Coming this spring: 7 new Nikon cameras and an Olympus Micro Four-thirds

As the number of days until the PMA camera trade show, from Feb 21-23, dwindle, camera makers continue unveiling new models. Today, Olympus introduced a new Micro Four-thirds, or SLR-like, model, while Nikon announced seven new point-and-shoots.

Olympus's 12-megapixel Pen E-PL1 expands the SLR-like line to three models. As we've reported on in the past, what differentiates these types of cameras is that they combine key SLR features—a large image sensor and interchangeable lenses—with the smaller size and weight of a point-and-shoot. As with a true SLR, you can shoot RAW files with the E-PL1. Unlike Olympus's previous Micro Four-thirds models, the E-PL1 has a built-in flash. Another interesting feature is its Live Guide feature, which lets you preview on the LCD (in real time) the effect of various camera settings in order to see how your prospective shot might look. Most important: Olympus has priced the E-PL1 more competitively than previous cameras of this type, at $600, which includes a 14-42mm zoom lens. The E-PL1 will be available in March.

Olympus Pen E-PL1
Photo: Olympus

Olympus also announced two new lenses for its micro Four-thirds cameras: a 14mm-150mm zoom lens, $600, (the 35mm film equivalent of 28mm-300mm) and a 9mm-18mm zoom lens, $700, (the 35mm film equivalent of 18mm-36mm). The former with be available in June, the latter in May.

Of the seven new Coolpix point-and-shoots Nikon just introduced, the most interesting are the longer zoom models: The 10-megapixel Coolpix P100, $400, with a 26x zoom (above); the 14-megapixel Coolpix S8000, $300, with a 10x zoom; and the 14-megapixel Coolpix S6000, $250, with a 7x zoom.

The P100 has two specialized modes that make use of compositing technology to automatically combine parts of several photos together: one mode is a High Dynamic Range (HDR) feature and the other a special Night Landscape, which combines a series of images in order to find areas of least noise for better low-light photos.

Nikon also claims the P100 has five-way image stabilization, including optical, electronic or simulated, high ISO settings, motion detection (which senses moving subjects and adjusts shutter speed and ISO settings to compensate) and a best shot selector (which shoots up to 10 shots and selects the sharpest). The P100 can also shoot 10 frames per second at full resolution.

Nikon claims the Coolpix S8000 superzoom and the S6000 subcompact are very thin for cameras with long zooms. The S8000 can shoot HD-resolution video, has a 3-inch LCD that's very sharp (921,000 dots) and advanced flash control, which Nikon says will let you create more natural-looking flash shots. Nikon also says that the S6000 is the thinnest model in its class, meaning cameras with 7x or greater optical zoom that also include wide-angle capability. Tthe S6000 has the same advanced flash control feature as the S8000 and can shoot HD resolution video.

The P100 and the S6000 will be available in March, and the S8000 in February

—Terry Sullivan