Rating: 
Summary: Terrific digital camera
Review: I bought this digital camera primarily to take pictures of my 16 month old daughter. The major things I was looking for in a digital camera were (1) high quality photos, (2) fast auto focus (so that I can capture my always-on-the-move daughter), and (3) ease of use. I also wanted a camera that had some additional options besides auto-focus.The Coolpix 5000 is fabulous on all of these accounts. I tried several other digital cameras before, and this is by far the best I have used. The photos are brilliant and the auto-focus is extremely fast. We got the camera just before Christmas and have taken many exceptional photos already. We can crop out our daughter from a picture, blow that up to an 8x10 and still have photo quality. The colors are terrific also (not true with all digital cameras). The only complaint I have so far is that the LCD screen is a bit hard to see in low light.
Rating:
Summary: Versatile Control, Great Images
Review: After using this camera for several weeks, unlike the author of the November review who wrote before any of these cameras were shipped, the CP5000 is far and away the best of the four digital cameras I have owned. It has a wealth of accessories available, including modest telephoto lenses (ideal for portraits) and wide angle lenses down to fisheye, not to mention flash units and a soon-to-be-released AA battery pack/hand grip. The hot shoe makes flash photography easy and allows for multiple flash. The color and detail of the images is astonishing. The controls allow the experienced photographer to set up the camera on the run without going through interminable levels of menus, while the auto mode provides point and shoot simplicity. Nikon hit a home run with this one, and it's flying off the shelves.
Rating: 
Summary: Very pleased with the CP 5000
Review: I have owned several (seven, to be specific - Olympus, Canon and Nikon) digital cameras in the last three years and, like others, I have constantly upgraded in search of the "ultimate" camera! I recently bought the Nikon CP5000 and am extermely pleased with it. The picture quality surpasses all the other pro-consumer models I have seen. If you like simplicity or if you are a control freak...the camera has it all! It accepts a variety of add-ons (lenses and flash units). The only one beef I have with the camera is that it does not make use of all the functions of my external Nikon Speedlite SB-24 flash (which has low-light focus and zoom capabilities). The external flash unit works flawlessly in TTL mode but I would like to be able to use the additional features it offers as well. Perhaps Nikon will resolve this with a firmware release in the near future (as an enhancement) - I am keeping my fingers crossed! Otherwise, the camera is spectacular!
Rating:
Summary: Another Great Camera
Review: I moved up from a 990 and I call this a great camera.
It seems like Nikon has thought of everything with this one. 3 program modes plus High Speed Continuous capture and the ability to record a 60 second .mov clip with sound make this a winner.
While the zoom lens doesn't have great range on the long end as other cameras, other cameras don't have the wide angle range of this one.
The glass is great, I've seen no red eye with the built in flash and my SB-26 just pops right on and works perfectly. I already own a 64mb flash card and find the size the be very useable, about 28 photographs at fine.
The battery has allowed me around 65 photographs at fine with the monitor on.
I like the feel of the camera, it's got a little mass because of the metal body but is still compact and light and will fit in my pocket, just like my 990.
I recommend this camera and plan on shooting commerical jobs with it - where appropriate.
Put it on a tripod and save as a .tif. You will see a grainless image. Pretty neat.
Rating:
Summary: Compact, INCREDIBLE RESOLUTION, tricky user menues
Review: I had an F100, which was stolen. So, after some prodding from a photojournalist friend, I decided to go digital rather than replace it. I looked at the Canon G2, and I thought about an F5, or a used D1, or maybe something else... I settled on the 5000 for three reasons. 1) I've used Nikon for 30 years. I've never had a failure that wasn't my fault. 2) Some people claim this camera isn't durable, but the body's magnesium (not plastic), and it has a comfortable heft to it, especially when compared to the G2, and even to its little Nikon brothers. 3) 5.0 MEGAPIXELS. That's more than many pro cameras. The resolution's there. You'd have to work to exceed the capabilities of this camera. After using the camera for about two weeks, these are my impressions: First, The small size is an asset. Olympus and Sony make good prosumer cameras, but they're big. This thing just about fits in a shirt pocket. Despite the metal frame, the camera is very light. I have large hands, and it is still comfortable to use. Second, a photography instructor years ago kept telling me to GET CLOSER!! Several reviewers (here and elsewhere) complain about the focal length of the factory lens. What comprises the bulk of your shooting? NOT 300 or 500, I'd bet. This lens is fine for portraits, general sports, basic nature photography. You might not nail a bald eagle at 300 yards, but if you're trying to do that, you've missed the point of this camera. No tool is perfect, but this lens will cover 95% or more of just about EVERYONE'S range. And, the wide angle of the stock lens should be great for landscapes/travel photography. Tight/close isn't always better. If you have to have it, MOVE CLOSER!! Third, the resolution is AMAZING. Unless you're going up against a D1H or something, you'll win. Frankly, 5mp is overkill for most people. But, it's sure nice to have. Fourth, on a down note, the viewfinder (I'm talking the non-electronic deal that you put your eye up to) is a bit tricky, and somewhat inaccurate. You do need to use the monitor to see exactly what you just shot. But, that's pretty much the big advantage over film!! I'd get an extra battery, though. Also, the menus to set various controls are a pain in the neck to navigate until you get used to them. Then they're not so bad. But, for the average user, sticking the thing on auto is easy. Like the F100, there are custom settings for aperature priority and shutter priority so you can have creative control over your end product. Fifth, the red eye issue: generally speaking, the closer the flash is to the lens, the worse the red eye effect. I will get a separate flash for this camera eventually, but I've used the on-camera flash a lot. The red eye reduction feature works perfectly. But, if you're shooting fast-moving subjects like dogs, young kids, etc., it may be a problem. You hit the button, the flash goes off about 5 times, and then the camera takes the picture. You pay a price for the red eye reduction on ANY camera, however. The good news? The lag between pressing the shutter button and getting a picture when you're not using red eye reduction is virtually unnoticeable. And, you can set a feature where the camera shoots 16 shots in a row, within a few seconds (NOT WHEN USING RED EYE REDUCTION OR FLASH, THOUGH)!! Even my 5, 3, and .5 year olds and Jack Russell Terriers can't outrun that. Finally, this camera will turn you into a serious digital photographer. You will want a faster computer and a better printer. You will need accessories, such as an extra battery, a larger flash card, a reader (if you don't have one), a bag (which doesn't come with the camera). This isn't a bells-and-whistles package. You get a camera, a serviceable but hardly adequate flash card, a battery, and an AC charger. You're on your own from there. This is really a $1300 camera in $1100 clothing. And if you want to use filters, you need about $50 more in accessories/adapters, etc. But it's still cheaper than a D1!!
Rating:
Summary: Nikon hit a homer w/ this one.
Review: I have had this camera for a few days now and am just plain wowed with the quality of the pictures. The shape is a nice departure from the 900 series twisty body but w/ all the features and a huge jump in image quality. I am a Nikon owner since I was 13 years old (a Nikormat and then the first FM) and have continuously been impressed w/ their quality. The camera did at first ship with a couple of hiccups in the software but that's since been fixed with all of them currently shipping. Nikon has also added a external flash hot shoe so you can get much better flash photos. It has an internal flash but if you want to really get a more natural light, add a flash as well and you'll be all set. Happy photos!
Rating:
Summary: Great Camera
Review: I had this camera for the last 2 weeks. It is the best digital camera I ever had. I keep on reading reviews from people who never touched this camera. Do not listen to them.
It is a great camera with excellent quality pictures ( day and especially at night with a slower shutter speed).
Sure you can find lots of inperfections:
- Has a fixed lens.
- Uses the batteries in a short time with the lcd on.
I wonder if any of the critics will ever find a perfect product.
Check the camera specs and compare it with other cameras in the same price range and you will find out that its is the best value for the money.
Rating: 
Summary: Good 5 megapixel camera, but not up to Nikon's standards!
Review: When the Coolpix 995 (3 megapixels) came out, everyone was waiting for Nikon to release a 5 MP 'prosumer' digicam. Here it is, but it is lacking, especially when compared to other digicams on Amazon such as Minolta Dimage 7 (excellent 5 MP camera!) or Olympus EN-20 (another 5 MP gem but suffering from memory buffer issues). See the list of PROs and CONs to see why you should skip this Coolpix. PROs
- 5.24 Megapixels
- Digital zoom: 4x, Optical zoom: 3x
- Built-in flash (no fumbling for pop-up buttons)
- Accepts CompactFlashType I and Type II, and IBM microdrive
- Sharp Nikon quality lens
- Aperture range f2.8 - f4.8
- Superior macro abilities
- Comes with rechargeable battery
- Lightweight (.79 lbs) CONs
- Bad red eye potential due to flash proximity to lens
- Comes with a small memory card (32 MB). These days one needs at LEAST 64 MB card for the large MP cameras
- Limited lens potential. The 35mm equivalent lens 28 - 85 mm is good, but almost guarantees you'll need to buy an accessory lens to get telephoto capabilities.
- OK battery life (approx 100 min.), could be MUCH better.
- Camera feels a little cheap due to its very light weight Overall, the camera is GOOD, but not great. There are superior 5 MP cameras on Amazon that deliver just as good or better pics, and give the user much more creativity and control at ease.
Rating:
Summary: Nikon makes amongst the very best of digital cameras...
Review: I am very intrigued by this camera.
I will probably buy it.
I've used a Nikon 990 and a 950, as well as other brands.
No one outside of Nikon has seen a final 5000 yet, however a few observations...
I wish they had made this an SLR like their high end products (D1X, D1H, etc). Sony, Olympus, Minolta and others are offering SLR's in thie price range.
The problem with not having an SLR is that if you use add on lens like I do, then what you see in the view finder is not what the final image will be. This forces you to use the LCD screen for most of your shots. This dramatically shortens battery life, plus the screen is close to impossible to see out doors unless it's a very cloudy day.
The ZOOM on this lens is not up to snuff. 3x zoom is fine for an entry level camera. But for pro-sumer cameras like this 5x is really the norm (the Minolta is 7x).
Of course the Nikon cameras make up for this a little bit by having the best built in macro capabilities . But for me this is little compensation, since I am far more likely to want to zoom in on a distant object then take a snapshot of an individual spore or other really tiny thing.
You can be a fan of Sony, Minolta or Olympus, but this is the camera they will all be measured against.
Rating:
Summary: Can't See in the Dark
Review: I have had this camera for a while now, and I have taken some excellent pictures with it. I use a Macintosh, and it works with the computer beautifully, in contrast with the Olympus camera that I owned previously. The adjustable screen is nice and the zoom suits my needs. However, I cannot get this camera to work in the dark. It just wont. I went searched the manual for an answer and found none. It drives me insane. It's great for daytime shots, but in low light I might as well not have it. I'm still glad I bought it, but I was dissapointed by this aspect.
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