Three Nikon Coolpix cameras

Posted on September 10, 2010

The Coolpix P7000, S80 and S8100 join the Nikon digital camera line.

With the introduction of the 10.1-megapixel Coolpix P7000, it would appear Nikon has quashed rumours it would launch a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera – as other companies have done, to great success. The P7000  features a 1/1.7-inch CCD sensor coupled to a fixed 7.1x wide angle optical Zoom-Nikkor ED glass lens. The P7000 adopts Nikon’s new Expeed C2 high performance digital image processing engine.

ISO sensitivity ranges from ISO 100 to 6400, (expandable to ISO 12,800 in low noise Night Mode). The P7000 also offers a variety of functions that enable superior rendering when shooting at high sensitivities, says the company, including a Low Noise Night Mode and a Noise Reduction Filter. The camera also features Nikon’s 5-Way VR Image Stabilization System, which utilizes a variety of tactics including optical lens shift to minimize the effect of camera shake and help prevent blur while shooting handheld or in low-light conditions.

The Zoom Memory function allows the camera’s 28-200mm (35mm equivalent) lens to be used in a way that simulates use of a prime lens, ideal for shooting at a preferred angle of view. The P7000 also adds controls and buttons for key features such as ISO, white balance, bracketing and exposure compensation. The new independent Quick Menu dial ensures instant settings with the comfort of analog operation. Advanced users will also enjoy the benefits of shooting NRW (RAW) files (both PC- and MAC compatible).

The camera delivers macro abilities as close as 2cm.

The P7000 records HD video at 720p at 24 frames-per-second (fps) with Optical Zoom and Autofocus control. A Coolpix first, users can now record audio with an external stereo microphone (sold separately) via the microphone input. An accessory microphone or Nikon Speedlight can be mounted on the P7000’s hot shoe.

The P7000 is scheduled to hit dealers late this month, with a suggested price of $499.95.

On to camera number two, the Coolpix S80, which is equipped with a bright 3.5-inch ultra high-resolution organic LED (OLED) touch screen with enhanced interface for an easier, more enjoyable user experience. Measuring approximately 98.8 x 62.6 x 16.5mm, the super thin Coolpix S80 can easily be slipped in any pocket or bag.

With its user-friendly interface, the Coolpix S80 gives the photographer easy touch control over the camera’s key functions for smooth operation, including touch shutter shooting, zoom and playback. To help users better compose their photos, the S80 employs tab-type graphics to maximize screen space without cluttering it with icons. When the camera is rotated for vertical shooting, display tabs and controls automatically adjust to the new alignment.

The touch screen display delivers clear, rich image reproductions, bright vivid colours and excellent contrast. With a wide viewing angle (approximately 180 degrees), brightness control and an anti-reflection coating, the S80’s touch screen display makes it easy to compose, view and share photos and HD (720p) movies.

The S80 lets you add a personal touch to photos with the Paint function, giving the ability to write or draw on images during playback. The Retouch Menu lets you easily adjust images in-camera by choosing from a wide range of functions, including Colour Options, Soft Focus, Selective Colour, Cross Screen, Miniature Effect and Fish-eye Effect (which emphasizes the centre of an image as if shooting with a fish-eye lens). In playback mode, you can even add moving stamps for an animated effect. In addition, the S80 features a new rating function that allows you to rate your photos with up to five stars and sort images according to their rating.

The S80 is equipped with a built-in slide show function, allowing you to play back photos to pre-set music for an enjoyable sharing experience. The Coolpix S80 also features HD (720p) Movie with optical zoom and stereo sound available during recording. An HDMI output enables easy playback on an HDTV.

The Coolpix S80 features a 14.1-megapixel CCD sensor and 5x wide-angle optical Zoom-Nikkor ED glass lens (35-175mm equivalent).

The S80 helps reduce camera shake with a 5-Way Vibration Reduction (VR) Image Stabilization System that includes Optical and Hybrid VR, Motion Detection, ISO settings up to 6400 and Best Shot Selector, which automatically takes up to 10 shots while the shutter release button is pressed, and then selects and saves the sharpest image. The S80 employs Nikon’s Expeed C2 image processing engine.

To further help users take better photos, the Coolpix S80 includes 17 Scene Modes and the Easy Auto Mode, which automatically recognizes the shooting situation and adjusts camera settings accordingly. For outstanding portraits, the S80 features Nikon’s Smart Portrait System, which incorporates a series of automatic functions including In-Camera Red-Eye Fix, improved Face-Priority AF, Smile Timer, Blink Warning, Blink Proof and Skin Softening to flatter even the most camera-shy subject.

The S80 is scheduled to go on sale in mid-October at a suggested price of $349.95.

The third new Nikon camera, the Coolpix S8100, offers a 12.1-megapixel backside illumination CMOS sensor to provide you with enhanced performance for high-speed shooting and low-light conditions. The S8100 also incorporates Nikon’s Expeed C2 image processing engine, which is customized to each Coolpix model to further drive enhanced performance, image quality and HD video.

The S8100 features both high-speed shooting, and a pre-shooting cache that records up to two shots before the shutter-release is fully pressed. For extremely fast action shots, the S8100’s Sports Continuous mode records up to approximately 120 fps. With Subject Tracking, the S8100 automatically tracks a designated subject by activating autofocus (AF).

The camera is equipped with a 10x optical Zoom-Nikkor ED Glass lens (30-300mm equivalent).

The S8100 delivers Full HD (1080p), and features one-touch recording, optical zoom and stereo sound recording while filming. Additionally, there’s a new editing function and you can snap still images while recording.

The 12.1-megapixel backside illumination CMOS sensor enables exceptional image quality even when shooting in low-light settings, says Nikon. This CMOS sensor lends itself to enhanced shooting functions in dark situations, including the advanced Night Portrait mode, which reproduces night scenes and indoor portraits as users see them while reducing image blur. The Night Portrait mode combines consecutive shots of the background while the subject is taken using the flash, allowing breathtaking night scenes to be easily captured during handheld shooting and eliminating any subject movement. To further help deliver crisp, sharp photos, the S8100 features a 4-Way Vibration Reduction (VR) Image Stabilization System with ISO settings up to 3200.

Other functions aided by the new image sensor include an advanced Backlight shooting function with an in-camera high dynamic range (HDR) function, which merges images of the same scene to achieve a single image with a broad range of tonal detail.

Additionally, the S8100’s advanced Night Landscape mode combines a series of five consecutive shots taken at a fast shutter speed into a single image with reduced noise when capturing handheld shots.

The S8100 offers enhanced shooting and editing functions, including a new Mode Dial conveniently placed next to the shutter-release button for quick and easy access to shooting modes. The Coolpix S8100 also features a Creative Slider, which simplifies adjusting brightness, saturation and colour tone in-camera. Other in-camera editing functions include Quick Retouch and D-Lighting.

The camera boasts a 3-inch ultra high resolution Clear Colour Display with a wide viewing angle and anti-glare coating. Additional features include 17 Scene Modes, one being the Scene Auto Selector, which automatically recognizes the shooting situation and adjusts camera settings accordingly. The S8100 features Nikon’s Smart Portrait System, which incorporates a series of automatic functions including In-Camera Red-Eye Fix, improved Face-Priority AF, Blink Warning, Smile Timer and Skin Softening.

The S8100 is scheduled to be available early next month at a suggested price of $319.95.