I have used nikon products for many years so I know how a camera works. I took it out to use it in full auto to test it like lots of people would who are not photographers. wide angle shots were good but tele shots were a differant story. they were all soft focus and colors were just as soft. I love nikon slr's and lenses but the point and shoot cameras are plain JUNK as far as I am concerned. If you can't use it on auto what good is it? Now I really wanted to like this thing but I just can't. the VR does nothing as far as I can tell and the auto ISO does not boost the shutter speed enough to give sharp results. look somewhere else, I wish I had.

I just purchased this camera after owning a few compact cameras and DSLR's. So far the camera is a gem. Small but easy to grasp, simple and fast to use, change settings, and above all, I've been thoroughly impressed with the image quality, color rendition, and image stabilization features. The optical and digital zoom combined with these features achieved sharp results.

The software that knits together panorama intended shots (using the panorama scene feature) is better than most with very little distoration.

A single 2 Gig SD card represents 500 best quality and size photos on this camera even at 8.1 megapixels.

The noise levels above 200 iso is diminished by the higher megapixels and NR builtin the camera.

This is a great travel camera given its wide angle for shooting buildings, landscapes, panoramas and people.

I highly recommend this camera.

Cons: No raw image support and movies are not highly compressed and use up the memory quickly.

I just received this Nikon Coolpix P50. I took some photos this afternoon and they DID appear to be at minimum very good photos. PLUS, this camera has most of the "good features" I've been looking for including A WIDE ANGLE LENS OF 28MM AND AN OPTICAL VIEWFINDER. If you want to take "superior" fotos you NEED a wide angle lens of at least 28mm (35mm equiv.) AND, I'm sorry, I just can't get accustomed to taking ALL my photos looking at the back of a camera LCD screen----I NEED an optical viewfinder---especially in bright sunlight! If you want to see some of my photos taken with this "little gem" write and I'll email 'em to you. Boland7214@aol

So, you ask, "who needs a 28mm or 23mm lens?" You do! Most people concern themselves with how LONG is their telephoto lens. But, most people who "know" know that it is the WIDE ANGLE lens that is most important---most of the "best shots" are made with a WIDE ANGLE lens. For example, you're in Europe and you are trying to "get a shot" of that Cathedral of Notre Dame over there. You NEED a WIDE ANGLE lens. You are in the California Poppy Fields and you want to get the expanse of the golden-yellow poppy flowers with the huge blue sky filled with white clouds above---you need a WIDE ANGLE lens. You are sitting at thanksgiving dinner and you want to take a photo from the foot of the table with everyone sitting on the left and right---you NEED a WIDE ANGLE lens. You are in the garden of the California Mission and you want to take a photo of the ENTIRE garden surrounded by the mission walls---you NEED a WIDE ANGLE lens. It's Christmas day and you want a photo of the ENTIRE GROUP of visitors in front of the Christmas Tree---you NEED a WIDE ANGLE lens. This is where the 28mm lens (or 23mm on this camera) comes in! So, you NEED THIS CAMERA! Otherwise you'll be cutting off heads and leaving Aunt Sylvia out of the "Christmas Group Photo" this year---and she'll disinherit you and you'll live a life of poverty and misery everafter! :o) If you agree or disagree or know of ANY other digital point and shoot camera that has a WIDE ANGLE lens please write, Email:boland7214@aol.

Since another reviewer is now spamming the entire Amazon camera review community, perhaps some of you were mislead here. Here are some facts vs fiction before you consider purchasing this camera.

The Nikon P50 use AA batteries. This is true. What the troll doesn't tell you is that the P50 also only takes about 1/2 to 2/3's the amount of pictures before needing new batteries, compared to a camera using a Li-ion battery. Li-ion batteries are also not very expensive and are not hard to find. Li-ion batteries for most cameras can be found on Amazon for less than $10. Even more importantly, the P50 takes over 5 seconds to recycle between pictures using the flash. This is about 2 to 3 times longer than an average camera using Li-ion.

The Camera has a viewfinder. Again this is true. But what the troll even admits (until he deletes it out of his review) is, it isn't very accurate. What good is a view finder if what you're looking at, isn't what you're taking a picture of? This makes the P50's viewfinder useless and unacceptable. What the troll also doesn't tell you is that you'll probably need that viewfinder. The P50 comes with a 2.4", 115K, low resolution TFT screen. Good luck using it outdoors to take a picture.

The camera has a wide angle lens. Again this part is true. What the troll fails to mention is that it is only a 3.6x wide angle lens. In simplistic terms, the lens starts at 28mm and zooms only to 102mm. This is less than an average 3x zoom camera starting at 35mm. Most better wide angle point and shoot cameras start at 3.8x zoom and go all the way up to 10x. There is definitely nothing special about the P50's lens.

Picture quality: This is probably the most important feature to most people. The P50 takes "average" photographs. Nothing more, nothing less, and enough said.

These are the facts about the P50. Perhaps this the camera for you, perhaps it isn't. I hope this makes the decision easier for you, and clears up some of the un-truths that are being spread to the other camera reviews by someone that has their own agenda.

I gave away my Nikon Coolpix 3200 and waited awhile before purchasing another Nikon. At the store I didn't go for the most expensive Nikon Coolpix--just one that was recommended for low light shooting. I'm moderately familiar with photography so I do not mind experimenting.

This camera is very nice! The many types of programmed settings for indoors and low light are very handy. Usually when I want to take a great photo I will fire off several shots (I have two 2 Gb memory cartridges) using a variety of settings until I get close enough. The built-in retouching functions (D-lighting) are nice and work well. When I'm done I download onto my computer and perhaps do some contrast adjustment and cropping. The results are great.

Please, PLEASE read the manual. It will definitely help anyone to use this camera to its fullest potential. I've ordered the AC adapter and charger/batteries to add to my tripod (already own). I also recommend purchasing a tripod; with the camera's timer you can take nice shots even in indoors and low light.

None of my pictures have turned out grainy (yet), and if they ever do I check the settings. Photography is not idiot-proof, you must experiment! I'd recommend only using point-and-shoot settings for daylight/outdoors. Oh, and take multiple shots of a subject, there is enough memory in the camera to do this. Back in the old 35mm film days pro photographers would take rolls and rolls of pictures just to get that ONE great picture. Try the same approach and do not be satisfied with just one shot. This camera will let you do this easily.

If I had a friend who had at some prior knowledge of taking photos I'd recommend it. If you are just a beginning picture-taker, look elsewhere.

Anyone who takes their time to learn all the ins and outs of this camera will be rewarded with a fine product for many months and years to come.

NOTE: BEWARE, THERE ARE SOME NEGATIVE REVIEWS WHICH ARE NOT ACCURATE. I'VE OWNED THIS CAMERA FOR ABOUT A WEEK NOW AND I HAVEN'T NOTICED ANY "BLURRED IMAGES" OR "SOFT AT TELEPHOTO" PHOTOS. THIS IS A GREAT LITTLE CAMERA! I SUGGEST YOU TRY IT OUT FOR YOURSELF OR I CAN SEND YOU SOME OF THE PHOTOS I TOOK WITH THE P50 BY EMAIL. OTHERWISE YOU'LL BE PASSING UP A GREAT CAMERA DUE TO SOME INCORRECT STATEMENTS HERE ON AMAZON. Boland7214@aol

THIS IS THE ONLY CAMERA IN THE US THAT HAS ALL THREE: A 28MM WIDE ANGLE LENS, AN OPTICAL VIEWFINDER, AND USES EASY TO OBTAIN REGULAR AA BATTERIES OR THE NEW "RAYOVAC--HYBRID" RECHARGEABLE BATTERIES THAT HOLD THEIR CHARGE LONGER THAN THE OLDER TYPE OF RECHARGABLE BATTERIES. THERE IS NOT OTHER CAMERA THAT HAS ALL THREE OF THE ABOVE FEATURES.

Arthur Schopenhauer once wrote: "Truth goes through 3 stages: First it is ridiculed, second it is violently opposed, and third it is accepted as self-evident truth."


"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it."
- Francois Voltaire

UNLIKE THE AA BATTERIES IN THIS CAMERA, A PROPRIETARY BATTERY MUST BE RECHARGED EVERY NIGHT OR YOU WILL END UP WITH .....A DEAD CAMERA! This Nikon P50 does NOT use an expensive and hard to buy proprietary battery. It can use regular AA batteries or a new type of rechargable battery called "the rayovac--hybrid". The "rayovac--hybrid" holds its charge longer than the older type of rechargable AA batteries. It would be smart to carry both a supply of 4-6 regular AA's and 2-4 rechargable "rayovac--hybrid" batteries---especially on long trips of a week or more.


What you'll read below is more than merely my opinion. What you'll read are factual statements about this camera.

I just received this Nikon Coolpix P50. I took some photos this afternoon and they DID appear to be at minimum very good photos. PLUS, this camera has most of the "good features" I've been looking for including A WIDE ANGLE LENS OF 28MM AND AN OPTICAL VIEWFINDER. If you want to take "superior" fotos you NEED a wide angle lens of at least 28mm (35mm equiv.) AND, I'm sorry, I just can't get accustomed to taking ALL my photos looking at the back of a camera LCD screen----I NEED an optical viewfinder---especially in bright sunlight! If you want to see some of my photos taken with this "little gem" write and I'll email 'em to you. Boland7214@aol

Regarding the proprietary battery as compared with AA batteries, when you are out on safari in Africa living in a thatched hut or tent and your proprietary battery runs out of power, do you want to be running all over the jungle at night in a fruitless attempt to find a battery at a local "sari-sari" store while you hear lions and hei-enas roaring and sounding off all around you? With the Nikon P50, you can easily carry enough AA batteries with you on your trip so you won't have to risk your life searching for the proprietary battery all over the jungle on those cold nights with wild animals searching for YOU! Got it? :o)

So, you ask, "who needs a 28mm lens?" You do! Most people concern themselves with how LONG is their telephoto lens. But, most people who "know" know that it is the WIDE ANGLE lens that is most important---most of the "best shots" are made with a WIDE ANGLE lens. For example, you're in Europe and you are trying to "get a shot" of that Cathedral of Notre Dame over there. You NEED a WIDE ANGLE lens. You are in the California Poppy Fields and you want to get the expanse of the golden-yellow poppy flowers with the huge blue sky filled with white clouds above---you need a WIDE ANGLE lens. You are sitting at thanksgiving dinner and you want to take a photo from the foot of the table with everyone sitting on the left and right---you NEED a WIDE ANGLE lens. You are in the garden of the California Mission and you want to take a photo of the ENTIRE garden surrounded by the mission walls---you NEED a WIDE ANGLE lens. It's Christmas day and you want a photo of the ENTIRE GROUP of visitors in front of the Christmas Tree---you NEED a WIDE ANGLE lens. This is where the 28mm lens comes in! So, you NEED THIS CAMERA! Otherwise you'll be cutting off heads and leaving Aunt Sylvia out of the "Christmas Group Photo" this year---and she'll disinherit you and you'll live a life of poverty and misery everafter! :o) If you agree or disagree or know of ANY other digital point and shoot camera that has a WIDE ANGLE lens please write, Email:boland7214@aol.

PS: I discovered today that the optical viewfinder on this camera covers only 80% of the actual photo. That means, that if you use the optical viewfinder you may need to crop the final photo---or, try to compensate, now that you know you'll only be seeing 80% of the final photo, compensate by moving it or zooming in to make the shot a little more "tight" in the optical viewfinder than you would otherwise.

Also, THE PERSONAL REVIEW WRITTEN BY SOMEONE BELOW AND SOME OTHERS ARE INCORRECT. I read the review below in which someone says that "the telephoto setting is not sharp". I tested that tonight. I found that the zoom LENS SET TO ITS LONGEST SETTING IS SHARP. I can send you a photo via email to show this to you if you so request at my email address above. AND ANOTHER REVIEW BY SELF-STYLED "INFORMED CONSUMMER" IS ALSO INCORRECT---THE OIS IS CALLED VR ON THIS CAMERA. I USED THE P50 UNDER MANY CONDITIONS. THERE IS NO "BLURRED IMAGE" WHEN TAKING PHOTOS. YOU SHOULD TRY THE CAMERA FOR YOURSELF AND DON'T TRUST EVERYTHNG YOU READ IN THESE REVIEWS.

PPS: Why do you need an optical viewfinder when you have an LCD screen? The simple reason is that the LCD's SOMETIMES get "washed out" in bright sunlight. And, another reason, I think, is that the optical viewfinder is "faster to use" under "pressure circumstances" like when you want to "grab" that smile on your kids face. Why not have both is my opinion. If you disagree fine, but two ways to view and take photos seems better than one. It's just common sense. (Plus, some people are "far sighted" and have difficulty clearly viewing a small LCD screen a few inches from their eyes.)


One more reason having an optical viewfinder is a good feature is that: If you don't have an optical viewfinder you'll have to use the LCD Screen ALL the time....thus using up more precious battery power--but with an optical viewfinder you can turn the LCD off and conserve battery power so you won't run out of electricity to power the camera.

Justamente la averiada me tocó a mi. Compré una y cuando la encendía no salía el lente y mostraba el mensaje "Error de Objetivo".
La devolví y el reintegro fué satisfactorio. Seguidamente adquirí el modelo P5100, cuando la tenga escribiré otra revisión.

For me the equation was simple: I wanted a good camera at a good price. Nikon has a strong reputation for its optics, and they have produced high quality cameras. My wife and I owned an earlier CoolPix camera that took very good pictures, but was poorly constructed. The P50 truly lives up to its Nikon heritage. The camera is small, but has the heft and feel of a solid instrument yet it is easy to handle. The large Nikkor lens captures the light without a trace of distortion. The menus are intuitive, and the features are just right for a serious amateur photographer. Experimenting with the macro feature on camera, I inadvertently caught a bee in mid flight. The P50 captured the details of the cilia on the bee's head and thorax, and almost stopped its wings in mid beat. This is a fantastic little camera at a fantastic price. Above all, this is a camera that lives up to the Nikon reputation for quality.

NOTE: BEWARE, THERE ARE SOME NEGATIVE REVIEWS WHICH ARE NOT ACCURATE. I'VE OWNED THIS CAMERA FOR ABOUT A WEEK NOW AND I HAVEN'T NOTICED ANY "BLURRED IMAGES" OR "SOFT AT TELEPHOTO" PHOTOS. THIS IS A GREAT LITTLE CAMERA! I SUGGEST YOU TRY IT OUT FOR YOURSELF OR I CAN SEND YOU SOME OF THE PHOTOS I TOOK WITH THE P50 BY EMAIL. OTHERWISE YOU'LL BE PASSING UP A GREAT CAMERA DUE TO SOME INCORRECT STATEMENTS HERE ON AMAZON. Boland7214@aol

THIS IS THE ONLY CAMERA IN THE US THAT HAS ALL THREE: A 28MM WIDE ANGLE LENS, AN OPTICAL VIEWFINDER, AND USES EASY TO OBTAIN REGULAR AA BATTERIES OR THE NEW "RAYOVAC--HYBRID" RECHARGEABLE BATTERIES THAT HOLD THEIR CHARGE LONGER THAN THE OLDER TYPE OF RECHARGABLE BATTERIES. THERE IS NOT OTHER CAMERA THAT HAS ALL THREE OF THE ABOVE FEATURES.

Arthur Schopenhauer once wrote: "Truth goes through 3 stages: First it is ridiculed, second it is violently opposed, and third it is accepted as self-evident truth."


"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it."
- Francois Voltaire

UNLIKE THE AA BATTERIES IN THIS CAMERA, A PROPRIETARY BATTERY MUST BE RECHARGED EVERY NIGHT OR YOU WILL END UP WITH .....A DEAD CAMERA! This Nikon P50 does NOT use an expensive and hard to buy proprietary battery. It can use regular AA batteries or a new type of rechargable battery called "the rayovac--hybrid". The "rayovac--hybrid" holds its charge longer than the older type of rechargable AA batteries. It would be smart to carry both a supply of 4-6 regular AA's and 2-4 rechargable "rayovac--hybrid" batteries---especially on long trips of a week or more.


What you'll read below is more than merely my opinion. What you'll read are factual statements about this camera.

I just received this Nikon Coolpix P50. I took some photos this afternoon and they DID appear to be at minimum very good photos. PLUS, this camera has most of the "good features" I've been looking for including A WIDE ANGLE LENS OF 28MM AND AN OPTICAL VIEWFINDER. If you want to take "superior" fotos you NEED a wide angle lens of at least 28mm (35mm equiv.) AND, I'm sorry, I just can't get accustomed to taking ALL my photos looking at the back of a camera LCD screen----I NEED an optical viewfinder---especially in bright sunlight! If you want to see some of my photos taken with this "little gem" write and I'll email 'em to you. Boland7214@aol

Regarding the proprietary battery as compared with AA batteries, when you are out on safari in Africa living in a thatched hut or tent and your proprietary battery runs out of power, do you want to be running all over the jungle at night in a fruitless attempt to find a battery at a local "sari-sari" store while you hear lions and hei-enas roaring and sounding off all around you? With the Nikon P50, you can easily carry enough AA batteries with you on your trip so you won't have to risk your life searching for the proprietary battery all over the jungle on those cold nights with wild animals searching for YOU! Got it? :o)

So, you ask, "who needs a 28mm lens?" You do! Most people concern themselves with how LONG is their telephoto lens. But, most people who "know" know that it is the WIDE ANGLE lens that is most important---most of the "best shots" are made with a WIDE ANGLE lens. For example, you're in Europe and you are trying to "get a shot" of that Cathedral of Notre Dame over there. You NEED a WIDE ANGLE lens. You are in the California Poppy Fields and you want to get the expanse of the golden-yellow poppy flowers with the huge blue sky filled with white clouds above---you need a WIDE ANGLE lens. You are sitting at thanksgiving dinner and you want to take a photo from the foot of the table with everyone sitting on the left and right---you NEED a WIDE ANGLE lens. You are in the garden of the California Mission and you want to take a photo of the ENTIRE garden surrounded by the mission walls---you NEED a WIDE ANGLE lens. It's Christmas day and you want a photo of the ENTIRE GROUP of visitors in front of the Christmas Tree---you NEED a WIDE ANGLE lens. This is where the 28mm lens comes in! So, you NEED THIS CAMERA! Otherwise you'll be cutting off heads and leaving Aunt Sylvia out of the "Christmas Group Photo" this year---and she'll disinherit you and you'll live a life of poverty and misery everafter! :o) If you agree or disagree or know of ANY other digital point and shoot camera that has a WIDE ANGLE lens please write, Email:boland7214@aol.

PS: I discovered today that the optical viewfinder on this camera covers only 80% of the actual photo. That means, that if you use the optical viewfinder you may need to crop the final photo---or, try to compensate, now that you know you'll only be seeing 80% of the final photo, compensate by moving it or zooming in to make the shot a little more "tight" in the optical viewfinder than you would otherwise.

Also, THE PERSONAL REVIEW WRITTEN BY SOMEONE BELOW AND SOME OTHERS ARE INCORRECT. I read the review below in which someone says that "the telephoto setting is not sharp". I tested that tonight. I found that the zoom LENS SET TO ITS LONGEST SETTING IS SHARP. I can send you a photo via email to show this to you if you so request at my email address above. AND ANOTHER REVIEW BY SELF-STYLED "INFORMED CONSUMMER" IS ALSO INCORRECT---THE OIS IS CALLED VR ON THIS CAMERA. I USED THE P50 UNDER MANY CONDITIONS. THERE IS NO "BLURRED IMAGE" WHEN TAKING PHOTOS. YOU SHOULD TRY THE CAMERA FOR YOURSELF AND DON'T TRUST EVERYTHNG YOU READ IN THESE REVIEWS.

PPS: Why do you need an optical viewfinder when you have an LCD screen? The simple reason is that the LCD's SOMETIMES get "washed out" in bright sunlight. And, another reason, I think, is that the optical viewfinder is "faster to use" under "pressure circumstances" like when you want to "grab" that smile on your kids face. Why not have both is my opinion. If you disagree fine, but two ways to view and take photos seems better than one. It's just common sense. (Plus, some people are "far sighted" and have difficulty clearly viewing a small LCD screen a few inches from their eyes.)


One more reason having an optical viewfinder is a good feature is that: If you don't have an optical viewfinder you'll have to use the LCD Screen ALL the time....thus using up more precious battery power--but with an optical viewfinder you can turn the LCD off and conserve battery power so you won't run out of electricity to power the camera. ALSO, I just received an email informing me that many countries in Eastern Europe and Russia do NOT have electrical outlets that permit recharging of batteries---so, if you're going to these places you'd need AA batteries.

P50 is relatively inexpensive, so you can't ask too much. But I can say that this camera works pretty well as a travel mate. Pocket-size, wide-angle lens, AA batteries are what you really need abroad. Easy to hold with one hand. Overall image quality is very good. Coolpix P50 offers plenty of image details till 200 ISO. Noise shows up at 400 ISO and, quite obviously, above. Blurred shots can result in tele mode (102 mm max focal length). I haven't been able to take advantage of the image stabilization (electronic, not optical, vibration reduction): certainly, it's my fault. Compact, well-built, serious body. "Manual" is not very much so. At each focal length, you can manually choose between just two lens apertures (e.g.: 2.8 and 5.6 when at 28mm). On the other hand, "Program exposure mode" is very effective: better to relay on it. As usual, the optical viewfinder doesn't cover the whole picture, but in sunny days I experienced it's by far a better solution than the 2.4-inch display. Default images are a bit on the "soft" side: my advice is to increase contrast afterwards. At the end of the day I'm satisfied. Among the few pocket-size cameras sporting a 28 mm wide-angle lens, P50 is a relatively cheap and smart choice.

I purchased this camera for several reasons. First was the 28mm wide angle lens which is rare for a Point and Shoot (P&S) as most start out around 36mm and higher. The second reason was for the Manual settings, I have always used Nikon Coolpix in the past and had long sought this option. The third reason was that this camera takes AA batteries and thus I can use this to travel without having to buy a power converter so that I can recharge a battery pack.

So far I have been very happy with this camera, it does everything I could ever want and lives up to the Nikon name. Some people complain that it does not have a long enough zoom, but long zooms can lead to very bad pictures when using P&S as you lose a lot of light AND when using long lens you must compensate with quicker shutter speeds- this can be tricky for most and generally leads to low quality images.

Essentially this camera is great for going out and taking pics of family and friends- Landscapes- and Travelling.

I'm disappointed with the very soft focus results I get with this camera. I've owned several small digital cameras and even the ones capturing fewer megapixels took much sharper photos. The P-50 is a decent all around camera with nice features. (I bought it for the wide angle lens.) I just wish the photos had better detail. I'm going to keep looking, while I put this one up for sale.

I'm very happy with this camera's balance of price to performance.

This is my first digital camera. I have a degree in photography, although my job is not shooting now. I've used digital cameras occasionally on the job, but have been holding out at home, using film. Film is very comfortable for me. But we wanted to start to share photos with distant family, quicker.

One thing I decided was to limit my shopping to just one brand (my old FE2 imparts some serious loyalty). I don't have time to compare feature for feature and spec for spec, all these different brands and prices and stuff. I realized I had to make my decision work for what I was going to shoot and who would be using the camera. We go camping, we visit relatives, we bake cookies: average family activities. The camera will be used by me, my wife, and our kids (6 & 8). I'm considering this camera my gateway to digital, and plan on using it for several years at least. So...

My list of features to make my decision:
Nikon was my base brand unless I couldn't find something that fit.
Manual exposure and shutter control.
Time lapse (nice to have, not mandatory).
Ability to turn off the LCD screen and use an optical viewfinder. (P50 can do it on some modes, not all)
AA batteries.
Less buttons = better.
8 MP
About $200, plus or minus $50.
Mac-savvy.

This list helped me make a decision fairly quickly, and I didn't lose any sleep over not looking at 20 more-similar-than-different options in the marketplace. This camera fit, and I've been very happy. My only issue, which I hear is true of all these cameras in this price range, is the lag time on the shutter. I'm convinced we have Gigs of cheap memory only because camera manufacturers need a way of mitigating this serious shortcoming.

I haven't installed the software on my Mac, because iPhoto is perfectly acceptable for what I'm doing: sharing a few pix, ordering prints, and getting organized. I just plugged in the P50 and iPhoto launched automatically.

So far, I've taken great pictures in the daylight, no-flash indoors, several modes. Everyone in the family has tried it out with success. So far, so good, no issues.

I also looked at the P5100 (outside my $, plus it had more buttons than the P50).

So much has been written in previous reviews I'll stick to the following:

I use this camera with lithium double A's and an "sdhc" sd card.

1) The time lag between flash shots has now been fixed! Previous coolpix models I have had include the Coolpix 3200 (about 6 - 10 seconds between flash shots), the Coolpix L1, and more recently even the L15 (about five seconds between flash shots). The P50 is down to about a second or two. Went crazy at a dark restaurant and the pictures are great.

2) The colors in the pictures are the best of any coolpix I've had so far. Previously I had to fight with the camera settings to reduce yellow tones or pink tones coming off the "whites" but the P50 just seems to nail it. period. indoor pictures are looking very, very, accurate.

3) The menu settings are an improvement with the inclusion of an extra wheel to manually go from manual to video to point-and-shoot.

downsides.....? it's a little big to go in the shirt/pants pocket.

My reasons for purchase were similar to another reviewer... sd card compatibility, viewfinder, accepts AA batteries... the wide angle lens is cool especially for restaurant shots, etc. What has surprised me (positively) is how fast the camera is now between pictures and how good the indoor pictures are turning out.

Camera has good features like taking pictures in musuem where objects are in showcase.
It also takes a while to write on the SD card.Seems to slow you down.
We went thru 3 sets of AA batteries for 120 pictures on our trip on this camera.Keep extra AA handy if taking more than 30 pictures at a time.

Just purchased this camera after having a Canon and cannot be more pleased. It is easy to use, ergonomic and the lens is of true Nikon quality. It has gone halfway around the world with me, used in all kinds of climates and just keeps on clicking!

You cannot go wrong with this camera, just be sure to check around for prices, there is a great discrepency! Needless to say, I found the best price on Amazon.

Great Choice, Fits Nicely in my Hands, Easy to Carry Around, Takes Great Pictures, Easy to Use and it's a Nikon for $150.00
Nikon Coolpix P50 8.1MP Digital Camera with 3.6x Wide Angle Optical zoom

Very impressed with this camera. Lots of camera for the $$$$. A traditional viewfinder which was a must for me. Also, very comfortable in hand. Bought the optional Nikon case for the P50 as well; a great fit and no more and no less than you need.

I bought one of these as a companion to my DSLR's and the other for my wife while travelling. We like the size, shape, screen, control positioning and menu. The image quality, resolution, and color balance are very good in good light. Flash seems a little strong for close portraiture and requires compensation. High ISO images have the expected noise but are still useable up to ISO 800. Additionally, extra features such as the wide angle coverage, face recognition, best shot selection, D lighting, panorama aid, zoom playback and AA battery power make it a good value. Features I miss are: Longer zoom, optical VR, more manual aperture selection, a little larger screen with more pixels, and of course less high ISO noise. Overall it is a good value and fits the purpose. If you are going for gallery prints from this type of camera, you need to spend $250 more.

Nikon does it again, Excellent camera, takes excellent pictures. Camers is easy to hold, lcd display is nice size, all controls in good places.

I used a Nikon Coolpix 4200 for several years before finally deciding to upgrade. I loved the first Nikon I had, so I figured I'd stay loyal to the brand. This has turned out to be a very good decision - this camera takes fantastically crisp, clear pictures, and it is far more capable in low light than my older model was. As this was one of the major factors in deciding to upgrade, I have to say I am very happy. In terms of value for money, I don't think you could do better...

I bought this mostly for the Nikon name. I am a Nikon fan from a long way back.
It's a little powerhouse.
Not quite in the Pro category, you can achieve pro results if you have "The Eye".
If not, you'll be more than satisfied with the quality of your photos.
If you're not happy with them, maybe you should take some classes on how to take better photos... ;-)

Don't use the digital zoom and you will be happy with your photos.

It's small and lightweight, fits in your pocket, easy to operate, and if you really need it, it takes fairly adequate video. With sound.

I like the "fit in your pocket" size. I only wish it had a better optical zoom.

Camera is a great. Slightly bulky, but takes nice pictures. It has wonderful features for a low price.

I bought this camera from Amazon at $149.00 almost one month ago. This little camera is small enough to be considered pocketable. Probably it is the cheapest wide-zoom camera on the market with manual controls from a reputable company. Lets start a brief analysis of this little camera.
I would like to start pointing out the good things, first of the all is the wide 28mm lens very fast only at this point (f2.8). This lens goes from 28 to 102mm (3.6x optical zoom) with limited vibration reduction capabilities. The lens is totally retractable so u dont need a lens cap to cover it. One of the critical things on this lens is its speed when the zoom goes beyond 28mm, it jumps to f5.6 automatically. However at this setting the lens is sharper at the edges.
Another good thing is the optical viewfinder, bright enough to frame and take pictures although to me is always better to use the LCD screen.
To start up the camera takes more than 3 seconds it means the camera is slow, to reach the long end of the zoom is also slow and it takes more than 1.5 seconds.
The body construction looks and feels solid, the camera is made of plastic enterily but the type of plastic is different from cheap kodak and canon cameras.
The built in flash is weak, you will need to up the Iso to get bright pictures at night.
Macro shooting is good, but it works only at wide end, do not try to get as close as 5 cms at long end.
It supports SDHC cards.
Very limited manual controls but its better to have the chance to control some settings than have nothing. Aperture can be set only to f2.8 or f5.6, there is no more options available. Shutter speed goes from to 15 seconds to 1/1000 (enough for starters)
Iso performance is good up to Iso 400, forget to use Iso >400, the noise and NR eat son many detail than become any picture unusable.
The lag between shot to shot is good when the built in flash is Off, I measure 1 second aprox. but things change dramatically when the flash is raised up, the lag time goes beyond 3 seconds.
Picture quality is good to excellent at Iso 64 and f5.6, edges are sharp and the overall image quality has good exposure at default settings. At f2.8 the shutter speed flies but there'a compromise, the edges are quite a bit soft.
The P50 does NOT have a REAL VR, it comes with something called eVR (electronical Vibration Reduction) what does it mean? it simply applies some sharpening to the picture, the result is unuseful I rather prefer to apply sharpening via external software.
My overall conclusion is the Nikon P50 is so cheap than it's really worth the money, people like me who looks for wide angle cameras would be happy with this camera. I bought it as a complement to my DSRL equipment and I feel quite a bit satisfied with the results.
To qualify a camera there are some features to be considered, but the offer has to be according to the price, wide angle zoom cameras are always more expensive than typical 35mm cameras (at wide end) so if you surf the web, you are not gonna find similar alternative to this Nikon model for the price, do not hesitate and buy it...

Received the camera for Christmas. It looked like a great camera, really packed with nice features. The first thing I noticed was that the telephoto is disappointingly limited to a little over 3x. For all of the great features (AA batteries, manual control of shutter speed and other) it seemed like a weak telephoto was out of character for the rest of the camera. The next thing I noticed was that the viewfinder isn't through the lens (mini LCD screen). I have greatly appreciated being able to see what the camera sees (through the lens viewfinders) when shooting in bright sunlight. If you like the P50 then take a look at the P60 (due next month). The P50 is nice but the feature set doesn't quite make sense and the new P60 is only about $30 more then what the P50 cost. I'm already planning the replacement for it, unfortunately my Nikon's prices are rapidly dropping.

The Nikon P50Nikon Coolpix P50 8.1MP Digital Camera with 3.6x Wide Angle Optical zoom is a great little 8+ MP point and shoot camera that is light, small and easy to use. I have a Nikon D200 DSLR Nikon D200 10.2MP Digital SLR Camera with 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED-IF AF-S VR DX Nikkor Zoom Lens which is my favorite camera, however, I would never take the D200 with me on a bike ride or a canoe trip. That's where the Nikon P50 excels; it's relatively inexpensive (I bought mine plus a case for $159 on line) and yet takes high quality images with its great optics and a sensor with a bucket load of pixels. It's also inexpensive to replace if it falls in the lake.

Great little second camera. I recommend it for the outdoors-type who like to rough it without the risk of a mishap to your good camera.

This camera is ridiculous - I am just an average consumer, and a "point and click" photographer. I had a Sony Cybershot 6.0, which I had no quarrels with, but I gave that to my kids and treated myself to this Nikon. The photo quality is outstanding - well beyond my expectations. The shutter speed is quick - no waiting forever between flash shots. I know this camera can do much more than I can discover...but I am already thrilled! Definately worth every penny!

I have owned several point and shoot digital cameras over the last 10 years and by far, this is the best one for the money. Its not the best at any one thing but it does everything well above average. Its got very decent battery life from AA batteries.

Its got a nice wide angle lens. Its shot to shot speed and shutter lag is better than most. The size is not tiny but just right for me to grip. And all this for $160 on line. I hear Nikon is going to discontinue this model so get it now. The new model has a longer telephoto but no wide angle.

I've owned cameras 3x more expensive (Nikon 5400 and Sony DSC) that had awful shot to shot times and terrible battery life. I've own digital elphs that were tiny but impossible to grip.

Go get this one before they stop making it.

Nikon Coolpix P50 in general is a good compact camera, though it does have shortcomings. It takes great pictures in outdoor when lighting is adequate. Wide angel lens are nice. However, when lighting is even slightly below adequate like an overcast afternoon, it may take a long time to focus and take a picture. In general the camera is slow to focus. Pictures under the high ISO mode are no good. Additionally, I am not sure if it is my battery or Nikon P50's firmware - two fully recharged NiMH batteries would only take 10 or 15 pictures after which the camera would shutdown saying battery exhausted. This is after I set battery mode to NiMH. Nikon's firmware on previous models had this NiMH battery issue three years ago. Hopefully, the same issue is not coming back. I am a little disappointed with P50's performance and may just carry my Nikon D70 around. Once you have used a nice digital SLR, these compact cameras are just so inadequate.

This camera has the three things I wanted most in a point-and-shoot:
1) Wide-angle lens (~28mm film equivalent)
2) Optical viewfinder
3) Use common AA batteries
So far I've been quite happy with it, the only small cons would be startup delay and shutter lags, and the odd (for me) "micro" USB connection for downloads.

I bought the P50 as a replacement to a 3MP Sony digital P&S which has a 35mm equivalent fixed lens. (Who needs a zoom? The 35mm Elmar was Cartier-Bresson's favorite lens. If it's good enough for him...) But sadly, no one makes a non-zoom digital P&S anymore.

My other cameras include a Nikon D200 DSLR and a Leica M2 (film). The P50 doesn't come close to those, of course, but the P50 is what it is--a great little point-and-shoot. Time will tell how durable it is, but so far the P50 appears to be a good value at its price point.

I had a coolpix 4200 forever and I absolutely LOVED this camera. When it broke I needed to replace it and really wanted to have the same features. This was one of the few cameras with a view finder - so I got this one. I wound up returning it though. The images the camera took were great - but I found the feel of the camera to be cumbersome and it ATE the batteries. I am still searching for a good replacement.

I am very happy with this camera.
It covers all the the different aspects of taking good photos.
I can even switch to manual.

For the price this is awesome !!!

IT IS A VERY GOOD CAMERA FOR A PRICE SO CHEAP,EXCELLENT AS A GIFT FOR FOR NEW USERS.

Let me just say that a lot of people are saying images are grainy and seems limited.. They are wrong!
I used this with ISO 2000 and captured fan on high speed and it captured it crystal clear in it's tracks.

I have also heard that images are noisy, although do they question why? If you take time to read the manual
this camera can cover just about any situation you can throw at it. If the aperture indicator is red guess what? Something is wrong...not enough light so change dial or your aperture and wait for green.

People now days want everything so simple and have no patience. Do you think Ansel Adams got his pics on the first try? No it was trial and error. If you practice first then take to party,club or vacation then you will know exactly what mode to use and go from there.

It can retain your settings in Manual and Program mode. Like having two presets for yourself. Has High ISO setting for almost pitch black pics. No where near as good as Nightshot from Sony but hey do you really want Green Photos?
If you actually spend more than 60 minutes with this you will have no excuse not taking Amazing Photos!!!

Amateur to Serious Hobbyist should be more than satisfied with this has more than enough modes to handle almost anything.

Now Most Amazing part..You simply cannot touch a Compact or even Semi-Pro model under Almost$300 with Wide-angle Lens 24-28mm most always have 34-38mm. What's the difference?

Well say your with your family at dinner in a nice restaurant. How far do you wanna back up before you can get everyone in the picture? Well most Point and Shoot and Compacts have the 34-38mm and you will
definitely chop someone off or try to zoom and lose everyone accept Center Focus. Well with 24-28mm
you can now get the whole table and not lose anyone! See quite a nice feature for under$200.

Last this has a mode almost no one knows about unless you read manual or experiment. Has Auto Face Detection that everyone seems to be wanting. You know when you have group of people and centers on the closest face and aligns the rest in synch? It has this. Wanna make Voice memo where you were while taking pic? You can do it with this. How many times did you say man where were we when we took that? Oh yeah..Wait..no not there. Well now just record your voice and say family vacation in St Tropez june 1st Beach and viola you now know exactly where you were and when pic was taken.

People just take the time to Read and Explore and Give this camera a Fair Shake It will Amaze you. Once Again!! If you take the time and do a little experimenting with it. I wouldn't want you to miss out on an Amazing Camera because people that don't take time to read or know how to properly use miss rate or review this product!

I can only rate this four star because I own a Nikon D200/D70 with all the bells and whistles. This small compact camera works great! The top feature is the wider angle 28mm lens, most point and shoots are 35mm and up, so you have that handy wider angle feature. The movie mode is easy fast and looks great for what it is. The photos are sharp and blow up well. I use this when I go out to dinner or family small gatherings, and it works OK for candid shots. I set the color on vivid, normal resolution, and toggle between auto and manual. The macro mode is pretty darn good. All around its a great value under $100.

The Nikon Coolpix P50 was the first Nikon camera I have purchased. In the past I have purchased Canon digital cameras, but the last couple I purchased seemed to have short lifespans. A Realtor in my same office purchased this Nikon about 9 months ago and really liked the pictures she was able to get. I borrowed it and felt the same way. The price was a big factor in the purchase as well.[...]
I need a point and shoot camera. This was the only point and shoot that also has wide angle lens for anywhere near this price range. Wide angle is just better for Real Estate pictures. While the wide angle isn't huge it is a vast improvement over those camera without it. I find it especially useful for indoor shots. It doesn't make the various rooms look smaller than they are. Outside shots are OK, but they are certainly not the professional looking shots you can get with a very expensive camera and lens. For the price this thing can't be beat. I would highly recommend this to anyone looking for a great quality lower end camera that does a real good job for a point and shoot model.

There are so many features on the Nikon Coolpix P50 that it's virtually as versatile as shooting with your old Nikon SLR. The picture quality is excellent. I like the digital photos downloaded from this camera much better than the snapshots I scanned into my computer. In order to use all its features to the max, I'd suggest the beginner (like myself) take a class in digital photography so you don't miss out on all the stuff this camera can do. I love this camera.

I always wanted an SLR, but I haven't had the money to but it and I chose this option to be closer to what I want. I used to have a Nikon Coolpix, really old, 9 or 10 years ago and always had a very good memory of that camera and this one didn't dissapoint me, I really and truly love it.
Has a great resolution and the pictures have great definition and almost no grain if you use the features correctly. I tried to photograph a sunset with the landscape feature and then remembered the camera has a scene for sunsets and used it and the photo look awsome, no grain at all and the colors are amazing. Great for closeups to, took a lot of flower photos.

We bought this camera for my mom as she wanted something small to keep handy for taking pictures of my son. This camera has been wonderful! The picture quality has been better than we imagined, and all features of the camera are easy to use. The fact that the camera has not only a screen but a standard viewfinder as well is a big plus - so many affordable cameras now seem to lack the viewfinder, but my mom certainly finds it helpful. She also loves the size of the camera - small but not fragile. The right-hand side protrudes slightly for a hand grip, which she loves and which she feels gives a steadier picture. Video quality is also quite good, and includes sound too. All in all, it's been a great purchase!

I was purchasing this for a gift. The recipient is a 'aim and shoot' type and havig such a fussy process to get the automatic focus to work was out of the question. I did not work with it beyond several photo attempts in various light situations. I would assume a Nikon product would be satisfactory after knowling its preferences. In my estimation, it did not fill the bill of 'aim and shoot.'

Confession: I've only had this camera one week, so I'll update this entry if new facts warrant. Having said that, this is a terrific camera for those qualities that I value. The essence of great photography for my skill-level means being able to take A LOT of pictures inexpensively (deleting a bunch and fixing the rest in the "studio" of the desktop) and this camera not only does that well, but much better than previous cameras I've owned. I tested about 15 cameras in a few different stores before I settled on the P50 and I highly recommend it.

First: the body is extremely comfortable to hold and well designed to fit in the hand (with a textured rubber surface where the fingers go, nice touch). It has a matte-black finish that I love--it stands out from a pile of cameras, and promises not to show scratches as easily as the other metallic-silver cameras I looked at (and have owned). It's thicker than the ideal snap'n'shoot camera (almost exactly cigarette-pack size) but usually those cameras require some kind of proprietary battery, which leads me to:

Second: I specifically wanted a camera that utilizes AA batteries. I've been burned on this one before and I don't want to tie my photography to a battery-and-charger combo that is both expensive to replace and requires adapters for international travel. That in itself has been an expensive choice when I relied on disposables but at least they were easily obtained when I needed them. Kudos to this camera, I've put it through several days of use and the (included with the purchase) batteries are still hanging in there--my previous Casio would have burned through a few pair of disposables by now. Note to the environmentally conscious: I also have rechargeable batteries but I don't want to use them until I have baselined the camera's performance on the batts it came with.

Third: Picture quality so far is terrific. I transferred the memory card directly from my (far more expensive) Casio into this camera and could thus compare picture quality side-by-side. I even hooked this camera directly into my large-screen TV (cables included) for a slide show and the results were great, even with 'normal' resolution shots. What was extremely surprising, and pleasing, was:

Fourth: The movie quality. I shot a few movies and the playback on the big screen was equal to the video camera I purchased two years ago. I still have 13 minutes worth of movie space left on the 1G SD card in the camera (with about 80 pics and 3 movies already on it). I have no idea how much movie space I could get one 1G, but with 8G cards costing around $30 I am thinking that I may never use that video camera again!

Fifth: Camera rejuvenated quickly after flash shots, and under normal light conditions I could take successive pictures fairly quickly. Not instantly, but pretty close. After my last few digital cameras I am extremely pleased--not SLR response but very good.

Sixth: Price. $150! For what I value in a camera, it's a steal.

Drawbacks: Function spin-dial on top. I think that's a carry-over from film photography that I would be happy to dispense with. I prefer all controls on one surface (except for the trigger, of course), but that's me. I happen to have a AA battery charger left over from a previous camera purchase, but that would be nice to have in the basic package as well (instead of the clear plastic mounting stand, which went directly into the trash). I know it's a lot to ask for $150, but that's the difference between four and five stars in my opinion.

Otherwise, this P50 is just about the perfect camera: it allows me to capture large amounts of quality imagery easily and inexpensively (which I can refine with my desktop software into the ideal pictures). Good job, Nikon!

This a great little camera with tons of really quality features in a compact body. I love that the camera is so small and yet takes amazing pictures at 8mp. The main plus out of this camera is that it is small yet you have the control over the photos that you might not have with other cameras this size or smaller. It has manual exposure controls and an optical zoom.

The other side to those two features is that their isn't enough control. It leaves you feeling teased unless you are in perfect lighting. You can only choose between 2 aperture settings in manual mode and it picks those two f-stops for you. This means you aren't able to play with depth of field at all. :(

Also, while it does have an optical zoom, it isn't very long and for $50 more you can get the p60 which has a much nicer zoom and the viewfinder is electronic.

The only problem there is that the p60 is a little larger. Not by much mind you, but the cost (over my budget) and the size (wasn't comfortable with it in my pocket) made me choose the p50 instead.

Overall, i am very happy with my new camera, and it seems to fit my shooting style very well. Between the many features it brings (quick shooting, many cool settings, and great size) and the amazing price... it made a nikon lover out of me.

I bought my first digital camera in 1999, a Sony Mavica for $1,000. It only took crappy 640x480 photos, and wrote the images to a floppy disk.

When I bought this camera, for a little over $100, I wasn't expecting much. But the camera FAR exceeded my expectations!

I was looking for a wide angle digital camera that I could just hook up to the computer (via USB) for transfer. This camera fits the bill.

I also appreciate the camera's ability to quickly and easily switch between Autofocus mode, Macro mode and landscape mode.

The image quality is excellent!! No jpg distortions, fine color.

It comes with its own software. Don't install it!!! The software is useless. Use Apple's iPhoto instead. It works flawlessly with iPhoto.

My only regret is all the time I spent fretting whether or not I should get this camera. I'm glad I got it.

This camera had all the features I was looking for at a price I was willing to pay. Technical support is important to me because even point and shoot digital cameras now need some explaining to operate that the manuals generally don't cover well or at all. I'm not technical savvy and Nikon's tech support is available 24/7. I took a few pictures to try the camera out but quickly discovered the pictures wouldn't transfer to my PC. When I called technical support, the tech had to email me a special transfer program and help me install it, which was OK. However, I'm used to using an editing software and the Kodak and Canon cameras I've tried transfer the pictures directly into the editing software in your PC. Nikon doesn't have their own editing software so they sent me Kodak's to install. The big catch is their transfer program doesn't put the pictures into the editing software and when I called for help they said since the software isn't Nikon's, Nikon doesn't support it so they couldn't tell me how to get the pictures into the editing software! I was totally left in the lurch and though I tried to figure how to do it myself, nothing I tried worked. I considered this a defective unit since all the components didn't work the way they were supposed to and I sent the camera back. Before I did, I was able to look at the pictures that transferred even though they were only in thumbnail size and I wasn't pleased with the picture quality. Recently I have tried a Canon, a Nikon and a Panasonic...all of which were defective in some way and had to be returned. I never had these kinds of problems with the two older Kodaks I have. It's just over time the Kodak picture quality has gradually deteriorated and I wanted to be able to take really sharp, clear pictures. So far I haven't found a camera that even works right, let alone takes decent pictures. This is all very discouraging. I haven't given up finding a better camera yet, but things don't look very promising. Good luck finding a good one !

After reading lots of reviews for different cameras, I decided this one was the best for my needs and budget. Thanks to all of you who have written about your experiences, good and bad, with various cameras!

I got my camera yesterday evening and promptly started taking pictures with it in various environments. I am pleased with the results indoors and outdoors, in bright light and dim. I have even photographed my laptop's screen and, just tonight, the outside of the restaurant where my daughter works. All the pictures came out great! Good colors and contrast.

I took most of the pictures of the restaurant at night using the "HI ISO" setting with the flash disabled. Aside from being a bit grainy (which I expected), I found that the neon signs in view were a little blurry--an inevitable consequence of the demands placed on the aperture by the varying brightnesses, I assume. I also took a couple of pictures of the restaurant with the flash enabled. The neon signs were clearer then, since the contrast with the non-illuminated parts wasn't so great.

My non-negotiable criteria for a camera included a cost under $200 and the use of AA batteries so I am not dependent on charging proprietary batteries when I am traveling overseas. This camera met both of those criteria. Another feature I very much like is its "old fashioned" dial on top to select the basic modes. I much prefer this to the onscreen selection wheel common to many cameras these days.

If you're looking for an inexpensive but high-quality camera, get yourself one of these. You'll get your money's worth.

[[ASIN:B0017K6HGI Nikon Coolpix P50 - Wide Angle Zoom 3.6 - 28MM-102MM
8.1 Mega Pixels - Plus Nikon Two Year Extended Warranty - Nikon Case -
Plus 1 GB SD Memory Card]]

I needed a decent point and shoot with a wider angle lens for interior
photos and purchased this one.

It does a great job here with very good clarity. The wider angle allows
more area in a photo where needed. I use this function mainly in
real estate for interior room photos. It is not quite as wide as
more expensive models but very adequate for my needs right now.

The photos generally require very little or no enhancement once
loaded onto a PC.

Reading the manual and some experimenting with some settings helps much
to get the best use of this camera. The auto setting by itself usually
works fine though for most shots. The video mode does a good job with
the 640 x 480 mode.

I also have a Fuji A900 which is a great camera and use it as well
but it does not have the wider angle lens and has a lesser video
resolution.

The only thing I would have liked is having the larger USB plug to
the camera or same one the Fuji has. This is really minor though.

Using std. rechargeable AA batteries can get 125 or more full
resolution shots on a charged pair.

I've been looking for a solid point and shoot for travel and general use. This camera has a combination of the features I was looking for that only one other available camera has, and that just released camera is 500.00.

First it has a wide angle lense that is fairly fast. This lense is 28mm which puts it in the same class as the new wide angle models from most makers. 35mm has been the norm on most cameras in this class, getting a true 28mm wide angle lense in a point and shoot is welcome feature. The zoom range is also useful and while it doesn't equal the 10x zooms on some other cameras, it does what it does well, with good quality images over the zoom range.

Other worthwhile features for me are the size of the camera and the balance with the lense and body sizes and weights. It is comfortable to use, not too small to handle and not too bulky to carry. I also wanted a point and shoot that uses aa batteries. I use rechargable AAs in it but don't have to pack around a charger and adapters for whatever continent I am on. You can always pick up a couple of aa batteries somewhere and be charged up and ready to shoot. Another feature I like and use more than you'd think is the optical view finder. So this has what I wanted and more.

I have had 2 other nikon cool pic cameras, this one is clearly the most advanced to date. Down side: little bit large. Seriously larger. smaller than my wife's nikon SLR but larger than the older nikon point and shoot. The wide angle lense is truly the bomb. Almost no point and shoot digitals offer wide angle. Very handy. Shots are good. Video is only good close up. comfortable, good value, decent camera.

Nikon Coolpix P50 8.1MP Digital Camera with 3.6x Wide Angle Optical Zoom

I have owned the Nikon coolpix for almost a year and for a person who is not technologically saavy I have anjoyed this product and find it to be great camera. I like that it is light weight and at the same time it has a very durable exterior, which is great for a accident prone person like myself who has broken cameras in the past. I really like the editing program the camera came with and have been able to fix pictures I had problems taking. I do have a few problems with the product. I don't really like how it isn't equipped with a rechargeable battery. Alkaline batteries are inexpensive but if you are a heavy camera user like myself the batteries will die fast, so keep extra on hand. I also had a difficult time using the camera at night, my pictures came out blurry, but that just took some practice and working with the camera. Overall it is a very nice product and I would reccommend the Nixon Coolpix p50 for first time digital camera users or people who don't want a complicated camera like myself. The price is right and you won't reget this purchase!