Product Description

Nikon Coolpix P60 is a simple to use point-&-shoot digital-camera that offers some creative options to extend your talents. It has optical image stabilization to reduce blur from normal hand movement. AA batteries power the P60 and that's nifty when you're touring around the world. The AA is a common battery found everywhere. You can shoot movies and stills and store them on an optional SD memory card. A USB port is built-in to transfer your images to a PC or Mac or MP3. It's Internet friendly! Top Continuous Shooting Speed - Approximately 2 fps / continuous Shooting Options - Continuous, Single, Multishot 16 Storage media - Internal memory (approx. 12 MB), SD SDHC memory cards Image Stabilization - Optical Movie Modes - Movie with sound ISO sensitivity - ISO 80, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 2000, Auto (auto gain ISO 80-800) Exposure Modes - Programmed Auto (P) with Flexible Program, Manual (M); Scene Modes - Face-Priority AF, Portrait, Landscape, Sports, Night Portrait, Party/Indoor, Beach/Snow, Sunset, Dusk/Dawn, Night Landscape, Close Up, Museum, Fireworks Show, Copy, Back Light, Panorama Assist Hi-Speed USB Powered by Two AA alkaline (supplied), lithium or oxyride batteries, two EN-MH1 rechargeable Ni-MH batteries (optional), AC Adapter EH-65A (optional) / Battery life - Approx. 190 shots with alkaline, 230 shots with oxyride, 650 shots with lithium or 350 shots with EN-MH1 Storage System - JPEG - JPEG-baseline-compliant; can be selected from Size priority and Optimal quality; AVI; WAV File System - DCF 2.0, DPOF, EXIF 2.21 Built-in ElectronicFlash Video Output - NTSC PAL Self-timer - 10 seconds, 2 seconds Unit Dimensions (W x H x D) - Approx. 95.5 x 63.5 x 36 mm (3.8 x 2.5 x 1.4 in.) excluding projections; Weight - Approx. 160 g (5.6 oz.) without battery and SD memory card

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #655 in Camera & Photo
• Color: Black
• Brand: Nikon
• Model: 25593
• Released on: 2008-02-18
• Dimensions: 2.50" h x 1.40" w x 3.80" l, 1.70 pounds
• Display size: 2.5
• Included Software: Yes

Features

• 8.1-megapixel resolution for stunning prints as large as 16 x 20 inches
• 5x optical zoom; vibration reduction
• 2.7-inch high-resolution LCD; Electronic Viewfinder
• In-Camera Red-Eye Fix; enhanced Face-Priority AF automatically focuses on up to 12 faces
• Capture images to SD memory card (not included)

Manufacturer Description

Traditional camera styling, reliable performance. An impressively high 8.1-megapixel count delivers pictures with true-to-life color and pleasing details. What’s more, it means images can be enlarged greatly and still look absolutely stunning. The quality optics of a 36-180mm 5x Zoom-Nikkor lens (35mm format equivalent) maximize compositional freedom and image quality.

Coolpix P60 Highlights

Practical shooting modes Programmed Auto [P] and Manual [M] exposure modes that give greater personal control over camera operation are accessible via the Mode dial, as well as a selection of 15 scene-optimized modes and four different movie modes.

VR image stabilization Nikon’s image sensor shift VR image stabilization compensates for camera shake to produce clearer, sharper results in lower light or unsteady conditions. VR’s stabilizing effects also help you shoot more smoothly and easily.

ISO 2000 capability Light sensitivity range up to ISO 2000 with manual control or auto control (up to ISO 800) creates new opportunities to take sharper, more natural looking photos in lower light conditions, or to capture fastmoving subjects with outstanding clarity.

AA-size batteries for shoot-anywhere convenience Compatibility with AA-size batteries, which are widely available around the world, means carefree shooting virtually anywhere without worrying about recharging or running out of power.

Coolpix Premium Features

Coolpix in-camera technologies give you the edge when it comes to taking beautiful pictures more easily and with greater enjoyment. Included are innovative functions that increase shooting opportunities in a broader range of situations, help to optimize images, and add a new dimension of fun to sharing those results.

VR image stabilization Nikon Coolpix cameras offer an array of VR technologies that produce blur-free images when shooting in unsteady conditions or at slower shutter speeds. Selected models are equipped with one of two types of Optical VR, Lens Shift VR, which delivers sharp and steady images effective for shooting and faster framing with the LCD, or Image Sensor Shift VR, which moves the image sensor to accurately compensate for camera shake. Other models offer Electronic VR which applies movement data to image processing to turn blurred images into beautifully clear results.

Better pictures in lower light Selected Coolpix models offer ISO capability beyond the range of conventional digital compacts. An exciting advantage that greatly increases photographic possibilities, high ISO capability delivers excellent exposure in challenging conditions, broadens the scope of possible subjects and allows scenes to be captured beautifully without compromising natural light.

Face-priority AF Available only with Nikon Coolpix cameras, the clever Face-priority AF function helps ensure satisfyingly crisp portraits no matter where the subject is in the shot. By automatically detecting people's faces in the frame, the photographer is free to press the shutter for sharp portraits with focus exactly where it's wanted.

D-Lighting Only Nikon delivers the advantage of D-Lighting, a unique technology with the ability to rescue underexposed images or shots taken with excessive backlight. Accessible in Playback mode, this innovative feature automatically creates a copy of the image, adding light and detail added where necessary, while leaving correctly-exposed areas untouched. As a result, images are significantly improved in a manner that is much more natural looking.

In-camera red-eye fix Coolpix cameras offer refined red-eye reduction capability that surpasses other digital compacts. First, a series of pre-flashes stimulate the subject’s pupils, causing them to constrict. The camera then analyzes the captured image for the remaining presence of red eyes, automatically correcting them in-camera before saving the image to memory.

Customer Reviews

Nice features but poor quality
The Nikon P60 has really nice features for the price: it has a handy (electronic) view-finder (that isn't painful to use because you don't need to squint like mad), useful 5x zoom and helpful optical image stabilization (VR). However, to me, the deal breaker was the fact that it uses the ubiquitous AA cell instead of an expensive proprietary battery. This is great for traveling - if your batteries die, you can get replacement AA's just about anywhere.

Having said these, the biggest issue I have with the camera is its quality or lack there of. I had the P60 for less than a month and it doesn't work anymore. It has never been dropped, always in a padded case when not in use, and since it is the wife's camera, it is normally in a nice, big purse. It complains about a `lens error' and I can't take pictures with it; I can, however, view some of the pictures though - yea, big woof. Someone at Nikon seriously botched the Quality Assurance (QA) on this thing.

I had another Nikon years ago, the Coolpix 4300, and its quality was abysmal as well; should have learned my lesson, or Nikon should have replaced its useless QA personnel(s) so that the P60 would be a bit more reliable.

On the other hand, just before owning the P60, I had the Casio EX-Z120 compact camera. It was as tough as a brick - the case is completely made of metal. It was used all over Asia, dropped numerous times (even on cement), and missing a couple of screws, but for almost 2 years it never let me down until it was lost/stolen.

I greatly lament buying Nikon compact cameras; should have bought Canon, or another EX-Z120. I can only take solace on the fact that Nikon may honour their 2 year warranty.

Outstanding!!
Outstanding combination of features, performance, and price. Sharp details from closeups to miles away (see nine-mile coastline view). Electronic viewfinder option is great for composing pictures in sunlight. No worries about battery running down -- just pop in two fresh AA batteries and keep shooting. Movies are great, so buy large memory chip to have plenty of room. I love it!!

Happy with Nikon, again ... AND AGAIN
Nikon's P60 is a great point and shoot digital camera with a very important feature, a view finder. The P60 is the 5th Nikon I've purchased starting with the Coolpix 775 (which I gave to my 5 year old), all of them are still in service. I use these cameras primarily for work and as careful as I try to be, they are used hard. While my 5600 was out for repair I purchased an L14 which for a variety of reasons I do not like, including lack of a view finder. I knew this when I purchased but thought I'd give it a try. Decided to try the P60 and have not been disappointed.

One thing I feel purchasers must understand is what they are buying and then learn how to use it. If you want a camera that does it all, you need a different camera, don't buy a Brownie and expect a Hasselblad. I buy these cameras to take thousands of reference shots while skiing. They are small, fit in my breast pocket and can be operated with one hand. For snap shots they are great, but when I need the money shot I get out the SLR. A lot of complaints I see in reviews are a result of not learning how to use the camera and work within its limitations.

The P60 has some draw backs, it can be a bit slow especially the flash refresh. I didn't give it 5 stars mainly because of the placement of the memory card. Having to work around the batteries is a design flaw that surprises me from Nikon. You also have to push the monitor button very hard or a few times before it activates.

The optics and zoom are great, I have been pleasantly surprised with the digital end of the zoom. I just took pics of the Waterfalls installation in NYC, zooming into the digital zone from Manhattan over to Governors Island about a half a mile, with excellent results. Falling water is a challenge without zoom and camera shake, the pictures are clear and the water frozen (no tripod).

Other reviews have addressed various technical aspects and again, while important, I think may overshadow the utilitarian nature of a point and shoot.

I would recommend the Nikon P60 to anyone.

UPDATING THIS REVIEW POST VACATION:

Just returned from vacation and another good test of the P60. The P60 performed great and after 600+ photos (both 3M & 5M size) I'm still on the same set of batteries. No flash shots were taken but to those who complain about "eating batteries" .. I would recommend buying better batteries or getting high quality rechargeables. I spring for Lithium
and keep some rechargeables as extras.

As mentioned before, I have several Coolpix and have never experienced any quality (product) issues. I have had two repaired but again after the way they are used, I don't hold that against the camera.