I purchased this camera two months ago. I was intrigued by the swivel lens feature after I had seen a friend using it. I discovered that I liked the camera for its size and weight even more so than the swivel lens, and I was enjoying using the camera and pleased with the performance for the most part. Yes, there is a red eye problem and the recovery time is fairly long for flash photos, but the camera takes relatively sharp photos overall. So in general I was pleased with the camera, and happy to have it as an alternative to my more bulky Olympus C-4000, which after several years is still fine. Now to the problem for which I am going to have to send this back to the retailer...In the last few weeks, I noticed that the LCD screen showed bright images with pinkish tinges and lines running through them. Yesterday while taking snow scenes and photographing snow on a lake through a window, I noticed that the camera could not produce an image at all. It simply came up with a big black void. If I focused the camera on a more shaded image outdoors, it did fine. It also still does fine with indoor photos with flash, but obviously the camera can't compensate for bright light in either the automatic or manual setting. I have had very good luck with all the products that I have purchased overall because I generally read all the reviews and then make a decision, so this is a major disappointment. I thought that I would enjoy taking self-photos of me and friends, but they really aren't that flattering (the angle just isn't right), so that became less of a selling feature with this camera. For a compact camera, there are a lot of really good features (automatic, manual, 3 X optical and and 4 X digital lens, continuous shooting, multiple scene choices such as fireworks,museum, close up, copy, party, snow - and many adjustable settings for exposure, photo quality,etc.) on this camera. I am hoping that this is a fluke, and my new or repaired camera will work for years to come, but if I were a consumer, I would be leery of purchasing this camera knowing what I now know, and also the fact that this camera is discontinued. If you're looking for a similar camera, you may wish to consider the Nikon SQ, but I can't speak for its performance other than to say that the body is constructed of metal and appears to be very solid. It has a partial swivel lens.
I am sending the camera back to the retailer today. It was their last one when I purchased it two months ago. It was an open box product, but it came with a full one year Nikon warranty and additional retailer warranty. I had to seek out the Coolpix 3500 on the Internet and ebay and I decided on this retailer. I am actually hoping that they will need to refund my money or replace the Coolpix 3500 with another model. The actual retail - if you can find this camera- is about 50% of the suggested retail, so it is fairly priced if it works.
I can't tell you how discouraging this is. I have had to review the manual to look at the troubleshooting section. In reviewing the manual, I realized how much I can do with this camera. I only tried out the continuous shooting mode yesterday, and now I have to return the camera! I don't wish this frustration on anyone.

This camera takes sharp and color saturated pictures. I had the chance to compare
with Nikon 5200 and Cannon G500, both 5megapix cameras. Neither took as good
a picture as this 3.2 megapix gem. Since I broke my 3500, (dropped it off a cliff) the process of looking for a replacement has been dissapointing. I tested the above cameras quite thoroughly. Took em both back and am buying on ebay another coolpix 3500.
I just highly recomend this camera for clear, sharp, & colorful photos...
JK Anchorage AK

We have had this camera about a year now and have been through the highs/lows, flash and red eye situations. I wanted a digital camera I could put in my pocket. That I got --and have taken 2,000+ pictures inside/outside, snow/rain forest and have been satisfied with this camera. I have had problems with red eye, but that was easily fixed using the portrait setting where there are flashes before the photo is taken to get eyes prepared. The only thing that continues to be a problem for me is trying to find my subjects in the LCD especially in bright sun. Overall we have been quite satisfied with this camera.

Hope this helps

We liked this camera at first, when it seemed we were only taking daytime outdoor shots. Once you move indoors and start using the flash, the quality is pretty bad, the red eye problem is terrible, and the battery life is ridiculously short. One night of indoor photos, and you wake up the next day to find your battery is dying and it takes about a minute for the flash to recharge after each shot. So if you don't mind hauling your special Nikon battery charger on every trip, or if you plan to mainly use it outdoors, then it's an okay choice. Positive aspects are good design, easy to use, and good software package for uploading pics.

I'd actually give the Nikon Coolpix 3500 3.5 stars if I could. It has many features and is capable of producing very good images, but I'm beginning to expect more from a camera in this price point range (~$400 retail). This is a decent option if you plan to use the camera indoors often - the flash white balance and close-range flash exposure accuracy are excellent, as is the Nikon tradition. Outdoors, in difficult light, the 3500 suffers compared to the competition, with poor color rendition and mediocre exposure accuracy. In recent tests in our work group, the 3500 was rated below average overall in comparison to other optical zoom / 3 MP cameras in the same price range. I think the problems with poor color on outdoor shots with significant contrast were its undoing (green tints to a blue sky stick out like a sore thumb). Right now, I'm leaning towards the Sony and Olympus models as the best overall choice.

This 3.2 Megapixel camera has stood the test of time. Its unique design is a welcome change from the standard rectangle cameras that flood the market. Image quality is great, refresh speed is excellent, no lag whatsoever either from the flash or returning straight to the lcd after a photo is taken. This camera excedes my expectations and continues too when even compared side by side with the new batch of CoolPix cameras (4600 and 5600). If you can find one of these cameras second hand or in like-new condition I say jump at the opportunity.

After my eldest brother had bought this camera somewhere from online, I snagged it from him [for almost 2 years now].
It's awesome for self-portraits instead of stupid "mirror shots"; because you can swivel it around so that it's focused on you&you can see yourself on the screen.

It worked fine before, but when it's not in use for maybe a second, the screen goes blank as if it's on a "sleep" mode. Then I have to turn it off and on again just to get it started back up.

It has a video mode, but it also takes up A LOT of memory&it doesn't record SOUND. The videos only end up to be maybe a second long. Also what videos I did have, I tried to upload them to my computer, however they will not play. So it basically was a waste of time and space on the memory card.

It accidently fell once and the cause of that made it not turn on. Or if it did, it would freeze the screen. [So I gave it back to my brother, but he miraculously fixed it, so I took it back again].
And then after a while, it started doing the same thing. So I let it sit out for a while, hadn't used it in maybe a month and it's just starting to work like normal again.

The latch to open the battery/memory card broke because it's so difficult to get the battery out [I had to take out the battery everytime when the screen froze].

Overall, this camera is not worth 300-400$ as originally paid. If you're willing to shell out that much, you could easily get a camera with more megapixels. If you're going to pay 100-200$ on a used one, I figure it's that cheap for a reason. It'll break/malfunction w/in 2 years.

This stuff isn't cheap folks, do some research for a GOOD QUALITY camera&then look for the best deals [online/other retailers, etc.]

This was my first digital camera. I have it for 6 years now. I got it for christmas in 2002. It still works perfectly. I have absolutely no problems with it. I have taken millions of pictures with this camera. As I am very into photography and took classes all throughout highschool as well as now in college. The only thing is that after taking soooo many pictures I did need to purchase a new battery. You must learn how to use a camera correctly before you give it negative feedback. My photographs, both indoor and outdoor got great compliments and prizes taken with this camera. Just this summer, I upgraded myself to a Canon REBEL XT.