Nikon COOLPIX 8400 8.0 MP Digital Camera - Black

The vintage Nikon Coolpix 8400 offers a superior lens range of 24-85mm 35mm equivalent with very good image quality. While lacking the VR (vibration reduction) capability of later Nikon and competing brands, the 8400 more than makes up for it in size, weight, and ease of use.

This is a digital for shooting scenics, architecture, interiors and portraits (although the high aperture of f4.9 at 85mm makes out of focus highlights harder to achieve).

Nikon improved the control layout on the later model 8800. The 8400 controls are a bit cramped and harder to manipulate. Some reviewers have complained about the lack of custom settings, but with two user programmable settings and a number of preset selections (e.g., portrait, landscape, museum, etc.), this seems like a quibble. Noise can be a problem at ISO 200 and 400. Some barrel distortion is expected at the wide zoom setting.

The 8400 is not a camera for the impatient as focusing issues, slow write speeds, and some clunky control features make this a camera more suited to a contemplative and leisurely approach to picture taking. But for those who are willing to learn, this camera offers a wide range of possibilities and comes with the typical suite of P/S/A/M options and the extended mastery of the image that comes with them.

Paired up with the later model Coolpix 8800 which offers an optical zoom range of 35-350mm, Vibration Reduction technology, and an improved control panel, the patient photographer has a couple of very good non-SLR cameras with nearly identical handling that can be used in a wide variety of situations.

Both cameras use the same Nikon proprietary battery, the EN-EL7, which offers moderate to good amount of use between recharges, but it is always wise to carry one or two fully charged spares. The camera uses the CF-type card and can store almost 800 high quality JPEG images on a 4gb card.

New 8400 models are still available as of this writing (July 2011) for between $700-900 (US), but "like new" and "good" used models can be had for much less. Of course, the used models may lack some accessories including the software and instruction manual, but the latter, at least, can be downloaded in .pdf format from the Nikon site. (If you get a used model, make sure it has the lens cap as replacements may be impossible to obtain.)

Yes, the 8400 is an old camera. It doesn't have HDR, HD movie capability, or a number of other recent advances. It can be stodgy at times. But it's a Nikon with a pretty good lens, solid body and a hard-to-find zoom range in a non-SLR digital that can fit into a (roomy)coat pocket. For those wanting something solid and practical that will deliver good, even superior, images, look no further.

It IS the best prosumer camera, at 24mm ultra wide angle family, you can choose Nikon 8400, Kodak, and Sony DCS-R1, I read all the reviews on dpreview.com, and go store to try each of them, then eventually I bought this Nikon 8400, it is the greatest prosumer camera I have used, it even produce better image quality than some DSLR, and more it give 24mm, which is very expensive if you want to have it at same quality and same wide in DSLR, So, 8400 does give you accurate focus, great image quality and color, super wide angle that no other camera can have, and Nikon's trustable quality. I am a half professional photographer, this camera just worth money, that is why on eay, 8400 always keep value and go fast. It is a pity Nikon discontinue it.

Classic digicam, and perhaps the best of it's generation offering (equivilant of a) 24-85mm lens with maximal aperature of f2.6 (wide angle) to f4.9 (tele). Although most of the competing 8 MP cameras of it's day offered extremely noisy images, this camera produced clean files easily up to iso 200 (iso 400 is available but that's pushing the noise up substantially). The LCD screen is small by comparison with more recent digicms, but unlike most subsequent cameras, this cameras LCD offers tilt / pivot allowing easy shooting from odd angles.
The camera is of durable construction and fits easily in a jacket pocket, though it certainly is not meant for pants pocket. More recent digicams from most manufacturers are clearly not as well constructed and are it seems designed to last 18 months only - until the next model comes out !
I bought this camera in February 2008 - three years after it's introduction - so that says something about it's utility.

I am not your typical point and shoot "Photography for Dummies" type of person. I understand the workings of a high tech digital SLR camera and can critique photos until I'm blue in the face. But sometimes I want to be able to turn a camera on, set it to automatic, and fire off some shots. Sometimes I want to set the camera up on a tripod and take some brilliant night time shots. Sometimes I want to get that ground-level shot without having to lay on the ground to do so. The Nikon Coolpix 8400 accomplishes all of these "wants" with relative ease. My 5 year old nephew can operate the camera, and my pro-photographer friends can manipulate it enough to produce some SLR-quality shots. The swivel viewing window helps with picture taking in tight places. The video with sound is an added bonus, and add a Nikon Speedlight and one of 3 or 4 accessory lenses, this camera is all you would ever need, unless you go pro.

This is the widest fixed lens point and shoot camera out there. Though it can not fit in your pocket it is still relatively small. I have bought about 5 of these cameras because they work well for interiors and for wide angle use. I am a roofing contractor and we need a camera that shoots wide as possible and is rugged too. I still have my first Nikon Coolpix 990 and it still works great. This camera is as easy or compicated as you want to make it. It is not an SLR so don't expect it to do fast action like sports. It can work exceptionally well for almost anything else. I love the panoramic mode and all of the others. My first Nikon 8400 I paid about $900.00 new. Since Nikon does not sell these any longer, because of the demand was probably was low, anyone can get one at a fraction of the cost on E-bay. I currently own a Nikon D1x a D200 and verious other film cameras as well. I keep this 8400 in my car at all times with two batteries. You get what you pay for with this camera and the ruggedness is a big selling feature. I have made some extremely sharp enlargements with the 8400 17" High x 24" wide or so. You can buy smaller units made of plastic that work pretty well but will never outlast an Nikon 8400. The battery door sometimes pops open so I use a small strip of Gaffers tape to keep that from happening. Agian it is not the fastest camera but for all of the features this camera has and does it does it extremely well. One of my favorite cameras thats for sure. My other favorite film camera is the no longer in production the Nikon F4. Next would be my D200. The problem with digital cameras is that they are improving them so fast that anything you buy now is basically a poor investment in 2 years. To give you an example my Nikon D1x was bought new for approx $4800.00 plus extra batteries. Right now on E-bay i would be lucky to get $500.00 for it. It is only 4-years old. Very disappointing. My $1600.00 Nikon D200 is twice as good as my professional D1x. A good website to check out for cameras is www.kenrockwell.com I have found most of his suggestions to be dead on. He rates the Nikon 8400 as well. I found that if the need is to have the widest point and shoot, this is the only one on the market that can do this with a fixed lens, and for a third of the original price on E-bay it is the fantastic. Highly recommend this camera for anyone in the construction field,reality, or inteior designing. Buy it today from E-bay expect to pay anywhere from $300.00 to $600.00 but it is worth every penny. Out of only 60 transactions on E-bay I have had only one or two bad experiences in purchasing. The one was trying to go cheap on a aftermarket batteries for the Nikon 8400. Some charged some were DOA. The other bad idea was aftermarket ink for my Epson printer. Ink everywhere and crappy prints. So I lived and learned. Everything eles from E-bay I have been very happy with. That's about it.