It only took a few tries, a fair amount of cash, and lots of patience, but …
I think I have found my most-of-the-time camera. So far, I’m loving the new Nikon Coolpix A1000. Sure, the tech reviews weren’t great, but since I’m not a professional photographer, the camera does everything I need it to do, does it well, and the controls are soooo easy. The settings are nearly identical to the old Olympus, with just enough difference that there will be a very small learning curve (like, where in the heck is that macro setting?). I’m ok with that.
Searching for a new camera can be as stressful as, well, wondering who’s at the door when you’re not expecting company:
Who’s There?
And, there’s the research involved, and the need to contact others for advice:
Radio Tower
The whole buying-a-new camera process is certainly nothing to sneeze at:
Goldenrod
But if ultimately you can find a camera that suits your needs, without requiring a second mortgage on your home, it’s well worth it. Check out the photos with my new camera – and note that none of them are excessively blue (bad, bad Nikon Coolpix B700 – you have been retired unless I need that 60X zoom):
The Pond
Peaceful
The Hideout in the Woods
Peekaboo!
Shady Path
Not one of those photos required extensive editing. That makes me very happy.
Initially, I was concerned about the purple spot on the Hideout photo, but none of the prior or subsequent pictures had that, so maybe I just had my fingers too close to the lens or a sensor or maybe a speck of dust got on the lens or maybe the light was weird in that particular place (or maybe there really was something purple on the trunk of that tree which I didn’t notice before taking the photo).
One drawback with the A700, however, is that everything’s very close together; people with big fingers might find it annoying, especially when the LCD monitor blacks out just as you’re about to shoot, because your finger has gotten too close to the viewfinder sensor. I’ve learned to hold the camera more carefully and haven’t had any further issues with monitor vs. viewfinder.
It is Labor Day weekend here in the U.S. Summer will be officially over soon. Mother Nature felt a need to remind me of that:
The First Changing Leaves
Happy long weekend to those in the U.S., and happy regular weekend to everyone else. May the summer end in peace for all of us.
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I love to hear from my readers. You may comment on this post, comment on my Facebook or Twitter pages, or email me at cordeliasmom2012@yahoo.com
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Images by Cordelia’s Mom/TeddyRosalie Studio
Cordelia's Mom, Still 
Well done. Your photography is really good and I am glad you have a camera that you like.
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Thanks, Jane. I got sooo tired of fighting with that other camera. Now photography will be fun again.
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Well done! The purple spot looks like a bit of lens flare; internal reflection from the bright light on the leaves in a fairly high contrast situation. You could have spent 4X as much on a camera and still got it. I wouldn’t worry about it.
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Thank you. Since publishing that post, I did realize that the purple spot only appears if I’m shooting into direct sunlight. I’m ok with that, I just make sure I stand at a different angle to the subject if the light’s too bright. But it’s good to know that very expensive cameras can have that flare, too.
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In my most recent post you will see that lens flare as an orange patch above the little fir tree in the last two photos. Expensive lens, but the sun can get it anyway. Sometimes even a lens shade won’t help. Other times we do it on purpose!
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Thanks, Marc. Good to know.
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Happy long weekend to you too. We have Labour Day in Canada as well (spelled a little different). Thanks for the photos – they still look like summer to me.
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Thanks, Trent. Glad I could make you thinks of summer. (I thought you were in Cape Cod?)
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Glad it’s working out. I may have to look into one soon.
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I like it. It does, however, have a purple lens flare if you shoot directly into sunlight. That’s what the purple spot is on the one photo. One of my photographer readers explained it to me. He also said that a camera costly 4 times as much could still have that issue. I just stand in a different spot and everything’s fine. I’ll be posting more photos soon.
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So is it heavy? And small enough for a large pocket?
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It’s a little chunkier than my old Olympus, but not horribly so. I have no problem holding it with my arthritic hands. And, yes, it fits in the large pocket of my loose jeans, although I admit it’s a tight fit. It fits just fine, however, in the pocket of my hoodie or jacket. I especially like that it’s still small enough to take discrete photos in places like restaurants – the B700 is way too big for that.
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Sounds good. Can you transfer pics to your phone? That’s one feature I’m looking forward to…
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I don’t know. I don’t have a smartphone.
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Is that even legal nowadays…?
😉
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Beautiful photos, CM! I’m so very happy for you that you have a camera now that you can depend on. There is nothing worse then fighting a camera when trying to use it. Happy long weekend!!!
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Thanks, Amy. I thought about you yesterday. We went the Chestnut Ridge for a short time, but we went very late in the day so I knew you wouldn’t be there then. I did get a couple of nice skyline photos from the top of the hill. Hope to get those posted soon.
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I hope this new camera is trouble-free for many years. My B700 is still holding out, so I’m hanging onto it. I like your pictures.
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Your B700 apparently isn’t one of the defective ones. If mine hadn’t developed those problems, I would have loved it. It’s still the best camera for some stuff, like the incredible zoom, and mine is still good for indoor shots, pet shots, and closeups.
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