Good Entry-Level Camera. One Unnecessary and Unacceptable Omission
349788
The PowerShot SX520 HS is a decent entry level digital camera - Canon has incorporated all sorts of terrific technology in this feature-rich unit. Some basics are the optical zoom, image stabilization etc. - and the manual controls - i.e. for aperture, ISO, shutter etc. mean a great deal in terms of allowing a budding photographer to become acquainted with the fundamentals of serious - and creative - shooting.

The retail price of $399.99 is too high though.  I would recommend this camera if you can get it at discount - i.e., for the $249 price that's available right here on Amazon.

I've just purchased this camera for my daughter (who is 14) and we'll have to see if the SX520 lives up to both our expectations.

I can however warn potential buyers right now that Canon has omitted a couple of key things.  OK no operation manual in the box (That's often the case these days; you can find one easily at Canon's site online). OK, no memory card.  This too is these days usually something that's not included. A 16 GB memory card is about $15.

Then, a bit less OK - is the non-inclusion of some sort of case or pouch for this camera.  Again, I guess I don't mind shopping for one, although a form-fitting, convenient zipper case/ pouch may be hard to find for this unit.  Still more discomfiting is the omission of an optical viewfinder;  you have to stare at the fairly low-resolution back screen to take shots - and I'm sure this single option will present a problem in settings with sun-glare.

Now: Here's the one omission that is really NOT OK in my opinion.  While a Mini-B (camera end) USB interface cable is fairly inexpensive and easy to find, I think it's unconscionable for Canon not to include this item in the box.  So just to be clear: This camera does NOT come with a USB interface cable for downloading photos onto a computer - and that means that, as sold, you have no way to view your images on a larger screen. If you happen to have a memory card reader for your computer, then problem solved.  But this is beside the point.  I've owned quite a number of digital cameras over the years, and I have never  purchased one before that didn't come with an interface cable.  Crazy. It's not a deal-breaker - especially if this camera functions as well as I think it might. But I won't really be able to tell until I cough up a few more $ for that interface cable.

Three stars for all the good stuff this camera has going for it; two stars off for the omissions, one of which I'm really not OK with.
4612190
This is a good camera for the price (sub 80) , with some issues.

Positive points

Nice photos.
Big screen for previewing.
Easy to figure out, my 10 year old quickly learned to navigate the menus.
Easy to download photos and video into XP,  just plug in the included cable (one of the tiny usb cables)
Excellent red eye reduction, better than my Canon.
Uses 2 AA batteries,  a big bonus since they are available everywhere.  We use rechargable Eneloop brand, they work well in digital cameras and hold their charge when stored.

Negative points

No viewfinder, which makes it tough to see what you are taking in bright sunlight.

No audio playback for video on the camera.  It does record the sound, but to hear it you have to download the video.

A little slow between photos,  perhaps 5 seconds after a photo before it is ready to take another.  We are using a Kingston 2 GB SD Flash Memory Card, perhaps if you bought a faster card this might improve.
472803
Background
*My main camera is a 6-year old "prosumer" Nikon. Back when my camera was new, digital SLR's were primarily targeted to professionals and compact digital cameras had extremely limited functionality. Prosumer cameras were intended to bridge the gap between these two types of camera by offering image sensors, zoom capabilities, and exposure controls that were better than those on point-and-shoot cameras but just below the level required for professional work.
*There aren't really any prosumer cameras on the market these days because point-and-shoot cameras, including the Finepix J40, now contain a lot of the features that prosumer cameras have. In addition, digital SLR kits have become a lot more affordable. So, prosumer cameras have been squeezed out from both above and below.
*Even though the prosumer category has disappeared, the cameras still produce better images than most current compacts due to their relatively large image sensors.

My review perspective
*I'm using the Finepix J40 as a fun and informal camera. In other words, I'm using it for times when fine control over composition and exposure isn't necessary (party shots, for example).
*I'm not overly concerned with all the various aspects of image quality when using this camera. I'm not going to spend much time editing or critiquing the photos. If it takes pictures that are attractive to the eye with a minimum of fuss, it's doing its job.

What I like
*Camera is compact, light, and feels well constructed.
*The combination AC adapter/battery charger is compact and lightweight.
*Once the battery and memory card are inserted into the camera, there isn't any need to open the camera again. The battery is charged inside the camera. Photos can be transferred to a computer via a USB cable.
*Picture quality is good enough for snapshots, especially in daylight with stationary subjects. However, indoor flash pictures can look a little grainy.
*The anti-shake function is handy in low-light situations.

What I don't like
*Only 3x zoom. Low zoom power, even for this class of camera, often forces users to physically move back and forth when composing pictures. This takes time and can result in missed shots.
*No viewfinder. Call me old school, but I prefer framing shots through a viewfinder. Peering at a screen at arm's length just doesn't feel natural to me.
*Screen has low resolution and washes out easily, especially outdoors. This often makes it difficult to see if a shot is going to come out the way you want before tripping the shutter.
*Doesn't use Compact Flash memory cards. I have a number of CF cards from my main camera and can't use them with the J40.
*Flash is weak and really only effective close in.

Other notes
*Mac owners don't need to install any software. Apple's iPhoto reads memory cards formatted by the camera without any problems (I use an i7 iMac with System 10.6.5 and iPhoto 8.1.2).
*Fujifilm includes a complete range of accessories. The J40 comes with a strap, a combination adapter/charger, a USB cable, and a 2GB memory card. It's nice to have everything needed to begin using the camera all in one kit.

Bottom line
*The J40 produces decent snapshots but is hampered by its relatively weak zoom lens and lack of a viewfinder. I rate the camera itself at 3 stars but the included accessories raise my rating of the total package to 3.5 stars. I would recommend the J40 to the sort of person who in days past was happy with a 110 cartridge camera, a Kodak Disc camera, or a camera that used Advantix film (these are all systems that offered compact, very easy-to-use cameras for people who didn't want to take photography too seriously).
848264
Once I got this nifty little camera out of the box, I was very excited to begin taking pictures. The great thing about this package is everything you need to get started is included, so you don't need to go off buying batteries or memory stick.
This camera is fairly simple to operate. Everything is explained in the included instruction manual. For its small size, some people may easily misplace or lose it.
There are two image sizes this camera offers: 1280x960 and 640x480. I found the 640x480 to be a lower quality than I expected. Many of the pixels are visible, making a not-so-clear photo. However, the 1280x960 size seems to not have that pixel problem.  Another cool thing possible on this camera is making a 15 sec movie (no audio). The LCD screen is only about an inch wide, so it may be difficult to preview your photos clearly.
this isn't a great camera to be printing with. However, if all you want is to send e-mail with them or put them up on a website, then by all means, this camera is well suited for those purposes.
4961375
Canon EOS Rebel T5i is a DSLR camera, that is a step above the Canon Rebel T3i. Let me use my usual disclaimer, and admit that with so many good cameras around, it is more about what mix of traits or features you are looking for.

On that note, the camera's trait mix is as follows. It is a DSLR with 18 megapixels resolution. Probably the most important point for this class of cameras is the sensor size, which is APS-C. That's just one step below 35mm Full frame.

It has an optical viewfinder, which works through a pentaprism. That is the classical SLR construction. You are using the properties of light to view the subject before and during the shot. The purists would argue this is the way it was supposed to be- that is, with minimal electronic intervention. As in most Canon DSLRs, it has a Dioptric adjustment to make it easy for people with glasses to use the viewfinder. Also, you can preview depth of field. The dust deletion mechanism includes a software adjustment for removing/modifying the affected pixels, self-cleaning sensor, and manual cleaning.

The ISO rating is 25,600 which makes it work better in low light. The video is a Full HD- that is 1920x1080 resolution. The camera gives you the option to control the exposure  manually. It does have an external flash option. You would need that for portraits, at least. The LCD screen resolution is a whopping 1,040,000. It is also a touch-screen, and can be tilted for easy viewing in awkward situations. The sustainable burst rate- for fast action- is 5 frames per second. The camera also does RAW processing which is useful if you did not want to be limited by JPEG storage only. The camera body weighs 580 grams. This weight is quite standard compared to DSLRs of its class.

The T5i has a couple of small, but significant changes over the T3i. It has a higher ISO rating, and a much improved LCD screen. Most importantly, it has a newer image processor- Digic 5 instead of Digic 4. The burst mode works well at 5 frames per second. That is higher than that of the T3i and SL1. Compared to the SL1, this has a faster drive system, which makes it somewhat heavier.

A great camera, and its traits are a lot improved compared to its predecessors. If you are not trying to make this your profession, this is all you need.
4448911
Unlike other 5 megapixel SLRs, this one is reasonably priced, but still has every feature you could imagine. I discovered that standard resolution images, at about 1 MB each, are all you need to make 35mm quality 5x7 prints. I couldn't see any improvement at the fine resolution that requires twice as much memory, and superfine requires so much as to be impractical. The camera only comes with a 16 megabyte memory card, so you will want at least a 256 megabyte CompactFlash card which will store 150+ standard images. Advanced 35mm photographers will be pleased that this camera has all the features you expect on a quality SLR, such as shutter or aperture priority or manual exposure modes, spot metering, exposure and focus lock, auto/manual focus, etc. But on top of that you get the equivalent of a 28mm-200mm f2.8 macro zoom in an incredibly compact package, electronic versions of every color correction filter, a 2x digital zoom (on top of the 7x optical zoom; on my old 2 MP camera, digital zoom was worthless - on this camera I still got acceptable images with digital zoom) and the ability to change "film" speed (which affects the image noise level) from ISO 100 to ISO 800 whenever you want to get more sensitivity. There is also an adequate built in flash, or you can add an external flash. The lens is also threaded for external filters like a UV lens protector. Connection to my Windows XP PC was effortless.
Drawbacks: even with the best 1850 mAh NiMH batteries, this camera is very fast to warn you that your batteries are low, so be sure to get several sets of batteries and fast chargers (one set of batteries and a charger is included). And there are so many buttons and features, it takes a while to remember which feature or menu or option goes with which button; I think there's some logic to it, but I haven't figured it out yet. It does have a simple "put me back in dumb point-and-shoot mode" button, but a technophobe might not appreciate all the capabilities of this camera. Finally, the optional AC adapter is outrageously expensive, but generic ones are available for less than half the price.
Update: 1. If you have your heart set on using the "super-fine" mode, besides the fact that it uses a large amount of memory, be aware that the camera "goes dead" for about a minute while the image is written to the flash card. 2. At first I thought an optical SLR viewfinder would be better than electronic, but I really love this camera's EVF. It lets you see exactly how your shot will be exposed, which is really nice for critical high-contrast shots like landscapes. 3. Next, the camera seems to overexpose slightly outdoors, but this is readily apparent in the EVF and easily compensated for using the digital effects control. 4. Finally, if you want a Remote Cord, they are very expensive, as all the Minolta accessories seem to be.
Update 2: If you want more power than the built in flash, I've discovered that although this camera uses the same Minolta flashes as the Maxxums, generic dedicated flashes made for Maxxums WILL NOT work with this camera, so you have to buy a Minolta flash. The 3600HS(D) is the cheapest and a very nice flash, but still relatively very expensive if you just want a little more power than the built in flash.
668612
1st great point: the start up time is tiny, i.e. the time from grabbing the camer and pushing the on button, till you can shoot is extremely small, half a second or less.  This is the start of a great camera.
2nd: it is fully manual.  I love this feature along with aperture priority.  This way I can create the shots I want utilizing depth of field.  However, the shutter priority does not work quite as well, I have yet to figure out why.  Anyway, It is great to get those low light shots or still shots or what ever shots that a fully automatic camera cannot get.
3rd: low light is great with a 3200 ISO.
4th:16 mp. I know there is a backlash to the idea of larger size is better, however it is great to be able to choose the size of file you need; as well as, having the ability to crop way in on a large file.

On the down side, Another reason I bought this particular camera is its RAW functionality.  It does shoot something called a RAF file, which is Fuji's RAW format.  What I have discovered is that if indeed these RAFs are the raw file, then the cameras optics must be pretty bad.  Let me explain.  I have many year experience with Raw, it is the only thing I shoot professionally.  I love the non-destructive adjusting ability.  The Raw files out of this camera just plain look crappy.  You have the ability to shoot Raw plus a JPG.  Comparing the two, the JPG looks great and the Raw is distorted and the color is off.  What must be happening is that FUJI had figured out what is wrong with the optics and has a processer in the camera to compensate for it.  So fine, now I shoot just the jpg and RAW only if I want the end product to be Black and White.  It is not that big a deal, again, if this was a more expensive camera ($500 to$1000 or up) then I would expect perfection.  But, for $200 this camera actually does come close.
393390
I have only had this camera for a few days but I feel compelled to warn users who are looking for their first dslr camera.  I read many, many reviews and comparisons and yet did not realize that this camera does not shoot video, while the Nikon D5000 does shoot video and does not cost a lot more money and gets very similar marks on all other aspects. (I found the Nikon d5000 to be less than $100 more than the Canon rebel xsi).
I also was very disappointed to realize, upon reading the manual, that the "live view" is no where near what I was expecting. It is only "recommended" for use with a tripod because camera shake will cause the images to be blurred. (that is directly from the manual).  Being optimistic, I tried it without a tripod anyway, and it is true; all shots I took while using the "live view" are blurry to some degree, even when using the flash.  I guess it's true that you have to use the view finder in "grown up cameras" (aka: dslr cameras).
I have owned a Canon Powershot (not dslr, it's a great point and shoot) for a few years and it has video (which is superb even in low light, not dark, but low like indoors in the evening) and it is always a "live view", but that's a given because nearly all point and shoot cameras are. my friends who own dslr cameras warned me that when I was ready to move up in the world of cameras, I was going to have to get used to using the view finder instead of the view-screen to set up my shots.  Well, I thought I could stay in my comfort zone using the view-screen by buying the Canon rebel xsi because of the "live view" feature. I believe now that is it more of a gimmick. But I do realize that this is spoken like a true point and shoot user, not a pro photographer.
Every dslr owner I know insists that once you get used to it, using the viewfinder is much better, so I can adjust to using the viewfinder. (even though my baby thinks I've turned into an alien when I put the camera up to my face. so much for making her smile while holding the camera out to the side like I did with my powershot.)  however, at this point, it's mostly the ability to shoot video that I am really missing.  I feel pretty dumb about not seeing that little fact when researching, but even when I went back today looking at more comparisons, I still don't find many reviews/comparisons that really point out that difference between the nikon d5000 and the canon xsi. The comparisons mainly focus on the image quality.  Which, by the way, I am truly thrilled with.  The Canon seems to be holding strong on it's reputation of having the best image color and quality in the business. (to my knowledge)
I just think that for that price range ($550-$650) the fact that one can shoot video and the other can't is a very big difference that new-to-dslr folks should know.
173756
I purchased this camera to replace a Kodak V603 that I used for a while thinking that the "V803" indicated a camera with more functions, a "new and improved" version of the V603 that I had been using.  The only incremental feature that the V803 offers is a higher 8 Mega Pixel resolution versus the maximum 6 Mega Pixel resolution of the V603.  Actually the V803 excludes many functions such as Auto Rotate that are present in the V603.  But the V803 does take very satisfactory pictures.  If you put the camera in the "fully automatic" mode and simply click away you will get pretty decent pictures.  Point and Click is what describes most of my picture taking so I am satisfied with the camera's performance.  I would recommend this camera if you anticipate doing mostly Point and Click type of shooting with an expectation of decent (but not fantastic) results.  By the way, I would also recommend that you totally skip installing any of the software that comes with the camera as the software is essentially Junk Ware that installs all sorts of unneccesary software and background processes whose main function ends up being to simply slow down your computer.  Instead get an inexpensive SD Card reader and use that to read your memory card like a Disk Drive and simply copy and paste your pictures from the Memory Card to your hard disk.
2962457
I bought this camera because I wanted something sturdy, and smaller and lighter than a SLR, to take on live performances of my folk group to shoot videos. It has met my needs except for one important thing - actually the whole reason that I decided on it.

According to all advance research, it has WiFi and the ability to control the camera remotely using a smartphone app. True... unless you want to shoot VIDEO.  The app will not start and stop video recording, even when the camera is in video mode. Yes, that fact IS briefly mentioned and buried deep in the owner's manual and I missed it before purchase. I downgrade this review for that reason - the product description should have included the full capabilities of the control app. GoPro's app can control both the cam in video and still modes. So no reason why Canon's app can't. Maybe some future update will add it, but they haven't issued an update in a long time.

Bottom line: good camera, sturdily built, fairly easy to use, decent quality still and video images and audio from built-in mic, but if you want to control video shooting remotely via the Camera Control app - it won't do it.
4090437
I purchased this camera a month ago to replace my "profoundly antique" but still fully functional 3.3 megapixel Nikon Coolkpix 990 that I bought years ago when it first come out. My final decision was based on two considerations: its ability to produce great images in most if not all of my picture taking occasions (this ability is due to the camera's 8.4 megapixel count, its great Leica lens with 4x zoom and 28mm wide angle view, its three picture formats 3:2, 4:3, and HDTV 6:19, and last but not least, its reliable image stabilization) and ease of use.

I have not been disappointed in my choice. I have made about 500 shots and every picture looks great in terms of sharpness, exposure correstness, and color balance, especially when the high aspect ratio format is used. Having read most reviews of the camera in sites such as DPReviews, CNET, PC Magazine, etc...where dire statements about the "unacceptable noise level" of the pictures the camera produces was discoursed at length, I was quite relieved to find that in my picture taking situations (outdoors in daylight with or without clouds in 95% of the cases, balance indoor with flash at parties) the noise level of the pictures when viewed with PhotoShop 7 at high magnification was from minimal to nowhere to be seen. I also discovered that, if you read the user manual and follow its instructions to set the picture adjustment level to high noise reduction, then noise is pretty much eliminated. There is a caution: this high noise reduction setting cannot be obtained when you use the fully automated or "point and shoot" mode.

Regarding size and usability, the camera is small (fits in my shirt pocket) and very easy to use. The menu system is simple and highly accessible. The camera provides a surprising high degree of manual operation. I can manually focus, set aperture, select aspect ratio, set shutter speed. The camera even has a micro mouse to move around the menu system. The large 2.5" LCD display (it has no optical viewfinder) is bright, even after I applied a protective polymer film (from Radio Shack, USD6.5 for a pack of 4 3"x6" sheets)

BTW, I went to Amazon to check out this camera's price and end up buying it new in the box with US warranty elswhere (Butterfly Photo) for USD 420, i.e., at a price significant below Amazon's.(They charge an extra USD10 for the black model, so this is a black mark against them since everybody else including Panasonic sells either model at the same price)

Conclusion: I highly recommend this camera if your shooting parameters are like mine (outdoors mostly, some indoors with built-in flash).
2784065
I've owned Canon film cameras for a long, long time, and loved them.  And the A95 is a good entry-level digital. But even though I read all the Amazon (and other) reviews before purchasing, including the many red-eye warnings, I must say that the problem is bad enough that in spite of only having used it for a few months, I'm already looking forward to my next camera.
260928
Camera is great. Look at the professional reviews on CNET -- they are right on.  The stuff in the rest of the package is pretty good if you don't have it except for at least one of the add-on lenses. The super-wide-angle doesn't screw onto the lens; I may have to go look for an adapter. With the white balance and other possibilities the camera offers, the filters are also gratuitous aside from serving as lens protectors. The stuff in the add-on package is o.k. to good quality and useful. A good deal altogether.
571301
Overall, I'm very pleased with this camera. It doesn't seem to do too well in low light conditions, however. Minor annoyances include the multi-use cable and the battery/card access door. I'd much rather have separate cables than the four-headed, multi-purpose cable provided. It's overly combersome. The access door is a cheap plastic piece that occasionally pops open inadvertently and leaves me with the feeling that it will eventually break off. The "DC In" door is even flimsier. Minor annoyances aside, with the exception of low-light, the quality of the images is excellent--even when greatly enlarged.
3252547
There are a couple of things you need to know about this camera before buying it. First, you need to have a SD card installed in it for things to go smoothly. I wasn't able to get it set up without one. Second, I was unable to save video that I could later view on my PC. That makes the camera a lot less useful for me.

I have the MyFox camera (<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Myfox-Security-Camera-with-Privacy-Shutter-Wi-Fi-Wireless-Smart-Home-HD-Video-Monitoring-iOS-Android/dp/B00ZWBURWI/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Myfox Security Camera with Privacy Shutter (Wi-Fi, Wireless Smart Home & HD Video Monitoring, iOS & Android)</a>) and it does produce very good video under all light conditions and the files you create can be viewed on a PC, phone, or tablet. This is the standard I am using for comparison in this review.

The EZVIZ Mini has a very wide angle lens. This causes distortion. I find that acceptable. Some don't like it because close objects appear curved. That's normal. After all, this is a security camera and a perfect picture aren't the key feature I look for. The camera has a nice magnetic mount that makes it easy to put on a wall or ceiling. The short power cord can be a problem. It was for me.

Some had problems setting up the camera. With an SD card, it went very smoothly for me. Even so, I just don't like this camera. Compared with the MyFox, it just doesn't make the grade. Yes, this unit is cheaper. That's a plus. But the overall picture quality is poor. The cloud storage is limited to when the camera "sees" movement. It seems to be very good at this and the stored video includes a few seconds before the motion was sensed. For a security camera, this is exactly what you want. All this is spoiled by the fact that I couldn't view any clips I saved.  I tried every trick I know and I was unable to see the recorded video.

If you want a camera at a low price that will give you the ability to use a phone app to get a quick look at your property, this is an acceptable choice. But if you  want to be able to save and email clips, the EZVIZ Mini won't work. After testing, I just put this unit back in its box. You can do much better with another camera.
2538614
I've struggled with deciding on a rating for this camera (3 or 4 stars)  because there are so many features on this camera to like, and I really want to like it more than I do.  Actually, for my purposes, it's a 4-star camera, but for most, I believe it will only achieve 3-stars, and that's based on a few simple observations --

1)  Low light (indoor) performance can be very grainy, especially since the light source/flash only works with stills:  with this camera, the brighter the shooting environment the better (up to a point).

2)  Autofocus can be very slow.  If you are mounting this camera on a tripod, mainly focusing on details in the distance with very slow, deliberate movements and focal changes, you'll be fine.  This is my main intended use for this camera.  However, if you want to use it as a "handy-cam," you may be disappointed.  In filming indoor, close-range action of family members, the lens will take anywhere from 1/2 second to 5 seconds with any significant focal change.  The 5-second episodes are where the lens corrects in the wrong direction, goes all the way to the end of that focal length, only to turn around and come back.

3)  Size of shooting frame:  this is not really a ding on this camera but to most HD cameras.  If you're filming at a distance, you're fine, but for close-ups with people, you may find you're clipping torsos or heads.  Keep in mind that at a distance of 6 ft, the size of the 2D plane that you're capturing is roughly 5ft by 1.5ft (~60in x ~34in = 16:9 HD ratio).  Thus, for most, the 10x zoom is nice, but a wide-angle addition (say 0.7x) would really be much more helpful.

4)  There is no 720p mode -- only 1080i/p and 480.  However, there is a really neat slow-mo feature (in SD only, unfortunately) where one can film a 10 second clip and play it back at 1/5 speed.

5)  The sound quality is quite good, but, probably to avoid operator hand-noise and breathing, they've mounted the mics on the bottom of the unit.  This is fine in many situations, but if you're filming while walking, the "clomp clomp clomp" of your footsteps is VERY loud.

These are the main factors I'd consider crucial in determining if this is the camera for you.  For me, it's quite good, with great optics; wonderful picture quality, color, and sharpness (if filmed in good light); tons of features; and a great docking bay that lets me plug it into an HDMI cable directly to my&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Panasonic-Viera-TH-42PZ85U-42-Inch-1080p-Plasma-HDTV/dp/B00142JKRW/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Panasonic Viera TH-42PZ85U 42-Inch 1080p Plasma HDTV</a>.

Without going into micro-technical detail....  For my purposes -- making HD recordings of concerts (BTW, the external mic input works great), filming students in music lessons with the ability to simply plug in their SDHC card when they start and pulling it out for them to take home when they leave, filming myself for self-critique of my playing, etc., ALL from a tripod, this camera is more than adequate.  However, if you're doing a lot of mobile camcording, you might want to consider some of this camera's limitations that I've outlined here.  Good luck with your deliberations and product comparisons....
2013096
I've had this camera for a few months now, and so far it's performed very well. The lack of buttons and the sweet touch screen makes for an elegant package.  I haven't tested most of it's capabilities, however.

BUT, this camera inexplicably has no Auto-off function.  The sliding cover acts as a switch, and if you accidentally leave it open it enters a standby mode, but then DOESN'T SHUT OFF!  It slowly drains the battery completely.  I keep it in a case and didn't notice I had left it open, only to twice find a dead battery when I really needed a camera.  And you can't pop in a spare.  I think every digital camera I've owned had this feature.  It simply doesn't make sense to leave it off a relatively expensive camera, especially since it's so easy to leave it open unintentionally.

And on the subject of that sliding cover/switch, using it creates several parallel scratches on the front of the camera- which takes away some of the elegance I mentioned.  Not a real problem, but I still wonder why Nikon created a system destined to deface itself.