Nikon Coolpix 990

Text and Photos by Ron Eggers, November, 2000

The Coolpix 990 is Nikon's top-of-the-line consumer digital camera, featuring a high-resolution 3.34-megapixel CCD with a true maximum resolution of 2048x1536 pixels. It's capable of capturing electronic images that can easily be enlarged to 8x10 inches with virtually no loss of image quality. Results are still very good at 11x14. Professional-Quality Optics Equipped with Nikkor professional glass optics, the Coolpix 990 has an 8–24mm f/2.5–4.0 optical zoom lens (equivalent to 38–115mm in the 35mm format). The focal range is enhanced with a 4X digital zoom capability. The camera accepts optional tele-extenders, fish-eye and wide-angle adapters for added versatility. Like its predecessors, the Coolpix 900 and 950, the 990 has a flat-bodied design with a swiveling lens that's convenient for shooting at awkward angles or in difficult positions. The lens, electronic flash, and viewfinder are on one side of the body, while the various controls are on the other. The Nikon Coolpix 990 features an 8–24mm optical zoom that's augmented with a 4X digital zoom capability. The lens utilizes professional Nikkor optics and delivers vivid colors and sharp results. Camera settings are displayed on a monochrome LCD on the top of the body. The display is loaded with information, ranging from the number of exposures available on the removable media, to the resolution setting, focusing mode, and other key data. Adjustments are made using a multi-mode selector ring on the back of the camera. Settings are displayed in a menu on the color LCD, which is also used for viewing images. Like with most digital cameras, the color LCD can be difficult to use in full sunlight, but it does work well in most daylight situations. The 990 has a number of capabilities that make it ideal for serious imaging. It features 256-element matrix metering, 4896-step multi-area autofocus with macro focusing, and automatic white balancing. The result of this sophisticated technology is very precise automatic exposure, highly accurate focusing and sophisticated color control. The 990 also offers a number of manual exposure controls. Autofocus capabilities can be over-ridden with a 50-step manual focus control. Exposure Control Exposure modes include fully automatic, shutter priority and aperture priority, in addition to full manual control. The 990 can be connected to as many as five Nikon Speedlights, as well as studio strobes, for professional-level lighting setups. Serious photographers will also appreciate the sensitivity setting, which emulates the ISO settings on film cameras. Sensitivity can be set at 100, 200, 400 or automatic. The automatic setting adjusts ISO to subject lighting.

The Coolpix 990 offers fully automatic operation, as well as a broad range of manual controls for the experienced photographer. Exposure modes include aperture-priority shutter-priority, manual and automatic. There's also a choice of three manual ISO sensitivity settings (in addition to automatic), and a 50-step manual focus control. In addition to its individual still-image capture capabilities, the Coolpix 990 also features several continuous shooting modes. The camera can also take video clips at either 15 or 30 fps. Still images and clips are stored on a removable CompactFlash card. Shooting with the 990 is lots of fun, and image quality is excellent. One gripe is the brief lag between when the shutter is pressed and when the picture is taken. It isn't long—just a fraction of a second—but long enough to take some getting used too. Several times I failed to capture that "definitive moment" because the picture was taken a fraction of a second too late. With a bit of practice, however, it is possible to predict the delay and compensate for it. One method is to find the general framing of the subject, partially depress the shutter release, and wait for the action to unfold. Then, at just the right time, press the shutter the rest of the way down. Since focus and exposure are locked when the shutter is pressed halfway, there's no delay. Great Documentation Documentation is sometimes a problem with digital cameras, but that's not the case with the Coolpix 990. It's thorough, relatively easy to understand and heavily illustrated. Good documentation is a big plus, particularly for a camera with as many options, features and settings as the Coolpix 990. While many photographers prefer not to rely on documentation when using a camera, with the 990 it's a good idea to carry the manual along until you are completely familiar with the camera. Connectivity to either Mac or Windows systems is through high-speed USB. The 990 has a suggested list price of $999.95, which includes a 16 MB CompactFlash card. For more information, contact Nikon Inc., 1300 Walt Whitman Rd., Melville, NY 11747; 800/NIKON-UX. On the Internet at www.nikonusa.com.