Nikon Announces Seven New COOLPIX Cameras With Consumer's Digital Photography Needs in Mind


Nikon's New COOLPIX Digital Cameras Put Performance and Style in Your Life

MELVILLE, N.Y., Feb. 21 /PRNewswire/ -- Looking for a premier digital
camera with your needs in mind? Whether you're a first time digital camera
consumer, looking to update your old digital camera, a person who enjoys
sharing your pictures or an experienced photographer looking for a compact
digital camera, Nikon's 2006 COOLPIX line has a camera and feature set that is
right for you. Today, Nikon announced the addition of seven new COOLPIX
cameras adding to its Life, Style and Performance Series. Developed with the
consumer in mind, Nikon has combined exceptional features with world-renowned
quality design and style at attractive prices.
"Consumers requested small, sharp, powerful and easy-to-use digital
cameras that can capture and share moments and memories," says Bill Giordano,
General Manager of Consumer Product Marketing for Nikon Inc. "From entry-level
to advanced technologies our designers and engineers have done an outstanding
job of adopting design styles and intuitive technology that directly address
what the consumer asks for -- a camera that looks great and performs just as
well."
Unique to COOLPIX digital cameras, and now for the first time available
throughout the line-up, is Nikon's Exclusive Feature System, which gives users
the power to automatically improve recorded images in-camera. This
combination of in-camera features provides a quick, easy and seamless answer
to underexposed pictures due to excessive backlight or insufficient flash,
blurry or out-of-focus shots and red eyes. The system includes:

-- In-Camera Red-Eye Fix(TM): automatically detects and corrects red eye,
a common condition that occurs in flash photography. You may never see
red eye again.
-- Face-Priority AF*: automatically finds and focuses on a persons face
within the frame, providing sharp focus to produce clear, crisp
portraits wherever the subject is positioned in the frame.
-- D-Lighting: selects and creates a copy of images with excessive
backlight or insufficient flash illumination, adding light and detail
where necessary.
-- Blur Warning: alerts the user that a shot has resulted in a blurry
picture allowing for it to be retaken before leaving the scene.
-- Best Shot Selector (BSS): automatically identifies and saves the
sharpest shot from ten sequential shots.

In addition, every new COOLPIX camera features TV Quality Move Mode**
function (recording movies at up to 30 fps with sound), Noise Reduction - to
produce better results during low-light conditions; a broad choice of White
Balance selection and a convenient Help Button, which is never further than a
push of a button away, giving easy-to-understand explanations for all
functions throughout the menu.

Memories Made Easy with Nikon's COOLPIX L-Series

If you are looking for an easy to use, compact digital camera that takes
great pictures right out of the box, the Nikon COOLPIX L Series is a perfect
fit. The COOLPIX L2, L3 and L4 feature high-quality components, including a 3x
optical Zoom-Nikkor lens, a big, bright, 2.0-inch LCD and a streamlined design
(less than 1" thick) which contributes to the camera's style and operation.
Adding to the cameras' portability, each camera is AA-size battery and SD
memory card compatible. With generous effective megapixel values of 6.0 for
the COOLPIX L2, 5.1 for the COOLPIX L3 and 4.0 for the COOLPIX L4, users have
the ability to produce clear, crisp pictures. A choice of 15 Scene Modes -
including four with Scene Assist - Best Shot Selector (BSS), Single and
Continuous AF, Choice of White Balance and Noise reduction help users create
pictures with optimal results.
The L2 and L3 will be available in late February 2006 with MSRP's of,
$199.95 for the L3 and $249.95 for the L2. The L4 will be available in March
2006 with an MSRP of $149.95

Brilliance Made Beautiful with Nikon's COOLPIX S Series

The stylish Nikon COOLPIX S5 and S6 combine high-quality imaging
performance with impressive digital photo sharing technology. The sleek,
modern wave design of the S Series cameras, along with 6.0 effective
megapixels and a 3x optical Zoom-Nikkor ED Glass lens, make them ideal for the
user who wants a camera with added style. Sharing digital images is easy with
the new Pictmotion(TM) function, which allows users to select their favorite
images, choose one of five royalty-free, pre-installed music files, or their
own choice of music***, and automatically produce slide shows with pace and
transition selected to match the music and style. Slide shows can be played
back with ease on the S5's 2.5-inch LCD of the S6's 3.0-inch LCD, each of
which is viewable for a wide 170-degree angle.
The incorporation of a Rotary Multi Selector allows for easy scrolling
through the newly designed menu system and breezing through picture playback
at up to 10 frames per second. Also included in the new S Series is a
standalone One-Touch Portrait button conveniently located on the top of each
camera, giving users instant access to the In-Camera Red Eye Fix and Face
Priority AF options.
To ensure quality photos in various shooting environments, users have the
option of 16 scene modes, 17 for S5 with Underwater mode****, including four
modes with Scene Assist.
The COOLPIX S6 features an additional advantage of built-in WiFi
capability, allowing for wireless transfer of pictures to a computer and
wireless printing***** with any PictBridge enabled printer.
The COOLPIX S5 and S6 will be available nationwide in March 2006. The S5
has an MSRP of $349.95 and the S6 $449.95.

Passion Made Powerful with Nikon's COOLPIX P-Series

The Nikon COOLPIX P3 and P4 digital cameras combine 8.1 effective
megapixels with a range of advanced in-camera technologies. Designed for the
photographer who enjoys customization and the ability to control their
photography, the P Series cameras feature an innovative Vibration Reduction
(VR) capability. Originally developed for Nikon SLR lenses, VR capability is
available in two modes (Normal and Active) in order to compensate for camera
movement. VR Normal compensates for minor movements, most often associated
with handheld shooting, while VR Active compensates for more pronounced
movements, such as the vibration of a moving vehicle.
The P3 and P4 give users the flexibility of a full array of exposure
control settings. Covering a broader area of the frame, the new 11 wide-area
AF achieves better results in more diverse compositions - leaving
photographers free to concentrate on the shot while the camera automatically
achieves superior, sharp focus. In addition, there are 16 shooting modes,
including nine advanced scene modes that allow photographers to produce
pictures better suited to their own personal tastes - through the use of three
effects that vary brightness, color intensity, sharpness noise reduction and
more. To help photographers capture the action as it happens, both cameras
feature continuous shooting at up to 1.8 frames per second, which is
complimented by a five shot buffer that allows users to shoot in a continuous
burst, with the camera recording the last five images taken.
The COOLPIX P3 comes with built in Wi-Fi capability that allows for
wireless transfer of pictures to a computer and wireless printing***** with
any PictBridge enabled printer.
The COOLPIX P3 and P4 will be available in March 2006 with a MSRP of
$449.95 and $399.95, respectively.

* Face-recognition capability may be limited in some shooting
conditions.
** COOLPIX L4 does not record sound in the Movie Mode.
*** Via PictureProject for Windows only.
**** Requires new FJ-CP-1 - Field Jacket - Price TBD
***** Requires optionally available Wireless Printer Adapter PD-10.

About Nikon
Nikon, At the Heart of the Image(TM). 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(R) compact digital cameras; COOLSCAN(R) 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 Exclusive Feature
System, making it easy for anyone to take amazing digital pictures. Through
the Nikon Spirit Initiative(TM), 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 http://www.nikonusa.com, which
links all levels of photographers to the web's most comprehensive photo
learning and sharing communities.

SOURCE Nikon