Nikon Adds 24x Zoom To Lineup

By TWICE Staff -- TWICE, 2/9/2009

Melville, N.Y. — Nikon revealed its spring lineup last week, adding a 24x optical zoom model and a new touchscreen camera to the Coolpix family.

All the new cameras will incorporate a “smart portrait system” which activates a variety of features, including (in select models) face detection, in-camera red-eye fix, motion detection, D-Lighting, and smile and blink detection. The cameras will also all feature a scene auto-selector mode, which lets the camera automatically assign a scene mode based on shooting environment.

The 12-megapixel P90 boasts a 24x optical zoom (24mm), optical stabilization, a 3-inch vari-angle LCD and manual exposure modes. A sports continuous mode features a 15 fps burst mode and records 10 images to buffer memory before the shutter is depressed. It ships in April for $399.

The 12-megapixel S630 will feature a 7x optical zoom (37mm), a 2.7-inch LCD and a quick retouch feature that improves facial images.

The camera will offer four techniques for combating image blur: CCD-shifting stabilization; motion detection, which boosts ISO and shutter speed when a subject is in motion; a high ISO mode (6,400); and best-shot selector, which shoots a sequence of photos and deletes those with blurry pixels.

It will be available in black, silver, blue, purple and red in March for $279.

The S620 shares most of the features of S630 but with a 4x optical zoom and a $269 price tag.

Also due in March, the 10-megapixel S230 will feature a 3-inch touch-screen LCD, 3x optical zoom lens and the ability to paint or add borders to photos in camera via the touchscreen. It will retail for $229 and be available in plum, red, silver, blue and black.

The 10-megapixel S220, for $149, featured a 3x optical zoom and a 2.5-inch LCD. It will be sold in March in plum, blue, green, magenta and black.

Nikon will ship three new models in its entry-level L series, including the 10-megapixel L100 with a 14x optical (28mm) zoom lens and a 3-inch LCD. Due in April, it will feature a 13 fps burst mode for up to 30 3-megapixel stills and a $279 price.

The 10-megapixel L20 features a 3.6x optical zoom, 3-inch LCD and is powered by a pair of AA batteries. It will ship in March in red for $129. The L19, for $109, is also due in March and shares most of the L20's features but includes an 8-megapixel sensor and a 2.7-inch LCD. It will be available in silver.