I finally got sucked into the age of digital cameras. Most of the people I knew around me already had a digital camera and they constantly talked about the convenience of being able to see your picture and play with it before you had it printed. So after asking around and finding that Nikon was a good camera company, I began searching for a good beginner's camera. I am by no means technologically advanced, so I needed something that would be simple to use, yet would still provide me with high quality pictures. I also wanted it to be a small and lightweight.

The Nikon Coolpix 3500 comes with everything you need to start taking pictures: the camera itself, a battery charger with power cable, a rechargeable battery, camera strap
(optional in use), starter memory card (which holds about 36 pictures), USB cable, reference manual CD, warranty card, and a program to view/use pictures on the computer. The camera itself is relatively slim with a swiveling lens that allows it to stay flat and compact while storing, but achieving excellent camera angles when taking pictures. The reference manual provided is very easy to understand, and they also provide a large "Quick Start Guide" that provides a brief overview of the camera for those people who can't wait to take pictures and who will figure out all the small details on their own.

The Nikon Coolpix also offers 12 unique "scene" modes that adjust the settings of the camera automatically in order to produce the best results for your picture. These "scenes" are: portrait, party/indoor, night portrait, beach/snow, landscape, sunset, night landscape, museum (I've found this setting extremely helpful because it automatically turns off the flash while still maintaining excellent photo quality), fireworks show, close up, copy, and back light. With the "Scene" mode it's easy for someone who's new at taking digital pictures to achieve the best results.

The Nikon Coolpix 3500 is an extremely affordable digital camera. I believe I purchased mine for around $300. Already though, as is typical in the the technology world, I'm wishing I had a camera that was smaller and sleeker. Although this camera is extremely portable at just over 4 inches long and under 3 inches high, most of the new digital cameras coming out in the same price range are smaller and more compact.

Getting hard-copy pictures from this camera is also extremely easy. With the CD provided you can download the pictures onto your computer, fiddle with them as much as your heart desires and then print them out using your own printer. It's also just as easy (although a little more costly) to take them to your local drugstore and use the digital camera picture print-out machine. I recently had my first experience with one and found it simple to use. The machine also allows you to zoom in/zoom out and crop unwanted portions of the pictures, and of course, you get the high-quality, glossy finish of a regular photograph.

I think this camera was a great choice for a beginner's camera. My friends who know more about digital pictures also think it's a great camera for even the most experienced. The quality of the pictures is great, and really that's all that most of us care about. It's as easy to use as your everyday basic camera. Of course, you're capable of zooming, moving the lens around to different angles, and deleting the pictures that don't turn out just the way you want them. When you finish with your beginner's memory card and get a new one you'll find you're able to store more pictures (this also depends on what photo quality you choose to use: basic or fine.) The battery lasts for a long time, although it's good to charge it when not and use and especially if you're planning on having a full day of picture-taking. The battery wears out faster, of course, the more you go back and look at your pictures and zoom-in/zoom-out and check all the different parts of the camera.



Recommended: Yes

Amount Paid (US$): 300ish
This Camera is a Good Choice if You Want Something... Easy Enough for Anyone to Use