Nikon Coolpix 775 R.I.P.

[hytek9]

Well,

I went to COSI today in Columbus to see the Star Wars exhibit, and halfway through the day my Nikon Coolpix 775 digital would not "turn on" like normal. After initial inspection I noticed that the rear screen read "System Error"

I googled it, and it appears it has a "jammed" lens or has been exposed to water. I have owned this camera for over 5 years, and I would expect it to be dead now being that old

I have never really been into photography, so that's why this little 2.0MP camera has been okay over the last few years. I mainly use it for Ebay auctions, quick pics of customer's fried/dead computer components, and rarley even use for family and event pictures like today.

The question is, what is the best digital camera out there at the moment in the $175-250 price range. I am not looking to spend $500 on another camera like this one, since I haven't used it much over the years.

I do want one that take great looking pictures, decent warranty, and is a point and shoot.. I don't think I EVER really played with the dial features on my Nikon.

Thanks in advance on your ideas and suggestions. :)

[egarrard]

Nikon 7600 (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=371013&is=REG&addedTroughType=categoryNavigation#goto_itemInfo). $225 new, $214 used.

http://www.nikonusa.com/images/products/25528_360.jpg

Review (http://www.steves-digicams.com/2005_reviews/nikon7600.html)

Other choices (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?A=search&Q=&b=2&mnp=0.0&mxp=0.0&shs=&ci=8612&ac=&Submit.x=11&Submit.y=10).

[hytek9]

Nikon 7600 (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=371013&is=REG&addedTroughType=categoryNavigation#goto_itemInfo). $225 new, $214 used.
[/URL].

Thanks.

Hey, because I hate to waste things..

I couldn't resist, I had to open up this camera, and yank out the LCD screen

http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i8/hytek9/HPIM1018.jpg

I wonder if I could get a basic PCB that would drive this thing and be able to send an analog signal to it, and have it as a "mini-lcd" :shocking

Of course, this would have absolutley no benefit, but would be wildly insane to mod it into a 5.25" drive bay :KICK ASS

Anyway, tearing it apart was way more fun, then throwing it away :food

[egarrard]

I wonder if I could get a basic PCB that would drive this thing and be able to send an analog signal to it, and have it as a "mini-lcd" :shocking

You'll never know until you try... :Thumb

[Tivon]

I like my Sony camera, but sometimes it does not power on, might be the button? When it goes I'll more or less get one of those nice Nikons.

[tomato]

I'd go with any Canon digital camera, followed by Panasonic, and then Sony. We use Canon's at work (newspaper) and they work really well. I own a Panasonic and Sony. They both are really good, but I choose Panasonic over Sony simply because I don't like the over-priced Sony propriatory Memory Stick format :(

[egarrard]

I own both a Canon (G2) and a Nikon (CP2500). The Nikon takes better pictures, in my experience. In DSLRs, that isn't quite the case. Canon seem slightly better (until you get to the Nikon D2x), but in the little cameras, Nikon rules.

The G2 has been somewhat of a disappointment. It's harder to get a good picture out of than the Nikon.

[viperrcr]

I have the Canon S2 IS and love it! The only thing I hate about it is the flimsy lens cover system, they should have designed that better. Can't go wrong with either Canon or Nikon IMO. There are always lots of camera reviews, particularly at cnet.com. When you are ready to buy, that is a good source forum for digital camera reviews by article reviewers and posting reviewers.

[Saturn2888]

I have the Canon S2 IS too. Very highly recommended by me! Lol. Video quality, OMG. Can you say astounding for a camera? Oh yeah. Hey dude (hytek9), thanks for contributing to the site and helpin' it keep alive and also, you seem to fit right in. Yankin' out the LCD, awesome! Have anymore screens?

[Kindom934]

If you can find a Sony DSC-P200 cheap, that'll be a very good choice. That model just got disconinued about 3 months ago from being the most expensive "cyber-shot" series.

I've put thousands of pictures on the camera (around 8000+) within 1 year and it has yet to fail even after being drop once, gone to Japan and Las Vegas, gone to school with me mostly every day and taking pictures rain or shine. It has a very simple point and shoot to the more advance control if you want it to. Has a plastic protecting the LCD so thats a good thing. The shape is quite nice infact, fits perfect in my pants without making any "odd" shapes...lol.

My only real complain about it is that it could use a more powerful flash...again this is a problem with every point and shot camera. The plastic covering the LCD had this anti-glare coating. Because mines is already been heavly used, the anti-glare coat on the plastic covering on the LCD is pretty scatched although the covering on the LCD is not crack or coming off. Everything else on the camera looks like new, although it could use some cleaning in the view scope thingy...not like we use that anymore since there's the LCD in the back.

For what I got it at $349 (regular $399) when it first came out, I think that was my most well spent money i ever had spend. I think it should be below the $275 mark if you can get one used or either marked as clearance.

Again, you do need MS (Memory stick) so...If you had a large size compact flash, I suggest you going with another camera with compact flash so you can minus the cost of getting another media format. As for me, everything I own to some extent has a memory stick slot so....:cool_shad

[Saturn2888]

I don't like the Cyber-shot series. They all end up kinda blurry or whatnot. It never seems to be as crisp as I'd like it you know?

[Kindom934]

I don't like the Cyber-shot series. They all end up kinda blurry or whatnot. It never seems to be as crisp as I'd like it you know?

Really?

The only time when I do get blurry pictures is if it ends up focusing on something that I don't want it to (e.g. glass) or i forget to turn on macro for something close. The camera is somewhat weak in night shots but the best results is in day time.

I can only really say about the DSC-P200 and that being at the time the most expensive cybershot...soo the lower end models might be different.

[deathrow]

I find the Cybershots more of an advanced point and shoot. If you want to completely forget about settings, go with Nikon or Canon(NEVER BUY THE LITTLE ONES, THERE SO FRAGILE) but for something with a few more settings maybe one of the Sonys. Ive had both, Canon and Sony and from what I can tell there pretyy much on par.

I have the DSC-W7 7.2mp model ;)

[egarrard]

I do want one that take great looking pictures, decent warranty, and is a point and shoot.. I don't think I EVER really played with the dial features on my Nikon.He's looking for a simple camera that takes great pictures.

Here's an even cheaper ($179) Nikon that would work well, the Coolpix 5600 (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home;jsessionid=GGGDBppLTP!1080063?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=371012&is=REG&addedTroughType=categoryNavigation).

http://e-katalog.com.ua/jpg_zoom1/38943.jpg

:thumb :camera

[hytek9]

He's looking for a simple camera that takes great pictures.

Here's an even cheaper ($179) Nikon that would work well, the Coolpix 5600 (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home;jsessionid=GGGDBppLTP!1080063?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=371012&is=REG&addedTroughType=categoryNavigation).

http://e-katalog.com.ua/jpg_zoom1/38943.jpg

:thumb :camera


Thats a nice one! Also, it reminds me alot of my old one! :thumb

Great find man, its also a simple camera, exactly what I am looking for. Is it pretty much point and shoot? Looking for something that doesn't require alot of tweaking to get a crisp clean picture.

Thanks again, much appreciated! :Thumb

[viperrcr]

That CoolPix 5600 got some pretty good reviews for a camera in that price range! :)

[Tivon]

I've ran into the same problem of my Sony taking
blurry pictures. Maybe 1 in 10 is not in focus like it
should. I've used a Nikon Coolpix before and liked
it better over all. The Sony did feel like better
quality and the Canon and Nikon have a plastic
look and feel that makes me think twice. However,
after using the low to mid range Nikons my vote
goes to any Coolpixs camera.

[Saturn2888]

I had two different HP Photosmarts, the R507 and the R517 (4.1 and 6.2 MP) ones and they were great. No blurry pics unless you manually turned the flash off. If the camera did that, then no blurry pics.

Although, I'm really really likin' the Canon I have, but the flash does NOT compare to the Photosmarts. I haven't checked out the Coolpix though, but I'd love to, the only thing is, I love the video functions of the Powershot S2 IS. I got mine for $307 including tax and shipping.

[Tivon]

My Sony also does not take good inside pictures.. It fails to adjust to the lights and shadows look red. Takes a better inside picture without any lights on at all. The flash is good.