Nikon Coolpix Digital Camera Series

The Nikon Coolpix digital camera series is the range of point-and-shoot cameras developed by Nikon. This series is changing quite rapidly as Nikon adds cameras and discontinues others. The most up-to-date models (released in 2011), belong in the following four series and are all currently available:

The All-Weather Series cameras are the AW100 (16 MP) and the AW100s (also 16 MP). They are water resistant to about 10m, cold resistant down to -10 degree C, and will resist shock when dropped from a height up to 1.5m from the ground. They also have a vibration reduction function and 1080p video recording. The AW100 also has GPS geotagging (not the AW100s).

The Nikon Coolpix digital camera Life Series includes the L23 (10.1 MP) and the L120 (14.1MP). These Nikon point and shoot cameras also have Vibration Reduction and a CCD sensor. The L120 has ISO up to 6,400, 720p video recording with stereo sound and uses AA batteries.

The Performance Series includes the P300 (12.2 MP), P500 (12.1 MP) and P7100 (10.1 MP). The most important differentiating features are: the P300 has a fast f/1.8 lens (good for low light levels where you don't want to use flash), the P500 has a tiltable screen, and the P7100 has RAW image support.

The Nikon Coolpix digital camera Style Series has model numbers all beginning with 'S'. Sensor resolution sizes are from 12.1 to 16.0 MP. Model numbers include: S100, S1200pj, S2500, S3100, S4100, S4150, S5100, S6100, S6150, S6200, S8200 and S9100.

Is a Compact Digital Camera Right for Me?

Compact digital cameras (or point-and-shoot cameras) are very small and totally portable, designed to fit in your pocket or handbag easily so you can take it with you everywhere you go. Casio compact digital cameras were among the smallest and thinnest when they started the ball rolling around 2002 but today many other manufacturers are producing lightweight, slim and elegant point-and-shoot cameras.

Most compacts have a lens which retracts into the body of the camera which means that even with the smallest of them, the focal length can be relatively long allowing you to zoom in on your subject.

If your camera is in your pocket or handbag, keys and other loose objects are a danger to the optics! To counter this, the lens usually has a built-in lens cap which automatically closes when the camera is shut down to protect the optics.

Compact cameras come with a wrist strap. If you keep the strap wound around your wrist when shooting, it helps to protect against accidentally dropping it. Some of the thicker compacts allow you to attach a neck strap for extra security.

Compacts don't have the advanced features of an SLR camera such as the ability to change lenses for example and picture quality is not as high as it would be with an SLR but ease-of-use and compactness make them an attractive buy. Compact cameras are great for holiday, parties, weddings, in fact just about every situation you find yourself and the beauty of them is you need never miss a shot as they are so lightweight you can always keep your camera with you.

In 2011 some manufacturers started producing compact digital cameras which can take 3D still photos which can be played back on a 3D television, an exciting development for the future.