Summary: Nikon D90 vs Canon PowerShot G5
Reviewed - 2009-07-02

After 6 years with my faithful G5 I decided to buy a new camera. Primary reason was shooting under poor light. First, I wanted to buy Canon G10, but I was disappointed with the quality of 15MP sensor. Then I wanted to buy Canon T1i, but I came out with Nikon D90. There are several reasons for that: reasonable pixel count, very good build quality, very useful and quite good kit lens (18-105), good raw conversion software (Capture NX) and attractive price at a moment.

So, what's the filling when you leave 6 year old compact and start shooting with top quality SLR?

What I like about Nikon D90:

- Good high ISO capability. This is relief: you can peacefully shoot up to ISO 3200, while the G5 was out by the ISO 200. Also, Auto ISO is great in low light.
- Kit lens is great. I really missed wide angle before.
- Metering is very good, especially with flash
- D-Lighting is beautiful feature
- Very responsive and fast camera
- Display is gorgeous
- Lens servo capabilities are excellent
- Viewfinder is very good. I was afraid of that little window since I'm used to look on much larger display, but I have no problem using it (even with glasses).

What I dislike about Nikon D90:

- Autofocus dot in the viewfinder is not easy noticeable and you never really know do you have focus or not unless you turn on that beeping which is loud and irritating. My old G5 can change the volume and sound of autofocus beep, why D90 can't?
- Quite heavy
- Awkward balance when you use a neck strap
- I didn't think that would be the problem, but I miss that manual focus window that shows distance.
- Lens is slow. I know, it's kit lens, it's cheap, but I'm used to G5 F2.0-3.0. High ISO can compensate it, but not entirely.
- Live view is really done badly. But is still very useful feature in some situations.

What I still like about Canon G5:

- Size. The whole camera is as big as the 18-105 lens.
- Autofocus is actually quite fast in good light. (It's the shutter lag that is the problem.)
- Fast lens. That F2.0-3.0 is really great thing. It's disappointing that Canon put slower lens on new G7-G10
- Very little lens distortion.
- When you shoot in jpeg, you can still save the picture in raw while you reviewing it. That's very useful trick that I miss on D90.

What I still dislike about Canon G5:

- Noise. G5 have more noise on ISO 200 than D90 on ISO 3200. ISO 400 on G5 is unusable.
- Red eyes are regular problem.
- Purple fringing is terrible.
- Very slow operation.
- Bad autofocus in low light.
- Lens not wide enough (35-140)

Summary: Fantastic, even for a first-time DSLR buyer
Reviewed - 2009-06-28

As a former film SLR owner, I appreciated the convenience of a point & shoot digital camera, and had been very happy with the many photos I'd taken with one over the past 8 years. Still, I had an itch to get back into the game with a DSLR. I seriously considered the D300, but opted for the D90 as a better choice for a first-time DSLR buyer. Even so, I was a bit worried that I would be overwhelmed by the D90's complexity.

I needn't have worried. The D90 has proven to be simple and intuitive, despite its almost unlimited flexibility. Each day that I use it I'm impressed all over again. The in-camera RAW processing was a revelation..I was amazed at the improvements I could make in adjusting exposure and white balance. During a vacation trip in Italy, I shot some indoor pictures in poor lighting conditions that with my old point & shoot would have been worthless, but with Active-D processing, it brought out all sorts of detail in the shadows.

Bottom line: the D90 has already earned a very solid reputation as a "prosumer" level camera, but even if you're a first time buyer, I wouldn't shy away from the D90.

Summary: A step further
Reviewed - 2009-06-28

I used to have a Sony Alpha -- it was my first DSLR camera -- which was ok as an initial step in getting to know the basic aspects of photography. With the D90 for one month I can see how the equipment has more to offer, and the results much better than I expected.

If you are thinking of buying one, go ahead, it's worth it.

Summary: great camera
Reviewed - 2009-06-24

I have been very pleased with my camera so far. The controls are set up in a very common-sense/easy to use manner, just a quick read through of the basics in the manual gets you off to a running start. I cant find a thing that I dont like about this camera or lens. Im also glad I opted for the 18-105 lens-it has a nice range and Ive rarely had to change it out for a larger lens.

Summary: Kit lens is cheap
Reviewed - 2009-06-21

The camera performs as expected. The kit lens is really a cheap one. The mounting ring of the lens is made of plastic. That plastic ring was very fragile and can be easily damaged, leaving the whole lens unusable. That happened to mine. I could not but buy a new lens. But later, I found that you could buy a mounting ring from network for about $10. I purchased the ring, used it to replace the one on that kit lens, all was fine now. The new lens I purchased was returned.

Summary: The D60: When 10.2 MP Are More Than Enough
Reviewed - 2009-06-26

I purchased my D-60 as a kit that included not only the camera but also two VR lenses (18-55mm and 55-200mm), gadget bag, 2 instructional DVD's, Nikon Capture software and a 2 GB San-Disk SD card for a total of $[...]. Having had a D-70s in the past, I found that the "learning curve" with the D-60 is not nearly as steep as some might make you believe.

While considered a mid-level "pro-am" camera, the D-60 takes remarkably clear shots and has the added advantage of allowing the use of almost any Nikon lens available, be it 25 years old or 2.5 months old. After having trailed Canon for a while in the "self-cleaning sensor" department, the D-60 shows Nikon has finally adopted this feature. All I can say is, "It's about time". At last, I no longer have to take my camera in for its annual "sensor scrub". Halleluah!

The D-60 has 2.5MP less resolution than the new D-5000. I started to get one of those, but couldn't see paying an extra [...] bucks for a lousy 2.5MP resolution gain. I'm not planning on blowing my pictures up to wall size or billboard size so there was no way to justify the extra expense. Besides, the D-60 does everything I want it to. Plus, it allows "in camera" red-eye correction, cropping and some basic editing. You can also switch a photo from color to B&W, Sepia or Cyanotype all inside the camera (though it DOES keep the original color shot when it creates the new "color edited" picture).

The only "complaint" (if you can really call it that) is that the D-60 still does not have the "Full Frame Sensor". Instead of WYSIWYG, you get 92% of what you see in the viewfinder. While this is not a major issue as long as you're aware of it, it would have been nice to see Nikon upgrade the D-60 with the same FFS it has in some of its higher end digital SLR's.
For the price, I can't beat what I have with a stick! The D-60 is an excellent camera and (in my opinion) the best camera to usae to introduce anyone into the world of digital SLR photography.

Summary: all that you need to take great picture
Reviewed - 2009-06-23

This camera takes amazing pictures. I dont have to be expert. It can take 3 frames per second, but remember that 3 frames are only possible when you dont need to use flash. Charging of the flash takes time between two shots.

Summary: Nikon D60 or Canon XSi
Reviewed - 2009-06-22

After doing much reading and going back and forth trying to decide which camera was the one for me I went for the Nikon D60 - Price wise the Nikon is a little less than the Canon but if you are looking for an SLR camera you can spend a few bucks more to get the better quallity item, in my case after much web surfing I learned that the Canon has issues with service and the equipment itself, more than Nikon. As a customer I should be able to buy something and get what I paid for, if such item doesn't work 100% out of the box I should be able to get a new one and not have it sent for repair (then what is their quallity control good for?) - I barely found any issues with the Nikon brand, I found more praises that anything else. The picture quallity is stunning, easy to use (I'm one that plays first then reads the manual) - colors are superv - the only thing I did not like is that it doesnt have "live view", meaning that you can't see on the screen what you are getting ready to shoot at, you have to use the viewfinder. But even then, after using it and seing the results I don't care for that feature any more, I rather have a camera that is going to give me great pictures and a warranty that is going to cover it as well, the camera itself comes with a one year but the lens comes with a 5 year warranty from Nikon. It also has a feature that allows you to add filters after you have taken the picture, keeping the original intact. The viewfinder is very brigh and of good size. I also looked for a good and convinient bag for it and the best I found was the Mytho Swiss Gear (model GA-7865-02F00) that you can find for 49.00 bucks at your local electronics store. And as a last note, I love buying from Amazon, they have good prices and good customer service.

Summary: Great for entry-level dSLR
Reviewed - 2009-06-17

I'm just getting into photography, so this review will be quite non-technical. I think the D60 is a good camera for those just starting. The D40 would be an equally good choice, but the D60 does have more megapixels, which is good for making larger prints and for massive cropping of images. It also has the sensor cleaner, for whatever good that is worth. It has a few other minor differences from the D40, probably not making it worth the price difference between the 2 based on features alone.

However, the D60 kit includes a VR version of the 18-55mm lens, whereas the D40 kit lens is not a VR lens. Most will say that one doesn't need VR at these focal lengths, which is mostly true except that for someone just starting out, my hand is pretty shaky and when shooting at the 55mm end and/or in low light conditions where faster shutter speed might be hard to come by, I personally feel like the VR is helpful.

So to me, the few different features AND the VR lens make the D60 a worthwhile purchase in my opinion. If money is an issue, get the D40 and don't look back, because the practical differences are minor, but if you can swing the extra for the D60, I think it is worth it.

I personally am in love with my D60 and with photography in general. The D60 has been a dream to learn on. It's not loaded down with features that I don't know how to use. It just has the basics, making it a good platform to learn on. The image quality from the camera is excellent. the kit lens is good for a kit lens, although you will likely want to purchase other lenses as you learn. The 55-200mm VR lens makes a great inexpensive addition for those just starting out to have decent range coverage to experiment with.

In all i'm very happy with my purchase and when I'm ready to graduate to a body with more features, I just might keep my D60 around. Its a great compact camera that is a dream to travel with (as far as dSLRs go anyway). I take the camera with me all the time. Obviously its not a point & shoot to carry in my pocket, but when I know I'm going to be somewhere where I want more control then a p&s, i am comfortable carrying my d60 because its pretty compact as far as dSLRs go.

Summary: So Far So Good But Getting Different Version
Reviewed - 2009-06-14

Almost 30 years ago all I had was an SLR and loved it. My Minolta XG cameras were wonderful and took better pictures than almost anything I have ever had. Eventually they started having issues and film became almost obsolete. I used Canon P and S digital cameras for many years and recently bought a Panasonic Lumix TZ5 which is fabulous. I wanted to get back in to SLR and did much research and tried many hands on displays in local stores. I also spoke to many people in local camera shops and they all suggested getting the D60 over the D40 as well as the Rebel XSi assuming I could afford the D60. The Rebel XSi is much bigger than the D60, and for the money the D60 was saving me, virtually all stated the D60 was a much better value then the Rebel, and that picture quality between the two was virtually identical. Costco had a package for $699.00 which included D60, 1GB card (almost worthless now), two VR lenses (18-55 and 55-200 Nikon) and case. The case was worthless as it was way to small for everything. After a few days, I decided I did not want to mess with changing out lenses, and since the "free" Nikon bag was too small, plus the tax was high where I bought, brought back to Costco. There was nothing special about the two Nikon Lenses either and I found that when using the 18-55mm lens with a skylight and polarizing filter, when at the widest angle setting, 18mm, the two filters together were too thick and caused distortion in the view. The D60 itself was just "OK", not great but then again I did not have much use. I did like the many optional features and options the camera offered. I then saw on Amazon a special version, "black gold" (body only) and I decided to order from Amazon with the Tamron 18-200mm single lens and although the Tamron lacks "VR" I still paid MUCH less than the Costco package and also ordered the remote and an extra battery and a couple of filters to boot.

It was a great deal with $50.00 off and I trust Amazon anyway.

As far as the actual pictures the initial camera took, I did not have much experience, but based on what I saw so far seemed ok. There was a difference I saw when using "P" setting versus "AUTO" and did not exactly understand all the menu options, but the Nikon D60 fit really well in my hands, was easy to use, felt sturdy and I will give another chance. Also the "black gold" special version sure looks nice.

On a final note, I did not buy an SLR for the "live View" and that sort of defeats the purpose for me of an SLR. I also could care less about what, if any, software comes with the camera. All I want is a decent SLR and lens for around what I paid. Even if the software was real bad, and as the D60 comes, with no "live view", I would not let it affect my rating. After I get the D60 I ordered from Amazon, I will update the review.

Summary: Nikon D40 with kit lens
Reviewed - 2009-07-01

Ordered my Nikon D40 on Sunday, received it on the following Wednesday... Great service by Amazon. The camera is exceptional! I showed it to a friend of mine, a professional photographer and he was amazed at the camera (he's a Canon guy) and even more amazed at the price. I have been interested in photography for a long time but haven't had a SLR since the film days. I am having lots of fun with the D40, its hard to take a bad picture when you use the automatic mode. Since I got the camera I have purchased a UV Filter, Remote Control, Gorillapod and a Crumpler Camera bag and have been doing a lot of reading and experimenting.
Thanks KenRockwell.com for the recommendation and the tutorials.

Summary: Great starter SLR
Reviewed - 2009-06-29

I am a complete noob when it comes to SLRs. After researching DSLRs for a month or so, I decided on the D40. I am extremely happy with the choice. I've bought a D40 book and have been teaching myself how to use it to get the best possible shot. Its easy to use, the menus are self explanitory and easy to navigate. The kit lens that comes with it is a little junky, you're going to want to upgrade that pretty quickly. My standard kit is a Sigma f/1.4 50mm and a Nikon 55-200 AF VR. I rarely find myself in situations that these 2 lenses wont do what I need them to do.

If you're looking for a great entry level DSLR, this is the one to get.

Summary: Right camera for me
Reviewed - 2009-06-26

[...] I found that it has all the features that I need/want and was a lot less money than the cameras that I was considering (Nikon D5000 or D90). Easy to use and great pictures.

Summary: My first SLR
Reviewed - 2009-06-26

After surviving with a point and shoot that was slow and always missed the moment, I finally broke down and bought an SLR. After 6 months of research, the D40 seemed like the best camera for the money, especially for a beginner.

Got the camera on a Friday, in time for a weekend in San Antonio. By end of the weekend, I had taken 900 pictures at the Alamo and Sea World!! It was so nice to catch the picture right now! The pictures came out great, it's super easy to use, and for the price, I would recommend this to anyone.

Summary: NIKON D40. Your first step into "real Photogrphy"
Reviewed - 2009-06-21

Great camera. If you need more than what this camera gives, you shold purchase a Hasselbad. Easy to use-sharp photos with both lens. Have used it local and on a trip to Banf, Cansda and recorded the Calgary Stampede and show. Ansel Adams would have gone nuts with this camera and the Canadian Rockys. The battery has a long life. The on camera flash works well up to about fifteen feet. But an SB400 flash. Contact me at "[...] and I will email youa couple of photos.
There are other fine cameras out there but the my final judgement was made after seeing the Nikon website and the online hoto program describing exactly how the camera function and examples of how each mode functions. Better than any written manual that I have ever seen.

Summary: Perfect Wireless Remote
Reviewed - 2009-07-02

if you need some good self portraits and you have your handy dandy tripod...get this remote kick back and let the pictures fly! this wireless is small...very discreet(if you make it). very quick response and you can really take it anywhere.
so Point and CLICK!

Summary: Great Addition
Reviewed - 2009-07-01

For $13 I cannot think of a better investment to your Nikon inventory. Slim, easy, and works great. No more running into the shot and trying to compose yourself with less than 1 second to go.

Uses:
- Spares you from racing into a photo
- Easily capture multiple frames from a distance
- Avoid any camera shake during long exposures.

Summary: Good product
Reviewed - 2009-06-27

I had my remote working and ready to go within 5 minutes of opening the package. All it took for my Nikon D60 was changing the shutter release setting to remote control immediate release. Some people said that it wouldn't work from behind the camera, but mine does as long as you're close enough. In front of the camera, it works good as well.. I just wish it had a little longer range. Anything over about 5-10 feet and it will not work. Overall, I'm glad I purchased it.. a great addition to my acessories, and I'd still purchase it again knowing what I know now.

Summary: Does what it is supossed to do
Reviewed - 2009-06-26

Works with my nikon d-60 just fine. Only need to change setting on your camera to accept IR and it works.

Summary: Looks and sounds good but can not get it to work!
Reviewed - 2009-06-26

I purchased the Nikon ML-L3 Wireless Remote Control and was excited about its features. However after spending many hours studying and reviewing the instructions both on line and in the Nikon owners manual for the camera and for the remote itself I could not get the camera to recognize a signal.. Therefore I guess I wasted my investment for what was advertised as a remote for my D60 Nikon DSLR camera. Very disappointing - to say the least!!

Summary: Love it!
Reviewed - 2009-06-27

A great camera. Took clear, crisp pictures all the time. Easy to use and carry. I would recommend this camera.

Summary: Takes some getting used to, but good camera!
Reviewed - 2009-06-22

I tend to wonder about the other reviewers who complain a lot about this camera. With each new camera and change in technology, there are bound to be differences and things you will have to get used to. First off, I took 400 photos at a concert on a single battery. However, because the ISO can be set to 3200 (which most smaller cameras can not!) I did not need to use the flash at all! I am sure, if you are not willing to increase the ISO, the flash will, as with all cameras, eat through the battery pretty quick.

My only complaint so far, and I have had this camera for 3 months, is the location of the zoom. I feel this was placed a bit low on the screen and takes some true getting used to. The screen responce can get sluggish, but I have found this to me true when you have a large number of photos on the card. When flipping through the 400 photos I took, it was pretty sluggish, but when I was flipping through 100 or so, it was just fine.

I have also compared my photos with my D200 (I take outdoor photos) and I coudl not tell a difference...and neither could a prof. photographer who I sent my photos to for editing.

All if all, this is a great camera! It takes some getting used to, but I have been very happy with my 3 mo. using it.

Summary: Great Product/Terrible Service
Reviewed - 2009-06-05

Nikon Coolpix is a great product, but it will be a very long time before I order electronics via Amazon. And I will never order electronics with Amazon when there is any time sensitivity.

The product itself is great. My son can't get enough of it. Takes it wherever he goes and my entire family loves the extraordinary clarity of the pictures. Every photos is crisp, clean, sharp. There really isn't anything to think about. If you want one, get one. If you order it here, buyer beware.

My son saved his money and I ordered the Nikon Coolpix S60 from Amazon because it was a good price compared to in-store. He wanted it for all the graduation events coming up for him and thought to save a bit of money. He has regretted it ever since. So have I.

When the expected delivery date came and went, he was disappointed. I explained that things happen. I understood, but he had to understand, too, that the expected delivery date was not a guaranteed delivery date. Ok, so he missed one event with his friends: there were many others.

Ten days later, having now missed several events, I called Amazon customer service and was assured it would arrive the next day. It didn't. He (and I) missed another irreproducible graduation event. When it didn't arrive as promised, I called customer service a second time. This time I was promised it would arrive next day before noon. It didn't. In fairness, it came that day, but around 6pm.

The camera is great. Get it--elsewhere. My complaint is with Amazon. The delivery system needs an overhaul. Customer service was horrendous. When the camera did finally arrive two weeks after the expected delivery date, there was no explanation, no "all out recovery." Sure, they paid over-night shipping, but it wasn't over-night: it was 14 days late! Caveat Emptor.

Summary: Sorely disappointed
Reviewed - 2009-05-31

Was so looking forward this this "great camera." Outdoors-it is a gem; Wonderful, vibrant colors abound! Indoors-the pictures are very grainy and have a yellowish tint. For what you are paying-there is NO way you should have to settle for mediocrity. The novelty of the touch screen is great-but that doesn't cut it for me.

Summary: Waste of money
Reviewed - 2009-05-29

I was so excited to get this camera but after having it for a month I was VERY disappointed!! This is the first Nikon camera I have ever owned and I hate to say it, but it will be the last. This camera took very crappy pictures. I also have a 7 mp Cannon camera and that camera takes great pictures! I ended up selling this nikon on craigslist for half the price I paid for it. THIS CAMERA IS A WASTE OF MONEY!!!!

Summary: D300 rocks!
Reviewed - 2009-06-25

Now it's safe to say, there are a ton of great reviews for this camera, and I might not even have anything new to say, but I'm going to say it anyways.

I had the D200 (a wonderful camera as well) for about 16 +- months before considering the D300. I WANTED the D300, but didn't NEED the D300.

It all started one day when I started planning a trip to Florida ... sort of. I typically go out weekends to TRY and relax taking pictures. I'm new to this, so I spend a lot of time, but no where near enough time, shooting and learning to get the most out of the D200. Now I'm sure it's me and not the camera, but many of my shots were on the darkside (light - dark), so I was spending a fair amount of time dealing with this in PS, iPhoto and Aperture. Was this because I'm color blind, who knows, but it was an issue (for me). In any case, the D300 was announced and Nikon said it was a much better camera (surprise?). Well with my upcoming trip, I decided to see if I could sell my D200, and then get a D300 and cross my fingers.

Well I sold the D200 on a Monday, order my new D300 from B&H Tuesday, got it here on that Friday, got it together, tried it, loaded in the car, and left for Florida.

Well I took a few pictures on the way down, and read the book quickly (my first mistake), so I would be better prepared when I arrived in Florida.

Florida is about a 22 - 26 hour drive from Maine, so it didn't give me much time to play or read before I got there, but I was hoping enough. After all it was only an up-grade to a camera I had been using for some time now.

WOW, I took 25 +- pictures at a wonderful park across the street from the hotel I was staying, and ALL of the pictures were wonderful! Wonderful in the sense they weren't dark, blurry or anything. Yes, I said to myself, I got lucky, the default settings are more suited for the way I shoot, the lights better in Florida then in Maine, I just had a good nights sleep ...?

Well I have had the camera now for some time, and my rate of keepers is 10 fold over what it was with the D200. Now this only means I'm getting what I consider to be, better pictures, and after all, I'm the only one that matters here - right:)

I could ramble on for hours about this camera, but I'll close by saying "It's a wonderful camera, that I'm real glad I purchased". For me it has made a huge difference in the quality of my photo's, much for me means, I'll get better, easier, and will use the camera more.

[...]

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Summary: Nikon D300 Refurbished
Reviewed - 2009-06-04

I was highly pleased to receive my new D300 quite promptly and ahead of the anticipated delivery date. These refurbished units are usually demo cameras from trade shows that sit on a table for a few hours, then are sent back to Nikon for a dust-off, tweaking, repackaging and massive price reduction! Superb! Everything was pristine and mint. Camera is exactly what I was expecting and performs up to specs. Anyone seeking a great deal on great equipment- I suggest you take advantage of these astonishing savings for what is essentially a brand new product that you receive.

Summary: exactly what I wanted!
Reviewed - 2009-05-13

I did my homework - got just what I was hoping for.
I am very pleased

Summary: Nikon D300
Reviewed - 2009-05-12

In february of this year, I decided to enter the world of digital photography. I initially decided to get a D90, which I ordered from B&H along with the kit lens (18-105mm VR) After using it for a few months, and getting more and more serious about photography, I decided to sell my D90 and it's kit lens on craigslist and use the proceeds to fund an upgrade to something a little more "professional"--a d300 and the nikon 17-55mm f/2.8. All I can say is "wow!". the differences seem subtle between these cameras on paper (i.e. same sensor, etc.) but once you pick them up and handle each one, you will never confuse them again. The d300 screams professional, while the D90 definitely screams amateur. Not that there's anything wrong with this; If you don't feel you need the advantages the d300 gives you, don't get it. But if you need weather sealing, 6/8 FPS, 100% viewfinder coverage, mirror lockup, a better grip, non chrome shutter release (getting into the small stuff here) and more, do yourself a favor and pick up a d300.

Summary: Great backup body for professionals, Great all-around camera for high-end amateurs.
Reviewed - 2009-05-12

This is the perfect semi-professional Nikon model for people like me (semi-professional) as well as for amateur photographers looking for maximum control. Unlike Nikon's consumer-grade SLRs the 300 allows full control of all camera functions. In fact, by removing the "scene mode" wheel (close-up portrait, action, &c.), this camera requires you to control the settings. I've done a lot of shooting with the D50, D70 and D90 and this is large step beyond even the outstanding D90. The image sensor is amazing and the sharpness and color capture are outstanding. I love pretty much everything about this camera. My only regret is that I didn't wait a little longer and get the D700 or Dx with the full FX image sensor. Otherwise, sweet camera and, if you search around, you can find a Nikon-refurb model for under $1000, which is an outstanding value.

Summary: Fantastic Lens
Reviewed - 2009-07-01

I bought this lens from Amazon and at first my oder got lost, but they sent another one, in just a one day dilivery. I am very happy with this lens and the way Amazon took care of the problem. The lens takes very clear picture's and great color. Its worth the money !

Summary: Great telephoto on a budget
Reviewed - 2009-06-30

If you are looking for a quality telephoto lens, but don't have $500+ to spend, this is the lens for you. The VR is a great feature not found in many other lenses in this price range. Despite what some other online reviews say, this lens *does* have manual focus. I will agree that the autofocus is a little on the slow side, but I was still able to get some great shots at the air show a few weeks ago. Definitely recommend this product.

Summary: Nice Lens
Reviewed - 2009-06-25

I had purchased the Sigma 70-300 macro f/4-5.6. Which is like one of the best lenses I ever used. I can't even begin to describe the sharpness of my Images at full zoom. Anyway, the lens is great but really heavy to lug around all day. So I bought this one Nikon 55-200 f/4-5.6 with VR. It's alot lighter and works great with my D60. The Images at full tele are a little soft but good and a lot easier to lug around all day. Good lens I recommend it. Can't beat either lens for price.

Summary: very pleased
Reviewed - 2009-06-18

Everything they d=stated came with my package and the shipping was super fast.. excellent service.

Summary: Great lens, VR is awesome, not heavy duty
Reviewed - 2009-06-12

I bought this lens and took great photos with it. It has a narrow range of apertures, but with VR you can go 3-4 stops slower without blurring. I took great photos in very low light when I set speed to 3200 on my DX-40. The only problem I had is that it fell off a shelf (in the camera bag of course) and it broke. So don't let yours go bungee jumping.

Summary: Fragile & Distorted
Reviewed - 2009-06-30

I was starting to get really tired of trying to get the distortion out of every one my better shots using PS or CNX2. Zoom in - Zoom out - didn't matter, distortion was there.

The problem is solved! The lens practically self destructed yesterday.

The lens was in my padded camera bag which I put down on a living room recliner. The balance must have been off or something because the bag rolled over and fell about a foot and a half to the carpeted floor. It fell softly, I barely heard it.

Opened up the bag, the lens was cosmetically perfect. Tried to zoom it, totally jammed. Tried to focus it, dial moves but lens doesn't move.

Yes, it was my fault, but when you design a lens out of plastic parts with a goofy two stage zoom, you have to expect problems. I'll send it in to Nikon, but I'm not optimistic. I searched around to find some repair costs, and one guy had the plastic mount replaced at the back of his lens, a 3 screw job, and it cost $136.00. I always heard good things about Nikon service, but I found a lot of horror stories. Perhaps the sales of entry level plastic lenses and dSLR's is straining the system?

I bought 2 pro level metal Nikon lenses today, of course they cost more than a D300 and a D700 combined, but hopefully these are the REAL Nikon product and will last for my lifetime.

Summary: Handle with care, not a miracle worker
Reviewed - 2009-06-30

I had this lens a year. I've owned many Nikon lens over the last 20 years as a pro. I bought this thinking I might be able to hand hold at lower shutter speeds, which wasn't the case, so I was disappointed. When I dropped this on a carpeted floor it completely came apart, and Nikon refused to warranty it. Therefore,buyer beware, its not a sturdy lens, and
the VR capability isn't a life changer! Otherwise its nice to have a lens with such flexibility, but I'm not replacing it....

Summary: What a great lens!
Reviewed - 2009-06-30

This lens is amazing! An all time lens to capture the most important memories of your life. The VR function works great and I was able to take nice pictures using 1/30 sec without tripod. Worth every penny.

Summary: simply the perfect lens
Reviewed - 2009-06-28

this is perfect all in one lens. compact and sharp! love this lense. I only use this and my 35mm prime. the perfect combo for me. it is expensive, but considering it could be your "only" lens it's well worth it!

Summary: Nikon 18-200mm VR Zoom Lens
Reviewed - 2009-06-27

Product is the best match for your Nikon SLR. I have used other popular after market lens brands but always come back to the O.E.M. branded lenses.The quality is such that your pictures will pop off the prints or your computer screen. Color shift is minimal and the 200mm focal length will let more light in. Buying on Amazon was the best choice since there was an increase in pricing of Nikon products in the U.S.

Summary: Fantastic camera!!!
Reviewed - 2009-06-30

Having used the Nikon P90 for a couple of weeks, I can honestly say I am 100% satisfied with its performance. I own a Nikon film SLR and find the performance/quality of the P90 to be comparable or better. I find its features easy to use right out of the box. It is definitely worth spending the time to go through the manual for the finer performance details, however, it is not essential if you simply want to put the camera in auto mode and zoom into all of those shots that you wanted to take with your point & shoot but were just too far away. No problem with the P90! The clarity/color of the super-zoom shots you take are simply breathtaking. Unless you are the type willing to pay, and knowledgeable enough to figure out, the $1500 + digital SLR, you will not notice the subtle improvements the digital SLR will provide. The zoom, sports "burst" mode & panorama assist are the features I love the best. This is an incredibly versatile camera. The only drawback, if you can call it a drawback, is its size. It won't fit in your pocket. But find me a camera that performs like the P90 and fits in my pocket and I'll buy it! Do yourself a favor, buy this camera. You won't be disappointed!

Summary: I love this camera
Reviewed - 2009-06-28

I love this camera. My husband has a very expensive Nikon D5000 which I tried. It takes good pictures but you need very expensive lenses for it. I am an artist and wanted to be able to paint birds, flowers etc.

The camera is light, easy to hold, and takes great photos.

Summary: If you can find a better 24x zoom camera...
Reviewed - 2009-06-25

No camera is perfect, but none of the negative comments on here offset the 24x zoom, the equivalent of 26-624mm on a 35mm film camera. And at smaller picture sizes, the optical zoom becomes MUCH greater, maybe 1000mm or more. And on the other end of the scale (26mm), the P90 gives a wider field of view than my prior Nikon, the P5100.

But the P90 is not a one-trick pony. In fact, it can do a number of great tricks. Like the P5100, it has panorama assist (my favorite feature, though combining vertical and horizontal panning for large pictures would make it even better) with automatic stitching software, easy selection of different types of scenes (e.g.: fireworks, portrait, etc.), a wide range of camera/picture controls.

I uploaded a picture of a flag taken inside, hand-held, at 1/15th second exposure with VR, with side-by-side comparison of the P90 and the P5100 and the P90 actually seems to be the better picture with less noise in the blue background. I'm sure you can find a camera which takes better low-light indoor pictures, but can you find one (in this price range) that does that PLUS takes 24x zoom pictures?

I also find taking macro pictures (such as of flowers) to be much easier with the P90, especially with the tilting LCD. I had no trouble getting the P90 to focus correctly in macro mode - something the P5100 had problems doing. The P90's new manual focus is also a welcome addition, as is the much larger LCD monitor.

This is the first Coolpix I've had (of 4) which has an electronic viewfinder, which gives you through-the-lens viewing plus lets you see all the camera settings, etc.

Another reviewer complained about having to pop up the flash to use it. I'm just the opposite. To keep the P5100 from flashing when I don't want it to, I have to do a bunch of button-pressing to stop it, versus pushing one button to pop up the flash when wanted. To each his own.

There's not room to list all the features I love, such as being able to crop, rotate, and/or retouch pictures in camera while reviewing them, as well as the real-time red-eye correction, blink warning, etc.

On the cautionary side:

(1) This is NOT a pocket camera. When the camera arrived in the mail, I was really surprised to see how big it is. I uploaded a picture with the P90 and P5100 side-by side from an angled overhead view so that you can see the difference. The P90 is about 20% wider and maybe 4x deeper (with lenses in all the way).

(2) Even with VR, you cannot expect to take a picture handheld with a 624+mm zoom and get it perfectly sharp. Expect to use a tripod for such pictures, making this even less of a casual camera. If you order the P90 and don't have a tripod, you may as well order one at the same time.

(3) No hot shoe. Again, I'm not getting a 24x zoom camera to do wedding photography, so it's not a big deal for me.

Bottom line: I do not consider this a general-purpose camera. You either want/need the 24x zoom lens or you don't. If you do, there is nothing about the P90 which will make you sorry you got it, especially if you already have a camera which does other things you want, such as doing portraits, putting it in your pocket (though phones are taking over that role), etc.

Summary: Cool Nikon Coolpix P90
Reviewed - 2009-06-24

Nikon Coolpix P90 is a wonderful camera for beginners or more advanced photographers. It's very easy to use on auto setting, and the 3" LCD screen is great for review. My favorite feature is the zoom, which makes picture taking so easy. My only complaint is that the rechargeable battery wasn't fully charged, so remember to buy a spare or charge it at home. The camera has exceeded our expectations in every way. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to anyone. It's definitely worth the price for the zoom alone.

Summary: WARNING! This camera has no RAW setting!
Reviewed - 2009-06-19

I am returning this product. Wow, silly me.... It never occurred to me that Nikon would produce a 12 mega pixel camera with a 24x optical zoom and NOT have included the ability to shoot RAW. Why? Maybe they didn't want it to compete with their more expensive SLRs. I should have been more careful reading the specs before I bought it. I was looking for a nice alternative to my D100 (a great camera but now outdated). So, for the money, my bet is now with the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ28K. It has 18x zoom, 10 mega pixels, it can be used with manual settings as well as point and shoot plus it shoots RAW. It also sports Leica optics. There it is, learn from my mistake. This Nikon would have been a great camera-perfect really..... but alas!

Summary: Nikon L20
Reviewed - 2009-06-26

I have an L18 too. Also in DSLR Nikons I use a D40 and a D300.

For $100- this camera is really superb. It fits comfortably in your pocket, uses 2 AA batteries, and takes great pictures.

Summary: Great Camera for low price
Reviewed - 2009-06-26

Nikon Coolpix L20 10MP Digital Camera with 3.6 Optical Zoom and 3 inch LCD (Deep Red)
I have found the L20 to do quite well for a low cost camera. Excellent features, easy to use, great photos. Love the raised holding area for a firm grip. This was my primary reason for purchasing this model as I tend to drop things.My only change would be for this area to have a rubber grip, but not everyone needs a rubber grip, or any at all. Great color and terrific zoom and macro qualities. I did some shots in heavy wind and most turned out even though I was being blown around causing movement. My husband and I both bought this one as he is a truck driver and often photographs from a moving truck. Would make the same choice again.

Summary: Unbelievable that this is from Nikon
Reviewed - 2009-06-21

We bought this camera today and it's going back to the store. There is a serious design flaw in this camera that results in unacceptably poor image quality in all but bright daylight. Shooting indoors in the middle of the day in a fairly brightly lit room produced images that were comparable to most cell phone camera. The problem seems to be its metering. Set to auto mode, the camera refused to flash, even though its meter was clearly telling it that there was not sufficient light. Instead, it pushed the ISO to 800 and then dropped the shutter speed to 1/30. The result: a drab, grainy, noisy, blurry picture ( as shooting handheld at 1/30 is likely to do). Trying other shooting modes (including "indoor/party") did not help. Since you can't force the camera to flash there is little one can do to compensate. Amazingly, shooting outdoors in the shade (but with plenty of ambient light), the camera flashed when shooting a person up close, producing an over-exposed picture. Trust me--even if you think "I'm not that picky"---you will be disappointed in this camera. Consider other options in this price range.

Summary: It cannot use regular AA batteries
Reviewed - 2009-06-20

The camera will not work with regular AA batteries that you can buy anywhere on the planet. It needs special (read expensive) AA batteries that I am trying to purchase on the Internet.

Never install the software that comes with any camera. Use a card reader and your camera will treat it like a storage device. You can move the jpg files from the camera to your computer. You can edit and print with Picasa which is free.

When I find more batteries, I will update my review.

Summary: bad service
Reviewed - 2009-06-17

I do not think it has a good comment, the purchase is made one months ago and the product still does not have in my hands due to an error from UPS, so I ask that my case be reviewed