in a smaller pocket, but it also gives it a better grip. Good when you want to take right-handed only shots. Battery life is above average. I got almost a month's use out of this camera on a pair of lithiums, and that's a month of rather heavy use, as that was a time period when I brought it with me everywhere to various parties and site seeing events while testing it. By my estimates, I took roughly 80 pictures a week and well over 3.5 hours of video for that month alone. I've also used the LCD screen a lot for exploring the menus, settings, and for photo/video playback. Granted less 2% of my shoots were without flash, but everything else, especially video recording are known to drain batteries quickly on a digital camera.
Some of the main features on the L12 include high automatic ISO settings, Vibration Reduction, larger LCD, and powerful flash.
The up to 1600 ISO setting sounds impressive, but without being able to set it manually to test it, it's kind of hard to tell if it's doing it's job well enough. You'll still want a tripod or to use the flash in quite dark conditions. It appears using Vibration Reduction, which is more or less image stabilization (done in the lens as opposed to software) does cause the camera to jack up the ISO. In medium lighting conditions, the VR does reduce blurriness found in photos when you think you held a steady shot, but then zoom in to find blurriness at 10x. In moderately-heavy dark situations, this is apparent since photos taken in this mode have noticeable grainy specks or noise to them, but they do appear crisp when zooming in. Another example, at night in a skyline view, most of what you see are lights for dots and some make of the building structure. Taking that same picture in a higher light situation will actually show the buildings and texture with more clarity. If pictures are still somewhat blurry, THEN VR would smoothen that out without compromising the overall picture. In short, VR is good to have, but it's not a "cure-all", especially in low light conditions.
While some compact cameras do have large as 3" screens, those won't be at available this price range, and that's usually possible at the cost of removing a lot of the hard buttons to make room for it, forcing you to do more stuff through the menus. The flash is quite powerful for a camera of this size. I can't measure if the range is indeed 26ft, but when used in an outdoor night setting, it does light up faraway objects with ease. However, using the flash causes the camera to "stall" for around 8 seconds, which you'll need to wait it through before you can take more pictures again or do anything else really.
In short, this camera has some nice ideas and features to it that set it a part from other cameras in its price range. However, their implementations could've been done better. If you take a lot of flash photography, the long flash recycle times will be a big letdown. If you want something that works well without flash in dark scenery, you'll want to look elsewhere, likely beyond an advanced point and shoot model. I'm not a big photo-nut. The majority of my shots are done in so-so to great lightning condition which shoots good photos most of the time, but still costed less than what many pay for even the better camera cell phones works for me.
Very Easy to Use Camera.......2007-08-25
What I like about this camera it was very easy to use. I loaded the disk in the computer and was downloading the pictures with in 15 mintues. The only thing I did not like was the fact the flash is really bright and came make the pictures look washed out and you are taking a picture of a white item. However it picks up detail that my other camera could of never done
GREAT CAMERA.......2007-08-23
I could not be more pleased with this camera. It makes great pictures, is easy to operate, has everything I need to create great photos. The developed photos are just as crisp and clear as they appear on the LCD Screen.
Great camera!!!.......2007-08-23
It`s a great gift. I bought it to my boyfriend and he just love it. It`s very easy to use and the pictures are really great.
Product Description
The CoolPix L11 high light sensitivity up to 800 allows you to tackle low-light scenes and situations far beyond the capabilities of conventional compact cameras. The CoolPix L11 has an amazing 2.4-inch LCD, perfect for viewing and sharing images. Detects and corrects for camera movement to give you rock-steady results time after time. The CoolPix L11 features 15 specially programmed modes to automatically handle focus, exposure, white balance and other adjustments that help you take great pictures easily. To ensure superb portraits with crisp focus, select Face priority AF (in Portrait Scene Mode). This feature automatically finds the subject's face and focuses on it. In-Camera Red-Eye Fix This in-camera feature automatically fixes most typical occurrences of red-eye. ISO sensitivity - Approximately equivalent to ISO 64 (auto gain to ISO 800) System Requirements - Macintosh Mac OS X version 10.3.9, 10.4.x, Windows Vista (32bit), Windows XP Home Edition & Professional and Windows 2000 Professional Dimensions - Width 3.5 x Height 2.4 x Depth 1.10 inch (89.5 x 60.5 x 27mm) excluding projections Weight - 4.4 ounces (125 grams) without battery and SD memory card
Customer Reviews:
It's a good cheap camera.......2007-09-20
Nikon Coolpix L11 6MP is good for me. I use it with lithium batteries and I haven't had any problem. But when you're taking pictures you have to wait 5 seconds to take another picture...
But I'm happy to have it. It takes nice pictures!! I recommend it.
Some good (great pics), some bad (eats batteries).......2007-08-31
There are some things that Nikon did right with this camera, but mostly they got it wrong. Although I love my Nikon Coolpix 3100 (3 megapixels), some may want to avoid the Nikon Coolpix L11.
First, the good. It takes great pictures and fits into your pocket. OK for snapshots under normal conditions. It also remembers your settings (eg, exposure compensation) after being turned off, meaning you don't need to reset them each time you power up/down.
Now the bad:
1. As one reviewer noted, it does not have a viewfinder, only an LCD monitor. First, powering the LCD screen makes it eat batteries. Next, the LCD screen is useless in bright light because you can't see what's on the screen.
2. Once the camera alerts you that it's turning off after a certain period of non-use (eg, 60 seconds), it takes a long time to actually turn off. And in the meantime, there's nothing you can do to stop it from turning off. Not good it you want to get that great shot.
3. The cycling time between pics is very long. It takes about 1.5 - 2 seconds to recycle and get ready for the next shot.
4. The "multi-selector" (the large round dial in the back that lets you select flash, timer, exposure, and macro settings) is prone to operator error (meaning it's too small and you will select the wrong setting a lot (eg, exposure instead of timer). This means you need to scroll out of the wrong setting, back into the correct setting. Again, a time waster.
The price isn't bad for 6 megapixles, but I suspect the low price is indicative of how much some people don't like this camera. Still, I think it's a three star.
Chews batteries like crazy.......2007-08-23
I bought a brand ne
Nikon EN-EL9 Rechargeable Li-ion Battery for Nikon D40 and D40x Digital SLR Cameras
Nikon 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED IF AF-S DX VR Zoom Nikkor Lens
Nikon SB-400 AF Speedlight for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras
Tiffen 52mm UV Protection Filter
Nikon ML-L3 Wireless Remote Control for D50 & D70 Digital SLR Cameras
Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 1.0 Win/Mac
Adobe Photoshop CS3
Digipower BP-NKL9 Replacement Li-Ion Battery for Nikon EN-EL9
Sigma AF 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS (Optical Stabilizer) Zoom Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras
Adobe Photoshop Elements 6
