Full Metal Jacket
Written: Dec 27 '99 (Updated Dec 27 '99)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: small, durable
Cons: some uncertainty about the staying power of APS
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| Buffett's Full Review: Nikon Nuvis S APS Film Camera |
I saw a picture of the Nuvis S in an airplane catalog and, as a self-admitted gadget junkie, I had to see this camera. I hope to do some foreign travel in the near future and was "in the market" for an upgrade from my Fuji Discover point and shoot. The camera is about as small as any camera on the market - almost as small as the old 110 cameras or a disposable. It's unique design with a stainless steel case makes it a very durable little gadget and its 3x zoom gives it a great range for the amateur photographer. I was also impressed that the zoom has a macro range as I like to photograph my prize roses and don't always like to get out the old Nikon FG (SLR camera) with its macro zoom.
I was new to the Advanced Photo System film and a little unsure about it, but the new film system has been embraced by all of the major camera manufacturers and seems to be destined to be around for some time. Being able to shoot both panorama and "classic" photo sizes with one film and one camera is a nice advantage to using the APS cameras AND loading the film is idiot-proof. I shoot a lot of film but have to confess that I have accidentally opened camera backs and also thought I had film loaded correctly only to discover that no film was shot of a 36-exposure role. Wanting a camera for a vacation, I wanted something that wouldn't let this idiot make those mistakes, that was small and easy to carry and that would take some abuse.
I ended up purchasing the "floor model," so, I've had to figure out the camera without benefit of instruction manual. The controls are tiny (just like the camera) and you'll probably need something other than the tip of your finger to depress them. I've experimented with most of the settings and haven't had to work too hard to figure out what each tiny button does. The Nuvis S has the option of date and time printing and will also put titles on your pictures. There seem to be about 20 different titles, "Happy Birthday" and "Family Reunion" are a couple of examples.
The camera offers a red-eye reduction mode and you can make a few other adjustments with the flash. I haven't tried the timer option, but it looks fairly straight-forward. A nice feature of the camera is that as you change between the three film modes: classic, hi-def and panorama, the view through the viewfinder changes. So, you won't forget that you're in panorama when you want to be in classic mode.
I've only shot one roll of film, but I'm pleased with the picture quality of my new toy. I looked at the Minolta, Olympus and Canon offerings in the APS line, but the Nikon Nuvis S was the most interesting (and smallest) of these little gadgets. It also has the quality lens so typical of Nikon. I'll update this review as I get more experience.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
Buffett
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Location: Indianapolis, Indiana
Reviews written: 17
Trusted by: 11 members
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