Rating: 
Summary: Trade in your old 35mm for this one!
Review: As a former pro photographer using Olympus products since the early 70's, I believed digital to be a photo toy with capabilities not yet realized-- today's toy, maybe with pro potential in the future. My first venture into digital at 640 X 480 gave me a wish list of what it would take to satisfy the quality requirements for serious photography. A new, Hi resolution printer paved the way for the arrival of the Coolpix 950 into my evolving 'desktop darkroom'. The quality / format range of basic 640 X 480 to XGA Fine, to Uncompressed TIFF is magnificently supported by Nikon's superb optics, accurate exposure options, adequate zoom range and very usable macro. From my Siamese Cat's eyes, to a handmade silver Hopi ring, to mountain landscapes, all can be reproduced in astoundingly fine detail, given a good quality printer. The camera features may not be readily apparent, but just carry around the Fast Track Guide for a couple of photo sessions & it will give you the answers to all you want to know. They laughed when I arrived with only a camera in it's belt-pack and 4 extra batteries - hardly enough size to be a professional quality camera - compared to the kid with a full sized 35mm camera with huge flash and massive zoom lens. Later that evening, I was able to present suitable albums to both parents to show off with, while the kid with the 35mm was still talking about availability of overnite photo-processing. The 8 X 10's printed later were truly impressive. On the down side, the proprietary accessory flash connector eliminates use of a second source light of my choosing - desirable in some instances, but not manditory. As in all high-drain applications, a pocket full of AA Alkalines will work. Better than rechargeable NiCad's (even the high capacity ones) are the NiMH batteries, which although expensive, far outlast any of the other rechargeables. The 8 meg flash card is a good starter, but 32 - 80 meg gives this little camera sufficient capacity for most photo situations. If you need a camera solely for family snapshots & e-mail photos, you won't begin to appreciate this camera's ability. If you need to capture Mai-Tai's brlliant blue eyes, the shy smile of a new bride at the altar, or fine details of the jeweler's craft, then you will be able to exploit the 950's full potential. Now, will I go out & sell the Olympus? Doubtful, since they have the sentimental value of worldwide travel. And besides, they really do take wonderful slides...
Rating: 
Summary: Camera takes pictures, but good luck viewing them!
Review: I've worked with all sorts of photography equipment and pictures/viewing software. Never have I been as frustrated as I am with the nikon lukewarmpix950 and its lame manual and lamer software programs. Nikon is not ready for the digital photography marketplace. The camera is not intuitive to use and the viewing software is nearly imposible to work with, IF you are even able to access it. I've never seen anything like this. This is the most user-unfriendly package I've ever witnessed. If you have not worked with digital cameras and digital picture-taking extensively, DO NOT BUY THIS CAMERA. YOU WILL BE SORRY!
Rating:
Summary: Great Camera
Review: Super digital pictures at last. I have been waiting for this kind of resolution also for over two years.Gotan 8X Lexar 80MB compact flash memory and a Lexmark Z51 1200x1200 printer only regret is the lens cap got lost (it should have a string and the next one I get I will add it myself).
Rating:
Summary: One of the best digital cameras!
Review: I got the camera about 1/2 year ago, and the quality of the photos produced is wonderful. The colors come out real natural and it makes an amateur like me look like I know what I'm doing.
Rating: 
Summary: Not compatible with White and Blue G3 Mac
Review: Although it is advertized as Mac compatible I was unable to get my G3 Macintosh to recognize the camera. The manual says that a serial USB adaptor is needed. I tried that with no luck and Nikon support agrees that serial USB adaptors are unlikely to work with this camera and a W&B G3 Mac so if you're going to use the coolpix 950 with a Mac that only accepts USB you will need to also purchase a flashcard reader. This increases the price by $150-200.
Rating:
Summary: tripod mount does not fit properly
Review: I purchased the NIKON coolpix 950 and was disappointed to find out that it does not mount squarely to a tripod. I've called Canada Customer service and they seemed unconcerned. If you want to take level square pictures be prepared to modify the bottom of the camera. Hopefully they will read this and come up with a better solution.Otherwise the camera is great.
Rating:
Summary: This camera is magic.
Review: I am not a photographer, but I bought this camera to see if I could be a good enough shooter to do a coffee-table full color book of photos of business coaches. Bottom line: The images, the color, the clarity, the simplicity (yet with lots of manual options) has made the book project a reality. I'll probably buy the upcoming (oct 99 they tell me) Nikon D1 because it has 2.7mil pixels, but I don't have to -- the Nikon Coolpix 950 is that good.
Rating:
Summary: A superb digital camera
Review: I entered the world of digital photography with a Fuji DS-7. Cheap, it provided a 640x480 introduction to the fun you can have with a computer camera. I love the immediate feedback you get when you download the pictures to your computer and see them pop up! I shoot many, many more pictures now that I have a digital camera. If my old Fuji was a nifty PT Boat, then my Nikon Coolpix 950 is an aircraft carrier. The high 1600x1200 resolution mode is stunning to view on my PC. I find myself wondering if my HP color printer is now the weak link in producing the best quality shots. I find I don't use the middle 1024x768 resolution at all. I either go 640x480 for pictures to email my friends, or 1600x1200 for ones to keep and print. I haven't discarded my film camera yet, but I'm taking far fewer film pictures. This camera is amazing techology. Even with better CCD sensors in the future, I don't see this camera being dated soon. Its high-res picture quality is amazing. The controls can be a bit confusing at first, but you can do just about anything with this camera that you can with a film 35mm.
Rating:
Summary: Digital photography starts to make fun
Review: My wife and I used Nikon SLR cameras since 1973 EL, F1, F2 and was always pleased using these tools. We even did some exhibitions of our work. Digital consumer cameras like the Coolpix are still not up to their originals. But you have also to note that doing all the work in the darkroom is time consuming and difficult. Getting pictures from the lab is either disappointing or very expensive and you lose control over the process. Using the Collpix 950 and some Epson printer (eg. Stylus 900) is a very good compromize. Be aware that the display is nearly of no use at sun lite conditions and dealing with contrast is difficult as ever. But otherwise it is fun using the Coolpix 950 and some pictures are really good. Resolution is indead very good. For the not overly ambitious (but still quality oriented) enthusiast this camera is a very good choice although there will be some better one in 6 months. But don't wait too long as you lose the pictures you could have made then.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent high-end digital camera
Review: Nikon optics and 2+ megapixal is a GREAT combination. Add the screw-on lenses (fish-eye, wide-angle, telephoto) and you have an amazingly flexible camera. Extreme close-up/macro work is this cameras forte. Terrific photos plus you can see the results right away. I'm used to shooting hundreds of photos and picking through contact sheets. With this camera I can shoot a single photo and verify that its what I want before moving on to the next subject. This is the camera if you're used to professional equipment.
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