Weighing a mere 6.5 ounces (not including battery or memory card), the Nikon Coolpix 775 is one of the lightest 3x zoom digital cameras available. The ultracompact Coolpix 775 has a 2.14-megapixel CCD for prints up to 8-by-10 inches, a 3x optical zoom lens (plus an additional 2.5x digital zoom), and advanced image processing features to ensure clear, vivid images under almost any lighting conditions. Comparable in design to the popular Coolpix 880, the 775 also shares similar features, such as selectable scene modes for specific shooting situations. The seven scene modes included are backlight, landscape, beach/snow, sunset, portrait, party/indoor, and night portraits. In addition, the 775 has a built-in flash with five modes, a 1.5-inch LCD monitor, 256-element matrix metering, and USB interface.
The Coolpix 775 also features a comfortable side grip for easy shooting and comfortable access to all of the camera's controls. To provide added shooting flexibility, the 775 offers a versatile zoom range which lets users get close to the action when objects are far away or zoom out wide when taking group photos or shooting in close proximity. At the heart of the camera's zoom capabilities is Nikon's exclusive all-glass 3x optical Zoom-Nikkor lens, featuring a zoom range of 38-115mm (35mm equivalent).
You can upload your photographs from the Coolpix 775 with just the click of a button. And after that, e-mailing, printing, or sharing on the Internet follow with easy-to-use software designed for the busy person who wants to enjoy hassle-free digital photography. With that in mind, the 775 also comes with a rechargeable lithium-ion battery and battery charger and an 8 MB CompactFlash card so that you are ready to shoot pictures right away.
1 My dad gave me me this cameraa
my dad had this camera and then he gave it to me. One day, i lost the battery... It is small so it is hard to find and worst of all, to replace the battery, it is...40.00 without tax!!
we couldn't believe it. I mean thats about 25% of the price of the camera.
but besides that, it is great.And the only reason i put 4* and not 5* is because of the price of the battery so if u know you're a person that doesn't reguraly lose things (wel my little sister took it out) than u shouldn't have any problems
2 Great
Up sides:
- It is light
- It is not so expensive
- Nice zoom in, zoom out
- Good flash
- all the options are accessable
Down sides:
The "movie" thing doesn't work. Battery goes down quickly.
3 8,000 photos and help with system error
I bought the Coolpix 775 in 2001, and used it for over 8,000 photos. Minor issue are [1] latency between pushing the button and actually taking the picture [2] proprietary battery capacity [3] proprietary AC adapter.
A week ago, I dropped the camera from 4 feet high on a semi-hard [thin carpet on hardwood] floor. When I turned on the camera, the display showed 'sytem error'. I opened the case [2 silver screws on each LHS and RHS, 4 at the bottom -note that 2 screws holding the tripod plate are of different type- then gently pry open the front using my finger nail -a soft flat piece of plastic is OK-] to separate the two halves: the empty front part with only the switch left -and a small ribbob connector- and thye body with everything else. I then removed the lens assembly [4 black screws, the cylindrical gear on the upper RHS close to the viewer has to be slightly lifted out of the way] and noticed that the 2 identations in the base plate had 'jumped out' of the 2 grooves in the lens barrel assembly. After putting the identations back in place, the lens now goes in and out. Zoom does not activate yet - relative positions of gears ? will work on it-. The motor assembly can be disconnected [1 black screw] from the barrel assembly and tested separately. Important Notes [1] I am not responsible for anything that could go wrong: you open the case at your own risk. Safe move is to send the camera back to the dealer [2] opening a camera is not for the faint at heart: use magnifying glasses, good lighting, watch screwdrivers and a compartment box for different screws -I use an ice cube tray with 14 compartments-. Hope this help 'resurect your camera' :)
4 Reliable
I bought this camera around Christmas 2001 and thought it was the greatest thing since sliced bread. Over the years, the camera has served me well. I originally bought a 64 mb card to go with it, and it was more than I ever needed, since I was pretty good about transferring the pictures onto my computer and clearing the card. The bundled software is pretty good. Allows you to drag the pictures and then drop them into any folder you like. Unfortunatly, my screen has recently broke. I made the mistake of packing it in my luggage that went through baggage handling. Even the toughest camera can't enure that abuse. It still takes pictures as well as it ever has, but I can't see how they turn out until I get home and hook it up. Isn't that the point of a digital camera? I think I may be in the market for a new one. I give it four stars because the screen broke, and costs way to much to fix.
5 Perfect for beginners
This was our first digital camera... purchased it in winter of 2001 I believe. It was very easy to figure out and suits our needs perfectly. Haven't had any problems with it. If you're like us, and all you want is a camera that takes decent pictures and is easy to download onto the computer and email, etc., then this is a great camera. I imagine we'll probably be ready for an upgrade soon, as I know Canon has made some improvements in the last couple years, but it's a great starter camera.
6 this is a terrible camera
this camera for the first year and a half was ok, ie (kind of slow when deleting pictures). and now just a month ago it had the "system error problem, which you either attempt to fix it yourself or spend...and have the camera sit at nikon costumer service for a month.
i would advice no one to buy this camera.
7 Tried, true & discounted.
There are lots of entry level digicams these days. Frankly, most of them are so capable that aesthetics is as big a factor as most anything else, but in terms of sheer durability, the Nikon has proven itself better than many of its rivals.
It is quite compact and easily managed with one hand. Its 2.1 megapixel resolution is fine for most anything, including enlargements up to 8" x 10". The optics are superior, all glass and the effect is excellent clarity. The 3:1 optical zoom is fine, and a 2.5:1 digital zoom may add a bit of help (I'm not a fan of digital zooms, but they are able to enlarge the center of the image reasonably well, though they do so by halving the original resolution/quality). Like all these digicams, the 775 ships with too small a memory card, but this is easily rectified. The purchase of a separate card reader (eg. Viking, SanDisk) will also make life easier, as photo transfer to the PC and then to email or storage becomes very simple. The Nikon's rechargeable battery set-up is also a big plus.
If you're looking to get someone started in digital photography and do not want to buy a toy, this is an excellent selection.
8 Decent camera but Nikon customer service sucks
I had a problem with burnt out pixels on this camera. Had to send it to Nikon twice to get it fixed. Took about a month going back and forth with Nikon. They need to work on their customer service a little.
The camera itself (once fixed) is quite good. Picture quality is decent. Very compact and light. The LCD is pretty sharp too. The white balance is good too and can be adjusted for different situations. Some chromatic aberration can be seen in the pictures. No manual settings or focus. But it does a pretty good job taking pictures in auto mode or in one of the preset scene modes. The flash is pretty good for such a small camera. Transferring pictures to the computer is a breeze over USB. The camera shows up as a drive on windows (98SE & XP) so you really don't need to use the Nikon View software for this. And since it shows up as another drive on the computer you can also use the camera as a portable hard drive :).
Includes rechargeable battery and charger and all the cables you need to get started. You may want to get a larger memory card though. In included 8MB card if you plan on taking a few pictures at the best quality setting (for good 4x6 prints). Overall this is a good bundle.
9 Now I'm a Nikon Lover!
I love this camera! It takes the BEST photos with excellent color rendering, clarity of photo, and it is very easy to use. This camera takes better shots than most expensive 35mm cameras I have experienced!
10 The dreaded system error!
I got this camera about 18 months ago and loved it. The only negative in my opinion was the pause between pushing the button and the snapping of the photo. Unfortunately, I started getting the message of "system error" a few weeks ago. I could turn the camera off and back on and it would work. That went on till last night where the camera just quit working and the "system error" message is on all the time. It has something to do with the plastic binding around the lens. I'm really upset after reading the reviews on this camera because this problem seems to be fairly common. Most of the reviews with the same problem have stated that Nikon is not helpful in honoring the warranty or fixing the camera for a reasonable price. I will give it a try and send the camera to them. If they won't fix for a reasonable price I will never by another Nikon. I just don't think a camera should be this easy to break. It was never dropped.
11 Nice until it quit working
All of the great things people have to say about this camera are true. Unfortunately, mine also stopped working after about 18 months. It had a system error, there is no hard reset button, and it will cost[$$$]to get it fixed. I still don't know if I'm going to get it fixed, out of warranty, or just go with a new camera.
12 Good camera while it lasts
This camerea takes good pictures under normal lighting conditions. It has a problem focusing in low light and the flash is weak. This camera is SLOW to take the picture after the shutter button is depressed. I would recommend this camera to people but it stopped working after 18 months.
13 Long awaiting
I got the 775 camera in Nepal, where everything was running slow enough. As soon as i started working on the west side of the world, the preparation process of the camera become an obstacle to my work.
if the situation is slow and the light is fair the 775 is a very good camera.
14 Worked great until ...
This unit worked very well until it wore out. The plastic zoom lense assembly started binding. I used it fairly heavily for a little over a year and did not abuse it. I dropped it about 5 times and did not baby it.
15 Hunk of junk
Don't buy this camera! This was the first digital camera I bought (about 18 months ago). It takes OK pictures but they were never quite in focus (what most reviewers called "soft focus"). Then on a trip they started getting really out of focus when trying to focus at infinity. I noticed it got better when I tapped it, thus loose lens! Sent it in, 6 weeks later got it back "cleaned", not fixed. Sent it in again, sort of fixed, still not really sharp at infinity, worse than when I first got it. In a nutshell, customer service stinks. They would not replace the camera. The best thing that ever happened to it was I dropped it on the floor and killed it. Then I bought a Canon. What a difference! The problem with the Nikon was it does not focus in low light and instead of being smart, like focusing at 6-8ft like you were going to take a picture of someone in a room, it focuses at infinity or wherever it happens to be when it is trying to focus.
Don't buy this camera!
16 Better optics than similar 2 megapixel digital cameras
Optics do matter, and I guess the Nikon name is more than just print on a digital camera. I tried this in a test against a Fuji 2.3 mp digital camera, a model that I like a lot, and the Coolpix beat the Fuji for clarity on shots of the same resolution. By a long country mile, too. The lens here must be the difference.
The features on the Coolpix include:
1. Lithium rechargeable battery (important.)
2. USB cable for fast transfer of pictures to the PC
3. Thumbnail display on the LCD on the back for quick review of shots
4. 5 different flash modes
5. A large 1.5 inch LCD display
6. Ability to do mini movies (avi)
7. 3X Optical Zoom (lens, not digital, very nice.)
8. Video out and cable in case you want to look at these on the family TV directly from the camera and not futz around on the computer.
The ergonomics are close to a regular point-and-shoot film camera. The settings dial is more or less easy to use; I tried the menu and setup on camera without using the manual and got it up and running right away. The "out-of-box" experience is enhanced by a large sheet of getting-started instructions that lead you through charging the battery in the separate charging station, loading the transfer software and taking a picture and getting it onto your PC.
The software includes ArcSoft "PhotoImpression" to manipulate your pictures. The interface is very simple and graphic with preview screens and virtual buttons. I prefer Photoshop Elements for image manipulation, but if you aren't very handy with computer graphic software, PhotoImpressions leads you by the hand to get your pictures as you like them.
All in all, I'd have to say that this is a very good amateur digital camera for the price, delivering performance beyond my expectations.
17 Please, before you buy!
Go to google and type in "Nikon Coolpix System Error." And then Search the Better Business Bureau records on Nikon, Inc out of Torrance, CA.
When you choose a different camera, you'll never know how much time and money I've saved you.
18 Caveat emptor
Okay, so after missing the umpteen-millionth photo of my daughter because of this confounded camera, I became so frustrated I felt the need to warn others to steer clear of this piece of junk. I can't tell you how many times I've had the perfect shot lined up, only to go and take the picture and have the camera delay for several painfully long seconds while it does whatever it does (focus?) before the flash goes off. Needless to say, this isn't acceptable when trying to take candid photos of your child or people in general. If it is the auto focus, then it has to be the slowest in its category. I watch with envy as friends use their digital cameras without impugnity, popping off one shot after another without having to wait for their cameras to ready up. There are other problems as well. Like when you're lining up your shot and--whoops!--the picture screen blackens. You have to press the picture button to bring it back up. Again, you missed the shot. The Nikon Coolpix 775 makes me pine for my old film-loaded cameras and illustrates the importance of doing your research before buying anything of value. I wish I had.
19 The best camera I have ever bought!
The Nikon Coolpix 775 is simply the best camera investment I have ever made. The camera is very easy to operate, delivers beautiful premium quality photographs, and is compact enough to fit [literally] in your pocket. We have taken ours to the Caribbean, and gotten beautiful shots of beaches and palm trees. We have taken it skiing in France and Utah, and each time we were even able to take it with us on the slopes (yep, it really does fit comfortably into your pocket)! All in all, this is one amazing product. We got ours when it was fairly new, so we paid a great deal more than it is listed for here, but I assure you that even doing that was incredibly worth it! If you are a casual photographer who enjoys the fun of taking and sharing photographs of your adventures in life, this is the camera for you. I hope this is helpful to anyone interested in digital cameras or even just considering the investment. Enjoy!
20 The4 quality on this camera leaves something to be desired
I've had the camera for a year. It's broken twice - once under warranty and once not - and the repair cost more than a new camera with comparable features.
You couldn't pay me to own another Nikon digital product - I feel totally burned.
21 Slow, bad focus, [not good] in low light.
This camera wasn't cheap when I got it and performance was pretty poor, given the competition. It's slow to focus so you'll never get the picture right. Its performance in low light was bad as well, with lots of noise and grain. And to make it all worse, it's not that small. It's so thick it's hard to fit in your pocket anyway. I ended up replacing it in less than a year!
22 Keep it out of the rain!
This is a light, handy, and versatile 2 megapixel (fine for up to 5x7 prints) camera for entry level and most other non-professional digital photographers. It is easy to use, but the menu is not quite as intuitive as some other cameras, like the Canon ELPH series. Just read the manual, and play with the controls as you do, and you should be fine. It is not "great" for action shots, because the ISO equivalent default is 100. For soccer games, and other active settings this is a little slow, but if it is sunny, no problem. On dark days it will blur due to a slow shutter speed. Software installation is easy on both Macs and PCs, and battery life is acceptable. Also off-the-shelf camera batteries (Duracell 245 and other type 2CR5) will "stand in" while your supplied EN-EL1 is recharging. Some cameras will only work with the manufacturer's proprietary batteries. A 128 MB card will hold over 600 still pictures at medium resolution and compression, Movie mode is fun to use, but there is no sound, same as with the newer 885 and 4300 Nikons, and will usually take up 4-5 MB per 15 seconds. Its "Achilles Heel" is H20!!! Even while in my jacket pocket at a soccer tournament it allowed water inside the case and that "fried" (or should I say boiled or poached?) the camera to what Nikon said was a "non economical repair" status, not warranteed. I ordered another to replace it, but I will carry a zip lock bag around in the future. You would be well-advised to do the same, regardless of the model of camera that you end up with. My daughter will get the replacement 775 for Christmas, as her Mac is already set up for it, and I will begin using my new Canon ELPH S330, which has a few more features, and is also a "pocket-sized" 2 megapixel camera.
23 warranty is trash
I was thrilled with this camera, never having had a digital before until it quit working after a month and a half. I had not fully explored its features at that time so I can't say everything worked great. Actually it was pretty slow and weird at times but still seemed like magic. Then it quit completely. The bottom line is that Nikon has not honored its warranty. They have now been sitting on my camera for several months refusing to repair it under warranty. We have been emailing back and forth as I try to have someone with authority and integrity address this matter and still... no luck. They want $100 from me to fix the thing.... but of course I'm not going to drop another $100 into something that I paid the big bucks for, did not mis-use, and does not work. I recently learned that a friend with the same camera had to send hers back twice in its first year. She had her local photo shop send it in for her and received better service. Still... twice in the first year?
Such fickle and selective treatment of 'warranteed' cameras. I will never patronize Nikon again nor reccomend them to anyone on this basis.
24 I like this camera, except for several issues
I've taken over 2,000 pictures with this camera and find it terrific except:
* Software Bug. If one takes pictures as fast as you can by repeatedly pressing the shutter button, the files writen to disk become corrupted when one transfers them to a PC using a Compact Flash to USB converter (Norton Disk Doctor helps to recover them). If one turns on flash, then the flash slows down the picture taking to eliminate this problem. If flash is off, one must makes sure the flashing green light (indicating it is writing a picture to compact flash), stops flashing before depressing the shutter button again.
* Auto Focus. The auto focus does not always focus on the correct object, especially when the background distance is different from the subject distance, even w/ the subject clearly in the middle of the frame. Many auto-focus cameras have this problem. It think it would be helpful if the software took a small piece in the middle of the frame and expanded it 4x (to check focus) when you depress the shutter half way.
* No click. There is no audible noise after taking a picture; therefore, you don't know when and if it took, unless you look for the flashing green light.
* I found the the Nikon software to be buggy on Macintosh. Subsequently, I bought a USB to compact flash converter, attached it to a Windows computer, and used this to move pictures to the windows computer. Then, I installed ACDSee software on the Windows box, and am very happy w/ this setup.
Other than these issues, this camera is terrific. The optics are terrific, the color is terrific, the macro focus feature is terrific, the weight is terrific, the size is terrific, and the cost is terrific.
If I lost my 775 and needed a new camera ..., I would seriously consider the newer Nikon 2500 and Nikon 885, and tell the store I want to return the camera within 2 days if the shutter-button software bug is still there.
25 The Camera o' my dreams!
I put the Coolpix 775 on my wish list after I saw the amazing photos my friends have taken with theirs, and got it for my birthday this year. I was off to the races.
THE GOOD:
It's small and light, and can fit in your pocket. It's bigger than an Elph, but still quite manageable. The first day I used it, I had it in my pocket while touring the Napa Valley in CA. The buttons are easy to use and figure out (I've seen some BAD UI on a Sony Camera), and the industrial design is elegant and sleek.
The Coolpix has a bunch of photo modes, but honestly I haven't been able to see much difference between some of them. Still, the Sunset mode has taken some spectacular shots for me, and I've experimented with Portrait and backlight modes as well, with good results.
For me, the meat and potatoes here is the ability to take macro-focused shots. Being a designer means I like to have shots of textures, which means getting in close. The macro mode is superb, and I have used it to great effect to get interesting textures from rusty metal, concrete, paper towels and bark. It's also great for getting closeup shots of things like flowers and other plants. I've even got good shots of my dog's muzzle.
The picture review mode is helpful as well, particularly the thumbnail mode. You can sort through your photos quickly and delete the bad ones (this is one of the main reasons we get digital cameras in the first place, right?), and mark them for auto-transfer. You can also zoom in on them if you want, though I've not seen the usefulness of that particular function yet.
The default memory card is 8 MB, which some people find to be small, but I find to be perfect. One of the first things I did was to switch the picture quality to 640 x 480, 72 ppi. I just don't take photos for print purposes, and i can take about 160 photos at low quality. Users who want to take hi-res shots should probably get a 128 MB card to allow for good storage of fine-quality shots.
The rechargeable battery also has decent life, allowing me to take almost all of those 160 before showing a low battery warning. Recharging takes a couple hours, though, so make sure to charge up before you head out to Disneyland for a long day of photography.
THE BAD:
Not much. My biggest complaint was that the Nikonview software appeared buggy, although apparently the trouble I was having was easily corrected by re-seating the memory card and re-connecting to the computer via USB cable. The transfer process is very straightforward, just plug the USB cable into the camera and hit the "Transfer" button.
I've taken about 300 photos (and those are the ones that I've kept) since getting this camera on the 10th of July, and will probably take thousands more. It's my favorite toy. I've been a web designer (hush, all you UF readers out there!) for going on seven years now, and in all that time, have never owned a digital camera. Well, this is all the camera I need. Bravo, Nikon.
26 Weak Flash & but great outdoor pictures
This is a great camera for its size and has wonderful features and great for outdoor photography. I wish it had some manual features like adjusting aperture,as only drawback i see is that the flash is not powerful, and images need to be within 6 feet to be clear. And dont buy more than a 32Mb flash card cos the camera takes almost 10 sec to retrieve pics in preview mode, and the wait gets longer if you used a higer capacity flascard.
27 Average features and quality
I purchased this camera and for the price it's pretty good. However, in comparison to the features and performance of higher priced digital cameras (my own is a Casio 4000, 4 MP) I am not impressed. You get what you pay for, that's the bottom line.
28 Great lens
I was amazed at the quality of the photos with this tiny camera, even at medium resolution. Because of that and its convenient size and weight, I'm totally satisfied (especially after using the bulky Sony Mavica). There could be improvements, of course. The Zooss capability is insignificant, and there is a rather long delay after pushing the button on flash setting before the picture is taken.
29 It's a snap
I thought this was a complicated camera when I first got it, than I read the book (parts of it). Now that I understand what all the little symbols on the top dial are for, it has become very simple to use. I have a problem however with the slow respose to the "take a picture" button. This seams to be a problem with many digital cameras. A friend has a top line 5MP camera which is not much quicker. (somthing for the digital people to work on) Never the less, this is a fine easy to use camera. Compared to some others it is a snap shoot. Printed a normal shot on a 11x17 HP1220c, came out fine, also an HP100 4x6 gloss--fabulouse.
30 Fabulous Family Camera
Goes anywhere, great for all forms of family and vacation photography. Pass it around at a wedding for great informal pixs that will rival the paid photographer and it all fits in a shirt pocket.
31 Nikon Cool Pix 775 review
I purchased my Nikon Coolpix 775 in Dec. of 2001. As of June 3, 2002, I have taken over 3,200 photos with this camera. I am VERY pleased with its small size and portability, the battery life, and the quality of pictures. It has a very good flash.
The only disappointment I have had is that it is the equivalent of an ISO 100 speed film, and if there is much movement at all
there will be a blur. (For example, I took the camera to a basketball game and was unable to catch any of the action because everything blurred.)
For portraits, landscape, and general snapshots this camera is great, and I would recommend it to anyone who is not interested in capturing sports shots.
32 Battery (EN-EL1) was dead after 4 times of recharge.
I can only charged the brand new Nikon EN-EL 1 battery for 4 times. It is completely dead at the fifth time, it wouldn't hold anything. The NikonUSA... will provide only question answer service. I have talked to too many people including supervisors. They denied replacing a new battery for me but ask me to buy a new battery. Please note that they do not warranty the battery as they may know at first that there is a high chance of defection in the battery. Making money from selling a new battery to customers may be their policy. Be careful, compact camera but its battery only last for 3-4 times of charging. A new battery is not cheap.
According to their policy, they will not replace anything for you, not only a battery. They told me over the phone that their mission is to answer customer questions. They do not stock any part or battery. I had to wait a long time every time I call NikonUSA. And they have never get my problem solved even once. Customer service agents at NikonUSA are not well-trained. They know too little about the products.
33 Software bad but camera great
To all of you who had problems with the software - read the instructions! You only have to phone the company and they will talk you through what you have to do. They will also talk you through how to get the software to work if you have an updated windows program. Saying that once the software is installed it still isn't that great. I love the camera though. It goes easily in any bag I am carrying and has survived my 18month old dropping it to boot the photos are brilliant. And to the man who thought his wife's Kodak was better, wait until you see how long they last. I had to replace the two kodaks I have owned after less than two years!
34 perfect design & function
This camera has been great for my needs and uses. The battery supplied, rechargeable, takes about 150 flash shots. After a night out pop it in the charger and your good to go the next morning. Ive added a couple of media cards, last one to the tune of 256Mb which when coupled with that battery makes for a blast. Its been proof tested on spring break trips to cancun and rosarito. one chip for the whole vaction, 400 plus photos.
A fun filled camera to take out with you all the time. Drop it in your jacket, shorts, breifcase or...and go. its also sized/designed great to take your own portraits...no need to get somebody else to take your photo... stick out your arm and do it...
its rugged enough for the occasional tumble (tested)
I prefer this design style to the manual shutter door type. I have had to many of those wear out. Also like the preset photo modes... makes taking great photos real easy. Indoor, outdoor, party, stars, beach....
love the features, size, and weight. This camera has me thinking "was it designed for my needs?"
oh and the software comments... got me.. i just loaded it onto my laptop and it works great. i never ran the demo. plug it in, turn it on and the photos software pops up. works great for me.
35 clear and compact
Don't let the size of this camera fool you. Many options allow you to adjust settings as required. Excellent detail and easy to use. I am impressed at how long the battery lasts compared with others. The only thing lacking is the speed of an SLR camera. I'm sure there are more options like shooting 16 frames continuously that would take care of that!
36 Well, how many compromises can you make?
I started to write a not-so-flattering review, and then I started thinking about the incredible technology this camera includes. At the price, it is pretty amazing...still...
I have to admit that my wife's Kodak DC3400, bought on QVC, takes better photos. This pains me to admit more than you can imagine. But same day, same subject, same light...the Kodak photos are sharper, better color and the Kodak doesn't suffer from the darned shutter delay. This is really annoying if you are trying to get photos of something that is happening quickly and only once. Taking photos of a glassblower with this shutter delay resulted in lots of photos of everything but the moment when the blob of glass becomes an object. Very frustrating.
And while it is a miracle of small size, it is simply too small. Live and learn. I'll keep it because I like having a camera in my briefcase at all times, and it is totally unobtrusive. But now I want something in the 4+ megapixel range, which is more SLR-like, and which has some heft. I'll probably go the 995 or G2 route, although all my Sony products (except telephones, for some reason) have been terrific, so the 707 might work. Why not go with another Kodak? Stupid but true answer...not enough gee-whiz factor.
37 Fun, Clear, but sometimes hectic.
I bought the Nikon Coolpix 775 recently, and battled with the software for about 3 days until I finally called the company. They were helpful, until when I got off the phone the Cumulus software started saying it was full. Myself being not too computer literate, I was extremely aggravated. I got a friend to come over and solve the problem for me. Good thing, too, he told me that the Cumulus software was only a DEMO! I would not have had any idea, the product seemed to make it so that, in almost everyway (to me anyway), that this Cumulus nonsense was the software you were supposed to use. It takes you right to it automatically when you tell it to transfer, after all; not to the NikonView 4, which you are supposed to use from what I understand. So listen to the other reviews about "lousy software" because they are most definately not lying. If you have any problems don't bother fiddling with it for hours, a helpful Nikon employee should help you just fine. Besides the software, however, the product is, I find, great. The pictures are crystal, and can truely make something look a lot better and brighter than it really may be, especially rooms, various other indoor subjects, etc. It is also very easy to use, charge, and upload your subjects onto your computer (once you have the "lousy software" deciphered). Good Luck with you camera.
*PS: This would have been 5 stars hadn't it been for the aweful software that came with the product.*
38 Incompatible with windows 98 upgrade
Have 2 year old HP computer with a windows 98 upgrade second edition. Have not been able to upload pictures from camera to computer. Nikon states that the camera is incompatible with a windows 98 upgrade.
Nikon recommends using computer with straight 98 or a card reader.
39 Really great camera
I've been using the Coolpix 775 for a few weeks now and absolutely love it!
The different settings make it really easy to get the shot just right and of course it also works well on the Auto setting. There's a delay between pressing the button and actually taking the picture but I've noticed that with all digital cameras (the Elph S110 seems even slower).
An extra battery pack is nice to have, but I have to say that the one that comes with the camera lasts fairly long. Of course, you will have to buy an extra memory card unless you intend to take low-quality photos (i.e. for websites and e-mails) only. My 128MB card gives me 133 shots on highest quality.
When I picked up 10x5 prints today I couldn't tell a difference between them and 'normal' photos taken with a 35mm camera.
The only dissapointment is the software that comes with it... it is really bad! I've been uploding photos in Windows Explorer, then I copy them into My Documents for storage. I am thinking about buying a card reader to make it even easier and to save battery power.
Even though the software is bad, I still rate the camera 5 stars!
40 Great Digital Camera
Small enough to take anywhere, easy to use without reading directions, would probably be even better if I read the directions. Downloading photos is simple. The only thing I bad I would say is that it is sometimes tempermental about when it will take the photo, you push the button and then nothing happens so you push it again and it works, sometimes you have to push the button a couple times...
41 Great camera, awful software
This was my first digital camera and all in all I am very happy with the camera itself. It has many features, is easy to use and it does take great pictures; the flash is quite exceptional as well. There are many features which makes reading the manual a must otherwise you'll be lost especially if you're a first timer like me. The problem with this camera is the software. Cumulus, by Canto, is actually a very good, powerful, organizational software program. However, for the average to moderately involved photographer it is simply way too cumbersome. I spent about 8 hours one day figuring out how to use it and once I did it was actually pretty good. The bad news is that once you've made your catelogs you can only dump about 50 pictures into it and then the Cumulus program will ask you to buy the "full" program at around... because the "limited" version they give you has been maxed out. Nikon really should do better to serve their customers with adequate software or they will loose business.
Bottom line: get the camera...avoid the software (unless you're prepared to buy the entire cumulus program).
42 Great Camera lousy software
Highly recommend the camera for its small size, picture quality and ease of operation. The Nikon view software is a piece of junk, couldn't get it working on my PC, Nikon Tech support passed the buck to my PC manufacturer and Microsoft. In the end I bought a Sandisk Compact flash reader and trashed Nikon view (and the cataloging demo software that came the camera) also changed my editing software to Photo suite although the included photoimpressions did a reasonable job.
My advice buy the camera and a Sandisk compact flash reader the flash looks just like another disk drive , and you don't have to run your camera to transfer pictures to your PC.
43 Great Camera but Softwere doesn't work
I just got the Nikon 775 for my birthday. The software doesn't work. IT doesn't work with my computer which is only a year old. I had been given a lexar memory card reader and discover that I can get my picture throught that and it improves the pictures alot. I love this camera I have read reviews and heard people having trouple with the camera or the flash being really bad. I find the flash is great and I just love all the setting it comes with. I just found out that the cable that comes with my camera is a firewire and NOT a usb explaining why my camera does not work with my computer but does work with the Mac cub which has built in firewire. I have also gotten the new portable HP Photosmart printer and the two together work great. I can print out great pictures that makes people go wow that came from a digital camera. It's a great camera to get but you will run into problems but you also run into problem with any thing electrric.
I've used alot of digital cameras I've use both still and professional panasonic 5000 which has a great picture and I find tha tthis camera does have the same quility has the 5000. Its a great camera for family trips or dances.
44 Wow! Nikon Coolpix 775
Excellent camera. I have several digital cameras and if you are looking for a fun, easy-to-use one - the 775 is great. The resolution is perfect and I find it extremely easy to use with Windows XP and the Nikon software. Happy shooting........
45 avoid this camera
I purchased this camera and was initially very happy. My tune quickly changed after getting a "system error" message which locked up the camera and made it useless. I had owned the camera less than 90 days but I still had to send it back to NIKON. They claimed it would be 7 business days to repair and we are going on 3 weeks now, its still in the shop with "major repairs"; don't know how long it will be, they still have to fix and ship it. The scary thing is the customer service rep let it slip that some were having battery problems and I needed to try a new battery. My friend also bought the camera from a different vendor so I used his battery but the camera was still dead. I sent mine off to the repair factory. One week later, his camera came up with the same "system error", which I refer to as the screen of death. He had only had his for 32 days. Based on this, I cannot recommend this camera and suggest you should avoid it .
46 Fun, Easy, Fun
I have had my Nikon Coolpix 775 for almost four months and have taken about 800 pictures with it...it's just so much fun to use! And easy to use, as well. It will function as a simple point and shoot on "auto" mode and give you your money's worth, but with seven scene modes to choose from, it's a lot of fun to explore the possibilites.
I've experimented a bit with some of the other features this nifty little camera has - such as macro and continuous shots - and I look forward to getting more familiar with them.
This is an ideal camera for someone who wants to have fun but still take good, sharp pictures. It's so compact and light-weight, you can literally take it with you virtually anywhere you go and always be ready for a quick snap-shot, or even a mini movie!
47 Excellent for the price point
I started out in Digital Photography with a low-end digital camera. While it produced pretty good pictures, I really knew it was my "test" introduction to Digital. I decided to move up and get a better digi-cam. While I can't afford to move up to the top of the line digital Nikon, this one has been great. At first I was a little frustrated with the speed it seemed to operate at, but on a trip to the Auto Show, I took over 100 shots and realized the delay is in the memory recording process, not the actual picture taking. The exposure level is spot on, but I wish I had some ability to control the focus. My film-based Nikon has manual, spot & wide, and I'd like to see the same type of focus area control. I have ended up with a few shots where the background was in focus and the subject was blurry. Battery life is good, and you will want to get at least a 64 or 128 megabyte card to go with it. 8 meg is not enough for good usage. The 15 second video feature is kinda fun as well.
48 Love this little cam
I've had a Coolpix 990 for over a year now, and I decided to get it's little brother (Coolpix 775) for my wife to use. It's perfect for her, since there is not a lot of manual options on it, only auto and presets.
The size is perfect, small enough for a purse, and we like the shape of the case for gripping. It doesn't feel like you could drop it, like many other subcompact cameras do. And, it takes digi pics that seriously rival the pics from my Coolpix 990.
The only downsides are -
1. It doesn't use AA batteries like the 990. However, I simply bought an extra NiMH battery, so there's always a charged one when she needs it.
2. The camera is kinda slow after you snap the pic. i.e.- It makes you wait while it's saving to the compact flash card. But, what's the hurry anyway?
3. It only comes with 8 meg compact flash. But, that's actually good, because if it came with 16, the price would probably go up, whereas you'd still want to buy another card - I bought an extra 64Meg for 37 dollars US.
So, since all shortcomings can be overcome or overlooked, I have to give this camera 5 stars
49 Not too happy about this camera...
I have read lots of reviews about this camera, some were good and some were bad so I bought it. I have this camera for about 2 weeks now and I am very disappointed. There were more problems encountered than what the reviews stated. The reviews written were more biased towards how great this camera is, though it should emphasize the problems it really has.
Need to compare??? One way of telling how good a camera performs is by comparing it to others especially if the lower/cheaper models could outshine this one.
I own the Kodak DC3200 ... and the Olympus Brio D-150 ... Digital camera. As for comparisons to the Nikon 775 ..., the Kodak DC3200 took clearer pictures. The Kodak is only 1 mega pixel but the pictures were sharper and colors were closer to what your eye would see outdoors. Indoors, the Kodak tends to overexpose (too bright) the subject while in the flash range. The Kodak pictures taken are clear from the beginning without shrinking the image. The Nikon on the other hand have pictures that are not as clear full size, but when printed on a 4x6 it becomes clearer. Therefore it would be hard to get a clear picture with the Nikon when looking at it on your computer. These pictures are not as appealing when posting it on the net.
As for the Olympus, it has better color tones but it was somewhat blurry as well (not too sharp). I guess it helps when taking pictures of people so it can give the subject a smoother look and to hide any imperfections. For detailed pictures, this might not be a good camera to get. There are more comparisons to discuss but I would not spend any more time at it. More focus would be emphasized on the Nikon 775 below.
Here are my own observations of the Nikon Coolpix 775:
I have taken indoor, outdoor, flash, macro, increased sharpness settings, white balance.....
First of all there were red and blue/green rainbow colors on the pictures. Those imperfections are there no matter what settings. There would be blotchy red spots in the pictures typically but the blue/green colors are there too. Some settings reduce those color imperfections but it does not eliminate it. If you take pictures of a subject that contains those colors, it will hide through those colors thus slightly emphasizing the color red, blue and green. That would be fine with me, but it should not come out on areas where those colors are not present. It seems to form in horizontal bands, but it also appears randomly across the picture. These bands are not pronounced but it is seen fairly easily. These abnormal colors are more distinct in gray and in typical skin colors (flesh).
As far as software is concerned, there will always be bugs in it including your own operating system. You can use other picture editing software once you upload the pictures to your computer through via USB. Transfer Errors also occurred while uploading pictures sometimes. Check with Nikon for updates.
Another problem would be sunspots on the pictures. They only appeared on shots I took indoors with the flash. The spots would appear as if you placed tiny droplets of water on the lens. It does not appear all the time, but it appears once in while in random places. I fear that the flash itself may have caused it to appear.
Significant Delay Problem??? Press the button... Click... 1 to 2 seconds later... Snap... Picture taken.
The red eye reduction does not work too well. The red eye is still pronounced on the pictures I took. Of course, red eye will always be severe on shots taken inline with the flash. In other words, the closer to the center the subjects are, the red eye would be more severe.
Lastly, one thing nice about this camera is its size and weight so you can easily put it in your pocket. But when I placed it on my jean pocket, the lint/dust in that pocket or some sort of particles penetrated inside the camera. It has fogged up the viewfinder inside (between the front and rear glass) with dust/lint looking things. I could see some of the dust settling on the lens as well. Both those areas are supposed to be sealed when not in use especially the viewfinder internally.
Now for what I liked about the Nikon camera:
The 3x zoom is a plus. Its ergonomics makes it easy to hold. I like the dial settings of different moods on the Nikon 775, which the Canon S110 lacks (currently the 2 most popular cameras). The Nikon has a special function for macro shots instead of just zooming in close to take clearer pictures. The movie shots are good as well, but it lacks sound.
I won't complain about the 8mb flash card, its obvious by now that it is not enough and it has nothing to do with the 3 stars given. Anyways, Flash memory is cheap these days. It is better for the camera manufacturers not to spend more money on the memory initially to keep the cost lower. Since memory prices generally goes down all the time, it is to the advantage of the consumer in the long run.
The Nikon comes with a rechargeable battery that last pretty long. For international travel, the 100-240Volt charger (included) helps. The battery never ran out on me for the whole day. It just depends how you use the camera. Previewing pictures all the time means using the LCD screen often thus consuming more power.
In conclusion:
To me, keeping this camera means it should satisfy 5 main factors; Image quality, features, convenience, size and reliability. In my opinion, this Nikon Coolpix 775 needs more improvements especially on image quality. If this is one of the best in its class the market could give at this time, then so be it. You decide on your own!
50 Great little digital point and shoot!
I'm a computer geek who has resisted the digital camera bug for a long time. In our house, we have an extensive collection of conventional still cameras, from the ever useful 35mm Minolta and Nikon, with their full assortments of lenses, to a fine old twin-lens Rollei and antique 8x10 glass negative cameras. While I'll put an 8x10 negative up against any digital image any day--it is much easier, not to mention instantly gratifying, to slip the tiny 775 into a purse, hip pack, or briefcase, take a record shot or two and ship them off to friends and family within minutes.
This tiny wonder is incredibly easy to use, takes splendid pictures for online viewing, and the basic software, Nikon View 4 USB upload/image manager, worked just fine on PCs both at home and office with Windows2000. As for accessories, I do recommend splurging for the AC adapter, though. The little Kodak case is handy, too. It provides enough protection to keep the camera clean, keep the buttons from accidently being pressed--and fits like a glove. It also looks much snappier than bubble pack with a rubberband. ;-)
51 Easy to use, but still unsure of picture quality.
I purchased this digital camera last summer. The 2 main reasons I chose it were its size and its movie feature. It really is small and I can carry it with me wherever I go, but as far as the movie feature goes, I haven't used it yet.
I like to take pictures of my 1 1/2 year old son and since he is constantly on the go, it's hard to get a great shot with this camera because there is a few second delay between when you push the button to take the picture and when the picture is taken. I end up missing a lot of great shots.
The camera itself is very easy to use and I don't have any trouble working it or transferring pictures to my computer, but the delay really bothers me.
52 Nikon 775, one great camera
I did a ton of research on digital cameras and I decided on the 775. You cant beat the price and it's loaded with features. If you like taking pictures like me, and you want a camera you can point and shoot. This is the one for you. I must have taken 200 pictures with this camera in a 3-4 week period (night, day, sunny, cloudy, sporting events, parties...). All perfect. You cant go wrong. You just select which scene mode applies to your setting and shoot away. It cant get any easier then that. The photos I print are incredible. I am so happy I jumped to digital. No more praying for good pictures. I give the 775 two thumbs up. WOW!
One very happen Nikon customer.
53 great first digital camera
I love this camera. We got it for Christmas and have taken tons of pictures with it. The zoom capabilities are unbelieveable. It is lightweight and easy to use.
I recommend it for the novice digital photographer.
54 A great buy !
My first digital camera - after doing a bunch of research zeroed in to this one: has yet to let me down.
P.S. Heard a lot of horror stories regarding the life of digital camera battries in general, this one comes bundled with a rechargable battery and charger - has a surprisingly long charge time and does the job perfectly well for me.
55 Nikon 775
I selected this camera particularly because that while it has a rechargable battery, that if necessary you can use a 'one use' battery (2CR5). My wife has a Canon Elph. While this is smaller, it is consideably less simple to use. I particularly like the 8 different settings that automatically set things like white balance and flash mode. Of course, it takes great pictures!
56 Nice little camera
Got the 775 as my first digital camera. I read and researched about digital cameras and decided to go with the Nikon 775. I was a bit apprehensive about loading the software after reading reviews from people who had difficulty with it due to other programs that they had on their computers. I also have Media Player 7.0 and the CDcreator program that others had trouble with, but my software loaded easily, and I had no difficulties with it. (I did not load the trial software)
I like the size of the camera and I think that the pictures come out fairly well, the colors are pretty good and the red eye reduction works on this camera for me. I am a bit disappointed with taking pictures in a fairly low lit room, as it is difficult to see anything on the screen before you take the picture. Because it is difficult to see, you end up trashing pictures and retaking them. There is also a bit of wait time when you press the button to release the shutter and flash and when they actually go off. I suppose I will get used to the delay, but may hinder taking action pictures when not taking a sequence of them. All in all, I find it is a good camera for my first digital and I found it easy to use, by just trying out the buttons, and not really reading the directions in the book.
57 Cumulus demo - don't inhale
The demo version of Cumulus is a joke. I was able to load only 30 pictures across 3 uploads and then the application locked up saying I'd exceeded the maximum catalog size or maximum number of simultaneously open catalogs. And it appears to cost [price] to get a real working version. Why does Nikon even bother to include demo software that is so very limited? It's surely not enough to get a feel for the Cumulus product, and it has now colored my whole experience. My advice is just ignore this Cululus piece completely upon install. Other than this, camera has been fine so far.
58 Like the camera so far!!
After researching digital cameras, I decided to go with the Nikon 775, for my first digital camera. I had read the other reviews before I bought this and was a bit apprehensive about the software that came with it. Others had mentioned problems they had installing the software because of other programs that they had, like CDCreator, and Media Player 7.0. I have both of these things, and did not have any difficulty with the software. It loaded quickly and easily. (Although I did not install the trial software.)
The camera was fairly easy to use and figure out by pressing the buttons, and not reading the manual. I have only tried the automatic features so far, but I think that the color is generally pretty good on the pics. I do find it a bit annoying that when you take a pic. in low light, it is hard to see what you are aiming at, and thus, you have a misaligned picture, that usually needs to be trashed. Another thing that is a bit annoying is that when you press the button to take the pic., there is a bit of hesitation before the flash goes off and pic. is taken. I guess it is something that you have to adjust to, and after speaking to a friend, I hear that it happens on other brands as well.
All in all, it is an easy to use, light and compact camera that gives the user a lot of options for the money.
59 You can probably do better
While this camera does an acceptable job, you can probably do better for the money. The AUTO setting is very misleading. It is really more of a manual setting. I have been using a Milota camera for years and find it took better quality pictures with less need for adjustment. A friend told me that he has two relatives who actually returned Nikon digital cameras after initial use.
60 Nikon Coolpix 775
The Nikon 775 Coolpix digital camera is a great camera no matter where you are. It has 3x optical and 2.5x digital zoom so you can get close up. It can shoot a 15 second video. The package comes with the camera, a lon lasting rechargable li-lon battery, 8mb compact flash card, battery charger, 2 cords to hook it up to your computer and one to hook it up to a tv or a vcr. Its pictures are great quality with its 2.1 mega pixel. It weighs less than 6.5 oz.
61 One of the years have to buys
I love this camera. I got it for Christmas and i have had the best time learning how to use it. It is easy as anything to learn. I like taking it to party's and stuff. It's a great deal
62 Great camera except in low light
I like almost everything about this camera. It is easy enough to get started quickly; but, it has plenty of advanced capabilities to explore. The rechargeable battery is terrific. The size and shape are perfect for me. The picture quality on screen and in printouts seems quite good if taken in bright light. The only drawback I've noticed is the poor quality in low light situations. The multi mode flash works great but only within a short range.
63 Great little Camera
This is a great little camera if you are looking for a fun compact digital camera for email and photo printing. The camera is very simple to operate, and the software was a snap to load and use on the computer. The camera comes with everything you need to get started except a sufficient flash card. It comes with the 8mb flash card which is not enough to do anything with. But Nikon is not alone in supplying such little memory, just about every camera in this price range come with the same size flash card. The camera takes great pictures and is definitely a bargain. You can find them for a great price if you look hard enough.
64 Upgrading to a 2.1 Nikon
I have been delighted with the quality of this little gem. I had a much more expensive Mavica which I donated to a local school because they needed its simplicity and I needed something that would take quality shots. I got one of the 96 mg cards to go with it and use the "best quality" setting. We're leaving soon for vacation and looking forward to trying it out even more...
65 Fantastic camera for casual and amateur photoenthusiasts
It's been a month since I bought the camera, and so far it has proven to be a smart buy.I bought the camera for [amt] from one of the internet photo stores. The 7 "scene modes" do a good job for automatically setting aperture and exposure settings. However, those willing to be experiment will be rewarded with a pleasant surprises. What's really interesting with the scene modes is that they have uses beyond the names of the situations that they target. Try Sunset during the day, for example, for a more Golden Hour look. Try Beach/Snow on a back-lit subject for a different, moodier sort of lighting. You can really experiment with this little Nikon.
The colors are wonderfully accurate, even with the auto setting. There is a manual white balance in addition to the 5 "preset white balance settings." Just place a white piece of object in front of the camera, and it will automatically adjust the color balance of the shot. This is really great when you have multiple sources of lights and/or if you know you have sufficient light and don't want to use the flash. Contrary to what another reviewer has said in here that may be misleading, I haven't yuet found a single instance where there are red/blue/breen banding on pictures taken with sufficient light. He is probably talking about the amount of noise in the picture when a scene is taken without sufficient lighting (very low light conditions). I still have to experience the "sunspots" he was referring to when taking photos with the speedlight (Nikon's word for flash).
Some of the photos do not come as sharp as I'd like them to be (at least on screen), but when I printed them out on a 6-color Epson photo printer, they look amazingly like normal 35-mm prints. This camera (like those from Sony, Epson, Casio, etc.) saves additional info in its JPEG files called "Print Image Matching (PIM)" that when printed on PIM-enabled photo printers, the colors are richer and hues truer to what you actually saw when you took the photo.
All the above plus the 3x-zoom and the ultra-compact and go anywhere light weight makes this camera a smart buy. Simple interfaces and modes for casual point and shooters while giving amateur photoenthusiasts a lot of options for experimentation even if it doesn't truly have a manual mode like the more expensive cameras. Plus the batteries and recharger are included!
66 If you are going to write a review...
at least be fair about it. To take a few pictures in a store, then come on Amazon and write a negative review is totally lame.
I just bought a Nikon 775. I love it. I narrowed it down to either the 775 or the Fuji 2800, both were the same price. The Fuji has more zoom features, but I am using this as a "point and click" camera, so the Nikon's 3x zoom should be plenty for my needs.
The 775 is the perfect size, has a great manual and is ready to go right out of the box. If you are looking for a 2 mil pixel camera..., go with the Nikon 775, you won't be sorry.
67 Disappointed, at best
After reading all the rave reviews, I was ready to buy this camera. But I wanted to see it in real life, just to ensure all the reviews where genuine. And so I did. And in one word, I would have to say I was Disappointed. First off, it takes about 1-2 seconds for the shutter to respond from when you take the photo. That might not sound like much, but from the 10 shots I took of people walking in the store, everyone of those shots resulted in the person completely out of the scene by the time the shot went off. So I guess if all you want to do is take still photography, this might not be a big deal. Second, the flash didn't work for more than 5 feet. I took photos inside the store, and anything beyond about 5 feet, turned out to be pretty dark. I compared these photos to a Canon s110, and the canon took far better photos inside the store.
So that's my review. I was extremely disappointed. I like the size of the camera; i like the preset modes; and i like the nikon brand, but these two issues where just too much for me to overlook.
68 Excellent point and shoot camera
The quality of images are very good and the color reproduction is excellent (blues ARE blue). It is easy to use and have a good "get started" guide which literally have you taking your first picture in 30 seconds. The manual, however, is messy, confusing and poorly written (should be better).
The grip is very comfortable and it's light weight makes it easy to handle (you don't get tired). It just fit very nicely in your hand. Very good job by Nikon here..
The quality of the pictures for 2 m.pixel cameras is excellent and when printed in 4x6 and 5x7 size prints it looks like real fotos. My 8x10 are acceptable, but if you usually print this size I recommend buying a 3 or 4 mega pixel camera.
The 3xZoom is good, the macro feature fantastic (you can get REALLY close), but I have a small problem with the lcd monitor. It is very dark and does not accurately show what your picture will look like untill it has been taken (colors and light). At least the refresh rate is fast.
The auto setting produces very good results. There are 7 "program" modes which can be used, but in most of the cases "auto" get the best results. Excellent control of white balance in auto mode. It really covers all possible scenarios.
The movie mode is ok, but I dont recommend selecting a camera based on it's ability to play movies.
I simply love the 'play back' functions. You can make a still picture slide show in the build in lcd monitor, or through a supplied cable get the output on TV (pal or ntsc as you like). It is fantastic to see your pictures in 36" size .. what an impact. The TV out feature is really good and usefull.
I recommend you buy an extra battery as the lithium-ion battery supplied last about 1-2 hours of shooting depending on use.
Unfortunatly you can not use the battery charger as an AC adapter so unless you buy one at an additional expense you will be using battery when transferring files to your computer. In emergency cases a disposable lithium ion 2crv5 battery (from the supermarket) can be used.
Conclusion: the main objective we had when buying this camera was to capture pictures which looked "right" (color,light etc) and which would allow us to print in 4x6 size with occational 5x7 and 8x10 prints without it screems DIGITAL.. the camera more than satisfied our expectations.
Note: we have not used the enclosed software, but bought a compactFlash reader (to save battery) and it works wonderfully.
69 Washed out colors that NikonNet recommends only 4x6 prints
Immediately after purchase I took shots of my son's birthday party at the Rainforest Cafe which is admittedly low indoor light and on vacation in New Orleans where it was sunny and 80degrees fahrenheit with great outdoor weather. I was extremely disappointed upon return since I tried to print about 5 out of my best 128 ++ shots and was advised by both NikonNet and Ofoto that I shouldn't print higher than 4x6 (I shot these on Full and fine quality on a 128mb card)! Another reviewer complained about washed out colors. Don't commit to this until you try printing -the ultimate test - most anything looks good on your computer screen. Terribly disappointed because I now have a boatload of expensive addons to deal with.
70 nice combination
for its features, there is no better combination than the coolpix 775. have to admit that the software was buggy but i have been using a pmcia card adapter to transfer pictures between my digicam and notebook. But if you look at nikontechusa.com, they have just released the new software a few days ago. try it to see if it solves your problems. the only bad thing i don't like is its slowness in flashing but then again, i haven't really finished studying the features yet so i might be using the wrong setting
71 nice combination
for its features, there is no better combination than the coolpix 775. have to admit that the software was buggy but i have been using a pmcia card adapter to transfer pictures between my digicam and notebook. But if you look at nikontechusa.com, they have just released the new software a few days ago. try it to see if it solves your problems. the only bad thing i don't like is its slowness in flashing but then again, i haven't really finished studying the features yet so i might be using the wrong setting
72 Great Camera in good lighting.. Very poor indoors at night.
[...]
Ok, this camera is the complete package for someone just getting into digital photography IF they don't plan on using it in low light condtions.
I'm in a band and a lot of the places we play are very dark. This camera is TERRIBLE in low lighting. If you are more than 12 inches away from your subject forget about the picture turning out. I've tried all of the available settings and none of them help.
The only way I've been able to get acceptable shots was to manually set the Exposure to 2.0+ (the max setting!) This setting makes the images a little grainy.
If this camera were better in low light I would have rated it 5 stars. If low light doesn't concern you, BUY THIS CAMERA! It's SUPER light, SMALL and comes with a rechargeable battery pack! The rechargeable battery last a long time. Like I said before, I use this camera primarily at night so the flash goes off with every picture. I have a 32MB and 2-8mb Compact Flash Cards and I can fill them both (about 250 pictures!) before the battery drains..
If Nikon can make the next version of this camera better for low light situations it will be unbeatable in the Price to Performance category.
Hope this HONEST review helps.
[...]
73 Thumbs-up here
Great compact point-and-shoot camera.
- Small, compact, easy to use....it fits in our diaper bag!
- comes with Lithion battary + charger
- super easy transfering of images via a USB port.
- pre-set setting making it a breeze to get the right picture
You'll definitley need to buy a bigger memory card; 8M won't cut it if you're looking to shoot more than 15 shoots in "fine mode". That is if you're looking to print 8x10's..... Prints are sharp, crisp, clear, true in color......all around EXCELLENT photos. Not to mention the price has come down, which should make even more attractive.
74 Don't listen to the negative talking of this camera
I like this little camera. It has all the future I want, and the software installatiion is just fine. I recommend to everyone this camera in this price range.
75 Nikon Coolpix 775
I have had the camera for about 4 months and am very happy with it. The camera is small, fits in your shirt pocket. It has alot of features of much more costly cameras. I have printed pictures, and the quality is outstanding!! We just made a Christmas card using it to take our picture on timed delay, with my tripod. I would recommend it to anyone. It is a must to buy the power cord for it (not included). I bought the camera with very little knowledge of photo practices. I have been having fun just with trial and error shooting. Buy this camera online and you will save a bunch!! Rick
76 Awesome Camera!
I have never owned a digital before now. I bought my Nikon775
about a month ago. The thing I love is you can delete what you
don't like. I keep thinking all the money I spent on developing & now I can transfer them to the computer. The size is awesome. & fits into your shirt pocket for quick access. I still have alot of experiencing to do with it, which is fun. I'm sure anyone who buys this camera will enjoy it as much as I do.
77 Cool & Portable
Read several reviews, shopped online for a great price, and my first experience with a digital camera proved to be more satisfying that expected. The size and multiple functions give me ease of carrying and more features than I'll probably ever use. The cables supplied allow me to view shots on my PC or even on the family TV. No complaints at all as it is the handiest point and shoot I've owned (Sony Nuvius & Canon IXUS M1). Now I'm wondering whether I'll ever go back to my Nikkormat SLR. Looking forward to learning to use all the capacities of this little gem with photoshop manipulation and colorprinting as soon as I find the time. (N.B. Can lead to OCD!)
78 Check your computer before buying this camera!
How can a company sell a camera that they KNOW has software conflicts? As stated in other reviews, this camera does not work with Adaptec CD creator V. 4.0 and Media Player V. 7.0. Software updates may not be available until January! Two customer service agents admitted that they knew there was a problem, but the company chose not to notify the public. TELL EVERYONE... check your computer before buying this camera, or you'll be stuck like we were... with a good camera and no access to the pictures! Canon now has our business!
79 Cool Coolpix
I just got it yesterday and LOVE it. The styling, size, LCD quality...."Cheater" icons to help the beginner with settings for backlighting, portraits, landscape, lots of white, etc. and offer advance users ways to push shutter speed and focal distance so it is way more than just a point and shoot. The macro capability is awesome. The 8MB card managed to hold about 15 full sized high-res images, so the 64 ought to hold around 60, with more in the smaller sizes. Meanwhile it comes with batteries and a charger, unlike the similarly priced Canons.
My only quibble so far is the software....perhaps a demo would help explain it. It hung my laptop twice, and it will take some effort to figure out how to name and organize images, or to edit them. Nikon apparently offers a Live Interactive Manual on their site (new!) but I've been unable to open it w/o hanging my computer. Anyhow, I'll figure it out or replace the software, but the camera is an excellent buy!
80 So-so camera from Nikon.
I obviously didn't expect a camera that is a fraction of the price of the 995 to match it in quality, however I did expect better than this. The camera has positives and negatives:
Positives:
a. As with all Nikon digitals as of yet, you can't beat the macro mode.
b. The camera comes with a rechargable lithium-ion battery. However, in a pinch, you can walk into pretty much any drugstore or camera store and purchase a 2CR5 battery that will also run the camera (that's one positive this camera has over the comparable Canon).
c. Nice, small body.
Negatives:
a. Image quality isn't fantastic. I've seen other 2 megapixel digicams that blow this away, specifically the Olympus 2100 and Nikon's Coolpix 950.
b. Body is all plastic. Some see this as a positive because it decreases the weight, however I like something made of metal because its generally more sturdy and the weight doesn't really bother me.
c. The LCD screen is fairly small.
d. To attach the accessory lenses, you have to use a very chintzy, goofy looking adapter (the UR-E3). It wraps around the whole camera.
e. Only comes with an 8mb card (comes on Nikon...8mb isn't enough for anyone).
f. I have yet to see a Nikon come with a *good* software package, and this camera is no exception. In terms of the software you get with digital cameras, the stuff Olympus and Canon bundle with their cameras blows away the stuff Nikon includes.
It's decent, but for the money you could probably do much better. If the size of the camera isn't important, there are other 2mp cameras in the same price range that are a little bigger but much better.
81 Easy to use
This my first digital camera, and I found this one very easy to use. I have not had any problems with the camera. I have read many complaints about color from this model, but to my surprise, indoors or outdoors, it has been excellent. I take close up pictures of military models that I build and they have turned out excellent.
I did not install all of the software bundle only the nikon software. I have my own viewers and editors, and I hate demos and uninstalling them or the pop up banners.
All and all I am very pleased and would purchase again if I had to do it over again.
82 Worst Digital Camera I have ever used
I purchased this camera with great expectations. I have used other Nikon models with very good success. This camera gave very washed out pictures and skin tones when used indoors. The flash is not what it should be. The skin tones looked green, almost dead. I did like the nikon4 software program because it allowed a person to save pictures to a file, renamed the pictures to what ever the user wanted and evens allows the pictures, as a group, to be saved as a given size. This was nice because it made renaming and saving photos a snap because they were saved as a batch. I returned the camera and purchased a Canon Power shot S110 Elph. The difference is striking. For around the same money, I think the Canon wins easily. Vivid colors and a GREAT flash that leaves colors vivid and true.
83 Nikon 775 Coolpix for technophobes
I'm your average intelligent person but I am terrified of anything to do with loading and poking around computers, I've worked in high tech for over 12 years but whenever my computer hiccups I pick up the phone and call helpdesk. So I was amazed that I figured out how to load the software on both my office Win2K and home Win98 computers with minor issues - one being I couldn't figure out how to eject the hardware device before unplugging the USB and my camera. Love the ease of the controls, great pictures, lots of options, Flash is not great but gosh these are little cameras ergo... One disappointment however, is the editing software - it (is bad) - cumulus schmumulus - hello Nikon - are you absolutely NUTS? I want to use this camera not get into a lifelong relationship with Cumulus or go to school to have to figure out how to catalog this stuff. Canon is creaming you on their packaged in the box software including elemental photoshop! I got free ofoto software and it is fine for starters but now I have to go buy photoshop or something equivalent at an arm and a leg. Ditto what a previous reviewer said - Shame on NIkon! I still love my little camera though. Within 24 hours of getting it (again - I'm a technophobe) my hubby and my 2 year old are up on my desktop as my wallpaper (thanks to Ofoto!)
84 Only Half Way There
Like another reviewer I read at this site,I find that the Coolpix 775 is incompatable with EasyCD Creator 4.x and therefore I can't upload from the camera. Tech support had no estimate on availability of fix. I am able to upload through my PSC-950 printer. I found the colors to be washed out compared to the SONY DSC-P50. The features are nicer, the size better, the self closing lens cover a plus, the menu easy to manuever. However, while I find the camera user friendly, with the poor quality of color and the lack of a fix for their USB driver, I plan to return it to the store (which has a 30 day return policy).
85 "One Touch Upload"?
Although I'm quite pleased with the Coolpix 775 itself, I am at least that displeased with the software and Technical support that came with it. That's why I gave it 2 stars. The box says "One touch upload" all over it. Apparently, that's only if you're not running Windows.
I can't load the software because it's incompatible with 1.) Windows Media Player 7, 2.) Easy CD Creator 4.x and 3.) the driver for my CDRW... I have all of them. I spent at least 45 minutes last night waiting for tech. support, then they walked me through the installation of the software, got a fatal error message again and told me to download the ASPI32 fix from Adaptec.com, then call back. Got there only to find a disclaimer saying don't download if running WMP 7 or Easy CDC 4.x, I'm running both. When I called back this am tech support told me to "sit tight" and keep checking the websight for a fix. When I asked for a supervisor she came on with attitude, and said the same thing. Then I told her that I bought the camers in Florida and wanted to return it, she said Nikon doesn't take returns. I had always trusted Nikon as a company to produce and stand behind their top quality products, apparently they have adopted a new set of business practices and ethics. Are they hiring customer service people from WI Electric?
The box says "shoot, send, share & save". So far I can only shoot. It says Nikon even includes; a battery, charger, software and an 8mb flash card so you can use it "right away". Nikon's technical support team has no idea when the fix will become available. The way I see it is I spent over (dollar amount)(after tax and an extra card and case) and am only able to shoot, until who knows when. I am surprised and disappointed that they didn't just offer to ship me a card reader to use until the software fix is available. Had they, this review would have had a completely different tone.
86 Slide photo's
The Nikon 775 is my first use of a digital camera after using a Canon EOS for many years. I am very impressed with the photo's which printed very well on a low cost epson 600. I found the macro feature very good for converting my old slides to digital (used backlite slide viewer and tripod- no problem). I have a Intel PII 400 using WinMe and found no problems using the Nikon supplied software, using PSP Ver 7.02 for editing. The only feature I miss is not having manual focus, suggest that anyone doing macro get a camera with manual focus to be sure, to be sure.
87 Disappointing photo quality
After much research we decided to buy this camera this weekend. It was easy to use, had a nice size and fit our budget. However, we took photos of a family event over the weekend, and comparing those photos with some photos from a friend's Canon Elph S-110, we noticed significant picture quality differences. Our photos from our family event (which was indoors) looked grainy and overly "noisy." Lots of added pixels, banding, etc. The indoor shots from the Canon were clearer, and more solid. Also, the Canon had a much brighter flash which captured more detail. The Nikon, even on the indoor party setting, was not nearly as sharp. I was surprised and disapointed at these results. The Canon flesh tones seemed to run more yellow, the Nikon flesh tones seemed to run more true; but I can balance that all out in Photoshop. The Nikon banding and extra noise, though, really affected picture quality for us. Also, the movie mode in the Canon includes sound, whereas the Coolpix does not. In the end, after 1 day of use we exchanged the Coolpix for an Elph S-110, and have been extremely happy.
88 Fun, Fast and easy
This has got to be the best, fun camera I have owned. I have used 35 mm camera's and Digital camera's for years not as a professional but for the joy of taking pictures. This little camera is easy to use, lite, and takes very good pictures. If you don't know anything about camera's, it doesn't matter, this little camera is simple to use. I read about nikon's software problems with computers, didn't waste my time with it, I purchased a flashcard reader and glad I did, this has got to be the best way to transfer pictures to your computer. Don't waste your time with serial or USB. Two things I would recomend extra battery and flash card, because you'll be taking so many pictures you won't want to stop.
89 Nikon Coolpix 775 - Software Issues are Huge
Nice little camera with lots of features. But don't let that fool you.
There's a huge range of current computers with which the camera is essentially incompatable - my 1-year-old Dell Dimension, a widely distributed name-brand model - is an example. And the incompatibility in some cases is complete - no downloads are available to fix.
We'd expect better of Nikon's software team. And as the issue is widespread, Nikon's customer service team has let the consumer down as well, by failing to identify the potential issues on the box.
.... My advice if you buy this - spend the extra to buy from a name outlet (about $75-$100 more), make sure you understand their return policy, and test the full range of functionality as soon as you get home.
90 the canon one is probably better
I own the 775 and i have also used olympus 340L and D-450Zoom extensively for work. I also have used the canon elph? (not sure which model but it has 2.1 megapixels and it is smaller than the nikon).
In my humble opinion:
1. olympus cameras have better picture quality, my nikon tends to blur a lot because it is so light and hard to hold steady
2. the canon can record sound on their short movies, as well as take continuous pics using FLASH, while the nikon forces you to disable flash if you want to take continuous pics. The canon seems to have a better lcd screen, the nikon's screen "blinks" when you move it...
Overall, i think the canon model is better even though it is a little more expensive than the nikon... Keep in mind that the canon is made of metal and it is a lot heavier, though smaller.
91 First Digital Camera and No Fuss With a Mac
After much research, I decided to get the Nikon 775 camera. So far, this little camera is impressive; I've owned an optical Nikon camera and have had much respect for that brand. It is very easy to use. One comment: It's important that you get an extra Compact Flash card and a case.
As for transferring the pictures to the computer, I had no difficulty with that. I use a Mac with System 10.1. I unplugged my printer (get a hub for the extra USB port!)and plugged in the camera. The photo capture program recognized my camera and I was able to get the images from the camera. If you're getting into digital imaging (video and still cameras), a Mac is highly recommended. I have not yet used the Nikon software; at this point, the Mac program was good enough.
If you are willing to spend a bit of money on a digital camera, I recommend this model. It's a good value.
92 good camera
I bought this camera about two months ago after many weeks of research. I am overall satisfied. The only complaint I have is that the zoom is not that great. It is so small its about the size of the palm of your hand. You can take a picture in pitch black and it comes out clear as day. It is very fast and simple to transfer pics onto you computer. I would highly recomend this camera if you are not looking for alot of zoom. If I can give one peice of advice DO NOT BUY A SONY!!! Go with Nikon or Cannon.
93 The great camera and easy to use
It is easy to be programed, and photo-transfer is quick too, one picture per second, not like someone's complaint in software conflict. 8M flash card saves 15 photos with normal full size (1600*1200 pixals). After charging battery two hours, you can shot right away. The technical support guys in Nikon are knowledgeable and work efficiently. Also, the price for brand new (one year warrant, not refurbished) is reasonable (...).
94 nice and small
I just got this camera, haven't used it much yet, but it seems very nice so far. Solid construction, small yet sturdy. It's a good camera for a great price.
95 HP 618xi vs. Toshiba PDR-M4 vs. Polaroid 2300Z vs. Nikon
HP, Toshiba, Nikon(I own now), Polaroid (no longer have)
I have taken same pictures with all four cameras and compared.
There so many things I want to talk about these digital cameras but since I dont' have all day I'll mention things that I liked or hated the most.
First of all all these cameras listed have all nice picture qualities. I used auto mode on all four and they all had shown slight different contrast and color balance. They were all unique to one another but not bad at all. I can tell all the digital camera shoppers out there "digital cameras in general nowadays shares similar technologies and they are all not bad at all taking photos" Probably you should look for the one that looks the best on you or what kind of special features they have.
Yes I also looked at all the CNET reviews and for the average users would not be able to tell much a difference. ... I am not saying CNET is not a reliable source. However, I just CANNOT believe all of their reviews. Most of times I prefer customer's review sometimes.
My review might contradict a lot of CNET reviews.
First Digital camera I bought was Toshiba PDR-M4 came with all I need(adapter and rechargable Lithium Ion battery is big plus) and the best LCD I've ever seen. love their multi shot mode. Fastest reaction camera among these four. it's fun, easy to use, and it works!! no optical zoom would be the weakest point.
Nikon Coolpix 775 is very small yet feature packed camera. It even has movie mode(no sound). Picture quality is also very nice. Definitly should buy their original case(silver color). it runs only $...(retail) and it fits perfect. Very easy to change mode since there is a dial does it all. Only complain I have is it makes clicking noise when you move the camera. It constantly adjusting and focusing. kinda slow reaction. Ok LCD display.
HP 618ix is traditional typical Pentax looking camera. It dosn't have much features but takes excellent pictures. It's got Pentax lense and it's a good thing. once again slow reaction but very solid camera. can record voice on the photo you take. I ended up buying a Rayovac 1hr charger and extra battery pack. It doesn't last long as I wanted them to but good enough.(1 hr means really 1 hr). very nice grip when taking pictures. Looks like LCD on HP and Nikon are the similar type but worse than Nikon. zooming in when reviwing picture makes picture blur and hard to see. Another thing I din't like was there is playback mode and file management mode where you have to be in file manage mode to erase pictures you took not in play back mode. kinda annoying.
Polaroid Photomax2300Z is a vanilla 2.3x optical zoom camera. Nothing special about it almost boring but it works. It is too big compare to other three. it's got rubber covers on the usb connector side and feels very cheap. Cannot have one finger operation on the dial and feels cheap again. Still take good photos just couldn't measure up against other cameras out there.
These are the things you should look for on digital cameras nowadays considering they all pretty much take good photos.
1. price range(budget it first)
2. reaction time between shot to shot
3. special features
4. contants(rechargably battery and adapter)
4. look and the built quality
96 Ignore the nay-sayers, this is an EXCELLENT camera!
Ignore the nay-sayers, this is an EXCELLENT camera! This is my first digital camera, but I tend to be a very picky gadget freak and not easily impressed. From the first experience of opening the box, to barely reading the manual (not needed) to taking pictures and uploading them, this camera is great.
I know people complain about compatibility issues with the USB upload and EZ CD Creator. Maybe so, but this is actually a big bug in EZ CD Creator and not really Nikon's fault. In any case, avoid this entire issue and spend $... on a card reader. I don't even bother with plugging in/out the camera, itself. I just use a reader. It's the best way to go. Once this is done, you have a GREAT little camera that takes spot-on great pictures, good lense, the right features for good picture-taking without the typical gimics. For instance, there is a "standard" program-modes dial, just like on an SLR, for various situations. This is just what you want for such a small and lightweight snapshot camera. The camera is very light, very small, fits well in one's hand and feels like quality.
As I say, buy a card reader and an extra 64MB or 128MB card and you're set. It's a super piece. I highly recommend it.
97 Convenient, good price though some image quality issues
The Coolpix 775 is my first digital camera buy. I finally found a camera with all the features (recharger included, >2 megapixels, smaller size, compact flash). After using it for a week, I was very pleased with it. The size makes it very convenient to carry around. It is very easy to use. The one-touch upload is a neat feature. Pictures on first impression are quite good.
However, as I play with the photos that it takes a little more, I do notice some image quality issues that I didn't notice originally. First, many pictures have a slightly greenish hue to them (more common in lower light situations), though this is not really a big problem. I find that using an editing software and backing off on the green slightly corrects the colors. The other image quality issue that I note is a little more bothersome. On close inspection of the images, many areas have slight "noise" in them consisting of reddish and greenish bands and spots. When zoomed out, they blend fine without any noticeable color problems. However, if you increase the color saturation in image editing software, they become very obvious. I found this to be a problem when getting prints made at Kits camera as the digital media photo printer that they use automatically increases saturation on the images before printing, which causes noticeable red and green artifacts/noise in the pictures.
Despite the image quality issues above, the price/size/convenience can't be beat.
98 USB Win98 Drivers are available
I bought this camera despite all the posts regarding compatibility issues with Win98 and Adaptec EZ CD Creator.
I have both. Now, i didn't install NikonView because I have tons of good paint programs.
So when I plugged the camera into the USB port and turned it on, the computer detected it and asked for drivers. I got usb drivers from Nikon's technical support via email. Now when I plugin my camera, I see it as a removable drive on my computer and can move my pictures around freely. FYI, Win2K and WinME detected the camera automatically and didn't need any drivers.
As for the camera itself, I love it.
The rechargeable batteries are great, the pictures look great and it's easy to take with you because of it's small size.
I went out of my price range because this was the first camera that had Everything I wanted. Anything cheaper had something lacking.
99 Great Camera for the Novice
I have used this camera for 3 weeks and it is excellent. Simple to use, good features for basic photography, excellent picture quality. I would recommend this camera to anyone who is interested in getting started in digital photography.
The one drawback is the software which accompanies the camera...the Nikon View 4 software is fine...it works well for me even with the Adaptec CD burner - but the bundled Cumulus software is a disaster. First, it crashed my system any time I tried to download images from the camera, and second, it's a demo version, so after a set number of downloads it forces you to upgrade. Load only the Nikonview 4.1 software. Shame on Nikon for bundling this garbage.
Bottom line - great camera, easy to use, great images. Skip the Cumulus software.
100 I cannot say enough good things!
This is the best digital camera I have ever used!
Picture quality: even in the lowest setting, these pictures are sharp and crisp.
Battery life: almost 80 pictures, all with flash, all with the screen on, and reviewed and deleted a few using the screen. Transferred them all to the computer, and the battery isn't even low. My old Kodak would have used 50 batteries under the same circumstances.
Features: For the price, in my opinion, this is the best value - feature for feature - of any digital camera available today.
Software: Nikon's transfer software is really easy to use. I was expecting it to be a little more difficult, but its quite easy. (I use Windows 2000-SP2). And transfer is fast and error-free.
I wouldn't hesitate to buy this camera again, and I would seriously look at Nikon for their other cameras also. The digital quality I see here is the same attention to deatil I have come to expect from Nikon's SLR/35mm cameras.
Buy it, and buy it now!
