Ever feel the need for a 24-1000mm zoom? Well Nikon did and they've incorporated it into their new Coolpix P510 16.1MP digicam. It's not actually a 24-1000mm lens of course, but it gives the same field of view as one would on a full frame 35mm camera. It's actually a 4.3-180mm f3.3-5.9 lens, which is still pretty amazing.
The Nikon Coolpix P510 isn't a tiny camera. It measures 120 x 83 x 102 mm (4.72 x 3.27 x 4.02") and weighs 555 g (1.22 lb) with battery, but that's probably smaller and lighter than just the lens hood of a real 1000mm lens would be!
Image quality at 1000mm? Who knows. Even with the built in image stabilization, camera shake without a tripod may well be an issue unless you're shooting in bright sunlight and sharp images from a real 1000mm lens costing over $10000 aren't easy to get. However having a 1000mm capability could certainly be useful and long as you're not expecting razor sharp images you can blow up to poster size.. The Nikon Coolpix P510 is a small sensor camera (16.1MP but with a 1/2.3" sensor chip, which is something like 6.2 x 4.55 mm), so you can expect the usual problems with noise at higher ISO settings (ISO up to 3200 is available). The Nikon Coolpix P510 is certainly a camera I'd love to get a chance to fully review.
The Black Nikon Coolpix P510 and the Red Nikon Coolpix P510 can be ordered from Adorama at $429.95 (with free shipping).
The Nikon Coolpix P310 has a much more modest zoom range, just 4.3-17.9mm (equivalent to 24-100mm lens in 35mm full frame format). However it is f1.8 at the widest setting, though slows down to f4.9 at the telephoto end. It's an upgrade of the Nikon Coolpic P300 and has a new 16.1MP backlit CMOS sensor. The f1.8 lens is nice, but it's a pity that it slows down so much as it's zoomed out. 24/f1.8 is a lot more exciting than 100/f4.9. Still, it's a nice looking camera with a lot of features. I wonder what the "Fn" (function) button on the front of the camera will be capable of doing.
The Nikon Coolpix P310 can be ordered from Adorama for $329.95 (with free shipping)
Here are more details from the Nikon Press Release:
“With the new COOLPIX P-series cameras, Nikon is raising the bar for performance and image quality to better accommodate the needs of advanced photographers looking for a compact companion,” said Bo Kajiwara, director of marketing, Nikon Inc. “Both the COOLPIX P510 and P310 combine Nikon’s legendary NIKKOR lenses and advanced features to challenge photographers creatively in environments that call for portability and easy access.”
COOLPIX Technology
At the core of these powerful new COOLPIX cameras are Nikon’s world-class NIKKOR lenses, delivering accurate detail, brilliant color and amazing clarity. Further enhancing color and sharpness, Nikon’s EXPEED C2™ high performance digital image processing engine is implemented and custom-optimized for each COOLPIX model to ensure high-quality pictures and movies.The New COOLPIX P510: Setting a Higher Zoom Standard
Shattering the conventional zoom barrier, the new COOLPIX P510 features a staggering 42x Wide-Angle NIKKOR glass zoom lens. The astounding zoom range of 24mm to 1,000mm with advanced optical Vibration Reduction (VR) image stabilization ensures that the photographer captures their intended subject with exceptional image quality. With this kind of extreme focal length, the need for superior image stabilization becomes essential for photos and HD video. Photographers are given increased stability with the additional zoom control located on the side of the lens barrel.To further enhance image quality and help combat challenging low-light conditions, the COOLPIX P510 includes an advanced 16.1-megapixel BSI CMOS sensor. Utilizing the high-speed continuous shooting performance (capture five images at full resolution in approximately one second) of the CMOS sensor and fast autofocus (AF), the COOLPIX P510 makes it possible to capture even the most spontaneous moments.
This full-featured compact camera also comes complete with built-in GPS capabilities, allowing photographers to track their adventures and geotag photos. The COOLPIX P510 also includes Full HD (1080p) movie recording with stereo sound and the ability to utilize the expansive zoom range during recording with AF for dynamic videos. A 3-inch high resolution (921,000-dot) vari-angle monitor makes it easy to compose images and movies from difficult angles. Additionally, The COOLPIX P510 features a variety of advanced functions for the sophisticated user seeking smooth handling with intuitively placed controls such as the mode dial that enables easy setting of frequently used functions on the fly.
The New COOLPIX P310: Low Light, No Problem
The new COOLPIX P310 achieves superior image quality in low-light settings thanks to the powerful combination of a 16.1-megapixel BSI CMOS sensor, wide ISO range up to 3200 (Hi1 6400 equivalent) and a fast, wide-angle maximum aperture f/1.8 lens. The COOLPIX P310 further fights blur by incorporating advanced optical VR image stabilization and makes shooting in low-light a breeze with several scene modes including Advanced Night Portrait mode, Night Landscape mode and Backlight/High Dynamic Range (HDR) mode. The Advanced Night Portrait mode combines consecutive images of the background while the subject is captured using the flash, while the Night Landscape mode combines a series of consecutive shots taken at a fast shutter speed into a single image with reduced noise. The Backlight HDR mode merges images of the same scene at different exposures to achieve a single image with a broad range of tonal detail.Designed to be the serious photographer’s compact companion, the COOLPIX P310 comes equipped with several features found in D-SLR cameras including manual exposure control (P/S/A/M) and a new Zoom Memory function that enables the selection of popular prime focal lengths during shooting. Through an easily accessible top-mounted control wheel, users are able to adjust shutter speed, aperture and other settings in order to achieve their preferred look. For more creativity, the COOLPIX P310 also includes special effects and filter effects that can be added to photos in-camera for a quick artistic touch. To facilitate easy composing, viewing and playback, the COOLPIX P310 features a 3-inch high resolution (921,000-dot) LCD screen.
Understanding the demand for a capable multimedia camera, the COOLPIX P310 also sports incredible video capabilities. With the ability to capture Full HD (1080p) video at 30 frames-per-second (fps) with AF, stereo sound and the use of the optical zoom while recording, the COOLPIX P310 also lets users edit movies in-camera for a seamless moviemaking experience.
Pricing and Availability
The COOLPIX P510 will be available in February 2012 for a suggested retail price (SRP) of $429.95* and will be offered in black and red. The COOLPIX P310 will also be available in February 2012 for $329.95* SRP and will be offered in black only.