Nikon Coolpix 775 Review

Overall Rating

Bought the Coolpix 775 in 2001. So far, I have taken about 8,000 photos without problem.

Latency between activation [pushing the button] and actual picture.
Proprietary battery.
Poor documentation about camera repair.

Repair: a week ago, I dropped the Nikon Coolpix 775 digital camera from 4 feet on a semi-hard floor. Lens was jammed shut, and the display showed 'system error'. Opened the case [easy: 2 silver screws on LHS and RHS, 4 at bottom - note that 2 of the 3screws for the tripod are different- then the case pops open], remove the lens assembly [4 black screws] and notice that the plate at the base of the assembly had popped out of its 2 groves. The motor assembly can be disconnected and tested. Put the base-plate identation back in the groves, and so far it works except for the zoom: I will work on it. Note: opening a camera is not for the faint at heart, use magnifying glasses and watch screwdrivers. Hope this helps

Members' Comments onVince8's Review

• Eege on 26th Jul 2004

  Thanks Vince...
  Last week (whilst on holiday of course) my 775 came up with the good old jammed zoom / lense cover trick with the "system error" message.
  
  Having read various user comments it seems pretty pointless returning it to Nikon (repair cost exceeds value of new camera) so I followed your instructions and hey presto it works again! Didn't really see what I did - perhaps there was grit in the zoom or something - anyway it's now taking fine pics again, even if the motor sounds a little lumpy. As you say, this is pobably best tried by those who spent their childhood taking old cassette players and watches to pieces!

• JTHouston9601 on 6th Aug 2004

  My camera showed "system error" and the lens would not open. I put a little silicone on the gear threads and now the camera works. The screws are very small, a lightly magnitized small Phillips head screwdriver let me put the internal and external screws back in with no problem. Total time for repair was about one hour.

• kbb964 on 9th Sep 2004

  I have had a Nikon 775 with the System error for over 12 months now. We packed it away and bought a new camera. A very large Fuji finepix and it is great. But can't slip it in your pocket like the coolpix. I didn't want to take a big camera on vacation next week. A neighbour had the same problem as me but he said after some 'fiddling' it worked for him and said I should try the same. I came across this review half an hour ago. I took the camera apart, I couldn't find the lens assembly to unfasten! I didn't dare prod any further. I just checked all the wires were secure, brushed it with a clean make up brush put it back together and YES!!! It works!!!! Thank you Thank you xxxxxx It's working for now and that will do for me. Mexico and the beach here I come packing a hefty Ziplock baggy for the coolpix lol.

• NIKON SUCKS on 16th Nov 2004

  My Nikon 775 also froze up. I'm going to try to fix it. Thanks for the post.

• imfung on 1st Oct 2005

  Help! I opened the 775 with no problem, but I could only find 2 black screws instead of 4. Where are they located? I could not find a diagram of the inside of the camera on the internet.

• julezbug on 25th Apr 2006

  I just stumbled on this forum because after 5 years of faithful service from my coolpix 775, i finally received the dreaded "system error". Before i got to these postings i was pretty much resigned to sending it to nikon to see how much it would be to repair. Since reading that the cost is quite hefty, i decided it was worth giving a shot at opening the thing up. Removing the initial screws was painless. I used a glasses screwdriver. Pulling it apart after that was a little scary though and i never found all 4 black screws, only 2 as one of the other commenters suggested. After getting it apart as far as i could to see if i could get at the lens in any way or assess what might be the gear/motor mechanism for the lens, i decided i was potentially doing more harm than good. I put it all back together and before inserting the screws, I turned it on just to see what would happen and it is now working again! So, hopefully, that may help someone else in a similar situation...and thanks to the comments of others i've saved a wod of dough...thanks to all of you for your helpful comments...much appreciated! cheers...