I purchased the 990 Coolpix several years ago, to provide me better resolution photographing emerald jewelry . Senario: I compose my photograph using a light table with controlled fixed lighting. It takes about 10 minutes to angle the lights where the facets on the emeralds are highlighted perfectly. After taking the shot with the 990, I find the camera always compensates for what it sees as a better shot leaving me with an over expose or under exposed photograph. I have never been able to use my camera for what it was intended, taking close up photos of emeralds. I have tried correcting the white balance, using best shot, bracketing, time exposure, macro setting, virtually every setting to see what might work. Summary: The light settings I provide are always re-corrected by the 990 leaving me with over or under exposure but never what originally compose. What can I do?

Additionally...I think the 990 is fantastic as a point and shoot camera. The fine resolution allows me to enlarge my photos on the computer which makes for fabulous picture on the internet. I am the Captain of the Amazon Queen a woodend ship, registered in Colombia South America decicated to exploration and photography of the Amazon River.

[ www.spiderwebnet.net ]Click on Amazon Queen to see the recient pictures using the 990 Coolpix on a 2,300 mile voyage of the Amazon.

Phil

-- Phillip R. Gonzales (philincolombia@cable.net.co), January 13, 2003

Answers

Try using a grey card, obtainable from all good photographic shops. The camera's light meter is no doubt being fooled by the speculars on the jewellery. I am surprised that bracketing doesn't work, maybe you have not been giving it enough range.

-- Gareth Watkins (Gareth.Watkins@bbc.co.uk), June 30, 2003.