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With a production model Nikon CP995 in hand for testing and
review, I find myself in the usual quandry about upgrading from
my 990. The question I must answer, will this camera help me
take better pictures?
Resolution-wise, no! The 995 and 990 share the
same 3.34 megapixel CCD.
The 4X zoom is nice (equiv. 38-152mm) but I still have two
strong legs to walk closer with my 3X 990.
Two features are tempting. The new pop-up flash
raises the flash head 2.5 inches above the lens, reducing but
not eliminating the chance of red-eye. Even better, the new
flash allows me to shoot with my 24mm wide angle attachment and
2X telephoto (just do not set the Lens menu item).
You can close (and turn off) the flash manually
with a top-mounted switch, a feature I like. Click the switch,
the flash pops up and you're in the flash business.
As a night photographer, I'm delighted with the
Noise Reduction feature which eliminates wild pixel noise in
long exposures (8 to 60 seconds).
Shutter speed is higher, now 1/2300 second. And
CCD sensitivity has been goosed up a stop (now ISO 800) but
noise remains the bane of the available light shooter. If only
the NR feature worked here. Shutter lag seems to be about the
same as the 990 and greatly depends upon your shooting
circumstances.
But are these features worth the several hundred
dollars I'd have to sacrifice to become a 990 owner? The jury's
still out.
Other niceties abound. The CF Type I card now
allows (without official sanction from Nikon) the use if 1mb and
higher Microdrives. The CF card has been flopped in its holder
and now presents its flange to a thumbnail, mkaing it much
easier to remove the card.
A rechargeable Lithium-Ion battery now ships
with the camera as well as a nifty little charger. The battery
charged fully from dead in less than two hours and tops off in
30-45 minutes. Spare batteries cost $39.95 and will give better
performance than AA NiMHs.
It is a quandry. One I've been in many times.
Fortunately, I still have several weeks before shipping the 995
back and making up my mind. |