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Nikon CoolPix 990 Nikon updates the hugely successful Coolpix 950, with 3.34 megapixels and numerous enhancements Select a topic Reference: Datasheet CoolPix 990 Sample Images --------------------------------- 1. Intro and Highlights 2. Executive Overview 3. Design 4. Viewfinder 5. Optics 6. Exposure & Flash 7. Shutter Lag & Cycle Time Tests 8. Operation & User Interface 9. Camera Modes & Menus 10. Image Storage & Interface 11. Video, Power, Software 12. Test Results & Conclusion --------------------------------- Print-Friendly Review Version Additional Resources and Other Links Reader Comments on CoolPix 990 Review --------------------------------- Digital Camera Comparometer (TM) --------------------------------- <-- Digital Cameras (Home) <-- Digital Camera Reviews Index <<Image Storage & Interface :(Previous) | (Next): Test Results & Conclusion>> Page 11:Video, Power, Software Review First Posted: 3/1/2000

Video Out

One significant difference between the Coolpix 990 and its predecessors is that there now appears to be only a single international version of the camera, supporting either NTSC or PAL standards. The US version of the Coolpix 990 includes a video out jack and connection cable, defaulting NTSC-formatted video output. European models will doubtless support PAL timing and connections. You can switch between NTSC or PAL timing through a setting in the Setup menu. Connecting the video output provides a signal to an external device, without disabling the internal LCD display screen. All images that would normally appear on the LCD are also routed to the external video display so that the television screen becomes an enlarged version of the LCD monitor and can be used both for image playback and composition.

Power

The Coolpix 990 runs on four AA batteries, housed inside the hand grip, or an external AC adapter which plugs into the front of the camera. Nikon estimates about 1.5 hours of operating time when using the LCD monitor and four 1.5V LR6 (alkaline AA L40) batteries at a normal temperature of 68 degrees Fahrenheit. (We find this a trifle optimistic.) In our own tests, the Coolpix 990 prototype consumed about as much power as typical 2 megapixel digicams, despite the larger sensor and large SDRAM buffer memory. As always, we highly recommend keeping a couple sets of freshly charged rechargeable NiMH cells nearby. We should note here that the ability to switch the autofocus mode from Continuous to Single saves significant battery power. Enormous power savings are possible if you leave the LCD monitor off, and rely on the small top-panel readout when adjusting camera settings. Power consumption with the LCD screen turned off was very low indeed: You could easily run all day on a single set of batteries in this mode.

Operating Mode	Power Drain
Capture Mode, w/LCD	580 mA
Capture Mode, no LCD	< 10 mA
Half-pressed shutter w/LCD	570 mA
Half-pressed w/o LCD	340 mA
Capture Mode, Continuous AF	640 mA
Memory Write (transient)	580 mA
Flash Recharge (transient)	1000 mA
Image Playback	370 mA

Included Software

Learn what the manual left out - How to *use* your camera. Camera manuals are (sometimes) fine for knowing which button does what, but where do you go to learn how and when to use the various features? Dennis Curtin's "Shortcourses" books and CDs are the answer. (Cheap for what you get, too.) Order the Shortcourses manual for the camera reviewed in this article.

As of this writing, Nikon had not yet finalized the software bundle for the 990. We'll update accordingly as the information becomes available.