Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years.

Thanks,

CNET Support

General discussion

Nikon Coolpix 5900 vs. Canon Powershot A95

May 9, 2005 1:40PM PDT

I need to purchase a new camera and have narrowed the field to Nikon Coolpix 5900 or the Canon Powershot A95. I am most interested in image quality, ease of use, and a larger LCD. Can anyone with expertise help me to decide? I am willing to spend about $300. Thanks.

Discussion is locked

- Collapse -
Nikon 5900 Canon A95
May 10, 2005 12:00AM PDT

If you look at the specifications and price, it is easy to see that these two cameras are targeting the same customer.

The only real difference is that the Canon has manual controls such as:
Aperture Priority
Shutter Priority
Program Mode
Manual Mode

The Nikon is strickly a point-and-shoot camera.

If you want to take good photos and not get further involved with the mechanics of photography, then the Nikon is a fine choice.

If you want to take control of the camera on difficult shooting situations, then the Canon is the camera to choose.

Here are reviews on the two cameras:

http://www.dcresource.com/reviews/canon/powershot_a95-review/

http://www.dcresource.com/reviews/nikon/coolpix5900_7900-review/index.shtml

...
..
.

- Collapse -
Any other suggestions
May 10, 2005 2:10AM PDT

Thanks. I read both reviews thoroughly and only became more confused, since there are weaknesses in both cameras. Would you suggest any others within my price range? ($250-350). I would like 5.0 pixels in a point-and-shoot camera with excellent image quality and movie mode, 3x optical zoom, and a screen of 2.0 or more. Manual controls are also important, but less so than image and movie quality and battery life. Thanks.

- Collapse -
Cameras
May 10, 2005 7:16AM PDT

There are few cameras in your price range that have manual controls.

Versatile movie modes in that price range are also hard to find.

I suggest you check out the Canon SD400.
One of the most versatile movie modes around.
And produces very sharp photos.

...
..
.

- Collapse -
Camera recommendation
May 10, 2005 9:32AM PDT

I have reviewed so many digital cameras that my head is spinning. There are always pros and cons. I will check out the Canon SD400 per your suggestion. Do you know anything about the Nikon Coolpix 7600? I have read the specs and a friend who has one loves it for its excellent image resolution and ease of use. I have not been able to find many reviews for it, though. Thanks Snapshot!

- Collapse -
Nikon 7600
May 10, 2005 11:49AM PDT

The 7600 appears to be a combination of two cameras.

They took the case from the 5600 and installed the lens, sensor and processor from the 7900.
Probably to have something to fill a particular price bracket.

It is priced less than the 7900 and has a smaller LCD, plus it uses AA batteries instead of the Lithium battery in the 7900.

I would expect it to produce the same pictures as the 7900.

...
..
.

- Collapse -
Other choices
May 10, 2005 4:52PM PDT

Thanks. I have decided to spend up to $450. This will broaden the field. Which of these cameras are the best in order of quality - image sharpness, less noise, battery life, etc. Manual controls are nice, but not necessary if a camera does the job and has enough scene options: Nikon 7900, 7600 or Canon SD500? Thanks.

- Collapse -
Update
May 10, 2005 10:19PM PDT

Jeff Keller, in his DCRP Review of the Nikon Coolpix 7900 has this to say in his conclusion: "A lot of people will be comparing the Coolpix 7900 with the Canon PowerShot SD500 and they are equal in many areas. The SD500 offers manual shutter speed control, better performance, and a sleeker design, while the 7900 has more scene modes, two bracketing functions, and control over things like sharpness and contrast." I have read numerous reviews by Jeff at DCRP, and he always has cons for every camera, strong enough to dissuade me from buying that camera and throwing me back into another search. It is like a cycle. I read a review; end up disppointed and then read another one and so on....

Both Nikon 7600 & 7900 (and I like 7 megapixels resolution for the sharp, detailed images), can be purchased for $314 - 400 online. Canon SD500 is about $100 more everywhere that I looked. Is Canon SD500 worth the extra cash outlay, in your opinion? Thanks again.

- Collapse -
Upscale
May 11, 2005 12:46AM PDT

Since you are now looking in different areas, here are a couple of sleepers:

1.....

Until the end of May, Olympus has a $100 rebate on the C-7000:

http://www.olympusamerica.com/img/cpg_images/misc/c7000rebate_carib.pdf

That means that a C-7000 will cost you less than $400.

C-7000 - 7 meg - 5X - Very low shutter lag (0.3 sec)

2.....

Fujifilm E550 - 6 meg - 4X - Low shutter lag (0.4 sec)

Can be found for just under $300.


...
..
.

- Collapse -
Thanks
May 11, 2005 10:32AM PDT

I checked out the Olympus C-7000 reviews and they are great. With the $100 rebate, I can purchase one for $354 at BeachCamera.com or for $339 at BestPriceCamera.com. Are these two online vendors OK? I saw the Olympus C-7000 for only $249.00 from BestChoiceDigital.com but read too many horror stories about them to bother trying to save another $100. Thanks.

- Collapse -
Digital Camera
May 11, 2005 2:10PM PDT

BeachCamera is OK.
But the price is $454 and you have to send in the rebate and get the $100 back from Olympus.

Never heard of the other two.
Visited their websites and can't make heads or tails.
They don't appear to be vendors.
Just a bunch of links.

...
..
.

- Collapse -
Digital Camera
May 11, 2005 2:30PM PDT

I too was comparing the Canon A95 and the Nikon 5900. In the reviews that snapshot mentioned, it was stated that the Nikon 5900 is a good choice and that he would choose it over the 7900. Thus, hoping to get the best of both worlds I bouhgt the 7600. Couldnt be happier, I have a friend who has a Canon A95, A520, and S410, those of which he said that the A95 was the best. However, when he saw my Nikon 7600, he said that he wished he had gotten that. It is important to note that this gentlemen is known in the local areas as being the best "nature" based photographer. In close comparison, the image quality of the two is very similar, but for the most convience, and sturdy build. the entire Nikon Coolpix series beats out the Canon A series. Hopes this helps!

- Collapse -
Olympus C-7000
May 11, 2005 11:52PM PDT

Thanks. Snapshot recommended the Olympus C-7000, which has excellent reviews and also 7.1 mp resolution. Plus Olympus is offering a $100 rebate on this model through May 31, 2005.

- Collapse -
Other vendors
May 11, 2005 11:54PM PDT

Do you know of any reputable online vendors or camera stores that deduct the $100 rebate from the total price, instead of having to mail it in and wait for it?