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| Nikon CoolPix 990 |
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Hardware Reviews July 2000 • Vol.3 Issue 7 |
Nikon CoolPix 990 | ||
 The stellar reputation Nikon possesses in the still and digital camera industries isn't based on fluff. Nikon manufactures cameras of outstanding quality, and its latest entry to its CoolPix digital camera family is no exception. Like other Nikon digital models, the CoolPix 990 isn't the easiest camera to use initially, but its images and advanced features are unquestionably among the best you'll find from any consumer model. The CoolPix 990 is similar in look and feel to previous Nikon CoolPix digital cameras with its 270-degree swiveling TTL (through the lens) optical viewfinder. There's also a crisply focused 1.8-inch LCD (liquid-crystal display) for framing shots. The optical viewfinder includes appreciated crosshairs for lining up your subject and a diopter adjustment dial while the LCD has a brightness and hue control. The camera also follows the path of previous Nikon models by offering almost more manual controls than can be mentioned. Those controls gave us more creativity and control over our shots than any other consumer digital camera we've used. Among the camera's tools are multiple shooting, focus, and capture modes, as well as several manually white balance, shutter, aperture, and exposure settings. The various capture modes include an Ultra-High Speed continuous shooting mode that allows for taking about 30fps (frames per second) up to 80 images at 320 x 240 pixels. In addition, the camera's macro mode for taking shots as close as 0.8 inches is wonderful. Where the CoolPix 990 really steps forward is with its 3.34-megapixel image resolution and ability to capture 40 seconds of video in two quality settings at either 30fps or 15fps. The camera also features a USB (Universal Serial Bus) connection for transferring shots to a PC, which is much faster than a standard serial cable connection. At the heart of the camera is a superb all-glass 3X Zoom-Nikkor lens (equivalent to a 38mm to 115mm on a 35mm camera lens) that has 3X real-viewfinder optical zoom and 4X digital zoom capabilities. The lens focuses 11.8 inches to infinity in normal mode and an impressive 0.8 inches to infinity in the macro mode. In addition, the lens is threaded to accept any optional CoolPix lens or filter. Images we captured with the CoolPix 990 were excellent. A few shots were darker than normal and rendered a yellowish tint but nearly every shot we snapped was extremely sharp and clear. In addition, the white balance and overall exposure we viewed in our images were among the best we've seen taken at default settings by any camera. We won't rate the CoolPix's images above those we snapped with the Kodak DC290, but they are extremely close. The camera shoots at a high true resolution of 2,048 x 1,536 pixels and stores shots in uncompressed TIFF or compressed JPEG files. Additional resolutions include 1,024 x 768 pixels and 640 x 480 pixels. The camera stores one to 40 images on a 16MB (megabyte) CompactFlash card. Our review model was powered by four AA alkaline batteries, but the camera can also operate on rechargeable lithium, NiMH (nickel-metal hydride), and NiCad (nickel-cadmium) batteries. Disappointingly, neither a battery charger nor an A/C adapter were included. The CoolPix 990's $950 (street) price doesn't make the camera a casual purchase, but this camera is aimed at serious users with advanced skills. Its menu is packed with sophisticated features that will require some considerable time to master and take advantage of. Fortunately, the documentation is good enough to help novices achieve this goal. Combining excellent images and adaptability, the CoolPix 990 is simply one of the best consumer digital cameras on the market. by Blaine Flamig
$950 (street) Nikon (800) 526-4566 (516) 547-4200 http://www.nikonusa.com
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