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Nikon
Coolpix 990
User Review
Posted 3/4/2000 (updated 10/18/2000)
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Click on the camera for 360-degree QTVR tour
The Nikon Coolpix 990 is the first of the new wave of 3.34-megapixel resolution digital
cameras. It retains the best features of the Coolpix 950 like the razor sharp Nikkor 3x zoom lens, the closest macro capability of any digicam, the highly durable magnesium alloy body and the unique swiveling lens design.
It now includes many of the user-requested improvements (CF card slot on side, USB connectivity, improved battery life, better LCD) and adds powerful new features like multizone autofocus, autoexposure bracketing, Flexible Program mode and a 7-blade iris diaphragm for real depth of field control.
The 990's 3.34 megapixel CCD delivers a non-interpolated image resolution of 2048 x 1536 pixels with an uncompressed TIFF image file of just under 10MB in size. Recording modes include still image capture at up to 2 frames per second in full resolution, 320 x 240 QVGA at 30 frames per second and a new movie mode that shoots 40 seconds of (silent) QVGA Motion-JPEG at 15 fps.
Nikon has finally answered the question of how to keep the lens cap with the camera. They now include a "lens string" that slips around the joint between the two sections of the camera.
Read the:
Nikon Coolpix 990 Manual
8-page Coolpix 990 sales brochure
The Coolpix 990 has an exclusive Multi-Area autofocus mode for quick composition without interruption. It searches the 5 zones for closest subject or sharpest subject. It is a direct descendant of Nikon pro film and D1 digital SLR cameras.
The 990 also features a 50-step manual focus, Nikon’s 256 element Matrix metering and new 256 element Matrix white balance system to insure the best possible exposure and color balance in every shot.
New is a 7-blade iris diaphragm for true depth of field control and versatile exposure control with four exposure modes:
1.Programmed Automatic (with Flexible Program)
2.Shutter Priority - (bulb, 8s, 4s, 2s, 1s, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/15, 1/30, 1/60, 1/125, 1/250, 1/500, 1/750, 1/1000)
3.Aperture Priority - (in wideangle: F2.5, 2.8, 3.1, 3.5, 3.9, 4.4, 4.9, 5.5, 6.2 and 7.0 - in telephoto F4.0, 4.4, 5.0, 5.6, 6.3, 7.0, 7.9, 8.9, 9.9 and 11)
4.Full Manual control of both shutter and aperture.
In the "P"rogrammed automatic mode there are more options available via the Flexible Program mode. By rotating the command dial the "P" changes to a "P*" and each click brings up a different combination of shutter speed and aperture values that yield the same exposure.
Exposure compensation and Auto Bracketing capabilities are also included.
The 990 has a high-speed USB interface which makes downloading those large image
files to a PC or Mac very fast. This is a dual I/O port supporting both USB and serial
RS-232 connections. Nikon does not supply a serial port cable and the NikonView software is not capable of controlling the camera other than image downloads. The 990 now has user-selectable video output (NTSC or PAL). This eliminates the need to build two different camera models but the 990 will come in two different color schemes. The North American cameras will be charcoal grey with a purple colored finger grip (as shown here), the European models will be the black and red scheme used on the Coolpix 950's.
Another thing that can be connected to the Coolpix 990 (or the 880) USB port is the new MC-EU1 wired remote control. The MC-EU1 allows you to trip the shutter and operate the zoom lens in A-Rec or M-rec modes. In Playback mode it lets you scroll forward or backwards through the stored images.
An even more powerful record mode operation is available for time-lapse recording. There are two modes: Interval Mode A begins when you push the release button and repeats at the programmed intervals. Interval Mode B is the same but the camera begins automatically after a preset amount of time has elapsed.
The remote's shutter button is like the one on the camera and has a half-press position to set focus and exposure and trips the shutter when fully depressed. The LCD panel on the MC-EU1 shows the settings for the interval modes and also displays the camera modes (A-Rec, M-Rec, Play) and "Busy" while writing to the CF card. There is a builtin illuminator that can be turned on so you can see the LCD display in the dark.
For more info on the MC-EU1 remote cord, click here to see the user manual in PDF format, it's rather large so be patient.
Note: The Nikon 990 requires firmware v1.1 or greater to use the MC-EU1. Most 990's shipped with v1.0
The 990's CompactFlash card slot is located on the side, making it easy to change cards without removing it from a tripod. Nikon is supplying a 16MB 8x high performance Lexar CF card.
This is a CompactFlash Type I slot, it is not Microdrive compatible.
Nikon has bundled one of Lexar Media's new and fast 8x speed, 16MB USB-enabled JumpSHOT CompactFlash cards. Included is a mail-in coupon for the JumpSHOT USB
cable for $9.99 (50% discount) if you'd like to have an untethered way of downloading your images.
Click here to
Continue on to Lenses & Options
Coolpix 990 Specifications
Capture modes
Exposure metering
Shutter
Aperture
Exposure control
Exposure range ISO Sensitivity
White balance
Self-timer
Built-in Speedlight
Flash control
External Speedlight
Playback menu
Delete function Interface Video output
1)Single
2)Continuous
3)Multi-Shot 16 (16 frames in 1/16 size)
4)VGA Sequence
5)Ultra High-speed Continuous (approx. 30 fps for 80 QVGA-size images)
6)Movie (40 sec. for QVGA-size images at 15 fps)
4-mode TTL metering:
1)256-segment Matrix
2)Center-Weighted
3)Spot and
4)Spot AF Area
Mechanical and charge-coupled electronic shutter 8 to 1/1,000 sec.
7-blade iris diaphragm
3 EV range in 1/3 EV steps
1)Programmed Auto with Flexible Program
2)Shutter-Priority Auto (with Sensitivity control)
3)Aperture-Priority Auto
4)Manual; Exposure Compensation (±2 EV in 1/3 EV steps) Auto Bracketing (5 steps within ±2/3 EV)
EV -2~+15.5 (W), EV -0.8~+16.7 (T) (ISO 100 equivalent) 100, 200, 400 or Auto
1)Matrix Auto White Balance with TTL control
2)5-mode Manual with 7-step fine tuning (Fine/Incandescent/Fluorescent/ Cloudy/Speedlight)
3)Preset
10 sec. or 3 sec. duration
Guide number 9/30 (at ISO 100, m/ft.) Flash modes:
1)Auto Flash
2)Flash Cancel
3)Anytime Flash
4)Slow Sync
5)Red-Eye Reduction
Multi-flash sync terminal connects to external Nikon Speedlight SB-28/28DX/26/25/24/22 through the Multi-Flash Bracket Unit SK-E900; built-in Speedlight can be canceled when using external Speedlight(s)
1)1 frame
2)Thumbnail (4/9 segments)
3)Slide show
4)Zoom playback (stepless up to 3x) Histogram indication & highlight point display Peaking indication
Hide and protect attributes can be set to each image
Deletes all frames or selected frames
USB interface; Serial interface (Windows: 115kbps, Macintosh: 230kbps) NTSC or PAL (selectable)
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Nikon
Coolpix 990
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The all glass, 3x Zoom-Nikkor lens has 38-115mm coverage (35mm equivalent) plus a virtually stepless 4x digital zoom option. If you enjoy shooting close-ups you can get as close as 0.8 inches away from your subject with the Nikkor lens' superb macro capability.
The Coolpix 990 accepts optional Coolpix Lenses and accessories, including the Nikkor
fisheye (above), wideangle, 2x and 3x telephoto converters. Third-party 28-37mm stepup rings, filters and auxilliary lenses are available from various dealers to further enhance your camera's capabilities.
Shown here is the older WC-E24 and the new and larger WC-E63 wideangle conversion lenses. The WC-E63 features ED glass for less distortion and flares and is threaded for 72mm filters.
Closeup of the large monochrome data display, the Mode/Power switch and the
programmable mode/function buttons. The command dial has been moved to the top-rear of the camera and is easily operated with your thumb.
Note the "P*" -- the Coolpix 990 has a Flexible-Program mode. Rotating the command dial lets you use different combinations of shutter speed and aperture.
The Coolpix 990 has TTL support for an external flash such as Nikon's SB-28DX shown
here on the SK-E900 flash bracket. The 990 has menu options for control of both the internal and external speedlights, the internal can now be disabled while using an external flash. It does not use the infrared focusing aid of the SB-28 or SB-28DX flash units.
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