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Nikon CoolPix 995 Nikon updates the hugely successful Coolpix 990, adding a pop-up flash and Type II CF support! Select a topic Reference: Datasheet CoolPix 995 Sample Images --------------------------------- 1. Intro and Highlights 2. Executive Overview 3. Design 4. Viewfinder 5. Optics 6. Exposure & Flash 7. Shutter Lag & Cycle Time Tests 8. Operation & User Interface 9. Camera Modes & Menus 10. Image Storage & Interface 11. Video, Power, Software 12. Test Results & Conclusion --------------------------------- Print-Friendly Review Version Additional Resources and Other Links Reader Comments on CoolPix 995 Review --------------------------------- Digital Camera Comparometer (TM) --------------------------------- <-- Digital Cameras (Home) <-- Digital Camera Reviews Index <<Viewfinder :(Previous) | (Next): Exposure & Flash>> Page 5:Optics Review First Posted: 4/25/2001

Optics
A Nikkor 4x zoom, 8-32mm lens is built into the Coolpix 995 (the equivalent of a 38-152mm lens on a 35mm camera), with ten elements in eight groups (all made up of environmentally friendly glass). Maximum apertures range from f/2.6 to f/5.1, depending on the zoom setting. (The larger effective aperture corresponds to the wide angle focal length.) Nikon has continued the seven blade iris diaphragm first seen in the 990, which gives very fine-grained aperture control, useful for controlling depth of field, but more so for working with external flash and precisely controlling the balance between flash and ambient exposure. The contrast-detect TTL autofocus features a 7,123-step autofocus mechanism with a working range from 0.8 inches (20.32 millimeters) to infinity (this includes the macro range). When shooting in the Auto capture mode, the autofocus remains in the Continuous setting while using the LCD monitor but reverts to the Single autofocus mode when the LCD is off (which means you must halfway press the Shutter button to set focus). However, the Manual capture mode gives you the freedom to choose between Continuous or Single autofocus, regardless of LCD status. The Continuous focus mode results in the lens continually "hunting" for the best focus as you move the camera around, settling down when the camera and/or subject stops moving. Autofocus tracking speed isn't terribly high (mentioned in case you were expecting AF tracking as on Nikon's F5 pro film camera), but the Continuous AF option definitely helps with moving subjects. The downside is that it burns more battery power than Single AF mode.

The manual focus option is controlled through the settings menu and, once enabled, is activated by pressing the Manual Focus button (lower left of the LCD monitor) and simultaneously turning the Command dial to adjust the focus in 50 steps. The focus distance is reported in the top right corner of the LCD display.

The 995's autofocus mechanism employs the same sophisticated zone-sensitive system that we were so enamored with on the 990 model, featuring several operating modes. It has five possible focus zones (center, top, bottom, left, right), which can be very useful for achieving accurate focus on off-center subjects. The Focus option under the settings menu allows you to choose modes in which the camera chooses the focus zone, or in which you can explicitly set the location of the focus area (a nice feature that works well when combined with the spot metering mode, which can likewise be directed to determine exposure from the same 5 zones). In the "Auto" option for focus area selection, the camera chooses the area corresponding to the object closest to the camera. When the area focus option is set to Off, the camera bases focus on the central area. (One Playback mode information screen displays a focus area overlay, and shows which focus area was chosen for each image, by highlighting the appropriate set of marks in green.)

The lens itself has the same 28mm filter threads as the preceding Coolpix models, which accommodate the full range of Nikkor accessory lenses for wide-angle, telephoto, macro, and fisheye focal lengths, as well as a slide copying adapter. Once an accessory lens is attached, you'll need to select the corresponding lens type in the lens settings menu. (The camera adjusts its operation for different lens types by restricting the zoom range to avoid vignetting, switching to center-weighted metering for the fisheye adapter, etc.) New on the 995 model is the Slide Copy Adapter option, presumably intended for making digital copies of film slides as opposed to scanning them.

The 995's digital telephoto feature is enabled through the Zoom option under the Setup menu, and enlarges images up to 4x. An indicator on the LCD monitor displays the range of digital zoom at each step (from 1.1x to 4.0x). Keep in mind that digital telephoto only enlarges the center of the image, resulting in reduced resolution and more artifacts as more digital zoom is used. The camera automatically switches to center-weighted metering and a center autofocus target when digital zoom is active. Also under the Zoom option, you can set the startup position of the lens (either wide or telephoto) and activate the Fixed Aperture function, which keeps the aperture fixed as the lens zooms.

The Coolpix 995's lens seems to be of similar optical quality to that on the 990: It produces very crisp images, but shows fairly high geometric distortion at the ends of its zoom range: Roughly 0.98 percent barrel distortion at wide angle, and 0.64 percent pincushion at telephoto. Corner sharpness is quite good, while chromatic aberration is about average, with three to four pixels of color showing around the target elements in the corners of our resolution target shots.