Features Menus

The Coolpix 990 has a new 4-way jog switch on the back that lets you more easily navigate the extensive menu system. Some menu items can also be changed quickly by rotating the command dial.

The first menu option is the white balance settings. Choices should be rather obvious; Automatic, White Balance Preset (see next frame), Fine (Sunny), Incandescent, Flourescent, Cloudy and Flash.

When using the White Balance Preset option you get a live preview to assist you in pointing the camera at your known white reference value.

Metering options are Matrix (256 element), Center-Weighted, Spot and the Spot metering option that is used if you are using the Autofocus Area option.

Here's the Record mode options:

• Single: Camera records one picture each time shutter is pressed
• Continuous: Camera records pictures in continuous sequence
• Multi-Shot 16: Camera takes 16 pictures which are combined into one image.
• VGA Sequence: Camera takes series of consecutive 640x480 Normal quality images at approx 2fps.
• Ultra HS: Camera takes series of 320x240 pictures in Normal quality at 30fps
• Movie: Camera begins recording 320x240 Normal quality movie when shutter is pressed and stops when shutter is pressed again. Up to 40 seconds may be recorded at 15fps.

The Best Shot Selector (BSS) mode was first introduced on the Coolpix 950. It uses "fuzzy logic" to determine the best picture from a series of pictures taken in sequence. It can be used when you're shooting macro or using a slow shutter speed to automatically pick the best picture in terms of focus and sharpness.

When using the optional Nikkor lenses you can lock in certain presets with the Converters menu:

• Normal: No modifications made to settings (default)
• Wide Adapter: For WC-E24,, camera zoomed out to widest angle, flash is disabled for both internal and external.
• Telephoto1: For TC-E2 2X, camera zoomed out to maximum optical zoom, third step in LCD zoom display, built in flash and external flash disabled
• Telephoto2: For TC-E0 3X, camera zoomed out to maximum optical zoom, 0 step in LCD zoom display, built in flash and external flash disabled
• Fisheye1: Zoom fixed at widest angle, focus fixed at infinity, metering fixed at center-weighted, flash disabled, four corners of frame blacked out to create circular frame
• Fisheye2: Zoom fixed at widest angle, focus fixed at infinity, metering fixed at center-weighted, flash disabled, image fills entire frame

Image enhancement menu, these settings are hopefully obvious. Only one setting may be used at a time.

Image Sharpness menu options. To give the user complete control over the images you can now manually set the amount of sharpness applied to your pictures.

As with the Coolpix 950 the 990 allows you to build three user profiles of camera settings and store them for easy recall. Any modifications you make while in M-Rec mode are stored in the #1 profile.

Exposure Options. Set, reset or release the AE Lock, most useful when shooting panorama shots.

Auto Bracketing now lets you shoot a sequence of five shots and is somewhat complicated in operation but simple in use. Exposure changes in order +2/3 step, +1/3 step, 0 step, -1/3 step, -2/3 step with each photograph taken. In Programmed Auto, Aperture Priority and manual exposure modes the braketing is achieved by varying the shutter speed.

EXP +/- is the normal type of exposure compensation and works from +2 to -2 EV is 1/3 EV increments.

Focus Options: Autofocus Area Mode - camera automatically selects focus area containing the subject closest to the camera. See the next frame for the manual tracking mode of this option.

Autofocus Mode - Continuous Autofocus or Single Autofocus

Confirmation - When manual or auto focus is used, objects that are in focus are sharply outlined on the LCD monitor

Distance Units - for manual focus display, feet or meters

Using the focusing options you can enable the focus tracking manual mode and you'll see these brackets on the LCD monitor. By using the jog switch you can select any of the areas desired. You can also set the metering so that it uses spot mode on the selected focusing area.

Zoom Options: Digital zoom enabled or disabled. Startup Position (see next frame). Fixed Aperture - if possible the aperture is fixed when zooming in or out.

Those of us with the Coolpix 950 practically screamed for this option and now we have it (at least 990 owners have it). You can have the camera remember where the lens was when you power down and it returns there on power up. Or you can manually lock it to full wideangle or full zoom position.

Flash Options: Variable Power - the power output of the builtin flash can be varied from -2 to +2 EV in increments of 1/3 EV.

Speedlight Control: Enable or disable internal flash when using an external flash via the sync connector.