digital cameras

[Jeremy Bruhl]

Dear Neil and Taxacomers

Someone in our group purchased a Nikon Coolpix 950 last year and it has proved
to be excellent value for money. It is small and easy to use. I have used
it in
the field. Even though I am usually a tripod, flash SLR user, I found that I
could get amazing macro shots even hand held. We have purchased the adapters
and can fit it to high quality stereoscopes and microscopes with no trouble at
all and you get more-or-less real-time images on the viewer. The swivel back
make it very easy to use on microscopes and camera stands. We also purchased a
Nikon AC/DC power supply for indoor use.

The drawbacks include (as indicated by Fred) it is power hungry; that model
has
only parallel port data transfer which is slowish; and a shutter release cable
needs a special holder.

I notice that Nikon now have a new model that has USB connection and better
power management: Coolpix 990. I will be checking out the price and
considering
a purchase!

See http://www.klt.co.jp/Nikon/Lineup/index.html
Hope this helps.
Cheers
Jeremy

Dr Jeremy J. Bruhl
Convenor of Botany
Director, N.C.W. Beadle Herbarium (NE)

Botany
School of Rural Science and Natural Resources
University of New England, Armidale, NSW 2351
Australia

jbruhl at metz.une.edu.au
http://www.une.edu.au/botany/jjbres.htm
Voice: +61 2 6773 2429
Fax: +61 2 6773 3283