i plan to buy a digital camera and narrowed it down to the kodak dc290 and the nikon coolpix 950. plain and simple which should i buy? i've heard and read alot of conflicting reviews and i am frustrated. i am a relative beginner in photography and my main concern are image sharpness, for the web and some print. any input is appreciated. thanks for your time.

-- salvador d madayag (salmadayag@jps.net), January 12, 2000

Answers

Both are nice cameras, I would suggest get the one you are more comfortable with (controls, software etc). Both of these cameras will do what you want, you will find that the Nikon does a better job of REALLY close foucusing (down to 2cm).

My advice is go to your local camera store and try them out.

-- kevin dixey (kd@spinwire.com), January 12, 2000.

950 is better for macro, and way better for manual control. The 290 has no manual focus, aperture priority, or shutter priority, nikon has all of em. Nikon swivels, kodak has usb. Kodak is bigger to hold. The colors on the kodak are little more vibrant, or some would say over saturated. I think overall the kodak has slightly better image quality. In sharpness specifically, nikon is as good as any though

-- benoit (foo@bar.com), January 13, 2000.