MD) CL) NIKON COOLPIX P1 DIGITAL CAM

bad

nice camera,bought as a gift for my brotherthe noise was obvious in all shots

I've had the Nikon Coolpix P1 digital camera for more than a year now. This was my first digital camera and I'm considerably satisfied with its performance. Being from Florida, I must mention that my P1 has also stood up well in conditions of rain, wind and fog!The Coolpix P1 has 16 different modes (and further advanced sub-modes!!) for speedy image capture. There is also an AUTO mode with intelligent flash and self-timer options for that quick snap (at 14000ft just before going on your skydive, or for capturing Shamu's nighttime antics :) )The coolest features of this camera include the brilliant 2.5inch LCD screen, 8MP stunning clarity, In-camera Red-Eye Fix, D-Lighting, and the video capture ability. These features easily compensate for the comparatively lesser optical zoom (the P1 has 3.5x Zoom-Nikkor lens with 4x digizoom). Note that this 3.5x lens is what makes the P1 so compact and small in size. When I opened the package, I was amazed at size of this camera and the ton of features it encased.The P1 has superior video and sound recording capabilities. I've experimented with the panoramic image mode, sports and night modes, and got excellent results. Photos come out clear and crisp, and there is hardly any blurring when the right mode is used. I've had the Wifi setup go smooth and easy, (must mention that being a CS grad helps) and the transfer speed was great. (However, note that using the Wifi excessively depletes the battery fast.)Nikon has several new variants in the Coolpix-P line now. These boast of improved features, like the eVR (Vibration Reduction capability in P3) and improved image quality. However, the P1 has been a steady performer, giving exemplary performance, unmatched image quality and quick point-n-shoot ease of use. 5-STARS!!!Thank you Nikon!!p.s: I recommend getting an extra set of batteries Nikon EN-EL8 Rechargeable Lithium-ion Battery for P1, P2, S1 & S3 Digital Cameras and two of those 1Gb high-speed SD cards for long travel. Happy Photographing!

Bought this camera when it first came out, and it takes pretty good pics, but I have a Mac and Nikon does not keep up the software, including the wireless transfer, with Mac OS (I now use Lion). My next choice for camera will be a Canon, better pic quality and friendlier to Macs.

I picked this camera up at the new lower price ($150 less). For this price the camera is definately worth the money. From a picture taking standpoint the camera is great. 8-Megapixel photos that look great, great flexibility for different sceens and a pretty quick shutter release are the highlights. The camera does have some difficulty focusing in dark situations especially if you have zoomed in and the object is too far away.The only real problem I encountered is setting up the wi-fi feature. I consider myself pretty computer literate, but this stumped me for some time. A call to Nikon was pleasant but a waste of time. The biggest problem you will run into is if you have Firewall-Enabled in XP or XP Pro. You have to look close but on page 136 of the manual there is a little note about Port settings if you use a firewall (and who doesn't?). By the way, the Nikon rep was clueless when I told him it worked with firewall off but wouldn't with firewall on. He basically said, he had no idea and firewalls aren't Nikons specialty. Anyway, the key is to go to security settings, click on Windows Firewall Settings, click "Add Port" and then add UDP port 5353 and click OK. Add another port only this time select TCP port 15740 and click OK. This was VERY POORLY explained in the manual and I couldn't find anything on their website.While just taking pictures the battery life was fine. Using the wi-fi feature really eats up battery life. I would recommend picking up an extra battery (only $17) as a spare for those longer trips. That should give you well over 300 photos.PROS- Great pictures outdoors- Good pictures indoors within the limits of the flash- Large variety of shooting modes and camera control- Simple enough to use as a point-and-shoot- Capable enough for some real creative photography- Pretty quick shutter release time- Very thorough manual (with the exception of wi-fi setup)- Wi-fi transfer of pictures is great (once setup)CONS- Wi-fi setup is difficult- Focus in dark areas is sometimes difficult- Battery life could be better

I really like this camera. The wi-fi feature is fun but I don't know how practical it is. I love the huge image size and the fact that it does have some internal memory which allowed me to start shooting right out of the box. The start up time is a bit on the slow side but it's nothing horrible. I'm used to my big semi-professional camera that is also 8 mega pixels and instead, this is nice to just pop in a bag or purse for on the go. The zoom is satisfactory as well though I wouldn't recommend the digital zoom, on any camera, just take bigger pictures and crop them down later. I wish there was a black/white still mode, I'm not sure why there isn't one when at the same time it has a b/w movie mode, but oh well. Overall though, I really like this camera and recommend it to anyone who's looking for a small, compact but good quality camera.

I can't say that I can tell a difference in photo quality from our 2 pixel camera we replaced.