Nikon Coolpix 700

This is a truly superb little camera. I use top quality Canon SLR equipment (L series lenses), and this was my pick of digital cameras for its great image quality. I didn't need a zoom, since I have the EOS gear for real use, so this camera was for snaps of people, and technical work in a laboratory. Using NiMH batteries and a 128MB card, this is a superbly versatile tool. USB card reader is the only way I can get my images since I don't have the serial cable anyway. Bought for £162

Excellent image quality Can fit 160-170 images on 128MB card in full res and quality Very compact and light to take anywhere. Gives a useful degree of manual control

Colour Fringing No intermediate resolution between 1600x1200 and 640x480. Needs NiMH batteries and USB card reader

I am now on my third coolpix within one year the first two were faulty, the first had a defective autofocus mechanism, the second a faulty camera strap clip(minor)both were replaced by the dealer, no problem there. Generally I have been quite impressed with the camera it produces great pictures in all modes but a let down in its picture quality with indoor flash, but these can be lightened in a paint programme, but at the high cost these cameras sell for they should not have to. I am also irritated by the red light blinking just as you are about to take a picture even outside when no flash is required, I know the flash needs to charge but please if the camera is being used in light then this warning should not need to come into operation, it does it even if the flash off is selected. I am also irritated by the occasional picture with the purple tinges around the edges. Finally I have returned from holiday with two cards full of pictures taken in Fine mode only to find that the picture quality of all pictures has deterioated by a lot all pictures are out of focus and of poor quality, the camera is now back again with Nikon. The camera locks up a lot the only way to rectify the problem is by opening the battery compartment. I originally had the Fuji MX700 in my opinion a better camera with better results.

Quite good picture quality

Unreliable blinking red light Pictures with purple edges

Fuji MX2700

About to be tested

The quality of the Nikon optics make this a great camear compared to the Kodak I also own - but it has several firmware problems which are unresolved and which Nikon seems to have decided are not worth resolving. I have been extremely disappointed by the Nikon web site support for this product although I would probably buy another Nikon Digital camera just for the quality of the lenses.

Excellent optics and superior photo quality even at the basic setting. The printed output at the basic setting (using the same Epson inkjet printer to photo quality paper) is better than Kodak's highres output.

A bug in the firmware disrupts the sequential file numbering and resets it to 00001 whenever the flashcard is formatted. Taking the first pic on the manual setting helps but not always - Nikon has acknowledged the problem but ignores firms ware upgrades for this model in favour of more recent, more expensive, newer models - hence - the stepchild.

Kodak Digital Science 210

Arrogant, disdainful attitude from Nikon - they seem to have decided that consumer digital camera's are the low end of their range and provide service accordingly. They also seem to have specifically abandoned the Nikon Coolpix 700 and just moved on to newer models - no firmware upgrades or fixes are being issued. This value of this brand has fallen sharply in my estimation as a result of this.

I've been using this camera for 9 months and it's just like new. It takes great pictures in ANY situation and there is absolutely nothing about it that could disappoint me. It's been worth every penny I spent

1,600 X 1,200 resultion; great color, focus, and exposure; easy controls; uncompressed image format for when you need the best image you can get; good flash; fast image processing, works well for high action shots; it has everything you'll need and does its job very well.

No optical zoon, the Nikon 800 has that; no built in lens cover, the one it comes with could be lost very easily if you don't attach it to the camera with something.

Nikon Coolpix 800/900

Never had to contact them, its worked perfect for me.

I use the Nikon 700 for web and Powerpoint production. The resolution is fine for these tasks but not for printing anything. Not sure that i would get a Nikon again because they tresat the customer so poorly.

Simple, compact

Dim viewfinder that truly blows in even moderate ambient light. No upgrade from serial to USB or Firewire port. Software is cumbersome on both PC and MAC. Frequent conflicts and crashes. VERY slow downloads

Sony Mavica, Nikon 900 (never worked though)

Nikon treats its consumers like insects. I upgraded my computers (Mac and PC) to USB styles. Nikon has no patch or any plans for a fix to cable to the newer systems. The lady said "I guess you'll just have to buy a new camera". I found a cable and software at PC Warehouse. I called NIKON to let them know so other consumers with my problem could be serviced. The tech said they had "no mechanism" for telling consumers about third party products.