Nikon Coolpix P100 features CMOS sensor, 26x zoom

BY: Allison Johnson, DigitalCameraReview.com Editor

Nikon adds a new member to the Coolpix "P for Performance" series today - the Nikon Coolpix P100. It's the first Coolpix to feature a back-illuminated CMOS sensor, allowing it to shoot up to 10 fps at full resolution. A 26x optical zoom lens puts it just ahead of its predecessor, the 24x Coolpix P90, in terms of zoom power. And Nikon hopes that full 1080p HD video recording will sweeten the deal.

Nikon has loaded the Coolpix P100 with features they hope will attract a serious amateur photographer. A 3.0 inch tilting LCD at a sharp 460k-dot resolution should help the user frame tricky shots. A 10.3 megapixel backside-illuminated CMOS sensor facilitates burst shooting at up to 10 fps in full resolution. They've also added an in-camera HDR function that combines multiple images of one scene to widen the apparent dynamic range.

The Coolpix P100 is equipped with manual exposure modes in addition to some familiar Point and Shoot features like face detection and in-camera red-eye correction. Users will be able to shoot full-resolution images using up to ISO 3200.

Wide to telephoto
The 26x wide angle Zoom-Nikkor ED lens covers a 26-678mm range. Maximum aperture range is f/2.8-5.0. It utilizes Nikon's "5-way Vibration Reduction" system, which is anchored by sensor-shift stabilization. The system will focus on subjects as close as 0.4 inches in macro mode.

On the sidelines
The Coolpix P100 offers the photographer on the sidelines a new Sport Continuous shooting mode. In addition to full-resolution burst shooting at 10 fps, the P100 will allow users to downsize to 1.1 megapixels for shooting at 120 fps. AF tracking will also help the photographer to keep focused on a moving target.

Pricing and availability
The Nikon Coolpix P100 debuts with an MSRP of $399.95 in March 2010.