Question about Nikon - DPChallenge Forums

04/11/2006 11:27:07 AM · #1

Does anyone know why Nikon stopped selling the Coolpix 8800? It seems that the only place to buy this camera now is on Ebay. I'm getting some money next week and decided it's time to buy a decent camera. I really wanted an 8mp and this is the camera I thought I wanted. But, I'm not so sure about buying it on Ebay. Is there another camera with the same capabilites (8mp, 10x optical zoom, vb)? When you just google you get soooo many hits, I just don't know where to look. I want to stay under $1000 USD (including memory cards). Any suggestions?

pidge

Canon EOS-7D Mark II

04/11/2006 11:36:20 AM · #2

As camera companies come out with newer versions of whatever line of cameras, they will discontinue the old ones. I am assuming the Coolpix 8800 has been dumped in favour of a newer version. To find an equivelent, I would check out either //www.dpreview.com or the Nikon homepage to find an equivelent.

Buying on Ebay is fine as long as you keep your sensors our for fraud. If it's to good to be true, it probably is fake.

Good luck, and whatever you get, enjoy it!

04/11/2006 11:42:25 AM · #3

The current camera of that type that really impresses me is the Sony DSC-R1. It uses a 10Mp APS-C sensor, the same size as in a Canon dSLR like the 350xt or 20D. See a review here.

If I were buying P&S right now, this is what I'd go for. It has a decent wide end (24mm equivalent) but not a heck of a lot of zoom (120mm equivalent.)

Sensor size comparison (Sony's F828 vs thhis new model):

Robt.

Message edited by author 2006-04-11 13:31:18.

Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8 L IS

04/11/2006 11:43:12 AM · #4

DPreview.com has this just out in 2005 and Nikon doesn't have any thing else close to this in optical zoom in their coolpix line except the 8700 which came out first. The 8800 includes the vibration control and a little bit more zoom. I just can't seem to find any reason why it was discontinued.

kirbic

Canon EOS R5

04/11/2006 11:44:03 AM · #5

I can't make specific recommendations, for a number of reasons, but mostly because I have not been keeping up with recent models of non-DSLR cams. There are many really good ones out there. Nikon may have discontinued the 8800 due to replacement with a newer model, or due to poor sales. I'd highly recommend DPReview for research on cameras. Make a list of the features you want and spend some time there researching.
BTW, you may find that some cams with less than 8Mpx perform as well or better than the 8Mpx ones. You'll probably be very happy with the output from a 6 or 7Mpx cam, and you'll have less noise for sure, as well as a lower price.
When you've narrowed your search to a few cams, post back and ask for opinions. You'll get many.

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 ED

04/11/2006 11:59:40 AM · #6

I actually just called Nikon and they told me the reason they discontinued is that the camera was the closest you could get to Dslr and so now they recommend that you go with the D50 if you were looking for that camera. They are trying to go smaller with their coolpix line. I'm just not sure I'd be ready for a Dslr. The Fuji S9000 looks close though.

Apple iPhone 5

04/11/2006 12:08:14 PM · #7

Originally posted by kdsprog:

I'm just not sure I'd be ready for a Dslr.

Out of interest, what's the main reason you don't want to move to dSLR yet?

I was thinking a D50 with kit lens would operate in a very similar way to a lot of the high-end 'p&s' cameras, but with the flexibility of interchangeable lenses and all the other benefits that dSLRs offer.

And with the D50 being the price it is...

GoodEnd

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

04/11/2006 12:15:25 PM · #8

Nikon 8800 can be out of stock or line. But you can ever had many options. Nikon DSLR D50 is a great choise as commented. But now that I have a DSLR I know that a good prosumer digicam can worth a lot of venerance. I owned Nikon 5700 a good, reliable, resistant camera. But IÂ´m impressed with Fuji S9000. itÂ´s great, full of useful features and with a huge zoom lens. Check it!

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 ED

04/11/2006 12:22:53 PM · #9

Originally posted by jhonan:

Originally posted by kdsprog:
I'm just not sure I'd be ready for a Dslr.

Out of interest, what's the main reason you don't want to move to dSLR yet?

I was thinking a D50 with kit lens would operate in a very similar way to a lot of the high-end 'p&s' cameras, but with the flexibility of interchangeable lenses and all the other benefits that dSLRs offer.

And with the D50 being the price it is...

I'm still using mostly the preset's on the camera I have now. I'm starting to learn the manual stuff but can't quite seem to get the hang of it. And truth be told, I usually use the LCD to compose the picture, not the the viewfinder. I've found some great deals on the D50, but reading the threads on sensor dust and whatnot, it just seems scary.

Apple iPhone 5

04/11/2006 12:27:13 PM · #10

Originally posted by kdsprog:

Originally posted by jhonan:

Originally posted by kdsprog:
I'm just not sure I'd be ready for a Dslr.

Out of interest, what's the main reason you don't want to move to dSLR yet?

I was thinking a D50 with kit lens would operate in a very similar way to a lot of the high-end 'p&s' cameras, but with the flexibility of interchangeable lenses and all the other benefits that dSLRs offer.

And with the D50 being the price it is...

I'm still using mostly the preset's on the camera I have now. I'm starting to learn the manual stuff but can't quite seem to get the hang of it. And truth be told, I usually use the LCD to compose the picture, not the the viewfinder. I've found some great deals on the D50, but reading the threads on sensor dust and whatnot, it just seems scary.

The D50 has the following auto modes: "Auto, Portrait, Landscape, Child, Sports, Close-up, Night Portrait"

But, I know where you're coming from with your other two concerns. I've become very used to composing on the screen of my coolpix, and have reached a point where I find the viewfinder quite difficult to use.

And as for sensor dust... well, it seems fairly easy to clean if you know what to do. And besides, if you keep the same lens on most of the time it probably won't be much of a problem.

Although another thing that makes the high-end P&S cameras so attractive is that they often have a very nice lens attached; the sort of lens that will do just about everything you need from wide-angle through to telephoto plus macro.

It's a tough decision! - See if you can try out a dSLR hands-on, it might change your mind!

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 ED

04/11/2006 12:42:30 PM · #11

Originally posted by kdsprog:

You REALLY Need to look at that Sony I mentioned earlier; it incorporates the single most important aspect of dSLR image quality, the APS-C sized sensor, into a P&S body; no dust issues.

The "manual" stuff is just a red herring; allt he dSLRs have full auto modes, and all the good P&S cams have full manual modes.

Robt.

Apple iPhone 5

04/11/2006 01:20:28 PM · #12

Originally posted by Bear_Music:

You REALLY Need to look at that Sony I mentioned earlier; it incorporates the single most important aspect of dSLR image quality, the APS-C sized sensor, into a P&S body; no dust issues.

I assume with a APS-C sensor, it offers the same kind of DOF as a dSLR (at similar focal lengths)?

Nikon AF Zoom-Nikkor 28-80mm f/3.5-5.6

04/11/2006 01:29:36 PM · #13

Originally posted by jhonan:

Originally posted by Bear_Music:
You REALLY Need to look at that Sony I mentioned earlier; it incorporates the single most important aspect of dSLR image quality, the APS-C sized sensor, into a P&S body; no dust issues.

I assume with a APS-C sensor, it offers the same kind of DOF as a dSLR (at similar focal lengths)?

That would be correct, yes.

R.

It has Carl Zeiss T-star glass, btw; very nice glass. And a flip-out, swiveling LCD, which is the only part of P&S I miss...

Message edited by author 2006-04-11 13:30:50.

Givemeashot

Nikon D200

04/11/2006 01:36:53 PM · #14

i got my whole set up for under 1000$ i bought a nikon D70 it came with the body 2 lens, lens cleaner, 30 free prints and enlargements, the bag, charger, battery i think thats it and it was about $950 i think and i got of eabay from Cameta Camera... and they were fast and good..... check this one out has like 53 min left and its at 631$ Ebay Nikon D70

DjFenzl

04/11/2006 01:39:39 PM · #15

Nikon coolpix 8800 for sale

found that site off of pricegrabber, 4 out of 5 stars w/245 reviews.

$899

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

04/11/2006 02:17:23 PM · #16

Originally posted by Bear_Music:

Originally posted by jhonan:

Originally posted by Bear_Music:
You REALLY Need to look at that Sony I mentioned earlier; it incorporates the single most important aspect of dSLR image quality, the APS-C sized sensor, into a P&S body; no dust issues.

I assume with a APS-C sensor, it offers the same kind of DOF as a dSLR (at similar focal lengths)?

That would be correct, yes.

R.

It has Carl Zeiss T-star glass, btw; very nice glass. And a flip-out, swiveling LCD, which is the only part of P&S I miss...

It's great except for the zoom. I like to take animal photo's and it seems a lot of the pictures I like to take need it. I go to the Philadelphia zoo and the safari at Six Flags. They put quite a bit of distance between the animals and the people. I'm also looking for the megapixels to be able to get a decent crop. For example, my current entry in Textures is getting beat up due to everyone saying it needed a tighter crop. I initally tried to crop it tighter but it lost all sense of sharpness with the crop. I'm currently at 3.2mp. After looking at the reviews I think I'll probably go with the Fuji S9000. I still have a little over a week to make up my mind.

quiet_observation

Canon EOS-7D

04/11/2006 02:38:06 PM · #17

If you look at the recent At the Zoo Challenge most of the top shots were taken with dSLR cameras with a telephoto lens.

You might want to check out Calumet Photo in Philadelphia. Go in and look at the cameras. Explain to the staff what you want to take photographs of and they can give you good advice. Ask about their return policy. The last time I checked their rental list, you could also rent a dSLR.

wavelength

Nikon D300

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D

04/11/2006 02:53:45 PM · #18

Originally posted by kdsprog:

I'd go with a basic DSLR, like the D50/D70 or RebelXT, and get a Sigma 70-300 APO at least. A Nikon 80-400 and a good pod would be a better answer.

Otherwise, the Panasonic DMC-FZ20/30 seems to be your answer. Leica glass, f/2.8 throughout the zoom range from 35-430mm equivalent or something.

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D

04/11/2006 02:59:10 PM · #19

what's a pod?

wavelength

Nikon D300

04/11/2006 03:05:31 PM · #20

Originally posted by kdsprog:

what's a pod?

sorry, tripod or monopdo, or even a beanbag pod.

04/11/2006 03:07:27 PM · #21

Originally posted by kdsprog:

what's a pod?

"pod" = tripod...

As for the megapixels, you have to understand that the same Mp on a much larger sensor = a much cleaner, sharper image. My Canon 20D is 8.2 Mp and I can crop out 2/3 of the image and get a better-looking picture than full-frame on the Coolpix 5700 I was using previously. This is a MUCH better sensor than you've been using. Also, Sony sells a very high-quality, screw in telephoto lens for this camera that will extend the range significantly. Combine that with the higher image quality and you're in business.

It's really all about the sensor. NOBODY else in the P&S market has a sensor anywhere near this large. And Sony actually manufactures the sensors for Canon and many other dSLR brands...

Robt.

Message edited by author 2006-04-11 15:08:12.