CoolPix 950 (help)

Rick · 05-13-2001, 10:38 AM

I can pick up a Coolpix 950 for a nice price.
I want to no what you think of this camera.
Will it take nice macro pictures.

Rick

------------------
http://members.home.net/rickf515/marine.html

npaden · 05-13-2001, 01:44 PM

One of the best macro lenses on the market IMO.
Here a a few examples: (Most are from around 2 to 3" away, it will do as close as 1", but hard to light an object properly for a 1" shot ime)

Here are a couple links to some larger pics: http://padens.homestead.com/files/queenconch.jpg
It takes good far off pics too: http://padens.homestead.com/files/tuscon_open_2000.jpg
FWIW, Nathan

------------------
Always get a 2nd opinion. (and a 3rd, 4th, etc...)
Check out my Homepage

tubs · 05-13-2001, 03:19 PM

All the shots on my webpage are taken with the 950. Check for yourself on the site in my signature below. It has awesome macro capabilities not to mention an overall great camera itself.

------------------
John Susbilla
Visit my "Flashy" new site: John's Reef Flat
Alternate site Here
tubs@firstworld.net

kholladay · 05-13-2001, 09:36 PM

Tubs, that picture alone was enough to make me order a CoolPix 995. Stupid thing is on backorder from the distributor until June 4th!!!

------------------
Kyle Holladay
My Fish Site

ATLANTIS · 05-14-2001, 08:01 AM

Don't forget to look into the tiffen close up lenses

coolpix990 w/tiffen + 10 & + 7

------------------
Brian
Atlantis Aquatics
Tank Aquacultured Corals
http://atlantisaquatic.com

[This message has been edited by ATLANTIS (edited 05-14-2001).]

Rin · 05-14-2001, 10:10 AM

All of the shots on my web site were taken with a 990. I like everything about mine except for 2 things:

1) There is no way to totally get rid of red-eye without touching up or using an external flash.

2) The thing chews up battery life like a nurse shark chewing up a frozen squid. Make sure you order the Kodak 1600 mAH rechargeable NiMH batteries, when you get it. Alkaline batteries won't last more than 20 minutes when you're trying to get macro shots. Energizer's 1200 mAH batteries don't last more than 10 min. The Kodak battery will last about an hour.

Otherwise, It's a beautiful camera.

------------------
-Todd
'There're only 3 types of people in the world: Those who can count and those who can't'

tubs · 05-14-2001, 10:54 AM

Rin,

Agree with the red eye because the flash is so close to the lens. However, the battery issue is common for all digital cameras. IMO it is a must to order NIMH batteries (several sets) with a quick recharger for any digicam. Go to www.thomasdistributing.com or www.ckcpower.com to order from there. One of those two has a package for both NIMH and quick recharger. It is also very convenient to have a flash card reader most especially if you're getting the 950 as it does not have a USB interface but rather a slow serial interface.

------------------
John Susbilla
Visit my "Flashy" new site: John's Reef Flat
Alternate site Here
tubs@firstworld.net

Brian Foley · 05-14-2001, 11:04 AM

Todd,

Those are two of the main reasons why I got a Canon G1 instead of the 990. They are apparently addressed in the upcoming 995, which is scheduled to be released in about mid-June. I love my G1, but I envy the macro capabilities of the Nikon 9xx series.

Incidentally, John, my G1 uses a rechargeable battery made for camcorders, and it lasts a LONG time. I always use my LCD, and I can take dozens of pictures on a single charge. The 995's battery is supposed to be similar.

[This message has been edited by Brian Foley (edited 05-14-2001).]

ravenmore · 05-14-2001, 12:58 PM

Hopefully since this deals with reef photography it won't be moved off to general. [img]/ubb/smile.gif[/img]

Nikon 950 is a good camera - not as sharp as a 990 though because of the # of pixels.

Canon G1 is an awesome little camera - probably the best consumer grade digital camera out right now. As mentioned above, it can't focus as close.

Absolutely the best bang for the buck is the Olympus 3000. It compares very, very well with the 990 and G1, but for several hundred dollars less. This was actually the camera I was going to get before I found a refurbed toshiba pdr-m4 for under $300. Couldn't pass that deal up. (great camera, but no zoom. Good macro -see pics on my website. I think you can still find m4's for this price on ebay).

------------------
I didn't do it. Nobody saw me do it. You can't prove anything.

Website

Rick · 05-14-2001, 05:04 PM

Thanks to everyone one for the help! Great pictures!!
I am trying to find Tiffen lens!
Thanks,
Rick

------------------
http://members.home.net/rickf515/marine.html

ravenmore · 05-14-2001, 07:12 PM

what da heck - since we're sharing pics..... [img]/ubb/smile.gif[/img]

this is from the pdr-m4 I mentioned.
------------------
I didn't do it. Nobody saw me do it. You can't prove anything.

Website

[This message has been edited by ravenmore (edited 05-14-2001).]

piege · 05-15-2001, 05:35 AM

Just wondering what this good price is you can get it for. Might be best for you to compare it to other cameras that can be had for just a bit more if not the same price as the 950. Especially since you are going to want to buy rechargeable batteries, and then on top of that to get really good macros you need to invest in special lenses. For what you end up paying you might have been able to get a better cam and needed less stuff.

As I am sure is well known by now by how many times I post my url in all these which cam posts, I am partial to my sony f505v. http://www.angelfire.com/ct2/peege/macro/ All pics taken right out of the box. No add on anything. Even comes with rechargeable battery. I printed out a price off the net and brought it to sears...they matched it for $700. Takes awesome macros and regular everyday shots.

I have a ton of pics if anyone wants to see more. The ones in that url were just thrown in for people to see some pics the cam takes.

HTH,
JP

------------------
http://fyrman.homestead.com/welcome.html

Rick · 05-15-2001, 05:44 PM

Thanks to Jim Hobbs he has found the the lowes prices on the net. I am going to buy the Nikon CoolPix 995.
If you would like to see the prices here is the link. http://www.reefcentral.com/vbulletin...threadid=23070

I think this camera will take some awesome coral shots.
Thanks to every one for all the awesome pictures and help!
Rick

------------------
http://members.home.net/rickf515/marine.html

Brian Foley · 05-15-2001, 09:20 PM

Rick,

What is the "nice price" you found for the 950? FYI, you can pick up a reconditioned 950 from Nikon for $449, or a reconditioned 990 for $649 ( http://www.thenikonmall.com/cgi-bin/...E=coolgear.htm ).

---

Mike,

I doubt that many people have bought an Olympus 3000 for several hundred dollars less than I paid for my G1: $639.96
including shipping.

I love that picture of your hammer coral, incidentally. That was one of my favorites from the reefs.org photo contest.

ravenmore · 05-15-2001, 09:48 PM

Brian - $639 is a great price for the G1. [img]/ubb/smile.gif[/img] Sounds like they've dropped a bit. The Olympus 3000 is selling for as low as $449 on cnet - although you don't always want to buy from the dealer with the lowest price.

Thanks for the compliment on the pic, btw. [img]/ubb/wink.gif[/img]

------------------
I didn't do it. Nobody saw me do it. You can't prove anything.

Website

[This message has been edited by ravenmore (edited 05-15-2001).]

WowAFish · 05-15-2001, 10:35 PM

If anyone is looking for the Tiffen close up lens, I looked around the web and found the + 7 + 10 set at http://www.photofilter.net/shopsite_sc/store/html/
It came to $51.33 with the step up rings. Since it's over $50, shipping was free.

MtnDewMan · 05-16-2001, 12:18 AM

I just ordered a Nikon Coolpix 950 for $499 and it is in stock, unlike the link in the other thread.
http://www.ritzcamera.com/cgi-bin/nc ommerce3/ProductDisplay?prrfnbr=30381&prmenbr=153&STORENAME PASS=ritzcamera&vcgrfnbr=&cgrfnbr=&cgmenbr=

[This message has been edited by MtnDewMan (edited 05-16-2001).]

05-13-2001, 10:38 AM	#1
Rick Citizen Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Alexandria,IN USA Posts: 119	CoolPix 950 (help) I can pick up a Coolpix 950 for a nice price. I want to no what you think of this camera. Will it take nice macro pictures. Rick ------------------ http://members.home.net/rickf515/marine.html

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05-13-2001, 01:44 PM	#2
npaden Citizen Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Lubbock, Texas Posts: 198	One of the best macro lenses on the market IMO. Here a a few examples: (Most are from around 2 to 3" away, it will do as close as 1", but hard to light an object properly for a 1" shot ime) Here are a couple links to some larger pics: http://padens.homestead.com/files/queenconch.jpg It takes good far off pics too: http://padens.homestead.com/files/tuscon_open_2000.jpg FWIW, Nathan ------------------ Always get a 2nd opinion. (and a 3rd, 4th, etc...) Check out my Homepage

05-13-2001, 03:19 PM	#3
tubs Council Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Milpitas CA USA Posts: 315	All the shots on my webpage are taken with the 950. Check for yourself on the site in my signature below. It has awesome macro capabilities not to mention an overall great camera itself. ------------------ John Susbilla Visit my "Flashy" new site: John's Reef Flat Alternate site Here tubs@firstworld.net

05-13-2001, 09:36 PM	#4
kholladay Tenant Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Ventura, CA Posts: 83	Tubs, that picture alone was enough to make me order a CoolPix 995. Stupid thing is on backorder from the distributor until June 4th!!! ------------------ Kyle Holladay My Fish Site

05-14-2001, 08:01 AM	#5
ATLANTIS Council Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Dunellen, NJ, USA Posts: 276	Don't forget to look into the tiffen close up lenses coolpix990 w/tiffen + 10 & + 7 ------------------ Brian Atlantis Aquatics Tank Aquacultured Corals http://atlantisaquatic.com [This message has been edited by ATLANTIS (edited 05-14-2001).]

05-14-2001, 10:10 AM	#6
Rin Mayor Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Leesburg, GA Posts: 774	All of the shots on my web site were taken with a 990. I like everything about mine except for 2 things: 1) There is no way to totally get rid of red-eye without touching up or using an external flash. 2) The thing chews up battery life like a nurse shark chewing up a frozen squid. Make sure you order the Kodak 1600 mAH rechargeable NiMH batteries, when you get it. Alkaline batteries won't last more than 20 minutes when you're trying to get macro shots. Energizer's 1200 mAH batteries don't last more than 10 min. The Kodak battery will last about an hour. Otherwise, It's a beautiful camera. ------------------ -Todd 'There're only 3 types of people in the world: Those who can count and those who can't'

05-14-2001, 10:54 AM	#7
tubs Council Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Milpitas CA USA Posts: 315	Rin, Agree with the red eye because the flash is so close to the lens. However, the battery issue is common for all digital cameras. IMO it is a must to order NIMH batteries (several sets) with a quick recharger for any digicam. Go to www.thomasdistributing.com or www.ckcpower.com to order from there. One of those two has a package for both NIMH and quick recharger. It is also very convenient to have a flash card reader most especially if you're getting the 950 as it does not have a USB interface but rather a slow serial interface. ------------------ John Susbilla Visit my "Flashy" new site: John's Reef Flat Alternate site Here tubs@firstworld.net

05-14-2001, 11:04 AM	#8
Brian Foley Just Moved In Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Colorado Springs, CO Posts: 8	Todd, Those are two of the main reasons why I got a Canon G1 instead of the 990. They are apparently addressed in the upcoming 995, which is scheduled to be released in about mid-June. I love my G1, but I envy the macro capabilities of the Nikon 9xx series. Incidentally, John, my G1 uses a rechargeable battery made for camcorders, and it lasts a LONG time. I always use my LCD, and I can take dozens of pictures on a single charge. The 995's battery is supposed to be similar. [This message has been edited by Brian Foley (edited 05-14-2001).]

05-14-2001, 12:58 PM	#9
ravenmore Mayor Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: dallas, tx, USA Posts: 896	Hopefully since this deals with reef photography it won't be moved off to general. [img]/ubb/smile.gif[/img] Nikon 950 is a good camera - not as sharp as a 990 though because of the # of pixels. Canon G1 is an awesome little camera - probably the best consumer grade digital camera out right now. As mentioned above, it can't focus as close. Absolutely the best bang for the buck is the Olympus 3000. It compares very, very well with the 990 and G1, but for several hundred dollars less. This was actually the camera I was going to get before I found a refurbed toshiba pdr-m4 for under $300. Couldn't pass that deal up. (great camera, but no zoom. Good macro -see pics on my website. I think you can still find m4's for this price on ebay). ------------------ I didn't do it. Nobody saw me do it. You can't prove anything. Website

05-14-2001, 05:04 PM	#10
Rick Citizen Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Alexandria,IN USA Posts: 119	Thanks to everyone one for the help! Great pictures!! I am trying to find Tiffen lens! Thanks, Rick ------------------ http://members.home.net/rickf515/marine.html

05-14-2001, 07:12 PM	#11
ravenmore Mayor Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: dallas, tx, USA Posts: 896	what da heck - since we're sharing pics..... [img]/ubb/smile.gif[/img] this is from the pdr-m4 I mentioned. ------------------ I didn't do it. Nobody saw me do it. You can't prove anything. Website [This message has been edited by ravenmore (edited 05-14-2001).]

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)

05-15-2001, 05:35 AM	#12
piege Citizen Join Date: Aug 2000 Posts: 157	Just wondering what this good price is you can get it for. Might be best for you to compare it to other cameras that can be had for just a bit more if not the same price as the 950. Especially since you are going to want to buy rechargeable batteries, and then on top of that to get really good macros you need to invest in special lenses. For what you end up paying you might have been able to get a better cam and needed less stuff. As I am sure is well known by now by how many times I post my url in all these which cam posts, I am partial to my sony f505v. http://www.angelfire.com/ct2/peege/macro/ All pics taken right out of the box. No add on anything. Even comes with rechargeable battery. I printed out a price off the net and brought it to sears...they matched it for $700. Takes awesome macros and regular everyday shots. I have a ton of pics if anyone wants to see more. The ones in that url were just thrown in for people to see some pics the cam takes. HTH, JP ------------------ http://fyrman.homestead.com/welcome.html

05-15-2001, 05:44 PM	#13
Rick Citizen Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Alexandria,IN USA Posts: 119	Thanks to Jim Hobbs he has found the the lowes prices on the net. I am going to buy the Nikon CoolPix 995. If you would like to see the prices here is the link. http://www.reefcentral.com/vbulletin...threadid=23070 I think this camera will take some awesome coral shots. Thanks to every one for all the awesome pictures and help! Rick ------------------ http://members.home.net/rickf515/marine.html

05-15-2001, 09:20 PM	#14
Brian Foley Just Moved In Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Colorado Springs, CO Posts: 8	Rick, What is the "nice price" you found for the 950? FYI, you can pick up a reconditioned 950 from Nikon for $449, or a reconditioned 990 for $649 ( http://www.thenikonmall.com/cgi-bin/...E=coolgear.htm ). --- Mike, I doubt that many people have bought an Olympus 3000 for several hundred dollars less than I paid for my G1: $639.96 including shipping. I love that picture of your hammer coral, incidentally. That was one of my favorites from the reefs.org photo contest.

05-15-2001, 09:48 PM	#15
ravenmore Mayor Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: dallas, tx, USA Posts: 896	Brian - $639 is a great price for the G1. [img]/ubb/smile.gif[/img] Sounds like they've dropped a bit. The Olympus 3000 is selling for as low as $449 on cnet - although you don't always want to buy from the dealer with the lowest price. Thanks for the compliment on the pic, btw. [img]/ubb/wink.gif[/img] ------------------ I didn't do it. Nobody saw me do it. You can't prove anything. Website [This message has been edited by ravenmore (edited 05-15-2001).]

05-15-2001, 10:35 PM	#16
WowAFish Just Moved In Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Canyon Country, CA Posts: 39	If anyone is looking for the Tiffen close up lens, I looked around the web and found the + 7 + 10 set at http://www.photofilter.net/shopsite_sc/store/html/ It came to $51.33 with the step up rings. Since it's over $50, shipping was free.

05-16-2001, 12:18 AM	#17
MtnDewMan Mayor Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Mukilteo, WA Posts: 748	I just ordered a Nikon Coolpix 950 for $499 and it is in stock, unlike the link in the other thread. http://www.ritzcamera.com/cgi-bin/nc ommerce3/ProductDisplay?prrfnbr=30381&prmenbr=153&STORENAME PASS=ritzcamera&vcgrfnbr=&cgrfnbr=&cgmenbr= [This message has been edited by MtnDewMan (edited 05-16-2001).]