Editorial Review:Amazon.com Review:Nikon's Coolpix 3500 follows up on the design of their 2500, featuring a swivel-out lens, complete with a 3x optical zoom, which closes up when not in use. The lens clicks into three different angles (straight out, 45-degrees above and below) when taking pictures, with the user lining up the shot in the bright and crisp 1.5-inch LCD.
The 3500 also has a built-in autoflash and can capture images at up to 3.2 megapixels. It does take a few moments to focus in on your subject, and the image quality isn't the best we've seen (we noticed some flares and dark shadows). But this camera was built more for portability than high-end imaging.
And it definitely hits--and fits--on that level. It weighs only six ounces, and the camera can easily slide into a jeans pocket or hang around your neck.
Several features geared toward the beginning user are included with the 3500. The one-touch upload option takes the thought out of transferring images to your PC. And with the Best Shot Selector option turned on, the 3500 will quickly capture up to 10 shots and choose the sharpest and brightest image. There's also a 20-minute introductory video on CD that walks novices through the digital camera basics.
A 16 MB CompactFlash card ships with the 3500, which will hold 19 images at the highest resolution. However, if you're going to use the camera's movie mode (it can hold passable 35-second soundless clips), you'll want to expand. Our one beef comes with the lithium-ion battery, which needs to be removed to be recharged.
The Nikon Coolpix 3500 would make a great gift for a parent or child new to the digital camera world. It's very user friendly and ultimately portable.
--J. Curtis Pros: - Nicely compact
- Innovative twisting lens design
- Excellent features for the beginner
- Bright, crisp LCD
Cons: - Average image quality
- Have to remove battery to recharge
Amazon.com Product Description:This elegant 3.2-megapixel digital camera features a unique inner-swivel design for free-angle shooting and an ergonomic design that puts every function within easy reach. Hold the camera in any position comfortable for you, then twist its 3x Nikkor zoom lens and built-in flash to get the best view. It also features a one-touch upload feature, which easily transfers your photos to your PC.
Optics and Resolution Featuring a 3.2-megapixel CCD sensor, the Coolpix 3500 delivers a wide range of detail and color (with images up to 2,048 x 1,536 pixels) and prints are detailed up to 11 by 14 inches. Nikon's high-quality 3x Nikkor optical zoom lens (featuring a 5.6-16.8mm focal range, equivalent to 37-111mm in 35mm camera format) allows you to close in on the action. The 4x digital zoom offers a combined 12x total zoom, enabling you to capture even more details.
Body Most striking is the Coolpix 3500's unique body design, which not only improves the appearance and ergonomics of the camera, but protects the lens when not in use. In addition to the novel swiveling lens barrel, the 3500 dispenses with a rangefinder and relies solely on the LCD monitor. The BriteView LCD enables you to view images easily and clearly even in bright sunlight.
More Features The general-purpose auto mode, and 12 scene modes, makes getting great shots easy--even for beginning digital photographers. Just select the mode for the scene, and the Coolpix 3500 handles all the adjustments automatically. Nikon's Best Shot Selector takes a series of up to 10 images, compares them, and stores the image with most detail to the memory card.
The Coolpix 3500 makes sending images to your computer simple. Just connect the camera to a computer with the supplied USB cable and press the transfer button. Images in the camera are then transferred automatically to the computer with Nikon View 5 software (included). Pressing the small-picture button creates a reduced-size image for easy e-mailing.
Storage and Transfer Images are stored on Type I CompactFlash memory cards. The included 16 MB card will store approximately 19 images at 2,048 x 1,536 pixels (at normal setting). Images can be downloaded to either a Mac or PC via USB storage-class connectivity, which means it can be connected to any USB-based Windows Me/2000/XP and Mac OS 8.6 or later computer without installing any software.
Movie Mode In addition to taking still photos, the Coolpix 3500 can also record movie clips of up to 35 seconds without audio. The QuickTime Motion JPEG format offers a limited resolution, which is great for capturing a short movie that can be e-mailed to friends and family, but is no replacement for a true camcorder.
Power, Size, and Contents The camera is powered by a proprietary, rechargeable lithium-ion battery (included). It measures 4.5 by 2.3 by 1.2 inches and weighs 6 ounces. This package includes the Coolpix 3500 digital camera, a 16 MB CompactFlash card, a lithium-ion battery (model EN-EL2), battery charger (model MH-60), USB and AV cables, strap, and a CD-ROM with Nikon View 5 imaging software, and USB drivers for Windows and Mac.
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Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
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EXCELLENT
This was my first digital camera. I have it for 6 years now. I got it for christmas in 2002. It still works perfectly. I have absolutely no problems with it. I have taken millions of pictures with this camera. As I am very into photography and took classes all throughout highschool as well as now in college. The only thing is that after taking soooo many pictures I did need to purchase a new battery. You must learn how to use a camera correctly before you give it negative feedback. My photographs, both indoor and outdoor got great compliments and prizes taken with this camera. Just this summer, I upgraded myself to a Canon REBEL XT.
Rating: 
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for what it's priced at, you could get a BETTER camera
After my eldest brother had bought this camera somewhere from online, I snagged it from him [for almost 2 years now].
It's awesome for self-portraits instead of stupid "mirror shots"; because you can swivel it around so that it's focused on you&you can see yourself on the screen.
It worked fine before, but when it's not in use for maybe a second, the screen goes blank as if it's on a "sleep" mode. Then I have to turn it off and on again just to get it started back up.
It has a video mode, but it also takes up A LOT of memory&it doesn't record SOUND. The videos only end up to be maybe a second long. Also what videos I did have, I tried to upload them to my computer, however they will not play. So it basically was a waste of time and space on the memory card.
It accidently fell once and the cause of that made it not turn on. Or if it did, it would freeze the screen. [So I gave it back to my brother, but he miraculously fixed it, so I took it back again].
And then after a while, it started doing the same thing. So I let it sit out for a while, hadn't used it in maybe a month and it's just starting to work like normal again.
The latch to open the battery/memory card broke because it's so difficult to get the battery out [I had to take out the battery everytime when the screen froze].
Overall, this camera is not worth 300-400$ as originally paid. If you're willing to shell out that much, you could easily get a camera with more megapixels. If you're going to pay 100-200$ on a used one, I figure it's that cheap for a reason. It'll break/malfunction w/in 2 years.
This stuff isn't cheap folks, do some research for a GOOD QUALITY camera&then look for the best deals [online/other retailers, etc.]
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Excellent
This 3.2 Megapixel camera has stood the test of time. Its unique design is a welcome change from the standard rectangle cameras that flood the market. Image quality is great, refresh speed is excellent, no lag whatsoever either from the flash or returning straight to the lcd after a photo is taken. This camera excedes my expectations and continues too when even compared side by side with the new batch of CoolPix cameras (4600 and 5600). If you can find one of these cameras second hand or in like-new condition I say jump at the opportunity.
Rating: 
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Camera is Malfunctioning after 2 months! - Be Forewarned!
I purchased this camera two months ago. I was intrigued by the swivel lens feature after I had seen a friend using it. I discovered that I liked the camera for its size and weight even more so than the swivel lens, and I was enjoying using the camera and pleased with the performance for the most part. Yes, there is a red eye problem and the recovery time is fairly long for flash photos, but the camera takes relatively sharp photos overall. So in general I was pleased with the camera, and happy to have it as an alternative to my more bulky Olympus C-4000, which after several years is still fine. Now to the problem for which I am going to have to send this back to the retailer...In the last few weeks, I noticed that the LCD screen showed bright images with pinkish tinges and lines running through them. Yesterday while taking snow scenes and photographing snow on a lake through a window, I noticed that the camera could not produce an image at all. It simply came up with a big black void. If I focused the camera on a more shaded image outdoors, it did fine. It also still does fine with indoor photos with flash, but obviously the camera can't compensate for bright light in either the automatic or manual setting. I have had very good luck with all the products that I have purchased overall because I generally read all the reviews and then make a decision, so this is a major disappointment. I thought that I would enjoy taking self-photos of me and friends, but they really aren't that flattering (the angle just isn't right), so that became less of a selling feature with this camera. For a compact camera, there are a lot of really good features (automatic, manual, 3 X optical and and 4 X digital lens, continuous shooting, multiple scene choices such as fireworks,museum, close up, copy, party, snow - and many adjustable settings for exposure, photo quality,etc.) on this camera. I am hoping that this is a fluke, and my new or repaired camera will work for years to come, but if I were a consumer, I would be leery of purchasing this camera knowing what I now know, and also the fact that this camera is discontinued. If you're looking for a similar camera, you may wish to consider the Nikon SQ, but I can't speak for its performance other than to say that the body is constructed of metal and appears to be very solid. It has a partial swivel lens.
I am sending the camera back to the retailer today. It was their last one when I purchased it two months ago. It was an open box product, but it came with a full one year Nikon warranty and additional retailer warranty. I had to seek out the Coolpix 3500 on the Internet and ebay and I decided on this retailer. I am actually hoping that they will need to refund my money or replace the Coolpix 3500 with another model. The actual retail - if you can find this camera- is about 50% of the suggested retail, so it is fairly priced if it works.
I can't tell you how discouraging this is. I have had to review the manual to look at the troubleshooting section. In reviewing the manual, I realized how much I can do with this camera. I only tried out the continuous shooting mode yesterday, and now I have to return the camera! I don't wish this frustration on anyone.
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This is great camera
This camera takes sharp and color saturated pictures. I had the chance to compare
with Nikon 5200 and Cannon G500, both 5megapix cameras. Neither took as good
a picture as this 3.2 megapix gem. Since I broke my 3500, (dropped it off a cliff) the process of looking for a replacement has been dissapointing. I tested the above cameras quite thoroughly. Took em both back and am buying on ebay another coolpix 3500.
I just highly recomend this camera for clear, sharp, & colorful photos...
JK Anchorage AK
