From NikonUSA.com, "Nikon products that are imported and initially sold by anyone other than Nikon Inc. USA are considered Gray Market products."

When I sidelighted in the 1950s with a St. Louis wedding photographer, he used a 4x5 Speed Graphic, mounted on a square aluminum frame with a 35mm Leica on top. People often asked if we could get good pictures with that little camera.

The Coolpix will be satisfactory. No dad gives a used camera to his daughter for Christmas. A Coolpix will fit nicely in her purse or pocket. Easy to use. Easy transfer of photos. She can always upgrade later, if the bug bites her.

At a boat show in Denver I approached a female model posed as a mannequin. I said aloud, "Look at this mannequin. She looks almost real! I wonder what her skin feels like." I moved a hand toward her. (I think she knew I wouldn't actually touch her.) Then I looked away, and she reversed the position of her arms. When I turned back, I asked, "Wasn't the other arm up in the air?" Those watching were in stitches. She was really good - didn't blink and you couldn't see her breathe.

The shutter stuck open on my Nikon FE (purchased in 1981) in Santa Fe in 1991. I took it into an independent repair shop, where the guy quickly found that all it needed was a new battery. Battery? It has a battery??? He could have taken me for a $100 repair, but he was honest. Camera still works great, although I hardly ever use it.

My interest in photography started when I was about 7-8 years old. I lived in University City, Mo., just west of St. Louis. At the time I'd ride the bus downtown and walk over to the rail yards with my Baby Brownie Special. It was no big deal to walk between rows of boxcars and take pictures of cars, cabooses, engines, switches. I had a darkroom and developed and printed those rolls of Kodak 120 B&W film.
In high school I worked as a sidelight assistant for a wedding photographer. Also worked in his darkroom. We used a SpeedGraphic 4x5 on an aluminum frame with a Leica 35mm mounted on top. My suits had baggy pockets from toting around spare 4x5 filmholders.
Then the darkroom chemicals did a number on my hands (contact dermatitis) and I had to give up the darkroom work. Wearing gloves only made things worse.
In the spring of 1981 I bought a Nikon FE and hauled it through the Grand Canyon on a private raft trip. There were 15 of us in three little rafts for 23 days. Sure wish I'd taken many more rolls of 35mm color film! The waterproof GI ammo can kept it safe and dry.
Finally I went digital, but with a little point-and-shoot that I could keep handy on the front seat of the car.
I'm here to re-kindle my interest in photography and to pick out a "good" camera. I guess the choice will come down to a good point-and-shoot, maybe in the $500 range, or a DSLR. Sure would like to learn about managing photo albums online, too.