Nikon has announced the new Coolpix P300, Nikon's first compact digital camera to feature a super-fast, wide-angle, 4.2x Zoom-Nikkor glass lens (24-100mm, 35mm equivalent) with a maximum aperture of f/1.8 and full HD (1080p) video. The P300 also has a 12.2-megapixel backside illumination CMOS sensor and Expeed C2 image processing.
Features include manual controls, Optical Vibration Reduction (VR) technology, and ISO sensitivity up to 3200 for faster shutter speeds and minimal motion blur in low-light conditions, even when handheld. Users can apply special effects to colors, and filter effects such as a cross screen or fisheye lens. The P300 also includes Nikon's new Easy Panorama mode for vertical or horizontal panoramic shots in-camera.
Other features include Advanced Night Portrait mode, Night Landscape mode, Backlight High Dynamic Range (HDR) mode and a high-resolution 921,000-dot, three-inch LCD screen. The P300's full HD function creates movies at 30 frames-per-second with one-touch operation, autofocus, stereo sound and optical zoom. Additionally, the Special Effects and Creative Slider modes allow more creative freedom when recording both stills and movies, including slow motion or high-speed effects.
Nikon also launched several other Coolpix Superzoom low-light models, including the P500, the S9100 and the L120. Like the P300, the P500 and S9100 capture crisp images in low-light conditions with their backside illumination CMOS sensor and VR technology.
The P500 also features Nikon's first 36x wide-angle optical Zoom-Nikkor ED glass lens (22.5-810mm, 35mm equivalent) with a side zoom control. The S9100 is a full-featured camera with a high-power 18x wide-angle optical Zoom-Nikkor ED glass lens (25-450mm, 35mm equivalent) in a compact design for greater portability. Both cameras also include full HD movie recording with stereo sound and the ability to capture still images during recording. Both also utilize the expansive zoom range while recording with autofocus and offer slow motion or high-speed effects.
The Coolpix L120 features a 21x wide-angle Zoom-Nikkor glass lens with side zoom control, 14.1-megapixel resolution, hybrid VR image stabilization, ISO of up to 6400 (reduced resolution), HD video (720p), a Pet Portrait mode and an Easy Auto mode.
The Coolpix P300 has a suggested retail price of $329; the P500 is $399; the S9100 is $329; and the L120 is $279.