New Gear: Nikon Reveals New Zooms, Compact Cameras at CP+
With three new ultrazooms and two new compacts, Nikon is overhauling much of its consumer lineup
We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn more ›
At CP+ in Japan, Nikon has unveiled a stack of new cameras, including three new superzooms, and a pair of affordable traditional compact cameras. By far the most interesting of the set is the new Nikon Coolpix P520, and update from last year’s well-regarded P510. The newest high-end long-zoom from Nikon will arrive with a $449.95 in February, and will feature 42x 24-1000mm equivalent f/3-5.9 lens. The resolution has been boosted from 16.1- to 18.1-megapixels from last year’s model, and it has a slightly larger 3.2-inch articulated screen. The P520 features built-in GPS, and offers Wi-Fi compatability with the optional WU-1a Wireless Mobile Adapter.
Slightly more budget friendly is the Nikon Coolpix L820, with an asking price of $279.95. It packs a 30x 22.5-675mm equivalent zoom, with an aperture range of f/3-f/5.8, and a lens with 12 elements in 9 groups. It uses a 16-megapixel 1/2.3-inch CMOS sensor, and has a 921,000-dot LCD display. It lacks the electronic viewfinder of its big brother, and relies on AA batteries to carry a charge.
Nikon has also announced a compact ultrazoom in the form of the $395 Coolpix S9500. This camera manages to cram a 22x zoom into a 1.3-inch thick body, complete with 18.1-megapixel CMOS sensor, and built-in Wi-Fi and GPS. The lens runs the equivalent of 25-550mm f/3.4-6.3 and is constructed of 12 elements in 10 groups. Unlike the other cameras in this lineup, it has an OLED touchscreen rather than a traditional LCD.
For people not interested in such a long zoom, Nikon also unveiled the Coolpix S5200 and L28, which will retail for $179.95 and $119.95 when they are released in February. The S5200 is a 16.1-megapixel shooter, with a slim profile and 5x 26-130mm f/3.5-6.5 lens. It’s one of the more affordable cameras we’ve seen to bring built-in Wi-Fi to the party, and also has optical image stabilization. The L28 is a bit less exciting, but for a $120 pricetag, you can’t be too surprised about that. As with so many entry-level compact cameras, it’s powered by AA batteries, and in this case packs a surprisingly large 20-megapixel resolution. It has a 5x 26-130mm f/3.2-6.5 lens, and a rather sedate 30inch, 230,000-dot LCD.