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Nikon CoolPix 775

Nikon packs advanced Coolpix technology & superior ease-of-use into a tiny, affordable 2 megapixel camera!

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Page 11:Video, Power, Software

Review First Posted: 07/23/2001

Video Out
The camera's USB connector doubles as a Video Out port for viewing images on a TV or VCR. An NTSC cable is supplied with the camera in the US and Japan, while a PAL compatible cable is shipped with European models. The video mode can be set to either NTSC or PAL in the camera's Set-Up menu.


Power
The Coolpix 775 is powered by a single rechargeable Nikon EN-EL1 lithium-ion battery provided with the camera. You can also use a non-rechargeable 2CRS (DL245) lithium battery, available separately, as a backup battery. (Lithium batteries make good backup batteries because they offer the advantage of long life and stability and do not discharge when not in use.) A lithium-ion battery charger is provided for the EN-EL1 and an optional AC adapter / battery charger is available for providing AC power directly to the 775.

 

Operating Mode
Power
(mA @8.4v)
Est. Minutes
Capture Mode, w/LCD
300 mA
91
Capture Mode, no LCD
<10 mA
(days)
Half-pressed shutter w/LCD
290 mA
95
Half-pressed w/o LCD
170 mA
161
Memory Write (transient)
340 mA
n/a
Flash Recharge (transient)
890 mA
n/a
Image Playback
190 mA
144

 


We applaud Nikon for including a rechargeable LiIon battery and charger with the Coolpix 775. LiIon technology lets the 775 maintain respectable battery life even with its trimmed-down package size. The power consumption numbers we measured for the 775 were about average in most respects. With its LCD off though, it provided exceptional battery life, measured in days, not minutes. This is great, because it means you can just leave the camera turned on all day, ready to take pictures at a moments notice, without worrying about draining your battery pack.

While the 775's battery can last all day with the LCD off, you're likely to find yourself wanting to run the LCD a lot to show people the photos you've just shot. A lot of digicam users use external power packs for increased run time in such situations. However, another consequence of the LiIon battery technology it uses is that the 775 requires a higher voltage on its external power jack to operate. This means that most of the NiMH-based external power packs out there won't power the 775 in the field. Fortunately, there's a LiIon external "PowerBank" made by Maha and sold under the PowerEx brand (shown above) that will power the 775 just fine. For about $60, this unit should power the 775 for a good of 4-5 hours in continuous capture mode with the LCD operating. (The worst-case/highest-power scenario.) - Then add in another 90 minutes for the internal battery, and you can literally run all day.(!) One note - Maha/PowerEx makes both NiMH and LiIon versions of the PowerBank, make sure you get the LiIon model for the 775. (Model number MH-DPB140LI.) Click here for more info, or to order one. Highly recommended!


Included Software
The camera's bundled software offers a robust set of programs for managing and manipulating images from the 775, including Nikon's auto transfer program, NikonView 4, which enables you to upload images to your computer and distribute them to family and friends via e-mail or through Nikon's image-sharing website: www.nikonnet.com. Selected images can also be copied to a floppy disk directly from the camera's memory card and delivered to a photofinisher for processing. In addition to NikonView, users are provided with Canto Cumulus 5.0 Trial and iView Media Pro (Mac only) for image storage and management, plus a full suite of ArcSoft digital imaging programs, including: PhotoImpression 2000, for editing, retouching, and applying special effects to your images; VideoImpression for viewing and editing QuickTime movies; PhotoPrinter Pro 2000 for preparing images for printing; and Panorama Maker 2000, which allows users to stitch together multiple images to create panoramic photographs.


In the Box

  • Nikon Coolpix 775 Digital Camera
  • EN-EL1 rechargeable lithium-ion battery
  • Battery charger with AC adapter
  • USB cable
  • Video cable
  • 8MB CompactFlash card
  • Wrist strap
  • NikonView 4 CD-ROM and Reference CD
  • User Manual and Quick Start Guide



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