Nikon Coolpix 775

Opinion: Just purchased camera over the (2001) holidays. I do not have experience with other digital cameras. I have extensive experience with SLR film. Regardless, I agree with other user about annoying digital noise impacting facial skin tone/appearance even under "perfect" ambient lighting conditions. Plus red eye function seems to have limits.

According to distributor, they've had similar complaints about image quality that surprised them as well. I'm returning camera.

Opinion: A good point & shoot, great Matrix Meter and snapshots.

If you are buying a used one on eBay, though--keep in mind one thing--"System Error" on the LCD. It's fatal. More on that later.

I bought one in August 2003 and sold it in May 2004 after getting a Coolpix 5700. Then I decided I wish I still had a point & shoot for "everyday" things where the 5700 would be overkill and I bought a different camera similar in class & specifications to the CP775--a Sony DSC-P50. The AF assist of the Sony appealed to me.

So my opinion will largely be about the two cameras--what makes one better vs the other in my experience. Hopefully any 775 users--or someone looking to buy a cheap 775 on eBay--will find my insights helpful.

The Sony has been good for the most part, but I must say--I think I prefer the 775. (By the way, if you go to http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/read_opinion_text.asp?prodkey=sony_dscp50&opinion=22260 you can see my thoughts.) The main reason--the 775's Matrix meter. The Sony, on the other hand, has a classic center-weighted meter. It does make a big difference.

One common example: I tried taking a goofy self-portrait; a 75-watt lamp was behind my head and switched on. Overall the room was still dark. The 775 would always in that situation not let the bright light trick it, and it would fire the flash and deliver a great balance of ambient light & flash. My 5700 also does (if I have it in "auto" mode rather than "pop-up" mode, though honestly I normally have it in "pop-up" mode where the flash only fires if I tell it to); both Nikons--cheap (775) and expensive (5700)--nail it.

The Sony, on the other hand, with its center-weighted meter, is fooled by the light and thinks it's bright enough. Result--gross underexposure of my face. Sure, you can always force the flash on and that takes care of it just fine, and as a 5700 user (as well as 35mm SLRs ranging from the Nikon FE to the Nikon N80), I typically relish control and typically know about these situations. But the Sony is my "dummy" cameras, and the Coolpix 775 was also--the cameras I used when I didn't feel like using my "photography brain" and just wanted to "snapshoot" like anybody else. Hence, the importance of the camera's auto mode nailing those situations.

Simply enough, the Coolpix 775 with its Matrix Meter is more apt to nail such tricky situations than the Sony is.

That said, there are things I like better about the Sony; you can read my opinions on the DSC-P50 for more on that. The link again:

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/read_opinion_text.asp?prodkey=sony_dscp50&opinion=22260

As for the CP775

I enjoyed it. It takes great snapshots. I have even made some 8x10 which looked nice. Granted, they were indoor shots of my wife & I; scenics of the desert or sunsets made at 8x10 look terrible; that's what my CP5700 is for. But in that realm, as a snapshooter, it does a great job.

I mentioned "System Error" on the LCD. That's something to watch out for. If your CP775 gets this, its life is over. It can be fixed, but it will cost like $200 to do it.

It happened to me barely a month after I got the camera. Fortunately for me, even though I had bought it used, the paperwork from the company was as if it were a new camera, and so even though the store (on eBay) didn't honor any warranty Nikon did, fixing it for free in less than 2 weeks. It never game me anymore problems afterwards.

Pluses:

* Great snapshot-quality photos. 2 megapixels is actually plenty for that realm. Its Matrix Meter nails tricky lighting as I mentioned.

* Excellent grip, especially for a camera that's so fairly small. Way better than the Sony's, especially when you're zooming--and it's WAY better than "ultra-compact" digicams in that way too

* The LCD is pretty bright. I find the Sony's kind of dim outdoors. The CP775 actually is bright even outdoors.

* BSS. A unique feature that helps improve low-light no-flash handheld shots.

* Small & compact.

* Uses Compact Flash instead of SD or xD or Memory Stick or Memory Stick Pro etc etc.

Drawbacks:

* Zoom is noisy. The Sony is much quieter; I don't know how other models compare.

* Can't lock ISO. The Sony--and many Canons, too--allow you to lock the ISO at a set value, helping to minimize digital noise in low-light situations. By contrast, the CP775 doesn't let you do this, and it has caused me to get shots that were "grainy" because of it--in a large-room with the small flash, say. (Then again, those that lock the ISOs may come out cleaner but too dark.)

* No AF assist light. Sometimes struggles to focus in low-light. That said, I must say--I still get out-of focus shots with the Sony sometimes, even when I do the "press-halfway-wait for focusing-finish pressing) trick and even with the Sony having an AF-assist light.

* Forgets flash setting when you switch it off. I think it forgets sharpness, too--which most people set at whatever and forget it. It goes back to "Auto;" what if you wanted it set to "Normal?" Who's going to remember to redo that everytime? And even if they do, it's annoying to have to.

Could Go Either Way:

* Uses propreitary batteries. A disadvantage compares to AAs in terms of "universal appeal," but then it's easier to change 1 solid battery than it is to change 2 or 4 AAs. Also since my CP5700 uses the exact same battery & charger they went together.

* Uses auto-lens cover instead of lens cap. You have no lens cap to lose. On the other hand, the Sony is threaded and you can buy a 37mm UV filter and protect the lens from damage even when in use

Opinion: While this camera is a lower end, taken as such it was very enjoyable to own. It was my first digital camera, however sadly I left it on a train in SF. Anyhow, I have an extensive knowledge of computers and working knowledge of Photoshop in my background, and so am fairly picky about my digital toys. I was planning on upgrading to a camera with an uncompressed file format, but really enjoyed this camera. Its scene modes seemed to make a decent difference and the white balance controls were even occassionally useful. My only complaint for the camera, given its lower-end nature, was the battery life when using the LCD. I had to recharge it frequently, though it recharged quickly. The pictures rarely exhibited JPEG artifacts and the color seemed pretty good too.

Opinion: THIS IS MY EIGHT DIGITAL CAMERA, I HAVE HAD KODAK, CANON, NIKON, AND I FIND THIS ONE IS PERFECT, NEED A SPARE BATTERY AND 256 CARD

Opinion: This is a wonderful small digicam which has been a workhorse for me.
It's small size allows me to carry it anywhere and doesn't get in the way.
I am very impressed with the fine quality of the photos I get with it. The
response is slow as is typical with this type of camera, but nothing
unusual. The price has fallen a lot since I bought mine, making it a
better buy. This is a real nice one for beginners and serious
photographers alike. I recommend it to everyone.

Opinion: Bought it 18 months ago and I'm over 12.000 photo's now. The photo quality is very good for a 2.1 megapixel camera. Even prints of 13 x 18 cm look pretty good as long as you don't use a magnifier.

If it was for photo's only I wouldn't be looking at the Coolpix 5400. But longer movieclips with sound, timelapse, 28 mm, 3 fps and faster photo to photo time are all things I really want to have so I'm going to switch.

Opinion: I have had a 775 for two years, I've dropped it, banged it around and its still ticking. I believe that the camera delivers a good image. I have played around with all the controls and options and have been very satisfied. I have taken a few thousand images and it has never failed me. Its not the camera that my coolpix 4500 is, but it shouldnt be.

Opinion: Bad colors.
Slow.
Poor night shots.

Opinion: Bad colors.
Slow.
Poor night shots.