Goodbye Old Friend: Nikon Coolpix

James got his chubby little fingers on my old camera last week and it was the straw that broke the camel's back. In fairness, it the lens hadn't been quite right for few years. However, with his 'adjustments' the camera kept using up its battery to open/close the lens.

On numerous occasions over recent years, friends have scoffed when I pulled my Nikon Coolpix from 2005, gaffing at just how old m bulk camera could be. I didn't replace it for so many reasons:

1. I liked its bulk. I could always find it in what ever bag I'd stashed it in.
2. The picture quality was excellent! 4.0 megapixels has always been plenty for my 4x6's. If I get wild and crazy and make a large print, it's only up to an 8x10. 

My husband and I both researched new cameras. If I wasn't going abroad, I would have stuck to an iphone, but that would require a 2 year contract to a cell phone company to get one I can afford and I'm not in a position to do so. (I currently have a Virgin-Mobile contract free phone.) I found the following websites most helpful:

www.productadvisor.com - you can search cars, cameras, and tvs by choosing your desired price, features, and prioritizing.

www.cnet.com - always a go-to site for techy reviews,you can get professional reviews as well as reviews from the community.

When it was all said and done, I ended up buying another Nikon Coolpix mainly because it came with CMOS and 14x wide zoom. The price was right with a big rebate at BJ's wholesale club. Plus there was major brand loyalty.

Once we put the new camera to the test, I will review.