The Coolpix 8800VR currently
sits at the top of Nikon's pyramid of Coolpix digital cameras.
Evolved from the Coolpix
8700, the Coolpix 8800 is equipped with a 10X optical, and an 8 megapixel
resolution. Moreover, it is the first in the Coolpix line to offer an image
stabilizer, a system Nikon calls Vibration Reduction — VR for
short.
While in comparison to the Coolpix 8700 the 8800 adds a longer zoom and
an image stabilizer, it retains much the same basic ergonomic design. The
Coolpix 8800 is equipped with an electronic viewfinder (EVF) with 235,000
pixels that includes a diopter correction, and a 1.8 inch, 134,000 pixels
monitor. The monitor is hinged so that it can swing out and rotate 90° towards
the back, or 180° towards the front. The hinge allows it to be used
for self-portraits, angled for shots that require the camera be close to
the ground, or simply swung back on the camera with the screen facing out.
The use of the EVF, or the monitor,
is selected at the press of the - button,
located between the viewfinder and the monitor. In addition,
when the monitor is closed, and the EVF in use, opening the monitor
automatically switches it on.
The top right of the camera provides a cluster of the most important controls.
Starting at the front with the Shutter Release and the standard Nikon-style
On/Off switch around it, the design groups three buttons nearby, arranged
within a lighter coloured area:
Is a multi-purpose control. When
the camera is set to Scene modes, the button can be
used in combination with the Command Dial (see further) to
quickly choose specific Scene mode. While, with the camera
set Manual shooting mode, it serves to toggle back
and forth between aperture and shutter speed, so that either
can be adjusted with the Command Dial. Moreover, with the
Coolpix 8800 set to any of the P/A/S/M modes,
the button can be reprogrammed to provide a quick access
to frequently used functions such as white balance, image
quality and size, sensitivity, or even continuous shooting
mode.
Controls Flash Modes:
Auto, Forced Off, Auto with Red-eye Reduction, Anytime
Flash (forced on), and Slow Sync with front curtain, Slow
Sync with rear curtain.
Serves to adjust the exposure
compensation (± 2EV in 0.3EV increments); or to
record a 20 second voice memo when the camera is in Playback
mode.
Turns on the backlight for
the Control Panel. The Control Panel displays all the most
critical settings of the camera, and when the button
is pressed the Panel remains lit for approximately 8 seconds.
The Mode Dial serves to select from a variety of modes that range
from Shooting modes to Playback mode , Setup, and even three commonly needed
camera settings:
Auto is a fully automatic
point and shoot mode that leaves the camera to decide all
settings, including CCD sensitivity. In this mode, the Coolpix
8800 focuses at the centre of the frame.
Program mode lets the
camera sets both aperture and shutter speed while the user
has control over all other settings.
In addition, by turning the Command Dial, the camera enters Program
Shift mode which allows the user to select different combinations
of aperture and shutter speeds which would result in an equivalent
exposure. Moreover, the can
be used to switch between variations to the aperture, or to the shutter
speed.
Shutter Priority lets
the user control the shutter speed while the camera selects
a matching aperture. A range that covers from 8 seconds
to 1/3000 second can be selected.
Aperture Priority gives
the user control over the depth of field by adjusting the
aperture (f2.8 through f8) while the camera matches it
to a shutter speed.
Manual mode provides
total control over the Coolpix 8800 and adds both a Bulb
mode that can be used in combination with the Remote Control
(included), and a Timed Release mode which allows pre-setting
the exposure time (30 seconds, 1, 3, 5 or 10 minutes).
The Scene position is
the access point for the 15 scene modes of the Coolpix
8800. The modes can be selected using the menu button,
or by pressing the button
and rotating the Command Dial:
Portrait
Party/Indoor
Fireworks
Show
Night
Portrait
Close
up
Beach/Snow
Copy
Landscape
Back light
Sunset
Panorama
Assist
Night
Landscape
Sports
Museum
Dusk/Dawn
Movie Mode records
any 1 of 5 movie types:
TV Movie captures a frame size of 640
x 480 pixel video at 30 frames per
second for up to a maximum of 60 seconds.
Small Movie 320 records at a frame size
of 320 x 240 pixel and at 15 frames
per second for as long as there is space on the
memory card.
Time-lapse Movie takes up to 1050 still
images at specified intervals and joins them to
create a silent movie with a frame size of 640
x 480 pixels and at 30 frames per second
(maximum movie time 35 seconds).
Sepia Movie records a movie of unlimited
length with a frame size of 320 x 240 pixels at 5 frames
per second.
B/W Movie records black and white movies
at 15 frames per second and with a frame size of
320 x 240 pixel.
During Movie recording the exposure and focus are
automatically adjusted, but the the optical zoom
position is locked at the first frame, only the digital
zoom is available (4X).
Is the access to the Setup menu. (Please
see the Interface and Software section of the
review for an overview of the settings contained in
the Setup menu.)
Provides a quick access to
set the Image Quality and Size. (See the Characteristics section
of the review for more information on the available image
quality and size options.)
Allows setting the camera's Sensitivity (50,
100, 200, 400 ISO or Auto which selects the sensitivity
from 50 to 200 according to the ambient light).
To set the White Balance:
Auto, Preset (set according to a white object under ambient
light), Daylight, Incandescent, Fluorescent, Cloudy, Speedlight,
or Shade.
The Coolpix 8800 VR has a rocker
switch to control the zoom. The switch is between the Command
Dial — a wheel embedded just below the Mode Dial so
it can be spun with the thumb — and the (Auto
Exposure, Auto Focus Lock) button.
Beyond control over the zoom,
the W side of the switch also provides a means to see
contact or index screens (thumbnails) of the images captured ,
with either 4 or 9 photos per screen. While the T side
allows zooming into an image displayed on the monitor with
a possible magnification of up to 10X.
Directly below comes the button,
which serves to display the menu appropriate to the mode that is currently
in use.
Is the next button directly
below the MENU button. The QUICK button serves to
enter the Quick Review mode which shows the last
captured image.
Pressed once, the Quick Review mode starts by showing the last captured
image as a thumbnail occupying the top left quarter of the LCD monitor.
Pressed a second time, the Quick Review mode shows the image full
screen. However, the Quick Review mode cannot be used to get to the
Playback menu.
A large 4-direction control, the Multi-selector,
occupies the right side of the camera's back. The control serves
to navigate the Coolpix 8800VR's menus, while the button at its
centre, labeled with ,
is used to confirm some menu selections. Further down, two more
buttons complete the user controls available on the back of the
Coolpix 8800VR:
In the recording modes the button
serves to start the Self-timer and Remote Control functions.
The Self-timer provides 2 delay times before the shutter
is released, 3 and 10 seconds. In addition, once the Self-timer
is engaged, the remote control can be used.
Furthermore, while an image is being saved and is displayed on the
monitor or when the camera is in Quick Review or Playback mode,
the button can be used to Delete an unwanted image.
Controls the information overlaid
on the monitor or on the EVF. In the capture modes, the display
presents some camera settings superimposed on the image by
default. Pressing the DISP button once adds a histogram,
which is a graphic representation of the distribution of
brightness within the frame. Pressing the DISP button
a second time substitutes a composition grid; while pressing
it a third time clears the screen of all overlaid information,
leaving only the image originating from the lens. A final
press of the DISP button returns to the default.
In playback, the DISP button can be used to show all the shooting
data for an image and the Command Dial can then be used to switch
from one page of overlaid information to the next one, including
one display that presents a histogram of the image.
The remaining external controls of the Coolpix 8800VR are located on the
left hand side of the camera, directly on the lens barrel. Closest to the
camera's back is the On/Off switch for the Coolpix 8800VR's stabilizer
system, while on the lens side is a button labeled AF/MF that serves
to select:
AF: auto focus.
Infinity focus: set the focus to infinity and prevents
the flash from firing.
Macro focus: offers a 3 cm (1.2 inch) focus distance
to the subject when the macro icon shown on the monitor turns
yellow.
Manual Focus: displays a small distance scale with
a macro icon on the left and an infinity icon on the right.
Focus is then adjusted by pressing the AF/MF button
while turning the Command Dial.
In addition to having a very effective
automatic pop-up flash, the Coolpix 8800VR is also equipped with
an accessory shoe that is compatible with the optional SB800
and SB600 Nikon Speedlights.
One such improvement, although
minor, makes the Coolpix 8800 a much nicer camera to have in
hand: the right side post for the neck strap is now placed near
the top, so that it does not dig into the palm. Another improvement
is the addition of a simple to use Mode Dial, making it easy
to select a shooting mode; along with more streamlined operations
for most of the other controls.
Compare Prices for Nikon SB-600 TTL AF Shoe Speedlight
Ergonomics
- 
button,
located between the viewfinder and the monitor. In addition,
when the monitor is closed, and the EVF in use, opening the monitor
automatically switches it on.
(Auto
Exposure, Auto Focus Lock) button.
,
with either 4 or 9 photos per screen. While the T side
allows zooming into an image displayed on the monitor 
with
a possible magnification of up to 10X.
button,
which serves to display the menu appropriate to the mode that is currently
in use.
,
is used to confirm some menu selections. Further down, two more
buttons complete the user controls available on the back of the
Coolpix 8800VR:
