Nikon Coolpix SQ 3MP Digital Camera w/ 3x Optical Zoom

Rating:
Summary: Go with some other Nikon Coolpix camera, not this one.
Review: Great size, OK images, awful durability.

We've had to return the camera to Nikon for repair once and now it needs to go back. The door that secures the battery in place and hides the compact flash card is flimsy. It broke once and completely fell off this time.

I love the Coolpix line and am on my 3rd Nikon Coolpix camera. I just wish this wasn't one of them...

Rating:
Summary: Hip and Trendy Camera!
Review: I purchased an SQ not too long ago and I have to say that its a pretty good camera! The styling will instantly shock people! I have had people crowd around me and swoon over the design of this camera as it defies conventional design. The camera comes with a started 16mb Compact Flash card, Charger, Easy download pictures to computer cradle, lens cap, battery, USB cable, and good software (as you can see Nikon did not cheap out on anything.)

The camera takes gorgeous pictures during the daytime and I did not miss the lack of a view finder on this camera as Nikon has provided an amazing LCD that you can see even when the sun is reflecting on it! The problem is pictures at night as due to the flash being so close to the lens the red-eye, dust reflection, and noise is kind of bad.

I have loaded the latest firmware that Nikon has put out and it takes care of a couple of issues and the pictures have seemed to clean up a bit. So far the camera has been good. It takes amazing macro pictures and daytime pictures but if you're okay with some red eye and a little noise in poorly lit areas then try the firmware download or get a "nighttime" camera like I did..

Rating:
Summary: easy to use, original design, few manual options
Review: I've bought this camera a week ago. This is my review

Pros:
- Nice design, breaks with the typical design in compact cameras.
- The optical it quite good (similar to the one used in nikon's reflexs)
- Very well designed menus
- Craddle is very useful and comfortable, it also allows for charging an auxiliar battery without having to connect the camera on it.
- 15 scene modes, including night photos (iso increases), sports (shutter speed increases), macro, etc.
- If you want to take photos in black and white there is a scene mode for taking photos to text which works in black and white

Cons:
- only few manual options, not incluiding focus, iso, shutter speed and few more (you have to rely on scene modes to make the camera automatically change this)
- limitation on 40 secs for recording movies (do you really want to record movies with a photo camera?), however this nikon allows for recording sound too (many nikon coolpix don't allow).


Rating:
Summary: Had to ship back twice for technical problems!
Review: Initially loved the camera. I'm a longtime Coolpix fan, and use the swivel lens at work all the time (I'm a plastic surgeon). It fits easily in your pocket, and every single time I pull it out, I get ooohs and aaahs. The macro function is great, but the flash causes a lot of shadows indoors.

HOWEVER, after using the camera for two months, I had to return it because it would no longer sync with my computer from its base. The company took 3-4 weeks to return it to me. Now, just two months later, it's making grinding noises and won't boot up. Not sure if it's just my camera, or overall quality control issues, but I expect a top-notch product from Nikon. The design is awesome, but if you can't use it, then it's a waste.

Rating:
Summary: Defy Conventions!
Review: My migration to digital photography started in 1996 or thereabouts with the Casio Q10. It didn't last long as the camera was nicked.

I recently purchased the SQ and had high hopes of Nikon {my previous SLRs were Nikon and Leica}. I was in shock! The SQ is beautiful crafted and designed, and at 180gm its the perfect weight. The manual shooting is amazing.. its like I'm really using a Nikon AF SLR.

I would recommend the SQ anytime. The only downside to the SQ is the battery. You'd need more than 1 to ensure whatever catches your heart is translated there onto the CF card.

The best that money can buy at such a reasonable price. Attention grabber? yes unfortunately, but its worth every cent if you're serious about digital photography and are not as afortune to get Leica or higher end Nikon models.

Rating:
Summary: 3MP point and shoot with rotating lens
Review: pros:
- unique square metal body with rotating lens (the rotating lens is very useful in situations where you can't be directly behind the camera).
- 3MP resolution.
- 3x optical zoom.
- 15 scene modes!
- i like the simplicity of the included Cool-Station camera dock for charging the battery and transferring files to your computer.
- AF-assist lamp.
- short shutter lag in good light.
- fast shot-to-shot speeds.
- bright, fluid LCD display.
- impressive macro ability.

cons:
- images noisier than expected, especially for a nikon.
- moderate barrel distortion at wide-angle.
- the flash and lens are very close and this leads to dust reflections and redeye.
- expensive for its feature set.
- no optical viewfinder - this makes it tough when you use this camera in bright sunlight.
- no manual controls except for white balance.
- not as compact as its competition: 3.2 x 3.2 x 1.0" weighing 6.3oz.
- RAW and TIFF formats not supported.
- so-so battery life.
- 16MB CF card provided is inadequate so add $$ to your budget to buy more memory.
- uses proprietary batteries so again, more $$ for a spare.

the coolpix sq has a unique design and looks very cool. the main selling point of this camera is its rotating lens - this is quite useful when you can't be directly behind the camera when taking your shots. i also like the AF assist light and the numerous scene modes. but the images were disappointing, especially for a nikon. plus there are other cameras out there that are smaller, have more features, and less expensive than the coolpix sq! two that i would recommend over the sq would be the pentax optio s or casio ex-z3. for even better image quality (in a slightly bigger package), also consider canon's sd100.

i hope this helps you with your buying decision. peace.

Rating:
Summary: fun, fun, fun
Review: This is not the best 3M camera on the market but for me it's the perfect little camera. The image quality is decent--not the best, definitely some noise issues particularly in low light situations. But, I shoot just for fun and my pictures aren't going on the web or being turned into framed art.

This camera is easy to operate, has great features for beginners and even intermediate digital photographers. It's small enough that you definitely take it with you--it doesn't stay at home because it's too bulky or too heavy. In fact, it fits in the back pocket of my jeans, though I don't usually carry it there! It's also very unobtrusive--my friend calls it a spy camera. And the pictures are, like I said, not the best but decent--certainly good enough for newbies. If image quality is your biggest concern this is not the camera for you. A friend of mine has the minolta dimax (another small, square camera but no swivel lens) and i think the images are a little better, but I'm really happy it.

Rating:
Summary: fun, fun, fun
Review: This is not the best 3M camera on the market, but it's pretty damn good depending on your needs. For me, it's the perfect little camera. The image quality is decent--not the best, definitely some noise issues particularly in low light situations. But, I shoot just for fun and my pictures aren't going on the web or being turned into framed art.

This camera is easy to operate, has great features for beginners and even intermediate digital photographers. It's small enough that you definitely take it with you--it doesn't stay at home because it's too bulky or too heavy. In fact, it fits in the back pocket of my jeans, though I don't usually carry it there! It's also very unobtrusive--my friend calls it a spy camera. And the pictures are, like I said, not the best but decent--certainly good enough for newbies. If image quality is your biggest concern this is not the camera for you. A friend of mine has the minolta dimax (another small, square camera but no swivel lens) and i think the images are a little better but I'm really happy with this.

Rating:
Summary: Nikon should take back this camera
Review: This is the worst camera I ever used. Nikon should take back all these camera's and provide other Nikon camera's in place. They are able to create cool camera's so why did they create such a useless camera. This camera only makes fun when using it in place of using your mobile phone to take pictures.

Rating:
Summary: Oldie But Goodie
Review: We bought a very early model SQ (I've since read that the cheaper Nikons are built in a different location). My wife carried this camera to Paris and Alaska and parts in between. It takes nicer 3MP photos than my 4MP Pentax. It locks the exposure in panoramas -- my Pentax does not. Just this week our friend broke the door covering the battery but my wife won't let me get her a newer camera so we'll stick with it. Looks like the build on newer, cheaper, Nikons is not up to the old build quality. ;-(