DailyTech - Nikon Announces Trio of New Cameras

Submit News

Gadgets Nikon Announces Trio of New Cameras
Shane McGlaun (Blog) - April 10, 2008 11:13 AM

E-mail

del.icio.us

22 comment(s) - last by Brandon Hill.. on Apr 13 at 10:17 AM

Nikon P80 (Source: Nikon)

Nikon S52 (Source: Nikon)

Nikon launches three new cameras including an 18x optical zoom compact

Nikon is without doubt one of the largest and most popular digital camera makers around. Today Nikon introduced three new digital cameras to its COOLPIX series including the P80, S52 and the S52c.

The COOLPIX P80 is a compact camera with a massive 18x optical zoom NIKKOR lens. The P80 also features a 10.1 megapixel image sensor. The zoom lens covers focal lengths from 27mm to 486mm and uses Optical Vibration Reduction to reduce blurry images caused by hand shake. Several shooting modes are featured with shutter-priority, aperture-priority and full manual modes. Nikon also offers a Sport Continuous mode that allows 30 consecutive shots at 4, 6 or 13 frames per second. The P80 also has ISO sensitivity to ISO6400. The camera has a 2.7-inch LCD on the rear and it will be available in April for $399.95.

Nikon also introduced the S52 and S52c COOLPIX cameras today. The only difference between the S52 as the S52c is that the S52c camera has Wi-Fi connectivity. Both cameras feature 9.0 megapixels and a 3x 38-114mm Zoom-NIKKOR lens. Vibration reduction is included to compensate for image blur and the camera features up to ISO2000 sensitivity. The rear LCD is a 3-inch high resolution display.

The cameras have an auto ISO control that selects the optimal sensitivity from a range of ISO 100 to ISO800. The Wi-Fi connection of the S52c allows users to email images directly from the camera and supports Nikon’s my Picturetown. Image storage for both cameras is to SD or SDHC cards. The S52 and S52c will both be available in May. The S52 will sell for $249.95 and the S52c will retail for $279.95.

Nikon announced its last DSLR camera in January called the D60.

Comments

Threshold

Username
Password
remember me

This article is over a month old, voting and posting comments is disabled

battery life??

By donttrustme on 4/10/2008 1:13:37 PM , Rating: 2

Bigger Rear LCD Displays means lesser battery life. Nikon could have at least dropped it to a 2.5" display or they could have implemented OLED Displays for much better battery life.

RE: battery life??

By Pandamonium on 4/10/2008 1:41:23 PM , Rating: 2

AFAIK, OLED isn't that viable yet. You need decent pixel density on a 2.5", which is probably possible, but very cost prohibitive.

Parent

RE: battery life??

By IvanAndreevich on 4/10/2008 2:05:46 PM , Rating: 2

It's too early for OLED. Now, LED backlight, I could appreciate.

Parent

RE: battery life??

By martinrichards23 on 4/11/2008 2:17:37 PM , Rating: 2

Are you sure? Even my MP3 player (creative Zen V) has an OLED screen.

Parent

RE: battery life??

By Omega215D on 4/11/2008 3:16:33 PM , Rating: 2

Take a look at IRiver's Clix 2. 2.2" 262k color AMOLED. Quite nice in person.

Parent

RE: battery life??

By FliGuyRyan on 4/10/2008 2:23:06 PM , Rating: 2

If you're referring to the D300, you might want to read the review on DPReview.com

There you'll find that the D300 has the best battery life of any DSLR. I get around 1000 shots on a battery. And the 3.0" screen is AMAZING with over 900,000 pixels compared to the competitor's 200,000+ pixel screens.

And for the poster harping on mega-pixel count, you can always use more mega-pixel for cropping. The mega pixel count bashing is getting old. If a person is smart and does their research, they're going to know that mega pixels are not everything. Shutter-lag, ISO noise, and specific features such as vibration reduction and shooting modes (A,S,M,P as well as automatic modes like "daylight" and "scenery") are important as well. And, they will also know that you can't really do anything about the size of your sensor in most point and shoots, but as far as DSLRs go, their sensors are getting a heck of a lot better each generation they're out.

My D300 can get an amazing shot with good clarity at 1600 and 3200 ISO. It's the most customizable camera I've ever used and is absolute royalty compared to a D80 or D40. And NO, I couldn't do everything I could do with the DXX line that I can do with my D300 in the studio.

My .03...

Parent

RE: battery life??

By 306maxi on 4/10/2008 3:02:10 PM , Rating: 2

Thing is with a DSLR you can have a battery so big that battery life is not really so much of an issue. Plus if you're shooting with a DSLR and a lense or two carrying an extra battery is hardly a problem. I've only got 1 battery for my D70s but it's been fine and there have been times where I've taken hundreds and hundreds of photos in a day and it's still not shown that it's down to half battery.
I'm guessing the live preview SLR's are a bit more hungry on batteries though?

Parent

RE: battery life??

By FliGuyRyan on 4/10/2008 3:09:51 PM , Rating: 2

306maxi,

LiveView does take more battery life, but if a person uses LiveView, he/she usually does it in a studio environment (tripod mode for still life) or on at a concert, event, or anywhere else you'd need a higher or lower viewing angle and can't put your eye to the viewfinder. I've found this very useful for candids...

And you're right about the battery. I bought an extra one even though I can take a 1000 pictures - you just never know. Now, I just need to get the same deal I got on the 16 gig Sandisk Extreme III for $100.

Parent

RE: battery life??

By snownpaint on 4/11/2008 10:42:37 AM , Rating: 2

I have a DSLR that has a battery adapter that hold two L-ion batteries in an added base.. I barely ever charge them, it seems.. you can leave both batteries in it, or exchange them back and forth.. I use the built in flash often, and battery life is amazing. It lasted so long, I once lost the charger.

Parent

RE: battery life??

By sgtdisturbed47 on 4/10/2008 3:37:01 PM , Rating: 2

I still think the silly SLR-like cameras are a waste. They use the same butchered sensors as compact point-and-shoot cameras, they don't offer interchangeable lenses, and despite what many have said, the image quality is still sub-par past ISO 400 on these sensors.

It's nice to have a point-and-shoot camera for quick shots, but for more complex shots, you can't beat a DSLR.

Another thing that bothers me is the noise. As soon as you start cropping with a pic taken by a p&s or slr-like camera, the noise is quite evident, whereas with a DSLR, you can crop 100% and have no noise. Using my D80, I have done this plenty of times and have pictures without grain.

Parent

RE: battery life??

By Bruce 1337 on 4/11/2008 4:53:47 AM , Rating: 2

I agree about the dismal ISO performance... I don't even know why they offer ISO 800 on those things. However, I still prefer a superzoom model over some little compact with no manual options (and only a 3x zoom).

My girlfriend uses the Canon S3. It weighs nothing, and takes 640x480 @30fps videos. With the 12x zoom and rotating LCD, it's pretty versatile for a $250 camera. I wouldn't trade my D80 for one, but I have to admit that it's pretty useful.

Parent

RE: battery life??

By XBMC Fan on 4/11/2008 2:49:38 PM , Rating: 2

I agree that DSLRs are more flexible, but I disagree that SLR-like cameras are a waste. I own the Coolpix 8800, and my only complaints are the performance of the built-in flash (big surprise), low light auto-focusing ability, and the related lack of optical manual focus. I haven't noticed noise issues anywhere near some of the horrible point and shoots I've seen.

When I was in the market, my price point gave me two choices:
1) A 6MP DSLR w/out Vibration Reduction (VR) lenses (too much $$$ at the time) with less convenience (ease of use for my wife, physical size when using equivalent zoom lenses)
2) An 8MP SLR-like camera with VR and a 10x optical zoom lens.

The VR lens, higher resolution, and convenience won this time. Now that I already have this camera, however, the power of a DSLR will probably win the next time around.

Parent

when?

By JDub02 on 4/10/2008 11:51:38 AM , Rating: 2

So when are we going to get an update to the D80, Nikon? Or maybe a couple fast prime lenses with an internal auto focus?

-D40 user jealous of those who can autofocus the Nikkor AF lenses and have auto bracketing

RE: when?

By Lord 666 on 4/10/2008 12:33:04 PM , Rating: 2

Or you can just buy a D300

-D300 owner since Nov 2007 and previous D80 owner

Parent

RE: when?

By JDub02 on 4/10/2008 2:37:34 PM , Rating: 2

I'd love to have a D300, but I really can't justify the expense. I'm not a professional and for the price difference, I can get some nice glass. I really don't miss the camera focus drive. I just miss the selection of cheap, fast lenses that will focus on my camera. The only other thing I'd like is auto bracketing for HDR photos. So far, I've never found myself wanting more pixels and I have no complaints about the low ISO performance of the D40.

The lenses will come eventually as things get converted to the new focusing systems. As for auto bracketing, it wouldn't be too hard to implement as it's just software (to my knowledge). But for now, I'll just dream of a D300.

Parent

RE: when?

By Smurfer2 on 4/10/2008 4:15:25 PM , Rating: 2

I have a D40 and love it, however I am looking at the 16-85 VR to replace the kit lens. While I would like to buy a D300, as a college student I just can't scrape that amount of cash together plus a lens.

-At times I would like more mega pixels, but will only upgrade the body when I have more cash and a sensor that takes an image with about twice the perimeter of the D40 and under $1000. (so, like 6000x4000 pixel images :D )

Parent

RE: when?

By Albotron on 4/10/2008 4:49:42 PM , Rating: 2

18-200 VR is usually a choice than the 16-85 unless you are concerned with absolute sharpness. The 16 end isn't phenomonally wider.

Parent

RE: when?

By ChipDude on 4/10/2008 1:53:11 PM , Rating: 2

Don't succomb to megapixle envy or other spec brainwashing. Unless you need 6FPS or the tough magnesium frame there is very little that the D300 will offer that will magical turn a poor photographer into an artist.

A D40 in the hands of a good photographer will take competitive shots compared to same photographer using a D300. And for sure he'll have a better shot then 95% of the monkeys who get seduced by pixle madness.

Am I jealous I only have my 18-200, 70-300 and 16-85 VR for my D40 and not any of those great Nikkor AFs, not one bit.

D90 is just around the corner and rumors is you'll get the same sensor in a cheaper body.

Parent

RE: when?

By ElFenix on 4/10/2008 2:08:35 PM , Rating: 2

photokina

Parent

By Spyvie on 4/10/2008 3:47:58 PM , Rating: 2

I'm trying to make a connection between whats his name and Nikon, or just photography/cameras in general.

Does it have something to do with his “colorful” garb? Is Ashton a Nikon spokesman?