Rating: 
Summary: Professional Results with Novice Abilities
Review: Purchased this camera a month ago along with the wide angle and 3x telephoto lenses. Nikon is known for their superior optics which this camera and lenses exemplify. The only downer on the camera is that the lense zoom drive is a little noisy. Also would have preferred commercially available batteries rather than propietary recharables. Would also recommend getting a larger flash card (128M or better). On the positive side... and there is a very large positive side... this camera allows a novice like me to use it's sophisticated automatic features to produce excellent quality digital images. It's compensation for poor lighting and automatic focus features are not to be believed. Have used it for shots of models within 3 inches up to water falls across the valley with excellent results... even using the normal quality setting ! What makes it even better, is that you can delete your mistakes as you learn and as your ability improves, it has the functionalty needed by more experienced photographers. This is the perfect digital camera for beginners having the desire to improve their photographic skills !
Rating:
Summary: An excellent camera for most applications
Review: I bought the Coolpix 995 to shoot action pictures of BMX, snowboarding, skateboarding etc. Part of my decision was based on the extras that I was able to add to the camera, like different lenses and external flashes. I have added the fisheye wide-angle lense and the SB50 flash and necessary mounting bracket.For regular, goof-proof shooting, the camera is excellent. The pictures are very clear with acurate colors and the main controls are quite simple. One annoyance, which is true for many auto focus cameras, is having to hold the shutter release button down half way to be able to take action shots - especially annoying when it's very cold and hands are numb. This holding down the button is necessary because otherwise the reaction time seems like forever between pressing and having the picture taken. Once you add some options, however, things become a little more complicated. This complication is probably easily solved by reading the manuals a few times. things to note are: when using one of the optional lenses, the built in flash is useless because the lense is directly in its way. When using the fisheye lense you lose the ability to use the zoom (avoid this by not inputting that you are using a different lense in the option menu) Overall, an excellent digital with more options and add ons than most others in this bargain price range. A little extra attention is required once the add ons are used.
Rating: 
Summary: new customer review
Review: I purchased this camera for my wife for christmas, and she just love's the pictures that the camera takes. we had a small problem at first on downloading pictures into our computer, however we got it working okey. It's a great camera and we are very happy with the pictures that it takes. M.L.CARLSON.
Rating:
Summary: Awesome Camera
Review: I looked for a digital camera for a while until finally decided to get this one. This is probably one of the best I can get for the money.
The camera is very easy to use, without looking through the manual I was able to take some good pictures. The flash and focus indicators are very handy. I can tell right away if I would need a flash and if the pictures are in focus. Unlike many other digital cameras, it doesn¡¯t have any delay when the shutter is pressed which makes it easy to get pictures for moving objects. (I was able to capture several wonderful pictures with my cats fighting each other.)
The quality of the pictures is amazing. I printed several 8x10s with a color printer, and they came out beautifully. Not only the color was very real, but also it captured all the details you may and may not notice. (I took some pictures of my 4-month old daughter, and I can see her slaver on the picture that I didn't notice while taking the pictures). And I was only using XGA with normal compression.
Though the battery drains up fast, it is not as bad as I was expected and as seen with other DCs. The process of loading pictures to computer is very easy and fast. Many other features such as continues shooting, multiple screen, are nice and easy to use as well.
The only compliant one might have is that the movie clip doesn't come with sound. But the movie is just a nice extra feature which I don¡¯t see as that important. If you are in need of good movie features why not get a separate camcorder?
Over all, it is a great camera for both beginners, and almost-professionals. I highly recommend it.
Rating:
Summary: Easy Workarounds and TIPS
Review: Oh the Debates in our household. - She wanted something cheap and cheerful - me having done photography for a living, wanted something I could control, a camera that wouldn't fight back. This was the the perfect solution. (Except that she wasn't so cheerful that it wasn't so cheap!) A - Auto setting- a simple point and shoot
M - Manual in the loosest sense of the word gives access to the miriad functions and adjustments available. I suspect that many of the problems other users have reported have come from not reading the instructions sufficiently, I still find myself refering back to it every so often to make sure there's something I've not missed. That said the manual control options are very straightforward if you already know ones f-stop from ones elbow... Complaints that the 995 produces softer pics than the 990 arise I suspect, from the fact that the 990 automatically applies more sharpening in-camera. Enter the 995's menu and change its auto sharpening setting to max and the result is an image so sharp yer eyeballs bleed. personally I prefer to back off from crystal tip clarity and apply sharpening later with Photoshop if neccessary. At least the 995 allows control. The same is also true with colour saturation. here I habitually adjust the 995 saturation to +1 which really brightens up our cooler British colours but there's also the option to go the other way- right back to black and white images. Yes- Total manual control of aperture and shutter speed is impractically fiddly, however there is a very practical and effective workaround. In P - program mode, adjusting the thumb dial cycles through the various combinations of Apperture/shutterspeed whilst maintaining correct exposure with its insurpassable matrix metering system. BUT if you want to adjust the estimated exposure, touch the function 2 button, It's right there, right between the thumb dial and the shutter release, just where you need it. Touch that and then use the thumb dial to exposure compensate + or - 2 stops. I find this way far easier than adjusting the Apperture and shutter independantly so I've no complaints. Finally - the hotshoe issue. The Nikon speed flash is marvelous piece of kit and when I used to work with one it's TTL system NEVER let me down (much!). However at over 300 quid over here for the flash and another 90 just for the bracket!! tieing us soley into that system seems just a wee bit small minded and besides, I have a perfectly servicable Mecablitz CT45 already thankyou very much Mr Nikon san. Here's how I use them together
Set the camera to aperture priority, and match its aperture to the flash's output setting. You can't connect the flashes lead directly to the nikon so instead connect it to a photo electric 'slave' sensor. My tiny slave has a sucker on it so I can stick it anywhere! Activate the cameras on board flash. position the slave so that it is triggerd either by the flash directly or by the flash reflected back from the subject. The slave sees the flash from the camera and triggers the CT45 which I bounce off the ceiling. Works a treat, well usually. I love this camera, it comes everywhere with me. That's the final bonus, It clicks 'flat' and slips neatly into my jacket pocket.
Couldn't do THAT with my 35mm kit!
Rating: 
Summary: Burned out pixels.
Review: I upgraded from the 990 to the 995. I use this camera commercially. The reason for the upgrade was that the 990 had burned out pixels which had to be painted over with Paint Shop Pro on each photo used. Impossible to contact Nikon, so I put up with it. The 995 also has burned out pixels and has problems in loading to a PC. The great Nikon camera company goes down the toilet in my book. I'll go back to using my 35mm Photomic, or buy a Sony Digital.
Rating:
Summary: Great Pictures. I've said good bye to my 35 mm.
Review: I bought this camera at the end of July 2001, just before a child's birthday. At the end of the day, I uploaded the pictures to an online site because my printer had been on the blitz. I also uploaded to my website so that my family could view the pictures. Of all the pics taken that day, everyone was asking for copies of mine, so I had to order extras! Since then, I have taken many pictures of still life, full motion, and everywhere in between, and they've all been wonderful. The color in the photos are so real, you'd never believe it was digital. Reds are red and burgundy is burgundy, no question. The zoom is great, although I'm ready to step up to an optional zoom before next summer. If I had waited a little longer, I might would've gone with the Canon G2, as the G1 was no contest to this one. That's the only reason I gave it 4 out of 5 stars, is because the G2 has a higher megapixel, although I like having a higher zoom even more. I have produced great 8x10's out of this camera, so a higher megapixel for me isn't necessary at this time. Oh, and 2 of my 5 dogs are camera shy and the swivel is great for sneeking shots in. 3 of the 5 are black, and if you've ever tried to photograph a black dog, you know how tough that is. Well, even their pictures have turned out wonderful! Overall, I love this camera and it's the best investment I could've made. I now have a new photo printer (Epson 785), and am falling in love with it all over again.
Rating: 
Summary: Do not be fooled by Nikon brand name
Review: The Nikon Coolpix 995 box indicated compatibility with Windows 98. However, upon connecting the camera to the USB port, my Dell computer did not recognize it. The technical support was very difficult to obtain; almost took one hour each time I called and I had to call twice in one day. The technicians were very nice and after going through many checks concluded that the Intel Pentium II (r) 450 mHz chip and the Windows 98 did not work well with Nikon camera. They said Nikon was aware of the problem and was trying to work with Intel to solve it. The camera had to be returned. What a hastle ? Nikon should not try to sell a $ 1,000 camera with incompatibility with the computer. Also, the few shots I took and viewed on my television with HDTV capability did not look very sharp. The software provided was poor. My computer skills can be rated as better than average. I use word, powerpoint, on-line banking and so on. Therefore, the failure was not due to my computer naivette; even the technician with the Nikon agreed on that point. Until Nikon solves the compatibility problems and improves software, I recommend staying away from this expensive camera.
Rating:
Summary: Powerful and versatile.
Review: This is a very good, powerful and versatile camera, lots of creative control, stunning macro capability not matched by any other digital camera in any class. Menus can be a bit confusing at first, but once you're used to them, they don't see all that weird. Write speed to the CompactFlash card is quite good. Use it in full auto mode, or switch to Manual mode where you have access to Program AE, Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority or full Manual control. If you want a good camera for macros, this is it. Also, has a strong following among those who digiscope (attach a digital camera to a telescope or other optical instrument, such as a microscope), with many accessories available for this purpose. Didn't give it 5 stars because the viewfinder like that of virtually all digital cameras, is a little small and uncomfortable to use. The LCD can be difficult to see in direct bright sunlight. Automatic White Balance never gets incandescent lighting right, but this is a common fault among many digital cameras. Lack of a low-light Auto Focus assist lamp means that focusing can be touch-and-go in very dim lighting. In dim lighting, the LCD can be difficult to use for composition of the shot.
Rating:
Summary: This camera has made me tons of money! (and i love it)
Review: I researched for months to find the perfect digital camera. I was skeptical about all the reviews i had read, but opted for the Nikon 995. I can't tell you how great it is. I'm 17 years old and started a photography studio. Any skepticism that my clients had about my abilities as a photographer went out the window once they saw how professional my prints looked. Granted, this is in part due to a wonderful printer, but at the same time equal credit should be given to my Nikon. The only problem that i've had is that the camera is soooo light that the hereditary hand tremor i have can sometimes make the prints blurry. I've compensated for this by using a tripod for horizontal pics, but i haven't found a way to take verticle shots without sometimes affecting the picture. Overall, i am tremendously happy with my Nikon. I HIGHLY recommend it.
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