Nikon CoolPix 995Nikon updates the hugely successful Coolpix 990, adding a pop-up flash and Type II CF support!<<Shutter Lag & Cycle Time Tests :(Previous) | (Next): Camera Modes & Menus>> Page 8:Operation & User InterfaceReview First Posted: 4/25/2001 |
Operation and User Interface
The Coolpix 995 continues the straightforward and powerful user interface of the earlier 990 and 950 models. The LCD menu system is available for novices, or for less commonly used controls, but experienced users will find they can make virtually all of the necessary adjustments for routine shooting without resorting to the LCD screen. Once you learn where the functions are, operation is quick and intuitive, thanks to the multiple control buttons and the excellent use Nikon makes of the black/white LCD readout and the Command dial. The inclusion of programmable Function keys adds flexibility, allowing you to customize the camera to your specific shooting needs by moving frequently-used settings up to the two top-panel function buttons. Exposure compensation, exposure mode, ISO value, image quality and size, as well as focus controls (manual focus setting, macro, and infinity focus), and flash mode, can all be adjusted without the LCD. The small topside status display panel provides clear feedback for all these settings as well. When you do have to delve into the (very extensive!) LCD menu system, navigation via the Arrow rocker button is intuitive and quick. In Record mode, the menu system is split into 3 pages of options, and a nice touch is the tabbed interface, by which you can jump between pages with only a few clicks of the rocker button, rather than scrolling through every option on each screen. In normal operation, most of the camera's functions are controlled by a combination of hitting a button and turning the Command dial, which makes it very fast and efficient to change settings without eating up battery power for the large LCD or wasting time scrolling through endless menu screens. Control layout is also very logical, allowing one-handed operation for commonly changed functions, requiring a two-handed approach only for manual focus setting, ISO, flash mode, and size/quality adjustment.
Control Enumeration
Shutter Button: Located on top of the camera and encircled by the Power/Mode dial, this button sets focus and exposure when halfway pressed and fires the shutter when fully pressed.
Power/Mode Dial: Surrounding the shutter button on the camera's top panel, this dial selects between Off, Auto Record, Manual Record, and Playback modes.
Mode/Func.1 Button: Just below the Power/Mode dial on the top panel, this button selects the exposure system mode (Program, Shutter Priority, Aperture Priority, and Manual) when held down while turning the Command dial with the camera in Manual capture mode. In Manual exposure mode (meaning manual control over both aperture and shutter speed settings), a quick press of this button selects either the aperture or shutter speed setting, allowing you to change it by turning the Command dial. A second press selects the other exposure parameter. This button can also be programmed through the Setup menu to access various exposure functions with a single button actuation. (Exposure mode, landscape/macro/self timer, flash mode, white balance, exposure compensation, metering pattern.)
+/- / Func.2 Button: Directly to the right of the Mode button, this button adjusts the amount of exposure compensation (from -2 to +2 exposure equivalents (EV) in one-third step increments) when held down while turning the Command dial. This button can also be programmed through the Setup menu to access various exposure functions, the same as the Func. 1 button.
Command Dial: Protruding slightly from the top right corner of the camera, this dial is used in conjunction with other buttons in Record mode to adjust exposure options. By itself, it will adjust the aperture or shutter speed settings in Aperture and Shutter Priority exposure modes. In Playback mode, the dial cycles through the five information pages associated with each captured image, giving the user an unparalleled amount of information about the exposure (image information page, camera firmware page, image adjustment page, exposure histogram, and focus confirmation).
Quick Review Button: As the topmost button on the camera's back panel, this button calls up a thumbnail sized display of the most recently captured image while in either record mode, appearing in the upper left-hand corner. The left and right arrow keys scroll through the remaining captured images on the memory card. Pressed a second time, this button pulls up a full-screen display of the captured images on the card, complete with an image information overlay. The Quick Review mode is canceled by pressing the button a third time, or by pressing the shutter button.
Monitor Button: Diagonally to the left below the Quick Review button, this button recalls or cancels the color LCD screen information display and viewfinder display.
Menu Button: Located directly to the right of the Monitor button, this button brings up the settings menu in all capture modes as well as in Playback mode. Pressing it again cancels the menu.
W and T Buttons: Positioned on the right of the Menu button, these buttons control the optical zoom in all capture modes. Likewise, when the digital telephoto option is enabled, these buttons control the amount of digital zoom (from 1.1x to 4.0x). In single-image playback mode, pressing the "T" button repeatedly zooms in on the image (you can scroll around in the zoomed image by using the Arrow Rocker control). Pressing the "W" button cancels zoomed playback.
Arrow Rocker Button: Situated on the right side of the LCD monitor, this button features four arrows that allow the user to navigate through the LCD menu system and make selections in Record and Playback modes. Different menu items are selected via the up/down arrows. Pressing the right arrow selects the item, generally taking you into a sub-menu. Pressing the left arrow takes you back out again. Once in a sub-menu, the up/down arrows again step between items, while a right-arrow selects. This process continues until you arrive at the final point of selection, upon which another right-arrow actuation makes that selection and returns you to the main menu. (This is a nice implementation, with no need to switch to another button to make the selection itself: The Arrow Rocker both navigates and selects.) We were also pleased to see that we could left-arrow from the initial screen, to go to a set of tabs that let you quickly jump from menu screen one to two, or to the setup screen very quickly, without scrolling through all the menu entries first.
In Playback mode, the right and left buttons scroll through captured images one at a time. In zoomed playback mode, this control lets you scroll around within the enlarged image to check on framing or any details.
Manual Focus/Macro Button: The first button in a series directly beneath the LCD display, this button has several functions. When held down while turning the Command dial, this button controls the manual focus option in Record mode. Also in Record mode, pressing this button alone cycles through Infinity focus, Macro, and Self-Timer modes. (Note that there's a Macro/Self Timer, which is the only mode in which the self timer can be accessed. This isn't a problem, since the camera can focus all the way to infinity when in "macro" mode. - Macro mode simply allows the lens to traverse a greater range when focusing.) In Playback mode, this button acts as the Delete command for the currently displayed image (designated by the trash can symbol).
Flash/ISO Button: Centered under the LCD panel, this button cycles through the flash modes (Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye Reduction, and Slow-Sync). In Manual Record mode, holding this button while turning the Command Dial cycles through the variable ISO settings (Auto, 100, 200, 400, and 800). In Playback mode, this button brings up a four or nine image index display of all captured images.
Quality/Size Button: Located directly to the right of the Flash button, this button cycles between image quality options (Basic, Normal, Fine, and Hi) in all record modes. In any record mode, holding this button down while rotating the Command Dial cycles through the image size settings [2,048 x 1,536, (UXGA)1,600 x 1,200, (SXGA) 1,280 x 960, (XGA) 1,024 x 768, (VGA) 640 x 480, (3:2) 2,048 x 1,360]. In Playback mode, if the currently selected picture is a movie sequence, this button initiates playback of it.
Popup Flash Release Latch: Aligned with the left side of the pop-up flash compartment, this sliding latch releases the flash into its operating position.
Diopter Adjustment Dial: Located directly beneath the optical viewfinder (on the underside of the lens half of the case), this small, black dial adjusts the viewfinder to accommodate eyeglass wearers.
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