High-End Features Pack Nikon's Coolpix 880

Nikon sets a new standard for cool with its latest 3.3-megapixel digital camera, the Coolpix 880. It's the first camera to offer picture-in-picture mode, which lets you consult a thumbnail of your last picture while framing the next.

I looked at a preproduction version of the 880, which costs $799, less than Nikon's top-of-the-line Coolpix 990--but you may find it necessary to buy some add-ons.

The 880 packs most of the 990's high-end features, but it eliminates much of its sibling's complexity. Working with the camera's four intuitively labeled function buttons, an eight-setting mode dial, and a four-way toggle switch, I quickly got the hang of adjusting exposure, aperture, and shutter speed--as well as basic options such as flash and focus--without setting foot in a menu. I did find some dial settings unnecessarily confusing, however. For instance, to set shutter speed, you turn the dial to M or CSM.

The 9.7-ounce 880 is more compact than the 990, but it uses the same add-on lenses and the same smorgasbord of capture and playback controls, including a high 2048-by-1536-pixel resolution, smooth 4X zooming into captured photos, and video capture.

I liked the 880's Quick Review button, which puts a one-fourth-size image of the last photo taken in the LCD's upper left corner. If you don't want to fiddle with settings, 12 presets optimize the unit for photos of landscapes, sunsets, beach/snow scenes, fireworks, and other special shots.

The only uncool thing about the 880 is its high price. The camera comes with a nonrechargeable lithium ion battery and a skimpy 8MB CompactFlash memory card (many competitors ship with 16MB). You'll have to dole out $40 for a rechargeable lithium ion battery, $60 for Nikon's combination AC adapter/battery recharger, and $50 for a 16MB CompactFlash card--bringing the total cost to almost $1000.

This means that the Coolpix 990, which comes with an included 16MB CompactFlash Card and uses ordinary AA batteries, actually costs only slightly more than the 880 with all its options, even if you buy a recharger and batteries for the 990.

If you don't mind the 990's longer learning curve, don't need automatic settings, and like the flexibility of the 990's swivel body, it may be a better bet. Rookies with deep pockets should consider the 880.

SUMMARY

Coolpix 880 PRO: Nice mix of basic, high-end, and convenience features. CON: Some modes confusingly labeled; expensive. VALUE: Good choice for digital photography newbies who want to grow. List price: $799 Nikon 800/645-6689 www.nikonusa.com