I own a CP900 and as of this week a CP950. Nikon solved many of my wish list items with the 950 but the biggest challenge I've noticed is the lack of sharp focus, especially with distance shots at infinite focus. I had expected an overall improvement in focus given the number of steps the 950 is capable of but it is clear now this new feature benefits macro focusing. I thought at first it may just be my 950 so I exchanged it for another with the same result. In looking at the images posted on the imaging resource site and others I am convinced that the 900 images are sharper than the 950 esp on distance shots (landscapes, etc). Take a look for yourself with the COMPAROMETER on this site at http://www.imaging-resource.com/IMCOMP/COMPS01.HTM - Imaging Resoure has a review on the new Olympus 2Megapixel and slams them pretty hard about fuzzy images and lack of sharpening technology in camera. Yet they don't say a word about the 950. They state that the 950's higher resolution is yielding sharper images than the 900! I just don't see it and am considering returning the 950 and sticking with my trusty 900 (giving up on the hot new features). In using the COMPAROMETER to compare a series of infinite focus images I was most impressed with the sharpness of the Cannon PS Pro (wow!). I have not yet seen other postings on the 950 fuzzy images so continue to wonder if this is only me. Anyone else looked at this closely???

-- Carl Gulledge (carlg@msn.com), May 06, 1999

Answers

I like to know if this is the common problem with all 950s. I order mine few weeks ago and still waiting for it. I'm going to cancel my order if this indeed is a problem with 950. Also, I like to know where you brought your 950.

-- Don Choe (dchoe@aspeninc.com), May 06, 1999.

I exchanged my 950 for another and am seeing the same result. Soft (fuzzy) pictures at distances beyond 10'. I've run a series of controlled experiments with my 900 vs the 950 and the 900 without question produces images that are sharper in every case. When the 950 comes to infinite focus landscape shots, I've found no difference in using the varios auto, manual, infinite focus, aperature priority, and even macro modes (for distance shots). It is hard to imagine that Nikon designed the 950 this way. Focus on subjects closer than 10' seem are excellent.

-- Carl Gulledge (carlg@msn.com), May 07, 1999.

Hi folks, sorry for the slow response! (LOTS of review work, I've been keeping my head down.)

We just got a full-production unit of the CP950, will be testing it over the next week or so, and will post a full set of new pictures as we get them. I've been totally swamped dealing with some other reviews and articles that are about to go up, so haven't had a chance to go back and really study the CP950 shots again vs the 900. One thing to beware of though, is that the same objects spread across a larger pixel area can look fuzzier even when there's more image detail there. OTOH, as we just experienced in our review of the Dimage Scan Multi, it's also possible to see more detail information in one image than in another, yet have the first one seem "softer."

Something's going on here, as I've had emails coming down on both sides of the sharpness issue vis a vis the 950 - some feeling it cuts like a razor, others saying it's useless mush. (I'm exaggerating a bit here, but you get the idea.) I hope to spend some really in-depth time with the images ~Wednesday or so, and will report further on what I see there. (May also be able to check some resuls with the full- production model we just received as well.)

Thanks for everyone's comments, feedback, and input!

-- Dave Etchells (detchells@imaging-resource.com), May 10, 1999.

Excellent, really looking forward to your findings. Let me know if you'd like a few of my side by side CP900 vs CO950 comparison shots. In every long distance focus case the CP900 is visibly sharper.

-- Carl Gulledge (carlg@msn.com), May 11, 1999.

Lots of noise appearing on the Nikon support site regarding distance related focus challenges. Also noted by the Nikon tech's in the images I uploaded was a strong appearance of the the mysterious purple (violet) fringe. My images are apparently on their way to Japan but unclear what happens next or if I'll hear anything conclusive. I read in a thread recently that the purple fringe may be a result of a misaligned lens element. It seems logical that that this could also be behind the focus challenges. Thoughts?

-- Carl Gulledge (carlg@msn.com), May 14, 1999.