My speciality is figure photography and I have held off digital photography until now because of the low resolutions previously available, long recycling times, and shutter lag. From your review it appears that the Coolpix 950 will deal with all of these issues. HOWEVER the point I would most welcome your advice on is the connection of the Coolpix to an external flash source. For all of my conventional studio work I use a powerful studio flash connected to my cameras via sync lead attached to a hot shoe adapter. Will this work with the coolpix. I have read that the Coolpix will connect to an external flash unit but reports seem to suggest that the external flash must be Nikon Speedlite or presumably a flash unit with Speedlite connections The point is that I like the moody bounced flash available from my studio flash setup. Can you help please - would like to go for the Coolpix rather than another (inferior) camera with a standard hotshoe to which I can attach my sync cable via an adapter.

I would be most grateful for any advice.

David Hibberd

-- David Hibberd (david@digital-divas.swinternet.co.uk), February 15, 2000

Answers

Have you considered going to a Nikon Website and asking them yourself?

-- Mr. Epstein (nospam@noemail.com), February 20, 2000.

The speedlite is a multi-use flash that can either accept TTL information from the camera or it can simply accept a "sync" or fire command.

I use an SB-28, Speedlight on a Fuji MX-2900. The 2900's hotshoe does not provide any TTL onfo, only a sync command. I had an extension cord made that connects the hotshoe to the PC connection of the flash.

I read Nikons spec. sheet on the 950 at: http://www.nikonusa.com/products/feature.cfm?id=275&feature=325

Here is the results: External Speedlight - Multi-flash sync terminal connects to external Nikon Speedlight.

The hotshoe provides only a multi-sync terminal - the same as the Fuji Mx2900. Nikon is only trying to sell their flash units!

So, the 950 should fire your external flash so long as the external flash operates with a control voltage of 8 volts or less.

-- Raymond Johnson (cosmos@lakeozarks.net), February 25, 2000.