Nikon Coolpix 950
The Nikon Coolpix 950 became a digicam released by Nikon in early 1999. The 950 model outdated the Coolpix 900 in the Nikon Coolpix series. The Nikon Coolpix 950 was the tough camera with swivel lens, magnesium body, a maximum resolution of 1600×1200 (1.92 Mpx), 3× optical zoom and also a minimum focusing distance of 2 cm. It turned out in turn outmoded by the Coolpix 990.
The 950 incorporated enhancements on the 900 like a stronger swivel hinge, a magnesium case (save the plastic battery door) and increased sensor resolution. The 950's ability to capture instantly in TIFF format was unusual for the time even though file transfer time (depending on CF card write speed available at the time) may be over A few seconds in this mode. An irony could be that the 950 came with a 8MB CF card, and also the card could contain only 1 image file shot in the TIFF mode (~5.6MB). Maximum CF capacity for the 950 is 64MB.
Other advanced top features of the 950 included shutter and aperture priority modes and the ability to custom preset white balance. The Nikon Coolpix 950 included a flash-sync socket for use with assorted Nikon external flash units (no shoe-mount was provided however). Like all 9xx series, the lens movement during focusing and zooming was all internal, causing superior weather and dust resistance. The 950 shared with other 9xx series cameras the 28mm filter threads and shared numerous Nikon and 3rd party filters and diopter filters.
The Nikon Coolpix 950, just like 9xx series Coolpix cameras, will still be used as low-priced microscopy cameras due primarily to the exceptional macro capabilities. 28mm threaded eyepiece adapters for popular commercial microscopes are widely available.
Modern digital camera models filter out most of the infrared spectrum their sensors detect. The older generation of cameras, however, such as Nikon Coolpix 950, would not filter so much IR light and are still useful today as inexpensive means to achieving this form of photography.