This was the year that digital photography finally plunged into the mainstream — and the Nikon Coolpix 900 led the way

Twenty-seven years ago, Paul Simon sang a hugely popular paean to his Nikon camera. "Mama," he begged, "don't take my Kodachrome away!" Here in the 21st century, everyone still loves a Nikon. But the camera that currently has photographers swooning doesn't use Kodachrome or, for that matter, film of any kind. The Nikon Coolpix 990 is our choice for Machine of the Year. It's a winner both for its unique features and for the sea change it represents: digital photography is finally ready for its close-up.

Manufacturers shipped an astonishing 5.1 million digital cameras throughout the U.S. last year, up from 3.1 million in 1999. These cameras are going mainstream for a good and simple reason: they take better pictures for less money. Digital cameras have always offered convenience. You don't have to buy film because all your images are saved on reusable memory cards. Click the shutter and you can review your shot immediately on the lcd screen. If you don't like your work, you can simply erase it. But until recently, any reasonably priced digital camera produced low-grade images suitable only for sending with e-mails or posting on the Web.

If you tried blowing them up into prints, you were bound to be disappointed — the resolution (well under 2 million pixels, or 2 megapixels) just wasn't good enough. However, just like everything else with a microchip at its core, quality improves exponentially while the cost of producing it halves. There was never any question that digital cameras would revolutionize photography; the only question was when.

Now we know the answer: 2000. This was the year that you could find, for less than $500, 2-megapixel cameras that produce snapshot-size images roughly comparable to 35-mm prints. Making prints from digital images is easier than ever as well: quality photo printers can be had for less than $300 and Web-based printing services have sprung up like Fotomats. Gone are the film-based rituals of killing off a roll or waiting until days after an event to see if you have a decent picture. Make the move to digital photography and you'll probably find yourself taking more pictures than ever before.

Among the new cameras, the Nikon Coolpix 990 stands out. This high-resolution, 3.3-megapixel camera has a high-quality lens, as one would expect from a Nikon. A more distinctive feature is its "twist" body. In a crowd, you can hold it over your head with the lens facing forward and twist the lcd screen down so you can see what you're getting when you press the shutter button.

Digital cameras aren't for everybody — at least, not yet. While cheaper, they are by no means cheap. Battery life needs to be improved, and the memory cards are too pricey. Sony recently introduced a camera that offers an interesting solution: a miniature CD burner that lets you store 160 high-resolution images on a single disc. This may turn out to be the camera of the future, but right now it's too bulky for amateur shooters.

Whatever direction digital photography takes us, snapping pictures for posterity will never be the same. Mama, please take our Kodachrome away.

What about cell phones and PDAs? > > 

 


PHOTO BY DAVIES + STARR/FOR TIME DIGITAL

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