Review on Nikon Coolpix 990 Digital Optical by Patrick Cooney

I started looking into digital cameras almost a year ago because I decided a while ago that I wanted a digital camera. As a hobby photographer, I was looking for something reliable that would allow me to take great photos. There have been numerous websites with opinions on which camera to buy; I even ran a few "compatibility tests" and most of the results called the Nikon Coolpix 990 my top choice. After asking others for their opinions, I received extremely positive feedback on this camera. There were a few people who thought the Coolpix 990 was too expensive and cluttered, and I considered getting other less expensive cameras (like Fuji and Kodak), but my penchant for quality products eventually won out. I bought the 990 here at Revain and it arrived in a few days (thanks for the quick service Revain!). However, there were several concerns. Several people said that such a high quality camera is not necessary that a cheaper camera will do the job. I originally intended to only use this camera for posting photos on websites, but then I realized that if I could spend a few hundred dollars on a big toy I could do anything with it (namely 8x10 prints) . I've just returned from a short break in London, England and I can now attest to the superiority of the 990¡¦. I took this camera everywhere and soon I ditched my camera bag and hung it around my neck for easy access. Tube, Parliament, Tower Bridge, Pubs, Restaurants, Streets, Shopping Malls. I visited many places and took some photos along the way. Before this trip I really only used this camera for a few photos in my city, but now that I took it on vacation I have a clearer perception. This camera is phenomenal and while I can't get into technical terms I can sum up the ease with which I took photos, the amazing quality of the prints and the sheer professionalism. Some highlights: * The LCD is a good size and clear, although I'd stock up on NiHM batteries. I played around with the menu settings for a few minutes and the batteries were completely dead. When I drive, I turn off the screen to save battery power*. The pivoting lens is convenient and offers great versatility. Some people find this odd, but I thought it was a nice touch.* 16MB memory card included. However, instead of buying more cards, I bought an IOMEGA Pocketzip (formerly a Clik! Drive) to put my photos on while driving. Highly recommended treatment!* Slight red-eye effect when using the flash, but I skipped it entirely as I prefer the soft effect of non-flash photos. In conclusion, I would like to say that I am very satisfied with this wonderful camera. Now I take it everywhere and can't imagine being as happy with anything else (until the next model comes out, of course). Although expensive, it's worth every penny. The photos are amazing, lots of settings for you to adjust to your needs and the comfort is priceless!