Digital Camera Home > Digital Camera Reviews > Nikon Digital Cameras > Nikon CoolPix 880

Nikon CoolPix 880

Advanced features, and "Assisted Creative Photography" in a compact 3.3 megapixel package!

(Next): Executive Overview>>

Page 1:Intro and Highlights

Review First Posted: 8/26/2000

*
3.3 megapixel CCD delivering 2048 x 1536 images
*
2.5x optical zoom lens
*
Special "Scene" modes for great photos in challenging situations
*
Advanced functions borrowed from Nikon's high-end 990
 * Compact "bring along" form factor

 

EZ Print Link
Endorsed Product!
Get the Insider SECRETS for your Nikon Camera! Special: Free Shipping for IR Readers! Click Here!
Readers have requested free-formatted versions of our reviews (without the graphical accouterments of our page design), to make printing easier. We are accommodating this request with special copies of each review, formatted to allow the text flow to be dictated by the browser window. Click here for a print-optimized page.
Manufacturer Overview
Nikon has long been a leader in the consumer digicam market, developing an exceptionally strong following ever since they introduced their original Coolpix 900 over two years ago. From the start, Nikon's digital cameras have reflected Nikon's heritage as a camera company, with strong user interfaces and features photographers love. Now, with the introduction of the 880, they're bringing over a new concept from their film camera lineup: "Assisted Creative Photography" Say what? The idea here is that there are a lot of people out there who really like taking pictures beyond the snapshot level, but who also have no love of the intricacies of exposure compensation, f-stops, shutter speeds, flash levels, white balance, etc., etc. The 880 aims at this (large) body of photography enthusiasts, by offering special "scene" modes preset for different common photographic situations. (Examples are settings such as "beach/snow", "party", "fireworks", etc.) Each of these modes brings into play a variety of camera settings and options to configure the 880 for the specific shooting situation at hand. For instance, a beach scene would call for a small aperture, with a goodly amount of positive exposure compensation to handle the glare of the sun on the sand. We expect this approach to be very popular with people who like photographs, but not necessarily the mechanics of photography.

In other areas, the Coolpix 880 is a very strong performer as well, with many of the features and functions found on the much more expensive (and much larger) Coolpix 990 flagship. All in all, the Coolpix 880 packs a wallop in a small package with features for both the advanced photographer and "visual artist" alike.


Highlights

  • 3.34 megapixel CCD delivering up to 2048 x 1536 pixel images.
  • 1.8 inch, low temperature, polysilicon, TFT color LCD display with brightness and hue adjustment.
  • 2.5x, 8 to 20 mm lens (equivalent to a 38 to 95 mm lens on a 35 mm camera).
  • 4x digital zoom in 0.2x steps.
  • Auto and manual focus options.
  • Automatic, Scene, Programmed, Aperture Priority, Manual and Custom exposure modes.
  • Single, Continuous, Multi-Shot 16, VGA Sequence, Ultra HS and Movie capture modes.
  • Shutter speeds from eight to 1/1,000 seconds plus Bulb mode.
  • Apertures of f/2.8 - 4.2 or f/7.8 -11.3. (Variable with lens zoom setting)
  • Variable ISO setting from 100 to 400 with an Automatic option.
  • Manually adjustable white balance with seven modes.
  • Built-in flash with five modes.
  • JPEG, uncompressed TIFF still-image formats and QuickTime movie file format.
  • Image capture on CompactFlash card with an eight megabyte card included.
  • USB and serial cables for connection to a computer.
  • NTSC or PAL video output formats, with cable included.
  • Powered by a rechargeable Nikon EN-EL1 lithium-ion battery or a 2CR5 lithium battery.



Reader Comments! --> Visit our discussion forum for the Nikon CoolPix 880!



Executive Overview>>

Follow Imaging Resource: