Nikon Coolpix 950 2MP Digital Camera w/ 3x Optical Zoom
by Nikon

Our Price: $78.00
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Category: Digital Camera
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Digital Photo Product Details

• 2.1 megapixel sensor captures enough detail to create photo-quality 8 x 10 prints
• 3x optical plus 4x digital zoom lens with autofocus
• Included 8 MB CompactFlash card holds 17 images at default resolution
• Connects to Macs and PCs via serial port
• 4 AA batteries included; an enthusiast's camera that allows manual control of virtually every function

• Adobe Photoshop CS5 Upgrade [Old Version]
• Serif PhotoPlus X3
• Adobe Photoshop CS4 Upgrade [OLD VERSION]
• Aperture 3
• Pixelmator [Old Version]

Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Nikon Coolpix 950 2MP Digital Camera w/ 3x Optical Zoom

Customer Review: Buy one! But you can't buy mine!
Summary: 5 Stars

Prior to purchasing the 950, I would take a product shot, make a print and tape it onto my monitor where I used it as reference to draw the product into an on screen graphic. With this camera, I seldom print the `film' out at all - in fact in many cases I didn't even have to redraw the product in at all. A shade-tree calculation says that this camera has saved me well over 100 hours in the three months I have owned it. Even at my low-low rates this is several times the cost of this camera - even including the optional memory.

The resolution is high enough for everyday publication uses -- print or pixel. A caveat here: the lens does not collect enough light to do studio quality photography. For this reason in most high quality still photo work it is useful to use a tripod to keep the camera steady. The `speed' of the camera is roughly equivalent to ASA 100 film.

While it takes only a few moments to discover the basics for `point-and-shoot' mode it is worth a few hours practice in the `pro' mode. Few of the `advanced' features are really difficult to understand and using them once or twice is so rewarding that learning becomes an easy and fun process - especially since you can erase the film and use it over! With careful lighting I can come very close to studio quality work which compares to my yeoman Canon EOS Élan 35mm.

Particularly handy for me is the macro mode - or close-up mode. You can focus from less than an inch! I sometimes use it over my high-test scanner for documents because it is easier and faster. My partner (whose mechanical ability allows the use of the toaster correctly 7 out of 10 times) uses it for online auctions and has found it to be a blessing: she no longer shuns putting up the low cost items due to the difficulty of getting an image. She is still using the point and shoot modes but they are more than good enough for this use.

Notes and recommendations: Even a casual user will find the need to have more than the supplied 8-megabyte chip. I have a 64 and it is more than enough. Probably an additional 8- or 16-megabyte would do for average use. Uploading pictures using what is in the box is straightforward but cumbersome and requires a serial port. For not too much money you can get a serial or USB drive that makes the CompactFlash chip into a drive - plug the chip in and using explorer or your photo software you can retrieve your photos just like any file on your computer. (We have even used it to move non-photo programs from one `puter to another!) Please note that I have skipped over many features which have bee covered admirably by the other reviewers on this page.

In this fast-moving technological era it is difficult to make a decision to buy as there is another camera coming out in the near future. However, this camera will work for me for a long time and I recommend it to anyone from the family album user to photo professionals for everyday use. With the new online services that will make you paper prints from your uploaded images there are fewer and fewer reasons for cumbersome film and this camera is one of the first to deliver print-quality resolution.

Description of Nikon Coolpix 950 2MP Digital Camera w/ 3x Optical Zoom

Digital Cameras

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