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Garth Herrick · 03-16-2004, 08:49 PM

Hi Kim, I am new here today, so this is my first response. I say go for the best camera you can get. You can be so much mre creative and productive with the higher quality pixel output. I know nothing about the new Nikon Coolpix 8700, but at 8 MP from a very small dimension capture chip, please check to see if there are any reviews that indicate the digital noise levels at higher ISO speeds like 800 or 1600. As I said I have not read a review yet, but in general when a consumer level camera has a chip subdivided to as much as 8 mp, each pixel is so small that compromises in image quality will result.

A year and a half ago I went for the best digital camera I could buy, which was the Nikon D100. This is an interchangeable lens SLR with the then maximum 6 MP. Yes it was expensive (camera and lens were $2,850.00), and my wife really did not speak with me for two months, but oh what a satisfying and productive tool! So far I have shot over 45,000 pictures and added two more hard drives to my G4 to hold them.

The capture chip is quite large in this camera, resulting in excellent low noise digital captures even at ISO 1600! Maybe you don't anticipate a need for low noise in less than adequate lighting, but I think this is a factor worth considering.

Take your time shopping and read up on all the specification fine print that you can. Good luck!

Garth

03-16-2004, 08:49 PM	#8
Garth Herrick SOG Member FT Professional '09 Honors, Finalist, PSOA '07 Cert of Excel PSOA '06 Cert of Excel PSOA '06 Semifinalist, Smithsonian OBPC '05 Finalist, PSOA Joined: Mar 2004 Location: Philadelphia, PA Posts: 1,445	Hi Kim, I am new here today, so this is my first response. I say go for the best camera you can get. You can be so much mre creative and productive with the higher quality pixel output. I know nothing about the new Nikon Coolpix 8700, but at 8 MP from a very small dimension capture chip, please check to see if there are any reviews that indicate the digital noise levels at higher ISO speeds like 800 or 1600. As I said I have not read a review yet, but in general when a consumer level camera has a chip subdivided to as much as 8 mp, each pixel is so small that compromises in image quality will result. A year and a half ago I went for the best digital camera I could buy, which was the Nikon D100. This is an interchangeable lens SLR with the then maximum 6 MP. Yes it was expensive (camera and lens were $2,850.00), and my wife really did not speak with me for two months, but oh what a satisfying and productive tool! So far I have shot over 45,000 pictures and added two more hard drives to my G4 to hold them. The capture chip is quite large in this camera, resulting in excellent low noise digital captures even at ISO 1600! Maybe you don't anticipate a need for low noise in less than adequate lighting, but I think this is a factor worth considering. Take your time shopping and read up on all the specification fine print that you can. Good luck! Garth