nikon

All the money is in megazooms these days. While there are still plenty of people buying 3x-5x zoom pocket cameras, the more-popular models are the ones with 10x zooms or longer. And, of course, smaller is better.

In line with that, Nikon increased the zoom ranges on two of its S-series models--the 10x S8100 and 7x S6100--to get the 14x Coolpix S8200 and 10x S6200 for 2011. The S8200 seems to be just a shrunken-down version of the 18x Coolpix S9100, with most if not all of the same shooting features, including full HD movie capture. However, it uses a … Read more

The Coolpix S1200pj is the third generation of Nikon's compact camera with a built-in pico projector. The first version let you show just content from the camera. The second let you view stuff with the projector when connected to computer. This time around, you can get a cable for connecting to to an iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, iPod Nano, and iPod photo and project photos, movies, and Web content from the device.

Though it looks a bit different, the camera itself seems pretty much the same as the S1100pj: 14-megapixel CCD sensor, 5x f3.9-5.8 28-140mm zoom lens, … Read more

Nikon finally joins Pentax, Olympus, Panasonic, Sony, Fujifilm, and, well, all the other camera manufacturers by adding a rugged point-and-shoot to its lineup. The Coolpix AW100 is waterproof down to 33 feet, shockproof to 5 feet, and freezeproof to 14 degrees Fahrenheit.

Up front is a 5x f3.9-4.8 28-140 with sensor-shift image stabilization, on back is a 460K-dot resolution 3-inch screen, and inside is a 16-megapixel backside-illuminated CMOS sensor.

Features include Action Control (which seems stolen straight from Olympus) that lets you change settings by tapping the sides of the camera or shaking it; full HD movie capture … Read more

With the Web abuzz with hopes that Nikon would announce its rumored mirrorless interchangeable-lens model today, the actual announcement of the Coolpix P7100--a camera ostensibly targeted at the same shooter--must have come as a big letdown.

And based on the specs, I suspect it would have been a letdown regardless. It has the same sensor and lens as its predecessor. Nikon does claim to have improved overall performance--the P7000's raw shooting was quite slow--so that would be welcome. Plus it finally has an articulated LCD. And as usual there are tweaks to the shooting features, including a couple more … Read more

The Nikon Coolpix L24 is nearly identical to the model it replaces, the Coolpix L22. The only difference is a resolution bump from 12 megapixels to 14 megapixels. The rest of the camera remains the same: easy to use with a 3-inch LCD and AA batteries for power. Pop in its batteries and the camera has a nice weight to it making it feel like a sturdy, well-built camera. And, like most in its class, the L24 is very much a fully automatic point-and-shoot with little to adjust except for maybe picking an appropriate scene mode.

However, like the L22, … Read more

To me, one of the defining characteristics of a mirrorless ILC--like the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 or Olympus PEN E-P3, just to name two recent ones--aside from the interchangeable lens, is that it produces better photos than a point and shoot. As far as I can tell, people see the lens flexibility as a bonus, but for the extra couple hundred dollars they want better photos.

Which is why I'm confused by the trend toward even smaller sensor sizes in this space as evidenced by Pentax's Q with its 5.5x multiplier and the rumored forthcoming 2.7x-multiplier size from Nikon. (As an aside, I find the easiest way to internalize differences in sensor sizes is by the multipliers and assume that pixels shrink correspondingly. For a comprehensive visualization, check out this Sensor Size Cheat Sheet.)

Some people complain that even the Four Thirds sensor (2x), which uses the Micro Four Thirds mount in Panasonic and Olympus' ILCs, is too small. … Read more

Anyone looking for a megazoom for simple point-and-shoot photos at a lower cost should look at the Nikon Coolpix L120. It's a refresh of the generally good L110 (generally good for its class, at least). In fact, the L120 is basically the same as the L110, but with a wider and longer lens (21x up from 15x) and a higher-resolution 3-inch LCD (920K dots compared with 460K dots). Its photo resolution jumps to 14 megapixels from 12, too, but that's not necessarily a good thing.

Shooting performance, particularly shutter lag, is better this time around and the LCD … Read more

Nikon-toting shutterbugs with a sweet tooth can now rejoice. Believe it or not, the company has been selling its own branded line of desserts to employees since 1955. Originally sold in factory plants, these confections can now be purchased by the general public from the Japanese Nikon Direct Web site. Each box comes with the company's own wrapping paper and boxes.

Available in flavors such as sesame seed, red bean paste, and chestnut, the Nikon-branded snacks sell for $21 to $24.

(Source: Crave Asia) … Read more

Adding to its lineup of basic lenses for DX shooters, Nikon unveiled a $279.95 40mm f2.8 macro (which Nikon refers to as "Micro") lens, the AF-S DX Micro-NIKKOR 40mm f/2.8G.

Taking into account the APS-C magnification factor, the lens has the same effective angle of view as a 60mm lens on a full-frame camera. Other key specs include the ability to focus as close as 6.4 inches and a 7-blade iris. It uses Nikon's version of a quiet focusing motor so it should be good for shooting video as well.

It lines up next to the cheaper 35mm f1.8 (about 52.5mm equivalent) in Nikon's lens lineup, which is cheaper, but which can't focus as closely. It sounds like a nice addition, especially for small product photography, such as jewelry.

The AF-S DX Micro-NIKKOR 40mm f/2.8G is slated to ship in August.… Read more