Nikon Coolpix 3200 3.2MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom

by Nikon

Product Details

Data Sheet [704kb PDF]

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Product Manual [3.85mb PDF]

• Item Weight: 3.5 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S. and to APO/FPO addresses. For APO/FPO shipments, please check with the manufacturer regarding warranty and support issues.
• ASIN: B0001AU6H6
• Item model number: 25518
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (61 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,503 in Camera & Photo (See Top 100 in Camera & Photo)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes
• Date first available at Amazon.com: February 27, 2004

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

The Nikon Coolpix 3200 digital camera was designed to be easy use. It offers lots of automatic settings that make taking digital photos as easy as select, point, click, and view. This camera is ideal for casual photographers making their first transition to the world of digital photography.

Optics and Resolution
Featuring a 3.2-megapixel CCD sensor, the Nikon Coolpix 3200 digital camera delivers images up to 2,048 by 1,536 pixels, which is sharp enough for photo-quality prints up to 11 by 14 inches. The 3x Optical Zoom-Nikkor lens will help get those far away shots properly framed, while the camera's macro mode allows photographers to close in on details just 1.6 inches away from the lens. The camera also features 15 scene modes, which are designed to automatically optimize the camera settings to make the most of typical photo-shooting environments. These scene modes are: Portrait, Landscape, Sports, Night Portrait, Party, Beach/Snow, Sunset, Fireworks Show, Night Landscape, Close up, Museum, Dusk/Dawn, Copy, Back light, and Panorama assist. And the four-part Scene Assist feature guides you to better pictures in Portrait, Landscape, Sports and Night Portrait modes.

Movie Mode
Shoot small amounts of Quicktime video with sound at resolutions up to 640 x 480 pixels at 15 frames-per-second. The movies aren't camcorder quality, but they're fun and convenient, and they're perfect as e-mail attachments.

More Features

• Included Nikon View 6 software lets you remove the "red eye" problem common to flash photography with just the click of a button once you transfer your photos to your computer.
• One-touch upload: Once your software is installed on your computer, uploading photos is done by connecting the USB cable between your camera and computer and pressing the upload button on your camera.
• Optional date and time imprinting
• In-camera cropping lets you select an area inside your photo and save it in your camera as a separate file.
• Best Shot Selector helps sharpen photos taken without the use of a tripod in those tricky telephoto or macro photo opportunities that often make images blurry.

Storage and Transfer
Images and video are stored on either 14.5 MB internal memory or optional Secure Digital (SD) cards (not included). Files can be downloaded to either a Mac or PC via USB connectivity, which means it can be connected to any USB-based Windows 98/Me/2000/XP and Mac OS 8.6 or later computer without installing any software.

Printing
The camera's 3.2 megapixel resolution is high enough to print photo-quality enlargements up to 11 x 14. The camera is PictBridge compatible, which is a standard that allows cameras to connect directly to some printers (learn more about Pictbridge).

Power and Size
The camera is powered by 2 AA-size batteries (alkaline included; rechargeable Ni-MH recommended). It measures 3.5 by 2.6 by 1.5 inches and weighs 4.9 ounces without batteries or SD memory card.

What's in the Box
Nikon Coolpix 3200 Digital Camera, two AA alkaline batteries, wrist strap, cables and software.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

153 of 153 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "obscure" features take care of any concerns, June 8, 2004

By 

Eddie Lovelace (Rustburg, VA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Nikon Coolpix 3200 3.2MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom (Electronics)

I've had my coolpix 3200 for about a week, and am really surprised at how good the pictures are, how easy it is to get the pictures into my PC, and how long the batteries last. I bought Duracell rechargeables with the camera, told my camera that these were the batteries I was using through its menu system, and have been taking pictures for a week on the same batteries. That's more than 80 pictures -- perhaps more -- all on the same 2 batteries, most of them using a flash. My battery charge meter has not even shown up yet.

When I first read the manual, I didn't understand the value of all the frame, portrait, and scene assist modes. As I've used the camera, though, I've come to see that they are very important. The frame and portrait assistants actually change the location of the auto-focus. When I am in sports mode, the camera's auto-focus is constantly changing so that the picture will shoot quickly when the shutter release is pressed. Shutter speed and aperature are adjusted depending on which scene I've selected. In other words, using the modes makes for much better pictures. They are more than just marketing pitches.

The software that came with the camera is okay, though it is nothing earth shaking. Better tools came with my scanner/copier/printer combo, but if you don't have those tools, what comes with the camera is much better than nothing and will get the job done.

I'm very satisfied. The camera is so small that I wear it in a tiny case on my belt all the time.

BTW, I was going to buy the 2200 instead, but am glad that I didn't. Once I had the manual (which is the same for both cameras), I saw that there are a number of small features that the 3200 has that are not available to the 2200. For example, the 3200 has sound for movies, the 2200 does not. You can record voice memos and set sounds for camera functions with the 3200. The 3200 can take more continuous pictures at a time (due to the higher resolution and space required). There are more differences, and most of them are small, but by the time you add them all up, it's worth the additional $100, in my oppinion.

I was an avid amateur photographer back "in the day", but grew tired of the hassles of large cameras and film developing. Thanks to this tiny, filmless camera, I'm a photographer again.

108 of 108 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good camera at good price, May 24, 2004

By 

PGMS "PGMS" (NJ USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Nikon Coolpix 3200 3.2MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom (Electronics)

Nikon has always had a reputation for superior photo products, but I never bought one because there was always a near-as-good Pentax or Canon. This time, they've hit a home-run. The Coolpix 3200 is as good or better, according to industry reviews, as other manufacturers' and the price, for a change, is right. Not only that, but once you load the software, you can set the camera up to automatically load the pictures. The camera comes with several editing software programs as well, and they work nicely. You don't have to go out and buy Photoshop.

Remember, this is a point-and-shoot. It is not meant for people that have to have all kinds of control over how the picture comes out. If you are a pro, stick to SLRs, either digital (which cost in general, more than $1000) or film, which are still far more than this camera.

A strong suggestion: Buy an RCR-V3 rechargeable battery. These are Lithium-ion rechargeables. You can get a Delkin one for under $30 including battery and charger. It will take many more picture than the NiMH.

38 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Works fine for me, October 9, 2004

By 

widemind - See all my reviews

This review is from: Nikon Coolpix 3200 3.2MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom (Electronics)

I've noticed that everyone that has written a bad review for this camera has given it a bad review, only because they have no idea how to use it. 99% of all issues complained about can be fixed simply by reading the instruction manual.

I got this camera because it was highly recommended, and it has turned out to be my best camera so far (under $200). I like the fact that you can record video w/ sound, and that you can format it to record in 3 different sizes. You can take quickshot sports photos, like the ones used in skateboarding magazines to show shot by shot how the trick is done... very cool! I also like the fact that you can change the picture size to be anywhere from absolutely ENORMOUS to the regular-sized pictures any other camera would take. The detail is amazing. I can focus in on dust particles on my desk! It also takes shots in Black & White, and other effects. Sure the camera uses up batteries - it's a digital camera - what digital camera DOESN'T use up batteries??? However, this one doesn't eat batteries like my other cameras do. And it only takes 2 AA's. I really like this camera.

CONS ARE:
This camera cannot be used as a webcam. I unfortunately found that out after I bought it, but it's not something that's going to make me take it back to the store.

Video quality is very gritty. It's nowhere near the quality of a video camera, but it is much better than a video camera phone. Also, if you leave the auto adjust on, the video records clicking sounds as the camera focuses. I just turned auto adjust off and it's fine now.

This camera isn't going to make you a pro photographer, but it's no piece of crap either! There are plenty of options and buttons to keep you busy for a every long time learning everything that you can do with it, if you want to get into that. It's also simple enough to be able to say "ok, I want to turn this thing on and take a picture". I figured out how to take a picture less than a minute after having it out of the box. Very cool. Very easy. If it breaks, I'll let you know.