It's raining Nikons!

By John Mello on August 7, 2008 6:30 PM

Nikon rolled out six new Coolpix cameras today, led by the P6000 ($499.95), which contains features found in DSLRs and supports a RAW format that can be edited in Windows Vista.

The new compact digital camera crams 13.5 megapixels on a 1/1.7-inch CCD sensor and has a 4x wide-angle zoom (28-112mm equivalent) with an aperture range of F/2.7-5.9.

Image processing in the DSC is performed by Nikon's state-of-the-art EXPEED technology.

Not only does the snapper have a 2.7-inch LCD with a resolution of 230,000 dots, but it also has an optical viewfinder--a premium item for cameras in this category.

To thwart the ruinous effects of camera shake on photos, the unit has optical image stabilization and will automatically adjust light sensitivity up to ISO 6400.

Like DSLR cameras, the bytecam has a mode dial that supports Program, Aperture, Shutter and Manual exposure modes.

Along with support for JPG files and TV quality 640 x 480 video, the unit supports a new RAW mode (NRW) compatible with Windows Vista.

While WiFi connectivity is all the rage in this category space, Nikon has taken a different tack with the P6000. It allows you to connect the camera to an Ethernet connection and upload your photos to the company's online photo sharing site called Picturetown, where Nikon users get 2GB of free storage space.

Another nice feature of the camera is its GPS capability. It will automatically geo-tag your photos.

The camera also supports a number of features that have become standard fare for this type of shooter--in-camera red-eye fix, face priority autofocusing and dynamic range fixing.

Also added to the Coolpix line today were the S610c and the S610.

The S610c ($329.95) is a 10MP point-and-shoot camera with 1/2.33-inch CCD sensor and 4x optical zoom (28-112mm equivalent) with an aperture range of F/2.7-5.8. It has a three-inch display with a resolution of 230,000 dots. It supports light sensitivity settings up to ISO 3200. With its auto scene selector mode, it will automatically recognize any scene in a picture and adjust the camera settings to accommodate it. It also has an Active Child Mode which will track a moving subject and keep it in focus. Other camera features include smile recognition, blink flagging, red-eye and dynamic range fixing, face priority autofocusing and WiFi communication.

The S610 ($279.95) is similar to the S610c, but it does not support WiFi.

A new touchscreen Coolpix model, the S60 ($349.95), was also part of Nikon's intro extravaganza today.

The S60 ($349.95) is a 10MP point-and-shoot snapper with a 1/2.3-inch CCD sensor and 5x optical zoom (33-165mm equivalent) with an aperture range of F/3.8-4.8. It supports light sensitivity settings up to ISO 3200.

It has a 3.5-inch touchscreen display with a resolution of 230,000 dots and viewing angles up to 160°. The touchscreen enables Nikon to eliminate many of the controls commonly found on cameras. With the exception of the power switch and shutter release, all controls are located on the touchscreen. You can even set the focus and exposure of a subject by touching it on the screen.

The camera also features optical image stabilization, automatic application of scene settings, red-eye and dynamic range fixing, face priority autofocusing and 640 x 480 video.

Nikon also unveiled a point-and-shoot megapixel monstrosity, the 14.5MP Coolpix S710 ($379.95). The new DSC 1/1.72-inch CCD sensor and a 3.6x optical zoom (28-101mm equivalent) with an aperture range of F/2.8-5.6. It has 42MB of internal memory and a three-inch LCD with a resolution of 230,000 dots. Highest ISO sensitivity is 3200. Other features include a mode dial for shooting in Program, Aperture, Shutter and Manual exposure modes; smile, blink and face recognition technology; 16 scene modes; and 640 x 480 video.

Last but not least, Nikon introduced the S560 ($249.95), a 10MP DSC with a 5x optical zoom (34.8-174mm) with an aperture range of F/3.5-5.6 and a 1/2.33-inch CCD sensor. It has a 2.7-inch display with a resolution of 230,000 dots and a maximum light sensitivity setting of ISO 3200. It supports 15 scene modes and supports the technologies found in the other cameras introduced today--such as optical image stabilization; automatic scene selection; smile, blink and face recognition; in-camera red-eye fix and dynamic range adjustment.