New Compact Cameras from Nikon Run the Gamut

Nikon introduced six CoolPix cameras. While they’re all compact cameras, these point and shoots are nonetheless distinct from each other. For example, the company says that the 10.1-megapixel Nikon CoolPix P7100 delivers image quality so high that pros who don’t feel like toting their digital SLRs will be happy with their P7100 photos.
The P7100 can shoot HD movies as well as stills. Unusual angles are no problem thanks to the 3.0-inch tilting vari-angle LCD screen. You can work in manual mode, automatic, or somewhere in between. The P7100 will be for sale in mid-September 2011 for about $500.

Nikon’s new CoolPix AW100 is a rugged camera that you can drop, freeze, and take diving without fear of ruining your $380 investment. Its 16.0-megapixel sensor captures stills and HD movies. As befits a camera engineered for the outdoors, it includes a GPS function, digital compass, and internal map display. The AW100 includes Action Control, which lets you assign a function to a swinging motion. For example, if you’re snowboarding you might want the swinging motion to activate an exposure control change so the camera can handle light differences as you go in and out of the trees. The AW100 will be for sale in early September.

Four cameras round out the newly introduced models: The $330 CoolPix S8200 and $230 CoolPix S6200 are ultra-compact superzooms. The $430 CoolPix S1200pj is noteworthy for its built-in projector, which is compatible with the iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. The CoolPix S100 is a $300 fashion-conscious point and shoot. All will be available this fall.