Rating: 
Summary: nice
Review: It is very nice. i use it for southern university web pag photos. It did take a while to figure out some of the functions and to be honest i still have not got it all. Takes real nice pictures except when i use the zoom feature w/o tripod. I wish battery life was longer, but i usaly have two hours of true battery life. But the biggest problem is telling other faculty members " not a loaner camera...that would be the other brand."
Rating: 
Summary: Almost mature technology
Review: The Nikon Coolpix 990 represents the point-and-shoot digital technology ALMOST mature. The shutter delay is hardly noticeable, and most images get written to the drive fairly quickly. Batteries almost last a reasonable amount of time. However, the Quicktime movie capability is a little awkward -- no sound -- and the color of the images seems to always be a problem. However, if you're looking to buy a digital point-and-shoot today, this is the camera to buy. The independent, rotational-lens design is brilliant. You can point the thing at yourself and view your self-portrait as you take it, which by itself makes this camera a standout in my book. Add to that the top-quality optics and dazzling array of features, and this model is the one to beat. Given all that, for the time being I'll stick to my (film-based) Olympus Stylus Epic for most of my shooting on-the-go. The Nikon is too big, too slow, too energy-hungry, and waaay too expensive to go everywhere the way the Olympus does.
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Summary: SLR features in a digital camera
Review: One area that the 990 excels over most digital cameras is the ability to control the shutter speed and aperture. This gives you much greater control over the composition and quality of your images. Most digital cameras give you no control over depth of field. With the 990, setting the aperture is simple and gives you control over this important quality of your photographs. Control over shutter speed allows you to freeze action or blur motion, again giving you creative control over your subject. Combined with the high quality of the images the camera produces, these features have won my loyality to the Nikon digital line.
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Summary: I love it
Review: I am a camera assistant in the motion picture business. I'd like to think that I understand photography better than most folks. When I first bought the camera I had a bit of buyers remorse. I'll admit it was a bit expensive toy purchase for me. After using it for 3 mos I am blown away with the images I capture. I've taken pictures with it that have been published. I would repeat the purchase in an instant. Everyone writes the same stuff in their reviews so this is about what to get and not get with the camera. This camera has a lot of features and the documentation is just OK so get the Nikon Digital Photography book. You may actually understand what you are doing then. GET 2 sets of NiMH rechargable Batteries! This camera eats regular batteries for lunch. The NiMH batteries last longer than regular batteries. Get a bigger memory card. 80M will give you about 100 pictures in medium resolution. Get a fast card 8X or better. Don't be cheap here. The faster cards will cut down your cycle time between photos. Something to think about as you are missing shots waiting for the camera to load the image you shot. In theory these things last forever, so buy the best. Get a card reader with your camera. It will dowmload in a fraction of the time camera direct will download. Get the 24mm wide angle adapter lens. I promise you will love it and use it all the time. I have two cases for my camera. One that holds just the camera and my 24mm lens. I take it with me when I want to grab some quick shots. The other case holds my battery charger and other lenses in addition to the camera. It's overkill but it works for me. Whatever you do PROTECT your camera! I don't think I'd buy the 3X extender again. I don't use it that often and it was expensive. "Wider is better" If you are in low light you will want to get a tripod and have your subject stand still. If you can manage that you can get shots with hardly any light. Good luck and enjoy your camera!
Rating:
Summary: Awesome Camera for pro-amateurs
Review: This camera takes awesome pictures. My wife and I debated a long time what kind of camera to get, a regular nikon or a digital one. We decided on the digital because we liked the idea of printing photos at home, and sharing photos with family on the internet. And with a relatively inexpensive photoprinter (HP Photosmart P1000) we print photos as good as I've ever gotten back from dropping them off to be developed. Also, with a little photo-editing you can turn almost any picture into a winner. This lets you to turn pictures that would otherwise end up at the bottom of a shoebox, into family treasures. We have two children and this camera has allowed us to produce the best pictures we have ever taken of our children.
Rating:
Summary: great tool, new ways of seeing!
Review: This great system of imaging has revitalized my photojournalism, providing immediate feedback, color temprature balancing, low light photography, supurb detail with the fisheye and long telephoto, great closeup work. You simply must buy another harddisk with this camera. very controlable, you should spend time with the well written manual. Software upgrade of camera firmware downloaded over the internet from Nikon improved operations. Still a bit slow to record images, but a fabulous tool, extension of the eye. Camera has more ram than my computer! Using photoshop vastly improves the images, better environmentally than using the old chemical systems.
Rating:
Summary: Superb!
Review: Having been a Nikon user for 95% of my photographic career, the 990 was a natural purchase. This is a wonderful camera in every fashion! It's made in true Nikon tradition--durable, dependable, and simple to use. Does it do what my D1 will do--no it won't, but it wasn't intended to. However, it does share many similar functions to the D1 or a well-equiped SLR. You have the option of aperture or shutter speed priority, program (and program shift), as well as full manual control. And if you use the LCD panel for viewing, you do have a digital SLR of sorts, so you can use filters (such as a polarizer) and others. So you do have a very capable and creative tool with this camera. My main purpose for buying this camera was to have a digital "point-and -shoot" that wasn't as cumbersome as the D1 or an SLR and didn't require carrying around an array of lenses but still gave me some of the SLR tools that would be useful. In other words, this camera allows me to do digital imaging and keep it simple. My only bone of contention with the 990 is the flash. Expect to remove red-eye from 90 percent of your people-pictures. And the red-eye reduction feature doesn't help much. The flash is just too close to the lens--period! I bought the flash bracket so I can use my Nikon SB-28 flash and that proved to be a flawless combination. The only problem with that arrangement is that it sort of defeats the point-and-shoot purpose to a small extent. The only other issue would be seeing the LCD panel in bright light outdoors, but I imagine that's probably a typical problem with most of these cameras. But here's a little tip. Take a piece of black posterboard, fashion it into a square tube the size of the LCD panel, put some narrow strips of velcro on it and around the LCD panel and voila--a viewing hood that works like a charm! Also, as is probably also typical for these cameras, don't expect long battery life if you use the LCD panel all the time. Get some rechargeable metal hydroxide batteries. The life span is far, far longer. The Everyready system works very well. Aside from that, for general shooting outdoors and indoors, I love this camera. I have to be honest and state that I didn't do a lot of comparing. I had (and still have) the Coolpix 800 and loved it as well, and again, being a Nikon freak, there wasn't any indecision here. I simply wanted a "point-and-shoot" digital that had more capabilities than the 800 had. If I'm doing some really serious shooting for publication or exibition, then it's time for the D1 or the old faithful SLR and slide film. Don't think twice if you're considering this camera. It's top-notch all the way!
Rating:
Summary: great camera...a couple of problems
Review: This camera is great! I've done professional photography for a number of years and am very impressed by the results of the 990. Image quality is outstanding. The camera is easy to use. My only complaint is the software included with the 990. It wouldn't recognize the camera on my usb port, no matter what I did. I tried it on 3 different computers, and had the same problem with Windows 95, 98 and ME. I downloaded all the stuff from the web, and finally after many frustrating hours got the images transferred to the computer. Now, it works like a breeze. The red-eye is a problem, as everyone has mentioned before. But, I knew that when I bought the camera, and use it mostly for product, tabletop work. I give it 4 stars only because of the software problems and red-eye...minor problems that can be solved one way or another....END
Rating:
Summary: Great Camera With Only One Flaw
Review: I love this camera. It take great pictures and has many features that allow you to contorl it like a normal SLR camera. The one flaw that this camera has it that suffers from "red eyes" quite a bit. The red eye reduction feature only seems to make it worse.
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Summary: Nikon 990: 5 months later
Review: I took 4,500 pictures (so far)in 4 months and the Coolpix 990 is still going strong. This is a general follow-up on my two earlier reviews, Sept 26, 00 CJ, and Oct 22,00 CJinPa. I'm updating this review because of the enjoyment I get from this camera and all the support I recieved from other "posters" as I researched prior to my purchase. If you consider this product, you'll LOVE your purchase. I snapped a lot of pics with this thing and print out the good shots on my printer for framing. Believe me, I've taken lots of shots, but only a few "really good" ones. BUT, my technique gets better all the time. This "learning curve" would of sent me to the poor house if I used my 35mm Nikon and had to develop all those rolls of film. Digital is "free" after you make your initial investment in the gear. I bought a pile of add-on lenses and flash assys. for the camera to get the most out of it. There is a great E-Book by Peter iNova "Mastering Nikon Digital Cameras" ($50)that is a detailed 990 camera; instruction manual - photo techniques - editing & printing tutorial that is the PERFECT companion to your 990 purchase. The E-Book is interactive and will help you MASTER the 990 to its potential. Get this if you get the camera, i believe this is a MANDATORY purchase. If this was out when I bought the camera, I'd of saved 3 months off my learning curve. Well, not many more good things to say that haven't been said before. Excellent quality pictures, great quality camera, and ample support from Nikon (if ever needed). This camera is a great buy that will leave you happy with your investment 4,500 pictures later. Enjoy your new purchase.
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