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Bought the P500 last week and it suddenly goes dead and won't come back on. Prior to today, it seemed that the battery wasn't holding a charge because when I plugged the camera in, it charged again. Today, however, I used the camera off and on for a couple hours and when I went to turn it on, it wouldn't turn on. Hooked it up to charge and it wouldn't even do that!

1 year, 3 months ago

Chris

Eastern WA

Location :

Eastern WA

Age: 55-65

Favorite Subject: Nature

10 Answers

Answers

+3points

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Answer:

Just download the new update. It will work then....Finally a solution to the problem.

Jun 24, 2011 by

Anonymous

+6points

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Answer:

I experienced the same issue. After trying several different options (including changing the charging settings and using different batteries) I returned my camera to the store 3 weeks ago and obtained a replacement. This new unit has been perfect (even with the standard factory settings and the original batteries). My experience has confirmed (at least in my mind) that the problem is real and requires something more definite from Nikon to resolve.

Jun 17, 2011 by

Anonymous

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Best answer
Top 250 contributor

Answer:

After a few days I can now confirm that turning the "Charge by Computer" option OFF indeed fixes the battery issues. I've left my P500 unplugged for several days, and it still shows 100% battery charge.

If I turn the option to "auto" (default), it won't last a single day.

So, Nikon... how can this be user's fault?

Jun 4, 2011 by

Carlos

Portugal

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Top 250 contributor

Location :

Portugal

Age: 35-44

Favorite Subject: Travel

Nikon Family: 6-10 years

Experience: 1-3 months

Role: Serious passion, hobbyist

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Top 250 contributor

Answer:

In the DPreview forums, some users suggested this problem could be "fixed" by disabling the USB charging function (set it from AUTO to OFF). If this is the case, then it definitely proves its a firmware issue, and Nikon should acknowledge it.

I've just disabled it, and will see how it behaves in the next couple of days.

May 31, 2011 by

Carlos

Portugal

Top 250 contributor

Location :

Portugal

Age: 35-44

Favorite Subject: Travel

Nikon Family: 6-10 years

Experience: 1-3 months

Role: Serious passion, hobbyist

+10points

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Top 250 contributor

Answer:

Also having the exact same problem. I've upgrade from the P100 to the P500, and battery life is abysmal. If I happen to leave the P500 not plugged to the power, even after a single day the battery is completely dead! (And the camera was off the entire time)

How can this be acceptable?

I just hope this is a firmware issue, something not properly entering a power-save mode or sleep when we turn the camera off, that can be fixed via firmware update - but it really is unacceptable for such a brand like Nikon.

I sincerely hope this can be fixed ASAP!

May 31, 2011 by

Carlos

Portugal

Top 250 contributor

Location :

Portugal

Age: 35-44

Favorite Subject: Travel

Nikon Family: 6-10 years

Experience: 1-3 months

Role: Serious passion, hobbyist

+5points

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Answer:

Just got the camera last week and I encountered the exact same problem a week later with the battery 60% depleted. It would not turn on until I remove battery and reinsert. By the way, the shot count I get seems to be way less than the 220 claimed by Nikon. When camera is in certain scene mode with macro AF, a continual clicking noise (focusing?) can be heard even after subject is in focus. I suspect this might be hurting battery life. This is my first Nikon superzoom point&shoot and I'm very disappointment in this purchase so far.

May 8, 2011 by

Matt

San Francisco

Location :

San Francisco

Age: 35-44

Favorite Subject: Portrait

Nikon Family: 0-1 years

Experience: Less than a month

Role: Occasional user, memory keeper

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Answer:

I am just back from my first vacation with my new P500 and have had what seems to be the same problem several times. What happens is that I turn off the camera the usual way, with a fully or almost fully charged battery, Then the next time I try to turn it on, there is no reaciton whatsoever. Only once did I mange to solve the problem by removing the battery and reinserting it. 4-5 times (in just 1 week!) the only solution was to recharge the battery, which appeared to be flat. If this appearance is true, then the camera must have discharged the battery for some reason.

I guess the problem must either be in the firmware (wrong read of battery status), or in the hardware.

Apr 22, 2011 by

Allan

Denmark

Location :

Denmark

Age: 55-65

Experience: Less than a month

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Answer:

Tomas, you're right. We figured it out a couple days after this post. Then it got to the point where putting the battery back in didn't work and we couldn't get it to charge at all (either with the wall charger or on the computer). So we took the whole thing back to where we bought it and got another one. This one is behaving properly so far...don't know if it's a battery or battery casing issue, but it's obvious we aren't the only ones having issues!

Apr 5, 2011 by

Anonymous

-3points

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Answer:

Hi,
It might be same type of problem that I am experiencing, posted a question here today, I will quote my question bellow.
But in short just remove and reinsert battery and see if it does not work again.

A bit interested to see if you have the same problem as I do, I will check back for your answer later.

Regards,
Tomas

---

My question here entered today:

P500 with firmware v1.0.
Works like a charm but twice now it have not reacted on the power button when in off state.
The only way to get it working is to remove the battery and reinsert it and it will then power up nicely.
Battery is fully charged.
Is this a known problem that will be fixed in future firmware update? or send it in for repair?

No problems otherwise with this nice product.

Regards,
Tomas

Apr 5, 2011 by

Anonymous

-42points

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Staff

Answer:

Please note that the power-on lamp slowly blinks orange to indicate that the battery is charging. About four hours and 50 minutes are required to charge a fully exhausted battery. You can charge the battery by using the charger or through the computer using the USB cable.

Mar 31, 2011 by

NikonStaff

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COOLPIX P500

6 Answers

My Memory Card is on the Approved list (SanDIsk SDHC 16GB Class 10) but the camera rejects it after one power cycle.

Mar 26, 2011 by

Joshua

San Diego, CA

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I inserted the SanDisk memory card while the camera was off. I powered on the camera and the memory card works while taking pictures or video and reviewing and deleting pictures. Once the camera is turned off and back on again the camera gives an error "This card cannot be used." The error is not consistent however as I am able to power the camera on and off and sometimes the error appears and other times it does not.

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1 year, 3 months ago

Joshua

San Diego, CA

Location :

San Diego, CA

Age: 25-34

Favorite Subject: Nature

Nikon Family: 0-1 years

Experience: Less than a month

Role: Serious passion, hobbyist

6 Answers

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0points

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Answer:

You probably need to download the firmware update that allows support for that memory card, found here: http://support.nikonusa.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/17414. You might need a memory card that the camera can read in order to install the firmware though.

Jul 14, 2011 by

wenxwen

-2points

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Top 1000 contributor

Answer:

I think the answer is in the footnotes of this document :
http://support.nikonusa.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/17202
"SDXC-I or SDHC-I Compliant Memory is a relatively new speed class and is not listed as supported at this time."
I think that SDHC-I means UHS-I
Bad news!

Jun 11, 2011 by

Anonymous

Top 1000 contributor

Age: 35-44

Favorite Subject: Sports

Nikon Family: 21+ years

Experience: 1-3 months

Role: Serious passion, hobbyist

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Answer:

I have exactly the same issue: a brand new Sandisk SDHC UHS-I 8GB class10 200x card (which is in the approved Nikon P500 approved cards list) refuses to work after one power cycle. The card works fine in an other camera and the P500 works fine with other cards. The contacts are clean, I reformat it with a computer and the P500: same issue. There is a severe incompatibilty with this card.

May 7, 2011 by

Francis

France

Location :

France

Age: 35-44

Favorite Subject: Sports

Nikon Family: 21+ years

Experience: Less than a month

Role: Serious passion, hobbyist

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Answer:

I have tried 2 different (new) Scandisk 16gb extreme cards in four different p500 bodies and each body eventually gave the error "This card cannot be used". I also tried an Scandisck 8GB Extreme card and was able to shoot about 250 photos (including a few videos) before it gave this error. I replaced it with an Scandisk 8GB Ultra card (sorry I don't know the classes on these. I think the Extreme is class 10 and the Ultra is obviously lower). So far the Ultra has worked fine for 250+ photos. This is obviously a firmware issue. Nikon should stop repeating the instructions in the manual and start working on a firmware update.

Note: I used the same 16GB cards in my D40 body with no problems whatsoever. It's not the cards that are the problem it is the p500.

May 1, 2011 by

herpbooks

Utah

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Location :

Utah

Age: 45-54

Favorite Subject: Nature

Nikon Family: 21+ years

Experience: Less than a month

Role: Serious passion, hobbyist

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Answer:

I have had the camera 1 hour "Card cannot be read" randomly, I have tried a few cards.
This camera is going back.

Mar 31, 2011 by

Location :

Age: 35-44

Favorite Subject: Family & Friends

Nikon Family: 2-5 years

Experience: Less than a month

Role: Serious passion, hobbyist

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Staff

Answer:

Please verified that the connectors are clean and also that the memory card is correctly inserted. Try a different memory card and format the memory card. See page #200 of the User's Manual.

Mar 28, 2011 by

NikonStaff

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COOLPIX P500

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Playing 1080P videos

Apr 28, 2011 by

mrollins

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The specs say this camera shoots video in 1080P, but when you hook it up to a TV using the HDMI connection, the only output options under TV settings are 480P, 720P, & 1080i. How do you view movies shot in 1080P?

1 year, 2 months ago

mrollins

Age: 35-44

Nikon Family: 0-1 years

Experience: Less than a month

Role: Just getting started with photography

4 Answers

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Answer:

Most likely 1080i is your TV's capability.

Sep 12, 2011 by

Anonymous

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Answer:

1080p and 1080i have the same resolution and quality given a quality connection from your camera to tv... Example 1080p will run smoother video over say a wireless connection, like antenna.. while 1080i pushed into low bandwidth situations will show a jumpy jaggy picture..
Bottom line is a standard hdmi connection will be fine.. and 1080i verse 1080p would look the same through a normal hdmi cable..

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COOLPIX P500

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May 13, 2011 by

Razrburn

san antonio, tx

Location :

san antonio, tx

Age: 18-24

Favorite Subject: Nature

Nikon Family: 2-5 years

Experience: 1-3 months

Role: Serious passion, hobbyist

0points

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Top 10 contributor

Answer:

use an external viewer. the HDMI port on this model and the D7000 too seems to be crippled and cannot output 1080p.

Apr 29, 2011 by

AndrsK

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-4points

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Staff

Answer:

On the TV settings you can choose a picture resolution for HDMI output from Auto (default setting), 480p, 720p, or 1080i. When Auto is set, the output resolution that is best suited to the connected high-definition TV is selected automatically from 480p, 720p or 1080i.

Apr 28, 2011 by

NikonStaff

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COOLPIX P500

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When will this be for sale? I thought it was today, March 3?

Mar 3, 2011 by

sammy

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+11points

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1 year, 4 months ago

sammy

Age: 18-24

Favorite Subject: Family & Friends

3 Answers

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+3points

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Staff

Answer:

The new cameras are available at the dealers after 30 or 45 days of the release date.

Mar 9, 2011 by

NikonStaff

Staff

+1point

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Answer:

As of today, 3/5, Best Buy is showing an availability date of 3/27.

Mar 5, 2011 by

CheetahBoy

Tucson, AZ

Location :

Tucson, AZ

Age: 45-54

Favorite Subject: Nature

Nikon Family: 6-10 years

+3points

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Answer:

Sammy, it has been released in the UK today for March 3, but not sure for USA yet.

Come on Nikon - when are you releasing it over here?

Mar 3, 2011 by

KevvyBoy

Augusta

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Location :

Augusta

Age: 45-54

Favorite Subject: Family & Friends

Nikon Family: 6-10 years

Role: Serious passion, hobbyist

1 person is following this questionFollow This Question

COOLPIX P500

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How can I take or make panorama pictures on the P500?

Apr 13, 2011 by

Victor

Belgium

+3points

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1 year, 3 months ago

Victor

Belgium

Location :

Belgium

Age: 18-24

Favorite Subject: Landscape

Nikon Family: 2-5 years

Experience: Less than a month

Role: Serious passion, hobbyist

3 Answers

Answers

+3points

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Answer:

use the little "wheel" on the top of the camera. move it so its on SCENE. then press MENU and find panorama!

Dec 27, 2011 by

Anonymous

Washington, DC, USA

Location :

Washington, DC, USA

Age: 18-24

Favorite Subject: Landscape

Nikon Family: 0-1 years

Experience: Less than a month

Role: Semi-professional photographer

+3points

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Top 500 contributor

Answer:

There are 2 options for taking panoramas:
One helps you takes pictures next to each other, so with a software (panorama maker is provided with the camera) you can stich these pictures and make your panorama.
The other option, very nice by the way, allows you to point to one point, take the picture, and move the camera to the right and left, and it will take the whole panorama in one picture directly, you have the option of capturing 180 or 360 degrees with this mode. I tried today and it works fine.

May 1, 2011 by

Wanderer

Barcelona, Spain

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Top 500 contributor

Location :

Barcelona, Spain

Age: 35-44

Favorite Subject: Nature

Nikon Family: 2-5 years

Experience: Less than a month

Role: Serious passion, hobbyist

-7points

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Number one contributor

Answer:

Take half a dozen shots and stich them together in Photoshop.

Apr 13, 2011 by

KeithD

Number one contributor

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COOLPIX P500

2 Answers

why no swivel monitor?

Mar 3, 2011 by

Anna

San Jose

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+9points

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Why was the swivel LCD monitor, like in the Nikon Coolpix 8800, discontinued? I would love to see the Coolpix S9100 or P500 with the swivel LCD.

1 year, 4 months ago

Anna

San Jose

Location :

San Jose

Age: 35-44

Favorite Subject: Travel

Nikon Family: 11-20 years

2 Answers

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-1point

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Answer:

The reply by the Nikon staff did not really answer my question. The P500 has a vari-angle LCD but what I meant was why the LCD that swivels 180 degrees to the left of the camera (like in the old 8800) was discontinued. The newer versions won't let you mount the camera in the tripod & be able to look at the LCD while standing in front of the camera at the same time.

Mar 17, 2011 by

Anna

San Jose

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Location :

San Jose

Age: 35-44

-4points

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Staff

Answer:

The P500 has a vari-angle LCD Screen. Also a few other models.

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Mar 17, 2011 by

NikonStaff

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COOLPIX P500

2 Answers

Sure would like to be able to use a polarizing filter, but you guys have no filter threads on the P500?

Mar 4, 2011 by

JRW

Canon City, CO

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+4points

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1 year, 4 months ago

JRW

Canon City, CO

Location :

Canon City, CO

Age: 55-65

Favorite Subject: Nature

Nikon Family: 11-20 years

Role: Occasional user, memory keeper

2 Answers

Answers

0points

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Answer:

I was able to purchase an adapter on Amazon for really reasonable price that attaches to the lense of my P500. It has threads on the end and I am now able to use any type of filter I want.

Jan 14, 2012 by

photomom

Concord, NC, USA

Best answer

Location :

Concord, NC, USA

Age: 35-44

Favorite Subject: Nature

Nikon Family: 0-1 years

Experience: 1-3 months

Role: Serious passion, hobbyist

-6points

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Staff

Answer:

Due to the extension of the lens when is zoom out completely a filter cannot be use on it.

Mar 9, 2011 by

NikonStaff

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COOLPIX P500

2 Answers

My new P500 will not work with a SanDisk SDHC UHS-1 card.

Mar 30, 2011 by

I.P.

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+5points

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I just got a P500. I bought two SanDisk SDHC UHS-1 Class 10 cards. I plugged one in and it worked. After shutting it off a couple times, when I turned it on I got a message "This card cannot be used." I tried to format the card but the message locks up the camera. When I take the card out or when I use an old 1 GB card it works fine. I have tried several times with the same results. What is the problem? Another person asked the exact same question about four days ago with no real answer.

1 year, 3 months ago

I.P.

Location :

Age: 55-65

Favorite Subject: Travel

Nikon Family: 6-10 years

Experience: Less than a month

Role: Serious passion, hobbyist

2 Answers

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+4points

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Best answer
Top 1000 contributor

Answer:

Jun 11, 2011 by

Anonymous

Best answer
Top 1000 contributor

Age: 35-44

Favorite Subject: Sports

Nikon Family: 21+ years

Experience: 1-3 months

Role: Serious passion, hobbyist

-6points

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Staff

Answer:

Please verify that you are using an approved memory card:

Answer Title: Approved Memory Cards - Coolpix P500
Answer Link: http://support.nikonusa.com/app/ans...

Mar 31, 2011 by

NikonStaff

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COOLPIX P500

2 Answers

Power up problem, only solution is to remove and insert battery.

Apr 5, 2011 by

Anonymous

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+1point

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P500 with firmware v1.0.
Works like a charm but twice now it have not reacted on the power button when in off state.
The only way to get it working is to remove the battery and reinsert it and it will then power up nicely.
Battery is fully charged.
Is this a known problem that will be fixed in future firmware update? or send it in for repair?

No problems otherwise with this nice product.

Regards,
Tomas

1 year, 3 months ago

Anonymous

2 Answers

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0points

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Best answer
Top 500 contributor

Answer:

Mine did the same thing, don't know why but if it happens again I will take the camera back as this usually points to trouble on down the road.

Jun 14, 2011 by

Anonymous

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-2points

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Staff

Answer:

Remove the battery from the camera and re-charge it.
Please reset the camera to default settings: Go to MENU > Setup > Reset All
Try a back-up battery if the problem persists you're welcome to send your camera for evaluation.

Apr 5, 2011 by

NikonStaff

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COOLPIX P500

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fast pictures?

Apr 26, 2011 by

inkman

USA

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I am interested in the P500. How quickly does it take a picture after the button is pushed? I will use it to take action shots and want to be sure I catch the action.

1 year, 2 months ago

inkman

USA

Location :

USA

Age: 35-44

Favorite Subject: Sports

Nikon Family: 0-1 years

Experience: Less than a month

2 Answers

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Best answer
Top 500 contributor

Answer:

The picture is taken very fast and also has a mode called "pre shutter" so it records the previous pictures when you have pressed the button to the half to focus, I think this one is very good for what you're looking for, but I cannot tell you so much because I haven't compared with other models, just can tell you by my own experience is a good choice.

May 1, 2011 by

Wanderer

Barcelona, Spain

Best answer
Top 500 contributor

Location :

Barcelona, Spain

Age: 35-44

Favorite Subject: Nature

Nikon Family: 2-5 years

Experience: Less than a month

Role: Serious passion, hobbyist

-3points

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Staff

Answer:

Most of the time the shooting delay is caused by focusing. Press the button half way down (and hold it in) and let the camera pre-focus; when the subject is perfect press the button the rest of the way to shoot. With a bit of practice it is easy to get the perfect photo.

Apr 27, 2011 by

NikonStaff

Staff

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