1 Great Camera for 1st time digital user
I got the Nikon 2200 for Christmas from my hubby. I usually go on line first and research and compare and check reviews, etc.
Since this was a surprise to me, I was hesitant, because it was my first digital camera and I had planned to purchase a "small" and really easy-to-use one. When I opened the box, I was impressed by the compact size (nice and small) to fit my purse or bag. I love using it because it is "FUN" to just "click-away" at every opportunity. The pictures are sharp and clear. The internal memory only takes about 16 pictures. I purchased an SD card for about 128 photos which is fine for my average photo taking episodes. My hubby was truly surprised I liked it so much, because I usually prefer gift certificates instead of gifts.
However, there's only one down side to the Coolpix 2200: the power runs out FAST! I'll take others' advice and purchase the re-chargeable batteries. Other than that, it is wonderful!
2 Excellent camera for the money
I have had this camera for about 2 weeks now, and I am VERY happy with it so far, and this is why:
1) Its quality at 2 MP is easily sufficient for printing up to about 8" x 10" photos. Most people have no need for anything fancier.
2) The price. Nikon is known for their quality, and the price for this camera, given all the great settings and features, is outstanding.
3) The other models I was looking at (esp. the Canon A75, and related) seemed to have serious reliability issues (read other Amazon reviews for them).
4) The battery life is excellent, compared with what I've read for other cameras - I put in a freshly charged set of NiMH batteries when I got it, and I've taken over 100 pictures, and probably 10 minutes worth of movies, and they're still kicking.
5) The images are good. They're not perfect, but I think they're just as good as the images I was getting with a Canon G3 I used for a few months. All cameras will have problems focusing in low-light conditions.
6) When it was shipped to my house, it sat outside in below-freezing weather for hours, because DHL is stupid, apparently, and even though there was condensation from the temperature change when I brought it inside, it still worked fine - so it's evidently tougher than many other models, according to what I've read about them.
Accessories I'd recommend:
-A NiMH charger with 4 batteries
-A 256mb SecureDigital memory card
-A decent camera case (it's worth the 6 dollar investment to protect your camera)
This camera has great features, takes great pictures, is very compact, and comes with good manuals and even a DVD showing step-by-step how to use it. People that complain about the interface being complicated would probably experience difficulty using a toaster. I find it to be very user-friendly.
Bottom line: If you're unsure about whether you need something larger than 2 MP, you probably don't. I would definitely recommend this camera, although it might be worth looking at the Coolpix 3200, if you think you need 3MP and sound on your movies, and you have the extra $30 or $40.
3 Tiny monster
I like this camera for its form factor. I researched many cameras at local stores except this one, but ended up buying this online.
When it arrived I was shocked to see how tiny it was. This is the "baby" of all cameras size-wise. Never seen anything like this in premium brands.
I bought it for my little sister who wanted a tiny and no-hassle camera. And she got more than what she had asked for.
I gave it 4 stars only because it is kind of inferior in quality of prints as compared to Canon. I wanted to buy A75 (which BTW is just fabulous!), but decided against it for the single most important factor for me - SIZE. Canons take 4 AA batteries and are hence larger and heavier. If you have no problems with a little more bigger camera go for a Canon A75.
But if you are looking for a compact power house for easy use go for this.
The other bad thing about Canon A series cameras is they have far too many settings and modes. Not very good for novice users who just like to take good pictures straight away. This camera is A+++ in this matter. Right out of the box ready to go and doesnt scare anybody with a huge settings dial.
There are more pros than cons definitely though. The only cons as far as I am concerned are:
- Close ups and Macros in indoor lighting are not very great. Mind you, outdoors and sport pics are GREAT though! Just the indoors bother me a bit.
- Flash takes loooooong time to re-charge, so you will be disappointed when you want to take fast snaps.
- Battery life could be better.
4 Awesome little camera.....perfect for beginners!
After doing weeks of research online, I finally took the plunge
and purchased the Coolpix 2200. It's stylish, compact, and very
easy to use. It literally took me less than 10 minutes from the
time I opened the package to the time I started snapping pictures.
It's my first digital camera, and I'm very impressed. The price
is reasonable (under $150) for the many features it contains. Highly recommended!
5 not as expected
After reading all the reviews on this little camera, I figured it would be a safe bet. I was very dissapointed. It is a great camera to carry around, if you just want to capture events and don't care much about quality. The macro is horrible. Most of the pictures I take with this are deleted.
6 A phenomenal little camera
It is amazing how many features Nikon squeezed into this camera for a retail price of only $150 . It blows away cameras that cost twice as much. There is a cd-rom that walks you through how to use your new camera. With 15 scene modes, 3x optical,internal memory and SD card slot you'll love this camera. This is my fourth digital camera, and propably my last until I feel I need or am ready for a Digital SLR. Read the rest of these reviews, check Consumer Reports this camera is a steal. Digital point and shoot cameras by nature use more power then film cameras so get a couple pair rechargeable batteries.
7 Couldn't be happier
I bought this camera through Amazon after careful consideration. I researched cameras within my price range and I was debating between this camera and one with a 3 megapixel of a different brand. The reviews for this one sold me, and I bought it. I am quite pleased with this camera. Although it is 2 megapixels, the picture quality is excellent -- even better than my old Sony camera which was a 3 megapixel. The pictures turn out crisp and clear even on a lower resolution setting. Another thing I like about the camera is the weight. Or should I say, the lack of weight. It is the lightest camera of a decent size that I've held thus far. This makes it extremely portable. The settings are also excellent. There is a mode where you can choose a particular light setting and shutter speed based on the type of envrionment you are in (eg: party, fireworks, cloudy, sunrise, sunset...) The bottom line is that this camera is great. When you go with a brand like Nikon that ONLY makes cameras, you know that they know what they are doing.
8 I Love This Camera!
I bought one of these a couple months ago, and I think it's great. I have considerable experience with an older 1.4 MP Olympus, and also a 2 MP Casio and a 4 MP Minolta, and this beats the heck out of all of them.
It's far smaller and handier than any of them.
It's much cheaper than those cameras were new.
It has optical zoom, which I believe is much superior to digital zoom and probably makes this equal in many ways to a 3+ megapixel camera with only digital zoom.
It takes SUPER close-up pictures of flowers, fingerprints, etc.
It takes pictures in near-total darkness -- while hand held no less -- that appear adequately sharp and much brighter than the scenes appeared to my eyes when I took them.
It takes great photos of fireworks without any special setting.
Unlike the other digital cameras I used before, it DOES NOT exaggerate the contrast between sunlit and shaded areas. No more faces turned into featureless blackness by what appeared to my eyes to be minor shadows.
The power switch is a good design -- it's recessed and separate from the rotary mode switch. Some other cameras I've used or looked at had exposed power switches or had "OFF" as one of many positions on an easily-bumped rotary mode switch. The way all digital cameras eat batteries, you don't want to turn them on by accident.
On the down side, it could have had snappier "clicks" on the mode switch to avoid the minor annoyance of turning on the camera in the wrong mode. It could have had a handy switch to turn the display screen off, allowing you to save power while taking pictures with the viewfinder. The viewfinder could be sealed against the entry of dust better; some dust got into mine. And it could have come with a case, which I know they could have made in China for less than a dollar.
But overall I think this is a great camera and an excellent compromise between price, quality, and size. I use it largely for e-mailing photos of my life in Japan back to my family, but it has enough of those pixel things to make decent-sized prints too. I recommend it highly.
9 Great camera for amateurs!!
I have only had my Nikon Coolpix for 2 weeks but I have already done so much with it! This is a great camera if you want to e-mail pictures to family and friends and the prints come out great too! I am a complete beginer and I was pretty much able to use this camera right out of the box. You really should purchase rechargable batteries and a memory card in order to maximize the time you can spend taking pictures. There are features I am sure I haven't used yet but I have been having so much fun just taking candid shots. My first 35mm camera was a Nikon & after using both cameras I won't ever purchase another brand!
10 Great digital camera
I received this camera in the mail today after about 3 months of researching for the right one. I finally decided to get this one along with the Viking secure digital card for a total of about $150 (including the rebate). It truly does help to skim through the manual to get a hang of the camera. The CD-ROM will cover the rest!
Here are some specs:
Pros:
> Scene selection allows you to choose the specific function for specific occasions (museum, party, sunset, etc.)
> Warnings for if the picture might get blurry or if lighting is poor
> Ergonomic design allows easy handling
> Great CD-ROM that gives a good rundown on the camera and the program it comes with
> Battery power is quite impressive, I've spent all day taking pictures and it's still going strong
> Relatively light and compact
Cons:
> Functions may be a little overwhelming for a first-timer
> Nowadays, 2 MP may not be enough even for the average amateur photographer
> LCD screen gets a little grainy sometimes
Overall, this is a good digital camera for recreational purposes. For me, I found the camera was a good deal for the price. I was especially pleased by the "panorama" option that lets you take a series of pictures and arrange them into a 360 degree panorama in the Nikon View program. There are definitely lots of possibilities with this little camera!
11 This camera stands for Nikon reputation
I Bought this camera to upgrade my one-year old Olympus D520. Compared to D520, coolpix 2200 gives more options for exposure, which produces more realistic color picture. I like the design and color of the camera body. Most importantly, the quality of photo is amazing in most cases. It is truly good product from Nikon name.
Two minor things that I do not like are: there is no botton to turn on/off LCD (2100 has it). And transferring photos from camera to PC is not easy as Olympus D520. The software included needs to be improved. But these are minors and I can live on.
12 Perfect For Field Trips
Let me preface this review by saying that this is my first digital camera.
Being a longtime Nikon film camera user I began researching digital cameras. Using Consumer Reports, E-pinions, megapixel.net, and the reviews that I read here, it was clear that a 2-3 MP camera would suffice for my needs as they would any person whose prints rarely exceed 5X7 or 8X10. Don't be wooed by the store salesmen, some of them are honest and knowledgable but not all. Do the research and figure out what equipment will best suit your needs.
I found this camera and a 256MB SD memory card for two-hundred and ten dollars (including rebates.)
The camera is quite small and fits neatly in my backpack (in a carrying case), uses AA batteries (rechargeable recommended) and the memory card can be purchased almost anywhere. I've had the camera for a week and have taken it everywhere I go. The detail and picture quality are superb. I went to a Butterfly Conservatory and the pictures are just awesome, the color, clarity and detail can rival some of my friends 'high-end' cameras. As a few other reviewers have indicated Nikon has packed the camera with tons of extras. Take the time and read the manual. You'll be a better picture taker because of it.
All in all, without plunking down loads of cash, this is an excellent entry-level digital camera that makes learning the ins and outs lots of fun!
13 Perfect Point and Shoot Camera for 4 X 6" Prints
The design of this Nikon entry level camera is anything but "entry". It shares the same excellent body and Nikkor lens as the 3MP Cooolpix 3200 and 4MP 4100, which cost up to 2 times the price. Using an analogy to cars, it's like getting a $10,000 car that shares the same chassis and design as a fancier, souped-up $20,000 variant.
The trend to smaller cameras and camcorders, as well as cost savings, means that the CCD is getting tinier. The 2200 uses 1/3.2" CCD, while most are 1/2.7" (as in 3200). Smaller CCD means more noise, so 2200 shoots mostly in ISO 50 to minimize noise, unless in low light when it falls back to ISO 200 - extremely noisy picture. A year ago, most cameras had 1/1.8" CCD, although noise reduction wasn't as advanced back then, so the results should be similar. The Coolpix is ideal for outdoor daytime shots, but don't expect too much indoors or at night.
(Sidenote: Panasonic first achieved an under $1000 3CCD camcorder by reducing the CCD size. No 3 CCD setup has used such a tiny imager, and the compromise was not enough resolution for adequate digital image stabilization.)
Smaller CCDs also allows smaller zoom lenses, but relatively, they must be made with more precision as small distortions will be less tolerable than on a larger lens set. The lens on the 2200 seems fine to me. What I first thought as lens softness is actually the severe JPEG compression... I prefer 2 Mega Pixel jpegs of about 1000KB, but the 2200 squeezes it to 500~700KB each. Memory is so cheap these days, and hopefully the compression ratio can be relaxed in future firmware upgrades.
Strangely, some Coolpix 2200/3200/4100 I saw are Made in Japan, while some are Made in China. This indicates that the series is either made by Nikon itself, or at least by a quality Japanese OEM maker such as Sanyo. Even if you get one made in China, it's good to know that it comes from a factory operated by Nikon or Sanyo, not sourced from an unknown OEM, as is common in this price range.
I also looked at an alternative "budget" digital camera, the Optio 30 by Pentax. It's a 3-Megapixel camera that costs $30 more. It is not as elegant in design as the Coolpix 2200, but it does have 2 important features. One is live histogram, which shows you if the exposure is favorable. The other feature is automatic interval shooting (Lapse-time Photography). You can set the Pentax to shoot a picture every X seconds. Subjects of the sequence can be a flower budding, your pet running around the house while you're out, the sunset, your documented trip to the supermaket (camera mounted inside the car windshield), or, if you have an radio controlled helicopter/plane/blimp, a bird's eye view (you don't need an extra radio channel to trigger the camera). Since you can take about 300 2-megapixel pictures with the 256MB card, without the cost of film, you can really set the camera to work automatically and forget about it.
If you're after a simple camera for 4 X 6" prints that's designed like a jewel, I recommend the Coolpix 2200. If you want to explore advanced features digital photography offers, get the Pentax, although you will have to give up the curvy, grip-friendly design for a boxy one.
14 Awesome Camera for the Price
This camera is the one to stop on!!! If you're like me, you may be completely overwhelmed by all of the choices in digital cameras. I finally found this one on another site, and then came back here to read the reviews (the price was better too). I got it two days after my daughter was born, and found out how quickly you can use up a memory card and batteries!
The pictures have been great! I got the cheepest 64mb SD card I could find ($28) and a set of ni-mh rechargeable batteries for $10. They both work great with the camera. The card holds about 75 pictures and the batteries will last through about two cards between charges. Since the set came with four batteries, I'm always charged! I've already printed off some 8x10's and they're in perfect shape.
If you are looking for an inexpensive, easy to use, great quality camera, this is the one!
15 The perfect digital camera
For those who want everything but could care less about superfluous ultra high-end features; this is your digital camera. The 2 megapixel resolution is more than enough in my opinion. This is obviously not the camera for you if you are a design professional that needs the absolute top-of-the-line features, but for the rest of us, this camera is gold. There are a hefty amount of cool features, and the image quality is amazing. I am a computer artist and very demanding of my tools - this camera not only met my expectations - but exceeded them. Buy with confidence and without trepidation!
16 happy with the purchase
I would give this baby a 5 star rating but for the quality of indoor photos. Otherwise, it is just about right for one's everyday, lay-person needs. Has some very cool features (like the 6 color options, 15 scene modes and assists). size is just right for discrete stow-away in small bags and purses.
The blur warning comes on almost all the time when indoors in poor light. even with the flash, photos may turn out grainy.
movies are of decent quality - considering it's not a video camera. the menus and features are quite user friendly.
have not yet figured out what type/brand of rechargeable batteries to buy - due to grim warnings in manual regarding usage of anything other than nikon's own line. has insatiable apetite for alkaline batteries. the other option - CRV3 batteries - are quite expensive. manual is not clear on how much (if at all) the battery life would improve over regular alkalines. other than that, the manual is easy to follow and comprehensive. software package is easy to install and effortless to use.(...)
17 A high quality point and shoot camera
For anyone mainly going to make small prints, put snapshots on the web or Email to friends and family, 2 megapixels is just right. I think 3 times optical zoom also falls into the same use category. The major camera manufacturers all have models like this in the same price range. I shopped around for a digital camera for quite a while and I bought the Nikon Coolpix 2200 and I highly recommend it as a high quality point and shoot camera.
Pros:
- Nikon has a great reputation.
- It takes consistently good pictures in Automatic mode.
- The menus are very readable and easy to navigate.
- It comes with rechargeable bateries and a charger.
- It is nice and small but easy to grip.
- It feels solid and well made.
- It has a 2-year warranty
Cons:
- NikonView software is not compatible with Windows 98 (my computer)
- No manual shutter or aperture adjustment
Most of my pictures so far have been taken in Auto mode. There are lots of settings and options but it takes a while to get used to them. The camera offers scene modes that let you compensate for different lighting conditions. I took a picture of my house with the sun behind it and surprise, the house is all in shadows. Alot of my pictures were improved by using different settings the camera offers.
Compared to other digitals, this camera has minimal delay in taking pictures. You can shoot a picture in about one and a half seconds or use one of the options to shoot continuous pictures. The best shot selector mode automatically picks the clearest shot for you.
Another thing I'm happy about. Some cameras have lots of people complaining about their camera eating up batteries. I have been fooling around with the Nikon for about a week and taken hundreds of pictures and some movies too. Following a full charge, the low battery warning came on after a few days of almost constant use and then lasted for almost another day before it stopped working. The batteries and charger that come with it seem great. A full recharge only takes about two hours.
My computer has Windows 98 so I can't use the Nikon software or download pictures directly from the camera to my computer. I can't use the camera's internal memory so I had to buy a memory card and card reader. The 128 MB card seems quite adequate too. The setting I am using gives me about 125 pictures per card.
18 what an upgrade from a HP camera that is only 2 years old
I have an HP 315 and this new Nikon absolutely blows it away and it was like $150.00 less that I paid just 2 years ago. Easy to setup. Great picture quality and the flash is much much better than others I've tried.
Nikon has a great track record. I think this camera bolsters that attention to detail.
19 Nice small camera
This is a feature packed little camera. I liked the cameras small size. I'm quite happy with the image quality of a printed 8x10. I don't have a use for anything larger. I found a couple of the features very useful. Best shot selector shoots up to 10 still images then saves the sharpest. Nice for intances where you can't use flash or can't see the LCD screen. The camera can make a copy your pictures in a lower resolution. Just select the smaller size and the image is ready for email. I found the 3X zoom a bit small, maximum focal length is 14.1mm I've seen 2X cameras with more magnification. The flip of that is the wide angle is real wide. The macro setting can shoot incredibly close. 1 inch or 1 foot when zoomed. The camera did have a little trouble locking foucus in macro mode when subject(flower) did not fill image area. Focused great otherwise. I will use this camera for quick shots when I don't want lug out the SLR.
20 Excellent casual camera with minor issues
I wanted a simple point-and-shoot camera that I could leave on auto mode most of the time. This camera takes sharp pictures and works well in auto mode IF you are outdoors or have lots of daylight coming through a window when you are indoors. If you are indoors with poor lighting, using the flash sometimes results in either dim or very cold pictures. What I do when I am indoors is turn off the flash and increase the exposure compensation by +1.0 EV or so. You'll have to hold the camera still or the blur detection will come on giving you the option to save or delete the picture. Or you can use the Best Shot Selector to take up to 10 pictures continuously, then it only saves the clearest one. Pictures come out warm and natural looking without the flash. You can also experiment with the indoor or night portrait assist modes to get similar results. Here are some other thoughts on the camera:
Pros:
- The scene modes work suprisingly well.
- VERY small, light and compact.
- Zoom can be seen with optical viewfinder.
- Camera has one-button instant auto-transfer. USB transfer is quick.
- Haven't tried an SD card yet, but pictures are written quickly to the internal memory.
- Price. Got it for $155 total
Cons:
- No button to turn LCD on and off. Must go to setup menu.
- Weak flash with short range.
- Viewfinder is inaccurate. Cuts off the edges. LCD is fine, though.
- Hard to hold if you have big hands.
- Alkalines die fast. Get some NiMH rechargebles.
- Wristrap is useless and just gets in the way. Wish it came with a neck strap.
- NikonView software is sparse. You will definitely want Photoshop or PSP. Did come with Arcsoft PhotoImpressions 4.0, though.
I thought about getting the 3.2 MP 3200 for $70 more but settled with this camera since I rarely do 8x10, didn't have a need for more detail, and just wanted a casual point-and-shoot. 3200 also has sound, voice memo, and AF assist lamp. Not a big lost to me but some might want the extra features.
Lastly, you will want a small bag like the Tamrac 4390. Fits the camera like a glove.
21 Great camera
I recently had problems with my Kodak CX6230 and finally ended up exchanging it for the Nikon 2200 and I am so happy I did. It is smaller and has far more features. Some that stand out are color modes in addition to standard are BW, Sepia, cyan, and vivid color. There are also 15 scene modes which adjust the camera's settings for certain circumstances such as on a beach or indoors with low lighting. Two things that definitely stand out are the panorama feature which allows you to take multiple photos which you can later overlap and form one long photo (it shows you a faint copy of your previous shot so you can line it up perfectly) and also the multi-shot feature which takes 16 shots in a very short time and gives you all of them in one frame which is fun. The buttons are easy to use and although there are tons of menu options, you can stick with the auto mode which is quite simple. This camera works well for a beginner or advanced user. Finally, don't be turned off by the 2.0MP. Prints come out great up to 8x10. This camera is amazing. I recommend it over the Kodak CX6230 (which is good but has less features and shorter battery life), Canon A60 (which has a LONG lag time between pressing the shutter and the shot being taken), and HP 635 which are other cameras I researched and tried out.
