I have been using the 995 since 2001, I am a medical Radiologist, in my field everybody needs a high quality digital camara aid for storing cases. The results using my Nikon 995 compared to other cameras (from my collegues) in the same range are breath taking!! You a get a great Nikor lens, with a very convenient Makro and so many manual options that makes it impossible to need another camera.
Plus you can have add-ons that the others don?t have like the slide reproducer that lets you digitize all the old slides!!. I have literaly taken thousands of pictures and works as good as new. The 995 lets you take charge when you need to, but also has the automatic ?SNAPPY? mode for easier shots. It?s a must have. After comparing I can?t imagine 3 years later why would I want to change it for another.

Just got home today after looking at new digital cameras, all of the sudden my Nikon 995 seems HUGE. But over the past 18 months it has been flawless, and made me switch completely to digital for family and some work (dentist).
I thought it interesting that someone noted that red eye was not as much of a problem as earlier Nikon digital cameras - I thought it was a big problem, and it would be my one complaint about the 995.
The 3.2MP was more then sufficient, I recently just got an 8 X 10" from an online printing surface, and it is beautiful. Printing on my HP 7550 I was able to get excellent 5" X 7"'s, but I guess this isn't a printer review.
The menus are easy, and downloading via USB was a snap. I would rate the software as very average. I still don't understand why WIN XP can't just recognize the camera for direct downloading instead of going through a third party soft ware.
I have now attached the camera to a clinical microscope and will continue to use it. And I don't think I will buy anything more then a 4MP camera for my next hobby camera. Of course, I just purchased the 6.2 Canon Rebel today for work and serious photograpy, but that's another story...

I received this camera as a gift 2 years ago.

I sell gemstones and jewelry and it was very important that I could get a camera that took good closeup pictures. This camera never let me down!

It is also great for everyday pics of the family or vacation shots but it met and exceeded my needs for the up close images I needed.

Thanks Nikon for an awesome camera! :-)

I have always enjoyed using Nikon camera's. I recently Switched to the digital from the 35mm after some extensive questions regarding the cost of and usefullnes of the digital. I found that the Coolpix 995 was as flexable as any of my 35mm's. I have taken an image up to 11x14 and was real impressed with the resolution of the 995 in comparison to the 35mm Nikon loaded with asa 100 film. Ya can't go wrong with this camera, "Hurray" for the Nikon company...you've done it again, Thanks!

I bought my Coolpix 995 almost a year ago and can finally say that I
have used, and feel comfortable with all it's capabilities. This is not just a point and shoot camera, although it can be used that way with excellent results. In difficult situations one is able to control everything from exposure to focus, and easily confirm that the result is what you hoped for. I have been taking photos for 30 (yes thirty) years and graduated from the darkroom to digital with anticipation. I was not disappointed. I have used this camera to convert slides and negatives to digital format with excellent results. The built in flash is good for many situations and you can fiddle with the settings to extend it's range, but an accessory bracket will allow you to use your old flash unit to extend it even more.
The accessories I would recommend are the flash bracket, Nikon's wide angle adapter, at least 1 128 Meg flash card and an extra battery. I have filled a 128 meg flash card (about 120 pictures at the full/fine setting) using the monitor and built in flash for each and still had power to review them. I had another battery and flash card and that shoot netted me over 200 images of a local band for their web site.

I haven't touched my "analog" cameras since buying this one and have not looked back with any regrets, except that digital capabilities didn't come sooner.

I use this camera at work, often on occasions when I am sent on assignments I didn't know about when I went home the evening prior.

This is not my favorite camera for a number of reasons. What bothers me most is the view I receive through the viewfinder. The viewfinder is small, to begin, being only about one square inch. The views are often clouded in shades of red, gray or black, also, not what you look at with the naked eye.

Turning the camera in half, like the photo on this page, does not improve matters. I find this camera somewhat difficult to manage with controls being tiny and that abominable viewfinder constantly creating problems for me.

It does take fine pictures, however, and transferring them from the camera to a PC or other media is simply a matter of plugging in and pushing a button. So it does the job well. If only it was an equal pleasure while I was using it I could rate this better.

I bought the 995 almost 4 and a half years ago and have not been disappointed. My only regret is not being able to find a replacement. I have taken well over 20 000 pictures, mostly work (Hand surgeon), have dropped it a few times, (perhaps that's why its not working as well now) and LOVE IT! Giving me some trouble now, but I would gladly buy a similar new one.

The macro mode is great. The ring flash that comes with it allows very accurate colour reproduction. Only trouble as someone else mentioned earlier is the start-up time. But this camera is 5 years old... give it a break!

I struggled for years with my film cameras to take good close-up photos, but was never able to get the colors right. In February, 2002, I spent $[...] on a Coolpix 995. It was a whole new world!

The purpose of this camera was very specialized. I wanted it to take very close-up photos of wristwatches and pocketwatches for my website, in order to show what the watches looked like at various stages of disassembly. This camera was perfect for the job.

To take close-up photos, I adjust the ISO to 100, turn off the flash, use Aperture Priority and select the smallest aperture possible. I adjust the zoom to the midpoint, select the micro setting and the self-timer. With the camera on a tripod, I press the button. Ten seconds later, it takes the photo. The results have been the best I have ever had with any camera. The photos on the website brought me increased business and my equipment has paid for itself many times.

In 2007, I found another Coolpix 995 in a pawn shop for $[...] plus tax. They also had a Coolpix 5000 for $[...]. At those prices, I had to have them both! Then I found a terrific assortment of accessories on Amazon.com, which all arrived today. They included:

1. Nikon 8x20d lens, a TELESCOPE AND MICROSCOPE for the 995.
2. Nikon TC-E2 teleconverter (2x or 200%) for the 995.
3. Nikon WC-E63 wideangle teleconverter (63%) for the 995.
4. Nikon Cool-Light SL-1, a ring flash for micro photography with the 995.
5. Nikon UR-E6 adaptor makes it possible to use the accessories above with the Coolpix 5000 camera.
6. Nikon MB-E5000 battery pack for the Coolpix 5000.

If you buy either of these cameras, you want all the accessories above. The prices for these accessories on Amazon.com are a small fraction of what they once sold for, probably because of low demand for them now.

Having tried out a new Coolpix S1, I can compare the older to the newer. The older cameras here offer the most spectacular micro-photography, especially when using the 8x20d lens. The older cameras offer Aperture Priority and Manual settings, which are essential for micro-photography. The new Coolpix S1, however, does not have these settings, nor can it get as close to the subject as the other two cameras. However, the closeness was good enough for most of my needs, and the colors were so much better! I use my new Coolpix S1 for most of my photography now because of the better colors and because it is so much easier to use and to connect to my computer. However, I am still keeping my older cameras for special tasks. The telescope will be useful when I travel. Choices, choices.

In summary, if you plan to take very close-up photos and you need the macro features, I recommend the Coolpix 995 and the Coolpix 5000. You should also get all the accessories listed above. They are all gems.

However, if you do not plan to take very close-up photos and do not need the Aperture Priority or Manual settings, I recommend the Nikon S1, which is so small and so easy to use and such fun! When using any camera, I recommend using it on a tripod whenever possible (you will see the difference).

I hope you found this review to be informative. Good luck.