Nikon COOLPIX 3500 Digital Camera [3MP 3xOptical]

Nikon's Coolpix 3500 follows up on the design of their 2500, featuring a swivel-out lens complete with a 3x optical zoom that 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 possible, with 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. The 3500 weighs only six ounces and can easily slide into a jeans pocket or hang around the neck.

Several features geared towards the beginner 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.

The 3500 comes with a 16 mb CompactFlash card that 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. One shortcoming is the lithium-ion battery, which has to be removed to be recharged. All told, 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

The COOLPIX 3500 is a 3-megapixel-class digital still camera with a unique inner-swivel lens designed to make digital photography stylish, fun and easy. The camera is the companion to the 2-megapixel-class COOLPIX 2500 and is distinguished by a sophisticated gray color scheme, higher resolution and technical advances for superior image quality.The COOLPIX 3500 is designed to appeal to style-conscious consumers who want a highly portable, easy-to-use digital still camera that will capture the fun and special moments of their lives, and create a wide range of photo-taking opportunities. Featuring a 3x optical Zoom-Nikkor lens and 4x digital zoom, the COOLPIX 3500 provides excellent optical performance and the assurance of Nikon's advanced image processing technology for vibrant color, contrast and clarity. The camera's 3.2 effective megapixels offer resolution suitable for screen, album and framed printouts up to A4 size. The COOLPIX 3500's inner-swivel lens design offers the fun and flexibility of free-angle picture-taking and protects the lens when not in use. The camera's sleek shape allows it to fit easily in a pocket or bag. The slim, rechargeable battery (provided), key to the COOLPIX 3500's compactness, enables up to 80 minutes of shooting power per charge.The camera's quick start-up and automatic mode are designed to capture images in spur-of-the-moment or rushed shooting scenarios. In addition to fully automatic operation, the COOLPIX 3500 provides 12 versatile scene modes that ensure success by pre-configuring the camera for more demanding, specific situations. For action sequences, Continuous Shooting mode offers rapid-fire successive picture taking and Movie mode provides 35-second video clips. The 3500 inherits the versatility of the COOLPIX series with a close-up focus distance of just 4cm and a built-in flash that adds back-up when available light is low. One-button digital convenience comes in the form of the Quick Review button, which instantly displays a miniature review in the corner of the LCD monitor while maintaining a full-screen live-action view. A second press zooms the review picture to full size; a press of the shutter release returns the camera to shooting mode. For easy transfer to a computer, the on-camera Transfer button (also selectable in Nikon software) simplifies image data uploading; the Small Picture function creates reduced-size copies in-camera that are ideal for e-mailing or Web posting.The COOLPIX 3500 comes with all essential accessories, including the compact rechargeable battery and charger, CompactFlash card, USB cable, and Nikon View 5 software. With its array of features and accessories and innovative design, the cool-gray COOLPIX 3500 is an exciting addition to the COOLPIX lineup that will increase the fun and pleasure of digital photography for the young and young-at-heart.