Rating: 
Summary: Nikon Coolpix 8700 is an Excellent Evolutionary Upgrade
Review: The Nikon Coolpix 8700 is an upgrade of the 5700, using the same magnesium alloy chassis, with some significant changes. Of course, the biggest change is the the growth from 5 to 8 megapixels. On a practical level, this means that flawless 16x20 prints are now a reality for advanced amateur digital photo enthusiasts. I've heard a claim that 20x30" prints can be made from 8 MP cameras, but I have yet to try that large a print. Other changes are 1) A significantly better LCD that is both bigger and brighter, 2) A gorgeous viewfinder that is crisp and finely detailed (a real improvement here!), 3)Easier menus that ironically provide even more choices, 4) A focus assist light, 5) Optional composition assist lines that can be switched on and off, 6) A faster start-up time, and 7) A memo recording mode.A niggling omission that I've wished Nikon would incorporate into their high end Coolpix's is a 35mm style manual focus ring. Why they don't do this I don't know, but can only suppose it's because the lens tube and elements are much more delicate than on a 35mm lens and they don't want people torquing on it. The camera company where I bought the 8700 (in Porland, Oregon) recommended the Coolpix 8700 over the Sony, the Konica/Minolta A2 and the upcoming Canon Powershot Pro 1. Part of the reason was the full line of accessories, like the eminently useful vertical grip/battery pack. I recommend this and the filter adapter for anyone purchasing this camera. The Nikon Coolpix 8700 is a great upgrade to an already terrific camera. Because I wanted to be able to print 16x20, I made the switch from the 5700. The other enhancements also make it worthwhile, albeit expensive, to make the upgrade.
Rating:
Summary: Best camera in price range
Review: This camera is the best camera in its price range, hands down.
I also have the 5700 (which is now my wife's camera), and this camera solves the several small issues I had with that model.
First, the resolution. At 8 megapixels, you can blow up the photos to an enourmous 20x30 inches. If you are going to shoot photos at the full resolution though, I recommend getting the largest CF card you can afford... Otherwise you will feel compelled to shoot at a lower resolution or crank up the compression, totally negating the benefit of having so many pixels.
Second, the lens. It has an excellent range for everyday shooting, and has the most incredible macro lens capability I have ever seen on a fixed lens photo. I have taken pictures of small bugs buzzing around and landing on flowers, from about 2 inches away, and they come out beautifully. My 5700 lens seemed to 'pincushin' the image a little bit, but I have not seen this with the 8700.
Third, the size. This is a nice compact camera. I *also* have a Nikon D100 with several lenses, but for routine travel, I use this camera just because it is so convenient to carry around.
Even though it is a 'fixed lens' camera, there are some add-ons for wide-angle and tele-photo... If you think you would regret getting a fixed lens over an SLR, these options may satisfy the urge to get 'just a little closer' or 'just a little bigger'.
In general, non-slr digital cameras have a slight delay between the clicking of the button and the snapping of the picture. For nature/landscape and posed photography this isn't a big deal... but for action shots, you have to be a little 'predictive' with your shooting finger. The 8700 is quicker than the 5700 in this regard.
If I have one complaint about this camera, it is the photos it takes in low-light. Low light photos are dim with low contrast, and the built-in flash does not look 'natural'. I really haven't found a camera that does low-light well though, and in general built-in flashes are never that great, so I can't hold that against this camera more than any other.
Rating: 
Summary: Flexible high resolution camera
Review: This camera is well made and capable of creating very high quality images, if you take the time to learn to use it. Some of its functions are less than intuitive, but it will reward your time spent with the manual with professional quality images. In particular, the metering, white balance and macro capabilities are pro-quality. However, due to shutter lag, this isn't a good choice for shooting sports. The 8 megapixel resolution lets you make 13X19 inch prints or larger that are photo quality. Using a tripod will also pay off with razor sharp close ups and excellent color saturation. This is a wonderful camera for portraits, scenics, and especially close up shots,where the fold out, tilting LCD screen really can be helpful in getting unique angles on your subject. This camera also allows you to use many of Nikons Speedlights (electronic flashes) to get the light on your subject when it is too far for the built in flash. This is a very flexible and capable machine. I do recommend getting a second battery and the lens hood to eliminate lens flare under most conditions. I highly recommend this camera to those who choose not to go with a digital SLR. It is the next best thing and it is MUCH more portable and flexible.
Rating:
Summary: Flexible high resolution camera
Review: This camera is well made and capable of creating very high quality images, if you take the time to learn to use it. Some of its functions are less than intuitive, but it will reward your time spent with the manual with professional quality images. In particular, the metering, white balance and macro capabilities are pro-quality. However, due to shutter lag, this isn't a good choice for shooting sports. The 8 megapixel resolution lets you make 13X19 inch prints or larger that are photo quality. Using a tripod will also pay off with razor sharp close ups and excellent color saturation. This is a wonderful camera for portraits, scenics, and especially close up shots,where the fold out, tilting LCD screen really can be helpful in getting unique angles on your subject. This camera also allows you to use many of Nikons Speedlights (electronic flashes) to get the light on your subject when it is too far for the built in flash. This is a very flexible and capable machine. I do recommend getting a second battery and the lens hood to eliminate lens flare under most conditions. I highly recommend this camera to those who choose not to go with a digital SLR. It is the next best thing and it is MUCH more portable and flexible.
Rating:
Summary: Superb Camera, Digital or Film
Review: This camera produces photos that are just magnificent, I have been around photography for a long time, and I have never seen anything produce photos that come near this camera.
Everyone I know is uhhhing and ahhhhhing, have given some prints to friends, they have had them framed and hung. I am sort of pround of this, me and the Nikon 8700.
I honestly feel that no photo lab using film could be this good.
The camera out of the box in full auto mode, produces very acceptable photos, but to my eyes a bit overexposed, I never use this mode, usually in program or aperture preferred, and stop down between .3 to .7 stops, results, great.
With all the good things nothing is perfect, I never track or shoot sports, so this is no problem to me.
Whats annoyed me most is a the awful instruction manual, this coupled with multilayered and complex controls can be very frustrating, but after you use it for a while, its no big thing, but at the beginning, its a pain.
Summing it all up, in my opinion, this is the finest camera I,ve ever owned
Rating:
Summary: Make sure you download update for Nikonview software!
Review: This is an excellent camera which takes photos as sharp as any 35mm slr. Besides this camera, I have a Nikon N90s and N70 35mm camera bodies and assorted Nikon lenses for these cameras. I also have a Pentax 6 X 7 medium format camera with three Pentax lenses. I graduated from the Navy Schools of Photography in Pensacola and became an official Navy photograper. Since that time (many moons ago!) I have kept up with the profession. I purchased the Coolpix 8700 two months ago and have been VERY satisfied with the results I get! The only imperfection I've noticed is that the lens has a slight amount of what photographers call "barrel distortion" when used at the widest angle setting (straight lines curve very slightly away from center) I have not had any problems with the bluish cast a previous reviewer mentioned. Lens flare is non existant with the ED glass element Nikon uses in the lens. I do notice a very slight color shift to magenta when I load photos from Nikonviewer (software which comes with this camera) to Photoshop. When I print directly from Nikonviewer, the colors are virtually perfect. I know that Nikon included a note with this camera which says to download the software update, which corrects color problems when converting raw files in nikonview. So that may be the problem with the results mentioned in the previous review. This camera feels good to hold. Overall an excellent camera!!!
Rating:
Summary: The best fixed-lens SLR digital camera.
Review: This is Nikon's upgrade from the excellent Coolpix 5700, and it is a truly excellent piece of engineering. If I were in the market for a digital SLR with a fixed-lens, this would easily be my choice. Cameras such as this one illustrate convincingly that film is all but dead for serious photographers. This camera's 8 megapixel resolution will produce stunning images that the user can view at once, without the hassle of the processing lab. The 8X optical zoom lens on this camera seems excellent both for portrait shots, landscapes, and nature shots, and only professionals or very serious amateurs will miss the ability to switch between lenses. The pictures I took were sharp and bright. Make no mistake, this camera produces excellent images. Finally, Nikon put an AF-assist on a prosumer-grade camera. This is a significant improvement over the excellent Coolpix 5700, the predecessor to this camera. The buffer is bigger too, allowing the user to take more shots before the camera has to write to the CF card. With this camera, the photographer can take a large number of digital photographs, upload to one's personal computer, and either print out pro-grade prints with an inexpensive printer (OK, the ink cartridges aren't that cheap but the printers are) or email the photos to any of several processing labs, who will mail you your prints in a day or so. Or, you can do it the old-fashioned way, and take your images to a processing lab and download the images there for printing, similar to dropping off a roll of film in the old days. You can do this AFTER you pick only the pix you want to keep--one of digital's many and major advantages over film. Further, Nikon's Capture 4 program, or Adobe Photoshop or Photoshop Elements gives us a "digital darkroom" that is more powerful than what pros can do in a $20,000 chemical film darkroom. With just a moderately powerful personal computer. The digital darkroom has truly arrived. Ergonomically, I really like the size and layout of this camera. It is significantly smaller than the interchangeable-lens SLRs, although this is no pocket camera. It has a wonderful quality feel to it--the user knows immediately that this is a world-class precision instrument. I found the camera to be a joy to handle and use. The pictures are commensurate. The main issue with this camera is one of choice and preference: do you spend the money for this camera, with its excellent fixed zoom lens, or do you opt for a full SLR digital camera such as Nikon's D70, D100, or other comparable cameras that allow one to use the full line of autofocus lenses. This camera costs almost as much as these semi-professional grade SLRs, so the buyer should think about this before buying. This is an excellent upgrade over the superb Coolpix 5700 and users will enjoy taking excellent images with this precision instrument.
Rating:
Summary: Incredible unit worth the $$$--Spoil thyself!
Review: This is the coolest thing I have ever owned. It is my precious (haha). I found it online for $762, and it is worth every penny. Can be operated simply enough for a point-and-shooter in the default auto mode (remove lens cap, turn from "off" to "on", aim, compose, fire). The high resolution captures incredible detail and the zoom range is amazing. Even without delving into the camera's vast array of creative controls, it produces images far superior to other cameras I have used. Complaints of complexity are ridiculous. This camera will serve you well if you never even bother to crack the manual. If I could think of a photographic ability this camera lacks, I would list it. Master its features over time, and have fun in the meantime. I recommend Lexar's 40x CF cards, as this baby generates pretty sizable files. Pick up an EH-53 AC Adapter as well (a whopping $17.99 here on Amazon--a steal!). My 35mm SLR is getting very lonely....
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