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Nikon's Coolpix P5000 digital camera. Courtesy of Nikon, with modifications by Michael R. Tomkins. Nikon announces Coolpix P5000
By Michael R. Tomkins, The Imaging Resource
(Monday, February 19, 2007 - 23:00 EST)

One of a whopping eight digital cameras announced by Nikon today is the Coolpix P5000, part of the P-series which focuses on "Performance" features.

Aimed at photographers who want more control than is offered by many digital cameras, the Nikon P5000 offers a sensor resolution of ten megapixels coupled to a Nikkor-branded 3.5x optical zoom lens with optical vibration reduction - a useful addition that helps steady shots in low light situations. There's also a sizeable 2.5" LCD display with anti-reflective coating on the Nikon P5000, and both shutter- and aperture-priority modes plus a true manual mode help unleash your creative side. If you prefer ease of use (or you might share the camera with a less experienced photographer), you'll be happy to find that the Nikon P5000 can do all the work - just put it in full auto mode, or one of sixteen different scene modes.

Nikon is also known for a few special features that are included in the CoolPix P5000, including D-Lighting (which enhances darker images to improve shadow detail), Best Shot Selector mode (which takes a series of shots, letting the camera automatically pick the sharpest shot and discard the others), Red-Eye Fix (which automatically finds red-eye in your images and eliminates it), and finally Face-Priority AF. This last feature will initially keep you and your friends dancing around in front of the camera to watch it put a "focus box" around your faces, but once you get used to the mode, you'll find it very reassuring to know that your loved one's faces will indeed be in focus, before you take the shot.

The Nikon CoolPix P5000 ships from March 2007, priced at $400.

Nikon Coolpix P5000
Nikon's Coolpix P5000 digital camera. Courtesy of Nikon, with modifications by Michael R. Tomkins.
General
Camera Type Mid-Sized
Manufacturer Nikon
Model Number P5000
Dimensions 3.9 x 2.5 x 1.6"
98.0 x 64.5 x 41.0mm
Weight 200.0 g
7.0 oz
Planned Price $399.95
Planned Availability March 2007
Image Capture
Sensor Type 1/1.8" CCD
10.37 megapixels (total)
10.00 megapixels (effective)
Aspect Ratio 4:3, 3:2
Image Dimensions 3648 x 2736 (10.0 megapixels)
3648 x 2432 (8.9 megapixels)
3584 x 2016 (7.2 megapixels)
2592 x 1944 (5.0 megapixels)
2048 x 1536 (3.1 megapixels)
1600 x 1200 (1.9 megapixels)
1280 x 960 (1.2 megapixels)
1024 x 768 (0.8 megapixels)
640 x 480 (0.3 megapixels)
Image Preview / Review
Viewfinder Yes, Real-image optical zoom
LCD 2.5", 230,000 pixels
Lens
Lens Type Zoom-Nikkor
3.5x optical zoom
Image Stabilization Yes
Focal Length 7.5 - 26.3mm (actual)
36 - 126mm (35mm equivalent)
Aperture Range f/2.7 (wide) / f/5.3 (tele) - ???
Focusing System Contrast Detect, includes Face Priority AF with AF assist lamp
Focusing Range Normal: 12" - infinity (30 cm - infinity)
Macro: 1.6" - infinity (4.0 cm - infinity)
Exposure
ISO Sensitivity Auto, 64,100,200,400,800,1600,3200
Shutter Speed 8 - 1/2000 second
Exposure Modes Aperture, Shutter, Manual
Metering Modes 256-segment Matrix, Center-Weighted, Spot, Spot AF area
Exposure Compensation +/- 2.0EV in 1/3EV increments
White Balance Auto, Preset (Custom), Cloudy, Direct Sunlight, Fluorescent, Incandescent, Shade, Flash, Manual
Internal Flash Modes: Auto, Auto with red-eye reduction (In-Camera Red-Eye Fix), Anytime flash, Flash cancel, and Slow sync
Range: 1 ft. to 26 ft. 3 in./ 0.3 to 8.0m (W), 1 ft. to 13 ft. 1 in./ 0.3 to 4.0m (T)
Creative
Scene Modes Portrait, Landscape, Sports, Night Portrait, Party/indoor, Beach/Snow, Sunset, Dus k/Dawn, Night Landscape, Close up, Museum, Fireworks show, Copy, Back Light, Panorama Assist
Digital Zoom up to 4x
Self Timer Yes, 3 or 10 seconds
Time Lapse Yes
Movie Format QuickTime with audio
Storage
Recording Medium SD/MMC, Built-in
File System Complies with Design Rule for Camera File System (DCF)
File Format JPEG (EXIF 2.2)
Connectivity
Video Yes, NTSC / PAL switchable
Computer USB 1.1
Other DC input
Power
Battery Type Lithium Ion rechargeable
Battery Form Factor Proprietary EN-EL5
Product Bundle
Software PictureProject
Battery / Charger 1 x Proprietary EN-EL5 Lithium Ion rechargeable battery and charger
Flash Memory 21.0MB Internal
Other
Digital Print Order Format (DPOF) compliant Yes
PictBridge Compliant Yes
Internal Microphone Yes
Internal Speaker Yes
Tripod Mount Yes
 

Original Source Press Release:

NIKON�S NEW COOLPIX P-SERIES CAMERA ALLOWS PHOTOGRAPHERS TO UNLEASH THEIR CREATIVITY

The COOLPIX P5000 Produces Superior Image Quality with Flexible Control

MELVILLE, NY (February 19, 2007) – Nikon is pleased to introduce the COOLPIX P5000 to the Nikon COOLPIX Performance Series of digital cameras. The new COOLPIX P5000 offers advanced functions, ease of operation, and high image quality that is sure to satisfy photo and camera enthusiasts. The P5000 boasts 10 effective megapixels, a 3.5x Zoom-Nikkor glass lens, an optical viewfinder, and an incredible, bright high resolution 2.5-inch LCD monitor with anti-reflection coating. The P5000 incorporates a new advanced image processing engine, which optimizes low light performance and color reproduction, and Nikon's optical VR image stabilization, which compensates for camera shake.

" The COOLPIX P5000 was designed for the photographer who enjoys a high level of control, advanced imaging technologies and the ability to take creative control of their photography," says Bill Giordano, General Manager Marketing, COOLPIX for Nikon Inc. "The P5000 will be compatible with system-expanding accessories that will allow photographers take their creativity and images to new heights."

High performance and superior image quality are the hallmarks of the COOLPIX P5000. With 10 megapixels of resolution, photographers can capture the finest details in their images, as well as have the ability to crop creatively and produce beautiful large prints. The 3.5x Zoom-Nikkor glass lens provides compositional versatility when zooming in for tight close ups or zooming out to capture expansive landscapes.

The P5000 provides optical VR image stabilization, which helps compensate for camera shake to produce sharper images. The VR stabilizes images displayed on the 2.5-inch LCD, which makes it easier to frame and capture images. Another advantage of the optical VR image stabilization is that it helps achieve smoother action in the movie shooting modes of the P5000 and when using the optional TC-3ED Tele converter with 378mm of telephoto performance.

The COOLPIX P5000 features a new advanced image processing engine with enhanced noise reduction and an improved signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio that preserves image quality even when shooting at high ISO settings. The P5000 extends the light sensitivity range to ISO 3200*, which makes it possible to capture fast moving subjects with outstanding clarity, even in lower light conditions.

COOLPIX P5000 users can take advantage of the new mode dial which provides quick access to a selection of 16 different scene-optimized modes, seven movie modes, Anti-Shake mode and High Sensitivity mode. A turn of the mode dial to Anti-Shake mode activates High ISO and Best Shot Selector (BSS) in addition to VR, which automatically sets the optimal ISO for steady results and will allow users to select and save the best image from up to ten sequential shots. In addition, the mode dial has the choice of Programmed Auto [P], Shutter-priority Auto [S], Aperture-priority Auto [A], and Manual [M] exposure modes for even greater camera control.

The COOLPIX P5000 features a new menu interface that makes navigating and selecting images simple, while providing easy access to advanced functions for enhancing and correcting images. This includes everything from the new image optimization settings, which offer a choice of four color filters for shooting with monochrome filter effects, to barrel distortion control, which can correct images when using a wide-angle converter and can display the corrected image on the LCD in real time.

The COOLPIX P5000 has three Nikon In-Camera Image Innovations to correct common photo problems. This system includes Face-priority AF**, which can automatically find and focus on a subject’s face, In-Camera Red-Eye Fix, which automatically corrects red-eye, and D-Lighting, an innovation that automatically creates a copy of the image with detail added where necessary, but with well-exposed areas left completely untouched. Because the P5000 has a 2.5-inch high resolution LCD monitor with anti-reflection coating, viewing the monitor is easy even in bright sunlight. The COOLPIX P5000 also features a new optical viewfinder for those photographers who prefer a classic composition aid.

The COOLPIX P5000 is compatible with add-on system components to extend the user's creative possibilities, including the 24mm*** Wide-angle lens Converter (WC-E67) and the 378mm*** Telephoto Converter lens (TC-E3ED). A built-in accessory shoe supports the use of Nikon's advanced i-TTL flash control for external flashes, including the SB-400, SB-600, and SB-800 Speedlights.

The P5000 also comes with Nikon's PictureProject software. Powerful yet user-friendly software makes transferring, organizing, editing and sharing photos easy. Furthermore, the P5000 has PictBridge support and is compatible with SDHC cards.

The COOLPIX P5000 will be available nationwide in March 2007. The P5000 has an MSRP of $399.95. For more information about these and other COOLPIX cameras, please visit www.nikondigital.com.

*ISO 3200 is available only for images of 5 MP (2592 x 1944) or smaller.
**Face recognition capability may be limited in some shooting conditions.
*** 35mm equivalents

About Nikon
Nikon, At the Heart of the Image™. Nikon Inc. is the world leader in digital imaging, precision optics and photo imaging technology and is globally recognized for setting new standards in product design and performance for its award-winning consumer and professional photographic equipment. Nikon Inc. distributes the Nikon Total Imaging System of consumer and professional digital SLR cameras, Nikkor optics, Speedlights and System Accessories; Nikon COOLPIX® compact digital cameras; Coolscan® digital film scanners; 35mm film SLR cameras; Nikon software products and Nikon sports and recreational optics. At the heart of every Nikon camera is Nikon’s In-camera Innovations, making it easy for anyone to take amazing digital pictures. Through the Nikon Spirit Initiative™, the company, plays an active role in supporting aspiring and advanced photographers through a variety of philanthropic organizations, educational programs, events and workshops. For more information, dial (800) NIKON-US or visit www.nikonusa.com, which links all levels of photographers to the web's most comprehensive photo learning and sharing communities.

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