TrustedReviews Reviews Nikon CoolPix 8800

[Suhit Gupta]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.trustedreviews.com/article.aspx?art=2439' target='_blank'>http://www.trustedreviews.com/article.aspx?art=2439</a><br /><br /></div><i>"This is a camera I’ve been waiting to get my hands on for quite a while. Announced over a year ago, it’s still the Big Daddy of the Nikon CoolPix range. When I say big, what I actually mean is enormous. Nearly 15cm from front to back when powered up and weighing in at 680g including the battery, the 8800 is one seriously massive camera. It must be with a sense of humour that Nikon’s corporate website lists it under ‘Digital Compact Cameras’. To be fair, it also comes under the heading of ‘Hobbyist &amp; Enthusiast’, and that at least is right on the money. The CoolPix 8800 may be nearly the size of an SLR, but it has the specification to match. As well as a big 2/3in 8 megapixel sensor it features a massive 10x optical zoom Nikkor ED lens, equivalent to 35-350mm on a film camera."</i><br /><br /><img src="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/images/2439-angle.jpg" /><br /><br />Honestly, I think this is the biggest single-body (point-and-shoot) camera I have ever seen. I can understand that it comes loaded with a lot of the same features as a D-SLR but still, I don't know whether this size and weight is worth it considering I don't have the flexibility on the lens. The review does conclude that with its big sensor and superb Nikkor ED lens its image quality is among the best available, while the exceptionally versatile exposure and AF systems provide plenty of creative controls and ensure accurate results under a wide range of circumstances. Has anyone ventured to buy it yet?

[mcsouth]

I never quite understood the appeal of this style of camera. Sony was the first out with a unit like this that I noticed, and I wondered then who would buy such a big "hobbyist" camera - I'm still wondering......

For me, I would buy a camera for two distinctly different reasons. Years ago in my youth, I owned a Nikon FE plus multiple lens, and would often spend a weekend out just looking for photo opportunities, challenging myself to learn new things. If I was still doing that today, I would be looking at a D-SLR, in order to have the option of changing out lens. Obviously, there could be an increase in weight if carrying several lens plus camera and flash, battery packs, etc, but I would prefer the flexibility that that system would offer.

On the other end of the spectrum is the person that I've become, a dad with wife and three kids. Today, I want a small, pocketable camera that I can easily carry in a pocket, and whip out for capturing family memories. It needs to be small enough that it almost disappears in my pocket, but still offer some degree of manual functions and control. As a result, my current camera is a Canon SD400.

I can appreciate what these "prosumer" cameras are capable of, but I just can't see myself ever buying one.....

[Jason Dunn]

I can appreciate what these "prosumer" cameras are capable of, but I just can't see myself ever buying one.....

I'm in the same boat. I find myself wanting something BIG and something LITTLE with almost all my technology. I have a 17" laptop and a 10.6" screen laptop. I have a DSLR and a tiny Casio S500 camera. Works for me! :-D