Truly inspiring Great awe-factor! Mot people love it's pictures. Very light, practical and easy to use. The shaky 30-60mm zoom that comes with it is suprisingly good and sharp. Good light metering, better than F-4.

It's not digital. Would love its panorama format in digital! Developing more expensive than 35mm. Few shops have the expertise to do it properly. APS is dead by now, don't invest into it.

This little classic is true to its original slogan, it is really a "camera that inspires." Point and shoot simplicity coupled with SLR funcionality and the versatility of the APS format. My wife bought one in Budapest for the equivalant of usd 580 with a 30-60mm zoom in 2001 after seeing some marvellous cityscapes made by her boss. Until then I was toying with a Yashica electro 35, a classic itself, she had a manual Canon SLR, but by then both cameras had reached the end of their life expectancies and we needed a new camera. Our honeymoon in 2001 in Prague resulted a whole serie of stunning images, especially in the wide panorama format, a speciality of the APS system. Since then, photography has become a love affair for both of us, thanks to the Pronea S. Years have elapsed and ever since, friends and colleagues keep asking us, if we had been traveling somewhere, they are eager to see our pictures. In 2002 I had to buy a second Pronea S camera to keep us from fighting over the one we had. Then I switched over to a Nikon F4, having been hooked by the greater resolution of 35mmm film. Yes, 35mm does have greater resolution than APS, but APS (especially its panorama format) clearly has a much higher "awe-factor". Most people love it. The very last proof is a three-week trip in the summer of 2004 in Italy. The two of us shot nearly 50 rolls. At the end people were clearly more enthusiastic about APS pictures. We were shooting at the same time, same locations, swapping even lenses (20/2.8, AFS 24-85G, 85/1.4, 70-300/4-5.6) our photographic abilities are roughly similar, and sometimes I was shooting with the Pronea, but at the end "public interest" clearly tilted towards - mainly panorama - APS images. (Some day we will have our website to prove all this to you, until then, you will have to take my word for it). I wish we could have panorama format in digital!!! In 35mm you have panorama with the Hasselblad X-Pan, but as I see it the APS format gives you better - more elongated and visually more satisfying - proportions. Cropping your normal (35mm or digital) images to achieve panorama proportions will not give you the same stunning results. You need to compose your pictures from the very start accordingly. You will be surprised how handy, adaptable this format can be when shooting elongated horizontal and vertical images. It yields exciting images, while the standard 35mm format - that has been around for so many decades - is often very boring. But were does this take us at the end of year 2004, with digital coming so strongly? Buy digital, we will too. But if somebody tosses one at you, don't jump away. Grab it, you will have great fun! If you cannot shoot with a Pronea, you can forget photography all together. Choose a hobby that better suits you.

Customer Service

None required

Similar Products Used:

Yashica electro 35G, Canon A1, Nikon F-4

Can use all AF Nikkor lenses. Small, stylish. It takes advantage of all the Advantix features (mid-roll change, data recording, etc.). With stepping ring, I can use all my filters I have for my other cameras. Auto/manual focus at will; nice flash.

No full manual setting. No flash shoe.

Why did Nikon decide to discontinue this camera? Maybe APS is some sort of pejorative in the "professional" world. I, being one of those who think that a fancy camera is as good as the one pressing the shutter button, am surprised that this format is being ignored as a perfectly good addition to any serious photographer's arsenal. This camera is light, friendly, stylish and overall well-conceived considering that this was obviously not meant to be a "serious" camera, but for the enthusiast or amateur. When using my other Nikkor lenses the images are crisp and superb (if I avoid Kodak's 400 film, well, Kodak, overall; Fuji's film is very good; even 400 speed is surprisingly satisfying). I don't like hauling my 35mm camera around at gatherings, and this is small enough to incite the curiosity of the shiest of subjects. Its biggest aid is when I'm shooting B&W 35mm: I tend to shoot with the Pronea using color film so that I can compare my B&W prints and concentrate on certain details in the darkroom. This camera will record all your picture's settings (date, time, aperture, shutter speed) which is of great insight if you have your rolls transferred to CD. I am disappointed there is no absolute manual setting, but that (and about $100-200) is the main difference between the Pronea 6 and the Pronea S. The landscape feature is a great composing tool. If you get your film on CD, you still get the full frame on CD.

Customer Service

Long hold times, but great service once you get a hold of a human on the line.

Similar Products Used:

Nikon Coolpix 885; Canon Elan IIe; Hasselblad 500c

Interchangeable lenses Strong pop-up flash Lightweight Very easy to use

None if you're evaluating this against other APS cameras for what it really is: a great snapshot camera.

It's not an F-5 or F-100, but it does the Nikon family proud. I was very hesitant to add an APS to my stable of cameras, but figured what the heck at the price for an SLR Nikon APS. I was shocked at the first roll, and everyone since. It is a fantastic "party" camera for snapshots and adding the dimension of panoramic format. This is really where it's worth it. You can get creative with the panoramic and not just use it to take the obligatory and ubiquitous mountain or seaside sunset shot. I have a great shot in panoramic from about 6 feet which is my wife's profile and a friend talking to each other. It's just two heads and some blank space in between. Everyone loves the shot that has seen it. The qualitiy is really amazing for such a small film format. Get it if you can find it for this price. It's worth every penny.

Customer Service

not needed, but expect good service from Nikon

Similar Products Used:

Canon ELPH (Pronea blows away the ELPH)

*Compact *uses most all Nikon D-series AF lenses *mid-roll rewind *fairly easy to use with multiple program modes

*no hotshoe for additional flash power *no indication of what speed film is loaded *included IX mount lens can''t be used on other nikon bodies (except pronea 6i) *included lens is slower than I''d like (f4@30mm

After much debate and a some hesitation, I bought a Pronea S. I will say I am very suprised at what I got. To test the camera, I loaded with 200 iso film and shot indoors in normal to dim ambient lighting. I used the built in speedlight and had some very impressive shots. I found the camera also handles mixed lighting situations very well. Outside the camera function well, shooting into the sun, and away from the sun. The lens seems to be a bit under-rated for the unit, but actually is quite usable...especially if you are trying to get away from extra bulk and weight when traveling. Film handling is a breeze, and the mid-roll rewind feature is very nice. This unit also has several little features that are only found on higher end slr cameras. Although they are not extreme in what they can do, these features are still available...and not much different from some of Nikon''s newer 35mm slr set-ups. Overall, I think this unit is good for someone who wants more than a point-and-shoot will offer, but probably a bit minimal for someone who is looking for a great deal of slr style control.

Customer Service

none needed yet

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*there aren''t really any other APS slr''s on the market *Kodak C400 aps *pentax SLR systems

Easy to handle, and easier to master than it''s big brother 6i, but this little baby, pack a wallup, hey all jokes aside, this is a true to life Nikon. And it is for real.....dude! Take one out and try it. You will be pleasantly pleased.

It''s a small but powerful, shadow of it''s discontinued big brother, the 6i. Could have used more features.

Hey, it''s a Nikon....dude!!, yes it is, the Pronea6i''s litte brother, is a less capable, but still, a powerful, picture taking machine. it''s sleek, design is so as you say ergonomic, and satisfying to hold even with it''s size. Not as big as it''s big brother, 6i, but with it''s lack of features, this is a quality camera. From the beginner tothe experienced photo_buff; this baby is "killah". Hey what cha expect; it''s a Nikon......dude!!

Customer Service

None, but hey it''s a Nikon.....dude(dudettes too)!!and that means quality customer service.

Similar Products Used:

Nikon 5005, Pronea 6i, N70, my brand new N80, hey folks these Nikons, "kick a__", my Pentax K-1000, and an Olympus XA.

bargain price powerful, but easy to use lightweight flexible

none that I have found so far

This is my first SLR and I love it. It will be a good companion for my p&s Minolta aps camera. I plan to use the camera for sports and travel mostly. Over the holidays I shot a couple of rolls of film at a soccer tournament with excellent results. Some truly outstanding photos using my Tamron 80-210mm zoom. As is the nature of sports photography there were some clunkers too, but for the most part I was very pleased. The camera is easy to use and I look forward to learning all of its capabilities. I especially like the APS formats. I set my camera on "H" for the most part and like having the extra image that the 4x7 size allows

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my first SLR, but have used my Minolta Vectis p&s for several years

Flash is far from lens, no red eye at all. Time delay between flashes very short. Had some nice night pics for exposure time around 1 second.

Focus not accurate. Lens cap not secure. Shiny metal power come off after getting wet.

I am rather disappointed by this one. It does not generate the kind of photo quality I expect. At the time of purchase, I also considered N70 and Canon Elph2. But then I chose this "hybid". It indeed give me better depth than most point and shoot carmeras, however the focus precison is not as good as some of them. Also, it is really not portable. The lens cap is not secure; the quality is far from my Dad''s old mannual Nikon. In terms of user-friendliness, I have no problem with that. However, my girlfriend never got the focus locking thing working. And all the photos she took just does not look right. BTW, she can use her own 35mm Olympus quite well.

Similar Products Used:

None

Stylish (if it matters to you),light and easy to use SLR camera. A great performer for ''normal'' photographic tasks; producing sharp and contrasty images.

Like most AF cameras, in very low contrast scenes its autofocus may let you down.

This is one of the best cameras I have ever owned. It is light, easy to carry and use, and gives excellent results even with the ''standard'' zoom lens. If you are more interested in the ART of photography than the technology and functions you''ll probably never use, buy this little gem. It is a classic!

Customer Service

Never needed it with my Nikons!

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Both MF and AF Nikons for some 20 years and a Canon camera when I was an absolute novice ;-)

Beautiful design functionally as well as to behold. Photo quality is as good as my 35mm Nikon N90s. Able to crop out about a third of the negative's image and blow it up to 13" by 19" grain free with 200 ASA,(ISO) speed film. Now that's excellent quality matching the 35mm format easilly. Include all other available APS bells and whistles, this camera does them all up well.

I wish the camera had some way to determine what ISO, ASA film I have in the camera by just looking at it from the outside. I wish it did have a hot shoe.

This is a quality product that is only limited by the creative eye of the photographer. It can do what it was designed to do as well as any SLR on the market. I highly recommend this compact, light weight gem of a camera to any and all, Pro. Intermediate and Beginner. I purchased it because of its light weight, small size, and the ability to use all my Nikkor AF-D lenses. Let's face it, the Nikon N90s and the Minlota XE-7 provide a tremendous strain on the neck after a while of usage. The Pronea S is almost a non-issue weight wise, with no loss in the most important features of the Pro.35mm boat anchors available. Go for it, you will ba a happy camper.

Customer Service

No need yet.

Similar Products Used:

Contax TVS II and TVSIII, Nikon 35TI, Leica Minilux Zoom, several point and shoot zooms of lesser quality, Minolta XE-7,

Small and light, great alternative to a point and shoot. Takes most AFD type lenses, though IX nikors are much more compact. All the usual APS extras. Very easy to use. Focus is fairly quick and exposures accurate.

No hot shoe. Exposure compensation button is under a flap.

Anyone who likes the idear of an SLR but is put off by the bulk/weight of 35mm equipment should rearly take a look at this. Also makes great travel camera. As with all APS choose your photo lab with care.

Customer Service

non needed so far. 1 year of regular use.

Similar Products Used:

Various 35mm point and shoot's.
Nikon F90X (equiv. to N90s).