Nikon Coolpix P5100 and Coolpix P50 Announced

[Ben Stafford]

Following up on the Coolpix P5000, Nikon is adding two cameras to their Performance (P) line. The Nikon Coolpix P5100 is a direct descendant of the P5000, and the Nikon Coolpix P50 is a cheaper "performance" camera. In their new cameras, Nikon has been rolling out EXPEED, a new image processing system, and improved face detection system,and some other improvements. The Coolpix P5100 will be available in September 2007 for $400 and the Coolpix P50 will be available in October 2007 for $230.

Nikon Coolpix P5100

(view large image)

Coolpix P5100 features:

• 12.1 megapixels
• 3.5x optical zoom (35-123mm equivalent)
• Optical VR (image stabilization)
• 2.5 inch LCD
• Improved Face Priority AF (up to 12 faces)
• In-camera red-eye fix
• D-Lighting
• Program auto, shutter priority, aperture priority, manual exposure modes in addition to auto and scene modes
• Can accept accessory lenses
• Hotshoe
• Optical viewfinder
• ISO 3200 at reduced resolution
• 16:9 image capture mode
• Lens distortion control that fixes barrel distortion in real time
• EXPEED image processing system
• SD/SDHC memory
• Lithium-ion battery

Nikon Coolpix P50

(view large image)

Coolpix P50 features:

• 8.1 megapixels
• 3.6x optical zoom (28-102mm equivalent)
• Electronic VR
• 2.4 inch LCD
• Improved Face Priority AF (up to 12 faces)
• In-camera red-eye fix
• D-Lighting
• Program auto and manual exposure modes in addition to auto and scene modes
• Optical viewfinder
• ISO 2000 at reduced resolution
• EXPEED image processing system
• SD/SDHC memory
• Powered by 2 AA batteries

[jimr]

Although without a doubt the P5100 follows the path of the P5000, the differences in the two may be very significant. The P5100 has a totally new processing engine and a totally new sensor. How that effects the image quality and responsiveness (AF for one) of the P5100 as compared to the previous P5000 is not yet known (as of September 16, 2007) because tests are not yet available from anyone, nor are any meaningful sample images. The differences may be very meaningful, or not.