New Nikon cameras put the cool in CoolPix

Alex Zaharov-Reutt
Wednesday, 21 February 2007 05:52

Opinion and Analysis

10 years after the start of Nikon’s CoolPix line comes 8 new models – from entry level models though to higher end units, some super slim, and one with wireless. Cool!

Only weeks before the March PMA photographic show in Las Vegas, camera manufacturers are showcasing their latest models, with Nikon the latest to preview their wares.

Nikon, along with Canon, Ricoh, Sony, Panasonic and others are all fighting it out for supremacy in the digital camera space, especially as consumers upgrade older models to shiny new ones brimming with the latest features.

The first of Nikon’s new line is the L series – designed for the ‘casual snap-shooter’ or the family happy snapper. There are three models – the L10, L11 and L12 – at 5, 6 and 7.1 megapixels respectively, each with a 3x optical zoom, long battery life and higher light sensitivity. The L12 also offers ‘Optical VR Image Stabilisation’, putting a higher-end feature into the entry level range, with prices at US $119.95, $149.95 and $199.95 and an instore, on sale date of March.

Next up is the S series with two models – the S50 and the S50c. Both offer 7.2 megapixels, a 3x optical zoom and a 3-inch LCD screen on the back – and ultra slim bodies that make you marvel at the amazing feats of engineering. Both have Optical VR Image Stabilization, while the S50c offers a wireless feature, something seen in a few models from Kodak, Canon and Nikon in the past.

It’s an excellent feature that allows you to send photos from your camera to your computer without cables, and if in the vicinity of a hotspot that you can access, you can upload photos to a secure Nikon server (up to 2Gb worth of photos) and even directly email photos from the camera to friends using the ‘CoolPix Connect 2’ service.

Sending photos wirelessly to the 2Gb of storage space allocated to each user allows photographers to clear their SD card of photos while on the go (in range of a wireless hotspot) and keep on taking photos – although given the increasingly cheap prices of SD memory cards having a spare one (along with a spare battery if you’re really planning on all day photos while on holidays or at an event) is also a good idea.

While this feature hasn’t been massively popular, with most cameras omitting a wireless feature for now, it’s certainly one that will eventually be a standard feature across almost all cameras. It’s also something that bridges the gap between cameraphones, which naturally have wireless capabilities built-in (whether through the phone network, Bluetooth or Wi-Fi), and cameras themselves, which can, if in the right wireless environment, now send photos wirelessly, too.

The S50 and S50c will arrive in April 2007, and retail for US $299.95 and $349.95 respectively.

After that come the ‘Series Style’ – the S200 and S500. Both offer new camera body designs, with the S200 being another ultra slim camera, with the S500 a bit thicker, but offering super fast start-up times and operation – just 0.6 seconds start up, and a shutter lag, in response priority mode (once the camera has focused) of just 0.005 seconds. Both offer 7.1 megapixels, 3x optical zoon and VR Image Stabilization technologies. , and sleek all-metal bodies, these cameras exude high performance and exquisite design.

The S200 offers Electronic Vibration Reduction (e-VR) Image Stabilization, a feature that overcomes camera shake for sharper results, but for greater vibration control, the S500 features Optical VR Image Stabilization, a feature that compensates for camera shake ensuring sharp images. The S500 also has a new Anti-Shake button, located on the top of the camera, which activates high ISO, VR Image Stabilization and Best Shot Selector (BSS) at the same time to produce clearer results in low light or at telephoto zoom settings.

The S200 retails for US $249.95, while the S500 is $299.95 and will be available in March.

Last in the new lineup is Nikon’s highest specification CoolPix model, the P5000. Boasting 10 megapixels, it has a 3.5x optical zoom, an optical viewfinder (often omitted on the latest digital cameras but still appreciated by more professional photographers) and a 2.5-inch LCD with a special anti-reflection coating for easier use in direct sunlight. But it’s not just the hardware features that are meant to impress, but a new image processing chip that Nikon says will optimize low light performance and color reproduction.

The P5000 has a range of automatic and manual settings, giving prosumer photographers greater control, and is also compatible with add-on system components to extend creative possibilities, including a Wide-angle lens Converter (WC-E67) and a Telephoto lens Converter (TC-E3ED). A built-in accessory shoe supports the use of Nikon's advanced i-TTL flash control for external flashes, including the SB-400, SB-600, and SB-800 Speedlights.

The COOLPIX P5000 retail for US $399.95 and is due in March.

So, Nikon have unveiled their lineup to entice consumers into buying their brand in 2007, but with the Photographic show in Las Vegas only a couple of weeks away, we’ll no doubt be seeing a flurry of announcements from companies all eager to strengthen their position in the digital camera market.

So, digital photographers – rejoice! Amazing digital cameras with advanced features are cheaper than ever, making 2007 a good year to either buy a digital camera for the first time, or upgrade your older model to a new one with all the latest features.