OVERVIEW

Digital cameras seem to be on almost everybody’s “Gotta have” list these days. The selection offered in the marketplace tends to become overwhelming, with options ranging from the Polaroid Jam Cam for less than $100 (sometimes offered as a “loss leader” for less than $50) to the Nikon D1 at more than $5000. Confusing lists of features and conflicting “quality” claims make the search for the “perfect” digital camera a consumer nightmare. What may be the best overall solution for many users is the Nikon CoolPix 880. Many photography “Pro’s” are calling Nikon’s newest digital camera the “baby” Coolpix 990, since the 880 offers the same 3.34 megapixel CCD chip as the 990, and many of the features of its bigger brother for three hundred bucks less.

IN THE FIELD/OPERATION & HANDLING

Thanks to a friend who manages a local camera shop I was able to spend some “quality time” with the Nikon Coolpix 880, here are a few of my impressions. Images from the camera are fantastic, sharp as a tack; the color is bright and well saturated, with a neutral color balance. The camera is compact, with excellent ergonomics, it fits well in the hand (weight is 11.3 ounces), and all the controls are logical and well placed. The camera most resembles a fat upscale “zoom” point ‘n’ shoot.

The 2.5x optical zoom (35mm equivalent 38-95mm) provides exceptional resolution, and is comparable to the 990’s 3x optical zoom. The 1.5 FPS full resolution image capture (the buffer is almost as good as the one offered on the 990) and 5 area multi point auto focus are great features for accurate composition and capturing action sequences. The fast (f2.8) maximum aperture is very helpful in low light situations, where many digicams fail to measure up. The 880 also offers macro focus to 1.6 inches, manual focus, and a bright easy to see 1.8 inch TFT LCD monitor.

NEAT FEATURES

Exclusive to the Nikon Coolpix 880 is “Scene Mode” which allows the user to choose from eleven different scenes, the camera then optimizes all settings for the scene chosen. The scenes available are: Portrait, Party/Indoor, Night Portrait, Night Landscape, Sunset, Beach/Snow, Fireworks, Close-up, Backlighted, and Copy. The 880 features an exclusive “CSM” (custom) mode, that allows the user to choose personal settings (exposure mode, flash, focus) and save them, for later retrieval. Exposure modes are the standard Program, Auto, Aperture Priority, Manual, Exposure Compensation, and Auto Bracketing.

The Quick Play Mode is also unique to the Coolpix 880, when you activate “quick play” a small window opens in the LCD, and displays the photo you just took. Playback Mode offers all the usual options (Thumbnails, DPOF, Zoom & Scroll, etc) plus you can delete any photo that you don’t like (as opposed to the one or all options offered on many digicams) plus Movie Mode which allows the user to shoot up to forty seconds of “quick time video”

The Nikon Coolpix 880 menu has more options than the Coolpix 990. White balance (seven settings) Metering (four settings) Continuous shooting (six settings) Best Shot (takes multiple shots, as long as you hold the shutter button down, the camera will then choose the best exposure) Lens (for using optional wide angle & telephoto adapters) Image adjustment (eight settings) Image Sharpening (five settings) Quality/Size (seven settings) Sensitivity (equivalent to ISO 100, 200, & 400 film) Exposure Options (3 settings) Focus Options (3 settings) Plus many other user selected set up options.

Manual Mode allows the user to set both the aperture (either f2.8 or f7.8) and the shutter speed (from 8 seconds to 1/1000th of a second) there is also a “bulb” setting (tripod use is recommended) which keeps the shutter open for up to sixty seconds (as long as the user keeps the shutter button depressed)

SUMMARY

Does the Nikon Coolpix 880 have a downside? The 2CR5 lithium batteries will break the bank if you shoot a lot. A better option is the Nikon EN-EL1 rechargeable battery (optional $45.00) and the charger EH-21 AC (optional $65.00) The included 8MB CompactFlash Card (type 1) is much too small, buying an optional 64MB CompactFlash Card is recommended.

Overall the Nikon Coolpix 880 is an exceptional value, you get many of the same features that Nikon offers on the more expensive Nikon Coolpix 990 for considerably less. The 880 offers a couple of neat features that the Nikon Coolpix 990 doesn’t provide like the “scene mode” and "CSM mode” Factor in manual control options, an excellent macro mode, a great playback mode, well designed user friendly controls and menu, and you may have the best over-all balance between features and cost of any digicam currently available in the marketplace.

Included

8MB CompactFlash Card (type 1)
2CR5 Lithium Battery
Wrist Strap
Lens Cover (w/retaining cord)
USB cable
Video cable
CD-ROM with NikonView 3.0 software
User Guide, Menu Guide, and Fast Track Guide

Technical Specifications

Resolution: “Hi” 2048x1536
1024x768
640x480
Metering: 256 segment “Matrix”
Price: (street) $650-$700
Storage Media: CompactFlash (type 1)
Flash: Built in (no provision for external flash)
Viewfinder: Optical and LCD (1.8”)
Zoom: 2.5x (35mm equivalent 38-95mm)

If you would like more information on Digital Cameras in general please see my review:

“How to Choose a Digital Camera”
http://www.epinions.com/elec-review-2E46-17B174E2-39A418E3-prod1

For more information about specific Digital Camera models, please see my Digital Camera Reviews:


Nikon Digital Cameras

Nikon Coolpix 885
http://www.epinions.com/content_46290931332

Nikon Coolpix 995
http://www.epinions.com/content_40256769668

Nikon D1X
http://www.epinions.com/content_36023996036

Nikon D1
http://www.epinions.com/elec-review-4868-E2433E5-38737CF8-prod2/tk_~CB003.1.78

Nikon Coolpix 990
http://www.epinions.com/elec-review-3B78-3C431D90-3A345313-prod3

Canon Digital Cameras

Canon Powershot G2
http://www.epinions.com/content_47646084740

Canon Powershot S10
http://www.epinions.com/content_7563808388/tk_~CB003.1.74

Canon EOS D30
http://www.epinions.com/content_11625991812/tk_~CB003.1.58

Canon Powershot PRO 90IS
http://www.epinions.com/content_30440001156/tk_~CB005.1.9

Canon Powershot G1
http://www.epinions.com/content_8768294532/tk_~CB003.1.70

Canon Powershot PRO 70
http://www.epinions.com/elec-review-6496-25768DA-38C3E01A-prod9/tk_~CB003.1.70


Sony Digital Cameras

Sony MVC-CD 300
http://www.epinions.com/content_45591793284

Sony DSC-S50
http:http://www.epinions.com/content_15885897348

Sony Mavica MVC-CD1000
http://www.epinions.com/elec-review-5F01-365BA12-3980602C-prod3/tk_~CB003.1.14

Olympus Digital Cameras

Olympus Camedia C3040
http://www.epinions.com/content_42675179140

Olympus Camedia C3000
http://www.epinions.com/content_26106105476/tk_~CB003.1.30

Olympus Camedia E10
http://www.epinions.com/elec-review-59FB-183DFC73-3A17388F-prod2/tk_~CB003.1.42

Fuji Digital Cameras

Fuji Finepix S1 “PRO”
http://www.epinions.com/elec-review-5591-16816C34-39047A87-prod5/tk_~CB003.1.18

Minolta Digital Cameras

Minolta Dimage 5
http://www.epinions.com/content_49104522884


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Recommended: Yes