Nikon Coolpix 2100 2MP Digital Camera w/ 3x Optical Zoom

Rating:
Summary: Best little camera
Review: I received this camera for christmas. I've never used a digital camera before so I was a little intimidated at first. I soon realized that I didn't need to be intimidated. It is so easy to use and small enough to fit in my pocketbook. I can now take pictures at any time and it is so easy to transfer the pictures onto my laptop. Since getting this camera, I am enjoying taking pictures as well as sharing pictures with my friends and family.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent camera for the price (but use the right battery)
Review: I have been using a Nikon Coolpix 950 (2MP) camera for several years and decided to buy the 2100 as a gift for my wife around 12/2003 from Amazon. I had been satisfied with the quality of photographs for the 950 and am now also satisfied with the 2100. For about 1/6th of the price and less than 1/2 of the size, the quality of the 2100 is nearly identical. As an all-around point-and-shoot for a very good price, the 2100 is a winner. However, my suggestion is to use only disposable or rechargeable Lithium-based batteries and not NiMH.

I hesitated writing a review until I could figure out a problem with rechargeable batteries. The disposable CR-V3 lithium battery is excellent and can easily last a few months and a few hundred pictures. Flash recharge time is acceptable (although when you have infants or toddlers who don't sit still it might not be!). But when I used high-capacity (2000 mAh) 1.2V rechargeable NiMH (nickel-metal hydride) batteries, the flash recharge time was poor and it would take many seconds to be able to take the next picture. A low-battery indicator would be displayed too soon even if the batteries had enough of a charge, suggesting that the lower voltage (2.4 V for NiMH versus 3.0 V for the disposable) made it difficult for the camera to sense the true strength of the charge that was left. Even worse, the short shelf life of even fully charged NiMH batteries rendered them almost empty, at least as the 2100 saw them, after two or three weeks of no use so we would have to keep swapping in fully charged batteries. The 2100 did get a firmware upgrade that mentions addressing problems with NiMH batteries, but our camera was shipped with the latest. So after numerous attempts at using various brands of rechargeable NiMH batteries, which is the kind that is popular for digital cameras, I was discouraged.

Then I found the "RCR-V3" battery on the web, a replacement for the CR-V3 disposable. Thomas Distributing sells a couple brands that will cost upwards to $40 including the charger and shipping. But now I can say it was worth it. With the RCR-V3, the low-battery indicator does not show up prematurely, the flash recharge time is as short as the disposable CR-V3, and the shelf life of the rechargeable is excellent for more than a month. We have the NEXcell brand, but I think any of the brands would work well. Now I highly recommend this camera, as long as it is using lithium based batteries.

Rating:
Summary: Nice little camera
Review: I bought the 2100 to replace a stolen 3MP Sony P-72. I loved the Sony, and the jury is still out on the Nikon. I like the size & feel of the 2100, but find that images often appear "soft." The camera doesn't seem to do as well in bright sunlight, and certain colors, such as magenta & hot pink lose definition. Otherwise, picture quality is good. Though the Nikon is a solid deal at $150, in retrospect, I should have spent the extra money and bought another P-72.

Rating:
Summary: i really really like this product
Review: The thing I love most about this camera is that it is small. It is great for snapshots and party pictures. If you are an inexperienced photographer or just like taking simple pictures, this camera is for you. It adjusts light settings and such based on what situation you are in. It even has guides for where to place people in photos- I personally do not use these but they can be helpful to some people.
And, it even plays a cute ringtone when you turn it on! Thumbs up!

Rating:
Summary: Competent beginner's camera.
Review: The camera is small and takes good, sharp pictures. I was most impressed with the nighttime shots. Using the nighttime portrait setting, (holding the camera especially still) everything in the picture came out brilliantly--especially the background. Very easy to use, light & small. I think the Canons have a better user interface, but you can get used to this camera pretty quickly. It eats up battery life a little more quickly than the Canon, but when you use rechargeables & have spares handy, it's all good.