Nikon is not what it used to be

So my ex-wife got the digital camera in the divorce, and I needed a new one.  I'd long been a fan of Nikon's film SLRs, and I figured that their point-and-shoot digitals would be up to the same standard.  After doing a fair amount of research, I settled on the Coolpix P4.

On paper it packs quite a punch.  It's got a 3.5X optical zoom, 8.1 megapixels, a big (2-1/2") LCD on the back, and vibration reduction (image stabilization).  And, of course, it says "Nikon" on it.

As is typical on these cameras, there's very little in the way of manual controls, but there is a plethora of presets, including a bona fide aperature priority mode which allows the photographer to adjust the aperature for depth of field.  Of course there's also a brace of exposure and focus modes, such as specific settings for landscapes, portraits, fireworks, and sports.

The camera is small, but has a reasonable amount of heft to it, which makes it easier to hold steady, though with the vibration reduction (VR), you're able to shoot at a much slower shutter speed and get clear photos. 

In use, it's a breeze.  There's no optical viewfinder, but that's not really an issue.  You might want to get two batteries, as the LCD will need to be on all the time.  The manual is relatively well laid out, but you can figure out the basic controls just by playing around with the menus for a fiew minutes or just setting the controls to "Auto". 

The camera is small enough to fit into a pants pocket unless you're wearing Robert Plant-style tight jeans.  It powers up quickly, and the autofocus aquires its subject quickly.  There's a slight delay in the shutter, but it's typical for the breed.  I've taken this camera on several vacations, and it's never an issue finding space for it, or debating whether or not to lug it around like I would with an SLR.

So why am I not recommending it?  Two reasons:

- It's fragile.  You wouldn't think it to hold it, but it is.  Google "Nikon Coolpix Lens Error", and look at all the hits.  Any pressure on the lens assembly at all throws it out of whack and the camera simply stops working.  I was lucky I got mine fixed under warranty (though that was a nightmare thanks to Ritz Camera), but from reading all the stories online, it's rare that it's covered.

- The pictures are only so-so.  With all the electronic wizardry at this camera's disposal, it's totally let down by the electronics and the lens, which is a shock.  Nikons have always had excellent optics, but this one is a dud.  If all you shoot is around town stuff, then it's probably OK, but the P4 was completely unable to capture landscapes with clarity and color.  The same picture taken with the P4 and a Canon EOS SLR might as well have been from two different locations.  With 8.1 megapixels, I would expect to be able to crop and enlarge a photo to 8x10, but between the muddy imaging through the lens, and colors that look dull and muted, I ended up with half the number of pictures I though I'd had on my trip to Oahu.

Overall, if I were using the P4 for nothing other than snapping pictures around the house of everyday things and I knew that I'd never try to blow a photo up more than 5x7, then it'd be perfect.  For a vacation camera, it just can't deliver the goods.