Image Quality
The 775's images are right in line with those of higher-end Coolpix cameras, offering many of the same image-quality advantages and disadvantages of Nikon's higher-priced cousins. On the positive side, the 775 produces images with very good quality, good color reproduction, and surprisingly little noise. The Coolpix's metering system produces images with good overall tone and color while preserving detail and contrast in both shadow and highlight areas, holding its own overall with competitors such as Canon's Digital Elph models. Below, we show comparison shots taken with the PowerShot 110 Digital Elph and the Coolpix 775.

Canon PowerShot 100 Digital Elph. Click here for the original, full-size image (633K).

Nikon Coolpix 775. Click here for the original, full-size image (591K).

On the downside, the 775 produces images that aren't quite as detailed and sharp as those produced by some of its competition, and images tend to shift a bit toward green (something we've noticed on higher-end Coolpix cameras). Still, images from the 775 often appear more color-accurate than its competitors overall, though also more flat.

Canon PowerShot 100 Digital Elph. Click here for the original, full-size image (680K).

Nikon Coolpix 775. Click here for the original, full-size image (555K).

As the shot of the grid below shows, the 775 suffers from a good deal of barrel distortion when shooting at extreme wide angles.

Extreme wide-angle images shot with the Coolpix 775 show a good bit of barrel distortion.

Little Helper
The Nikon Coolpix 775 is by no means the only game in town if you're looking for a capable, pocket-sized 2-megapixel digital camera, but it's a fine choice. Though not as small and sturdy as the Canon PowerShot 110 Digital Elph, the Coolpix costs considerably less and comes with a 3x zoom lens. The Olympus Camedia D-510 Zoom costs less than the Coolpix 775 but also lacks some of its features, such as a rechargeable battery pack.

Read more by Ben Long.