Digital Camera and Photography: Tips, Information and News | Neocamera Blog

Nikon just announced their first CMOS sensor ultra-zoom in the form of the Nikon Coolpix P100.  This one features a 10 megapixels back-side illuminated CMOS sensor capable of 10 FPS continuous shooting at full-resolution, something very new that we say appear in a handful of digital cameras lately. The new lens reaches 26X optical zoom, equivalent to 26 – 678 mm and is paired with sensor-shift image stabilization. The new ultra-fast sensor allows the P100 to record 1080p HD video (1920×1080 @ 30 FPS) with stereo sound. The P100 also has a 3″ LCD with 460k pixels, which is twice as sharp as most modern LCDs. It also features an electronic viewfinder (EVF) of unspecified size and resolution.

The Nikon Coolpix runs on a proprietary lithium-ion batter and uses SD or SDHC for memory. It is scheduled to be available next month for $399 USD or $449 CDN.

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Nikon is adding three models to its L-series. Heading the pack is the Coolpix L110, the successor to their first medium ultra-zoom. This one extends the zoom range to a wide-angle 15X, equivalent to 28-420mm.  It uses a 12 megapixels sensor with CCD-shift image stabilization and a high-resolution 3″ LCD having 460k pixels. The sensor can also record 720p HD video at 30 FPS with stereo sound . It uses SD or SDHC memory cards and runs on standard AA batteries, a welcome change that will increase the versatility of such a camera. The Nikon Coolpix L110 ships next month for $279 USD or CDN.

The remaining two models form the most basic compact cameras from Nikon. Those are the Coolpix L22 and L21. They both feature a wide-angle 3.6X optical zoom lens. The L22 is equipped with a 12 megapixels sensor and 3″ LCD having 230k pixels. The L21 has an 8 megapixels sensor and a 2.5″ LCD having 230k pixels. Both these cameras run on proprietary lithium-ion batteries and use SD or SDHC memory cards. The L22 ships for $129 USD or CDN, while the L21 ships for $99 USD or CDN. Both models will be available next month.

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The new top of the line for the S-series of Coolpix digital cameras is the S8000.  This is a compact ultra-zoom with a wide 10X optical zoom lens, equivalent to 30-300mm. It features one of those new 14 megapixels CCDs and a 3″ LCD with 920k pixels, something which is normally only found on newer DSLRs.  This digital camera also records HD movies at 1280×720 @ 30 FPS, aka 720p. Like all S-series, this one is a point-and-shoot model with a full array of scene modes that runs on a proprietary lithium-ion battery and uses SD or SDHC memory cards. It is scheduled to ship later this month for $299 USD or $339 CDN.

Right under the S8000 is the Nikon Coolpix S6000 which boasts the same sensor behind a different lens. The S6000 has a 7X optical zoom range, equivalent to 28-196mm, making it just a little wider than its sibling.  This one also has a more typical LCD with 230k pixels and measuring 2.7″ diagonally. This one too features HD 720p video and HDMI output. The S6000 is said to have an extremely fast startup time of 0.75s. It ships in limited quantifies next month for $239 USD or $279 CDN.

The Nikon Coolpix S4000 is an ultra-compact based around a 3.5″ touchscreen with 460k pixels which should be plenty sharp for its size. This digital camera is built around a 12 megapixels sensor a 4X wide-angle optical zoom lens, equivalent to 27-108mm. Despite the shorter range, this one features the widest angle coverage among its siblings. It can also record 720p video and ships next month for $199 USD or CDN (Yes, the same figure. I don’t know why. It just says so in the press release).

The new entry-level S-series is the Nikon Coolpix S3000.  Like the S4000, it features a 12 megapixels sensor and 4X wide-angle opical zoom starting at 27mm. This one through features a conventional 2.7″ LCD with 230k pixels. Unlike its siblings this one does not record 720p  but VGA-resolution video instead. The S3000 is fully point-and-shoot, uses a lithium-ion battery and SD or SDHC memory cards. It is scheduled to be available next month for $149 USD or $169 CDN.

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Today Fuji introduced a whopping 16 new digital cameras. The most impressive of them and also the most radically different is the Fuji Finepix HS10 which uses a 10 megapixels Back-Side Illuminated CMOS sensor instead of a SuperCCD. Like SuperCCDs, BSI CMOS sensors are designed to improve performance in low-light by leaving more of the sensor surface sensitive to light. Sony used such sensors in a few models last year. Unlike CCDs, CMOS is much faster to read and therefore allows much faster shot-to-shot and continuous shooting speeds.

Although 10 megapixels is not class leading, it is certainly sufficient for the vast majority of users. What is incredible is that this Fuji digital camera packs an incredible 30X optical zoom lens, equivalent to 24-720mm in 35mm terms. Not only is this the most zoom of any fixed lens camera, it starting at an ultra-wide 24mm-equivalent is extremely useful. Most ultra-zooms now start at a wide 28 or 26mm but this wider range is extremely welcome.  That is not all though! The Finepix HS10’s lens features a mechanical zoom too, meaning that it is infinitely precise and as fast to adjust as possible. This is something that is really needed for precise framing, particularly on the wide-end of the zoom where each millimeter makes a substantial difference. As expected and required by such a long zoom, this camera features built-in image stabilization.

The speed of the CMOS sensor seems put to excellent use by the HS10. First up is 1080p HDTV video-recording, that is 1920×1080 @ 30 FPS at 16:9 aspect and with stereo sound. Second is 10 FPS full-resolution continuous shooting for up to 7 images.  Then there are low-resolution high-speed movie modes from 60 to 1000 FPS and a number of features which require fast readouts such as sweeping panorama mode that creates a panorama from image slices.

This is an extremely interesting camera because it packs so many advanced features, including full manual-controls, custom white-balance, manual focus, mechanical zoom, tracking autofocus and ISO up to 6400. Counting the ultra-wide zoom it is certainly a model to investigate for a DSLR backup camera. The 3″ LCD with 230k pixels on the rear should be big and clear enough. It also tilts up and down for added framing flexibility. If the hinge is as solid as it is on the Fuji Finepix S100FS, it should not be much of a liability.

There are unfortunately places where the HS10 unfortunately falls short of being a useful backup or alternate camera for a DSLR. In term of capability, Fuji closed the gap on the focal-length side but cut the slowest shutter-speed to 4s, which is too low of night photography in general. They also did something quite unacceptable by only providing 97% coverage on both the LCD and EVF. There should be truly no reason for this and it is actually the first time that Fuji’s top model does not have 100% coverage. The only explanation is that this is to not cannibalize an even higher-end model which as yet to be announced. In theory this could be remedied via firmware, so I am truly hoping Fuji can correct this. Speaking of the EVF, it has an awesome eye-start sensor. Once you get used to having one, it becomes essential by automatically switching between the LCD and EVF when needed. It is however one of the smallest EVFs ever made, which may limit its usability.

Finally I am happy to see that Fuji is moving away from proprietary technologies without advantages. The Finepix HS10 uses SD and SDHC for memory and AA batteries for power. AA batteries are incredibly versatile as one can easily replace them with disposable ones in case of emergency and solar chargers for them are plenty.

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