Nikon's 2004 budget 2MP compact — 1/3.2" CCD, 36-108mm equiv 3x zoom, SD plus internal memory, AA power.
The Nikon Coolpix 2200 was the 2-megapixel half of the entry-level pairing Nikon announced at CES in January 2004, sold alongside the 3-megapixel Coolpix 3200 in a body derived from the Coolpix 3100. It was the last of Nikon's 2-megapixel compacts, aimed at buyers who wanted the cheapest possible route into digital photography.
Behind the 3x Zoom-Nikkor (4.7-14.1mm, equivalent to 36-108mm, f/2.6-4.7) sits a 1/3.2-inch CCD with 2.0 effective megapixels. Fifteen scene modes cover common situations, video records at 640x480 in short clips, and a 1.6-inch LCD handles framing. There is 14.5MB of internal memory plus an SD card slot, and power comes from two AA-format cells, with EN-MH1 NiMH rechargeables and a charger supplied new.
Today the 2200 is more a curio than a practical camera: two megapixels suits web-sized images and the small sensor struggles in low light. It appeals to early-digicam collectors and to buyers who simply want a working CCD compact for pocket money, helped by dependable AA power and SD storage rather than an obsolete card format.
Examples surface constantly in job lots and house-clearance listings, usually without cards or chargers. The internal memory means a body can be tested without any card fitted — a useful check when buying. Look for lens-error messages on startup, corroded battery contacts, and worn mode dials; because it takes plain AA cells and SD cards, getting a working example running costs almost nothing.