I love taking pictures. Seriously – L-O-V-E it! I use my camera almost on a daily basis. Sometimes I take pictures on purpose (such as for a review or to record a special occasion). Other times I take pictures because I see something that stands out to me and I think it would take a great photo.
I have been eyeing $$$$ digital cameras for a long time. I just can’t bring myself to spend that kind of money. Maybe some day, but for now my family needs the $$$ more than I need a fancy schmancy camera.
I did need a better camera. My other camera is OK but I wanted something a bit more, kind of like an upgrade from what I already had.
I looked at all the regular places for a new camera as well as to check reviews. One place I honestly never thought to look for a camera is Staples. When I think of Staples I think of back-to-school supply shopping, computer accessories and office furniture. I didn’t know that they carried electronics such as cameras. Not only that, they have some great deals too!
I picked up a Nikon Coolpix L810 camera from Staples. It’s regularly $269 but they are offering a $40 instant savings making the camera $229. That is less than what my husband paid for my other Nikon camera, and the Nikon Coolpix L810 is a better quality.
I have another Nikon camera, so I am aware of how well they work and the quality of the photos. What sold me on this camera (aside from the great deal Staples had on it) is that it has 16.1 mega pixels and a whopping 26x optical and 4X digital zoom. That is significantly more than my other camera.
Other specifics for the camera include;
- 3-inch high-resolution LCD monitor
- HD 720p Movies with sound
- 4.0-104mm lens focal length (f/3.1-5.9)
- 1/1500-1 sec. shutter speed
- Up to 4 shots of Top Continuous Shooting Speed at approx. 1.2 fps
- Ultra-high-resolution monitor featuring 921,000 dots shows every detail to precision
- Anti-glare coating provides easy viewing of photos and HD movies
- Use Nikon’s Smart Portrait System with Smile Timer, a mode that automatically recognizes when a subject is smiling. Also included are Blink Warning and Red-Eye Fix™.
- Optical VR (Vibration Reduction) Image Stabilization system minimizes the effects of camera shake for sharp clear still images and movies.
- The L810 is capable of 3D still image photography. Enjoy viewing these still images simply by connecting to a 3D HDTV using the camera’s HDMI port.
- Relies on four AA batteries, which are super convenient and available everywhere.
- Dimensions (W x H x D) 4.4 x 3.1 x 3.3 in. (15.2oz)
- 1-year mfr. limited mfr. warranty
What sold me was the mega pixels and zoom.
This camera is a breeze to use. If you just want to snap photos and not think about the settings you can simply keep the camera in Auto Mode. If you are like me and like to play around with the settings, there a lot to choose from.
- Portrait
- Landscape
- Sport
- Indoor/Party
- Night Portrait
- Night Landscape
- Museum
- Dusk/Dawn
- Sunset
- Snow
- Beach
- Close-Up
- Food
- Fireworks
There are even special settings for…
- Backlighting
- 3D
- Panoramic Assist
- Pet Portrait
- Black & White
There are so many different photo options to choose from, which is another reason why I really like this camera.
I have to admit that I haven’t used all of the different settings yet but I’m sure I will in the future. I also don’t mess with the other settings, only because I’m not 100% sure how to use them. One day I’ll learn what shutter speed does and why I would need to adjust it.
I’m sure you are wondering how well the Nikon Coolpix L810 works? Here are just some of the photos I took with the camera.
As you can see the Nikon Coolpix L810 takes amazing photos. I am very impressed. Not only does it takes beautiful pictures it is also super easy to use. You don’t have to be an expert to use this camera.
This camera is ideal for the weekend photographer who just likes to snap a few photos here and there as well as someone like me, a blogger, who takes photos all the time for both professional and personal reasons.
The Nikon Coolpix L810 is available at Staples.com in both black (like I have) and blue. You’d have to check with your local Staples for product availability.
The camera comes with a lens cover, strap, plugs (so you can upload your photos), instruction guide and software. You do not need to upload the software to upload the photos on to your camera.
Speaking of uploading the photos are super quick to upload to your computer. Simply put the plug into the camera and the other end into the computer, turn on the camera and within seconds a window pops up which allows you to view your photos on your computer, or transfer them to your computer. I always transfer them so that I can free up space on my memory card. The camera does not come with a memory card so you will need to pick one up when you buy the camera, or swap the card out of another camera.
Staples has plenty of memory cards to choose from. I have the SanDisk 8GB Ultra SD (SDHC) memory card, also from Staples, in my Nikon Coolpix L810 camera. I take A LOT of pictures and there is more than enough room for hundreds of photos on this card. It sells for $14.99 on the Staples site. They also carry other memory cards with up to 32 GB in memory space.
Your photos are very important to you so it’s important to have a quality memory card. You could easily find one for half the price, but you are not getting a quality memory card. My husband and I have been using SanDisk memory cards in all our cameras for as long as we can remember. We’ve never had any issues with these memory cards.
The holiday season is fast upon us. If someone on your shopping list is looking hoping for a camera under the Christmas tree with their name on, now is a great time to take advantage of Staples discounted rate on the Nikon Coolpix L810. I don’t know how long the $40 savings will last so it’s best not to wait too long.
A quality camera is also great to have for the holiday season so you can capture special memories with family and friends.
Staples carries a many different brands of cameras as well as camera accessories, camera bags, lenses and more.
To find a Staples location near you please visit Staples.com. You can also find them on Facebook and Twitter.
I’m giving the Nikon Coolpix L810 two thumbs up. I love this camera. It’s so easy to use and it takes amazing photos. 🙂
Do you have a Nikon Coolpix L810? I would love to hear your thoughts on the camera if you do own one. If you have any special tricks or tips feel free to share them with me. I always love to hear from my readers.
Kimberly
*I received a free product in order to do this review from Staples. There was no compensation. The opinions expressed are my own and are not influenced in any way.
Dee @ Cocktails with Mom says
Great review. I’ve been through several different cameras but never owned a Nikon. I would love to see how it compares to the others. The Cool Pix sounds just like what I need and from your photos,looks like it takes some really cool pictures.
michelle says
hi Kimberly1 what a nice photos you have..i also have nikon coolpixL810,i am also a newbies.how can you adjust the shutter?and where can i find it? uhh it will be a big help 😀 thank you and have a nice day!