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CNET editors' review
-
CNET editors' rating:
stars
Good
Detailed editors' rating
- Reviewed on: 11/11/2001
- Updated on: 12/12/2002
A compact Coolpix
The solidly built 885 is more compact and easier to tote around than the 880, though it's still not entirely pocket-friendly. At 9.9 ounces with batteries and media installed, this Coolpix boasts a comfortable grip and small stature that make it great for one-handed shooting. We also like the camera's remarkably clear and bright 1.5-inch LCD, which has a fast refresh rate that eliminates jumpiness.
Clearly labeled buttons provide access to the most frequently used controls, and the 885 features a Transfer button for one-touch image downloads. A Quick Review button lets you see the last image you shot without having to switch out of Shooting mode. Another plus: Nikon has streamlined the command dial on top of the camera, allowing users to switch easily from automatic to custom shooting modes, shoot in a preset Scene mode, or choose Playback or Setup modes. We were particularly grateful that the Movie mode has been added to the dial--on the 880, it was buried so deep in the shooting menu that you could easily forget that option even existed.
What's not there
So what's missing from the streamlined dial on the 885? Not only is the ability to quickly select programmed, aperture-priority, or manual settings conspicuously absent, but the aperture-priority mode is gone altogether. You can still set exposures manually, but you must select that option through the shooting menu, making it quite difficult to switch back and forth between programmed and manual modes.
As was the case with the 880, the 885 offers limited adjustability within the manual mode: there are only two aperture settings from which to choose. Still, this function is key to the more advanced user, and we'd prefer it to be more easily accessible. That said, the 885 does offer a broad range of image parameter controls to advanced shooters. Continue reading
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