NIKON COOLPIX CP900s.A Review

by Jack Winberg

29  N o v e m b e r  1 9 9 8 . This model is an update of the CP900, which was released, in early summer of 1998. There had been complaints about lack of retention of flash settings, a rigid 30-second shutoff, and some slow operations, all of which were addressed in this improved model. In addition, it is now supplied with an 8 MB (rather than 4 MB) Compact Flash card, as well as a lens cap.
This is my second digital camera (DC), the first was a Fuji MX-700, which I really liked, but I coveted an optical zoom lens, and the CP900s sounded good. I held off buying any DC until the available resolution enabled decent sized prints on my Epson 1520 printer.

Specifications

Setting Up

There is little to learn before actually beginning to use this camera, mostly installing the batteries (look closely, orientation is NOT well marked) and the Compact Flash memory card. One must also learn the basic controls, a fairly brief process.

I also purchased two additional memory cards and an adapter that plugs into the PCMCIA slot of my notebook computer. I have NOT tested the supplied serial cable and software, since transferring images with the adapter amounts to slipping the CF into it, plugging it into the PCMCIA slot of the notebook. There it is seen it as a hard disk drive, and I simply copy images to a subdirectory on my HD. The transfer is FAST! (Unlike that with the serial cable).

One thing I highly recommend is two sets (eight total) of NiMH batteries and a charger, solving battery life problems. One can get these at any Radio Shack, but I really like the set that Kodak provides, with high capacity batteries, and a small charger barely larger than the batteries themselves, with a built in, pop out plug in back. The Kodak unit recharges in 3 hours, while the more expensive RS unit will do it in 1.5 hours. An AC power supply is also a VERY good investment. One can also order the batteries separately.

I needed to learn to correctly hold the camera, which was at first confusing with its twisting lens unit. I rapidly grew used to it, and found the twisting lens module very convenient for low or high subjects. No more stretching on the ground for that low flower shot! I also found it easier to hold steady than the diminutive (but very handy) Fuji DC.

Pluses(+)
I find this DC to be very easy to operate and obtain good pictures with. Much to my pleasant surprise, the default settings suffice 90% of the time. Color rendition seems good and sharpness is outstanding. Given the state of consumer level DC’s at this point, operation is fairly quick, though action shots are a challenge.
sample picture
I tend to switch off the LCD (easily done) and stick to the optical finder to conserve power, using the LCD primarily for macros. I find that changing to the macro setting, altering flash settings, and the image compression level is very easy.
Minuses(-)

I like to use the spot meter for macro shots, and that setting is a bit buried in the manual menu, as are numerous other controllable functions. Even formatting a memory card is more difficult to do than it was in the Fuji, but I have only been using it for a short time and may learn to do it more easily.

If I am interested in action shots, I revert to my Canon EOS camera’s, the exposure response of any consumer level DC seems slow to me. I did get a nice shot of a Sandhill Crane in flight today, but that was more accident than design. After taking a shot, a green LCD flashes while the image is processed and saved, that takes about 3 - 5 seconds. Recharging the flash also takes time, more than in a full sized strobe, of course.
Aside from these few niggling things, there is not much to dislike about this unit. I am developing a wish list, and so far it consists of:
I must admit that part of my reservations may be due to my own unfamiliarity with the consumer level DC genre, though I LOVED a $30,000 Nikon high end unit I was able to try out recently! However, at about $700 for the CP900s, that is NOT a fair comparison.
Conclusions

I really like and will get good use out of this camera. I’m sure that as I become more familiar with it, some of my reservations about the more buried functions will disappear.

I have found that I can get very sharp 8 x 10" prints from the "normal" compressed images that are about 270 KB in size – a pleasant surprise. The top quality image (about 580 KB) seems to yield very little increase in print quality, rather a shock. That "normal" compression gives me about 24 pictures with the supplied 8 MB card, and proportionally more for higher capacities. Of course, more compressed images yield more shots per MB of storage, perfectly acceptable for web usage. In addition, I find that most images print "straight" after a touch up in levels in Photoshop, with little additional correction required.
I plan to carry and use this camera a great deal, much more than my relatively bulky Canon EOS units, and the camera one really uses is the best one has! No, I am not about to pitch out my EOS cameras, but perhaps one day…

Jack Winberg
 
 

BIODATA Jack hails from Florida and is a retired physician/biochemist who has fallen in love with computer graphics. Imaging is an old habit of his. He built his first photographic darkroom when he was nine years old! He currently does all of his work with optical cameras (Canon EOS), digital cameras, scanners (flatbed and film), the computer and his beloved ESC 1520 printer. He says that he too, has been badly afflicted with that dread disease, "Epsonitis", and eagerly await the six color version of the ESC 3000 printer, whenever that glorious day may be. Contact Jack by email here.

Great stuff Jack! For more on the Nikon CoolPix 900s, here is Nikon's official site on the CoolPix900s and  Phil Askey's site which features many images from Singapore taken with the CoolPix900s. Happy reading.
 

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All Rights Reserved Tham Kok Leong 1998@Singapore