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February 1, 2012
TOKYO - Nikon Corporation is pleased to announce two new COOLPIX P-series models, the P310 and the P510. The COOLPIX P series is a line of multi-function, high-performance compact digital cameras with full-scale photographic capabilities.
The P310 is the successor to the COOLPIX P300, which last year established a new branch of compact, wide-angle zoom cameras in the COOLPIX P series. It is equipped with a lens offering the same fast maximum aperture of f/1.8 that was so popular with the P300, and exhibits a number of advances, including even better image quality from its 16.1-million pixel image sensor and a lens-shift vibration reduction (VR) function for camera shake compensation equivalent to a four-step increase in shutter speed.
The P510 is a compact, high-power zoom camera with an even greater zoom ratio than its predecessor, the COOLPIX P500, which represented a landmark in the history of the COOLPIX series with the highest zoom ratio ever. This new model is equipped with an amazing 42x optical zoom lens that covers angles of view for a broad range of focal lengths, beginning at the wide-angle 24 mm to the telephoto 1000 mm*. The Q510 also offers the same lens-shift vibration reduction (VR) function for camera shake compensation equivalent to a four-step increase in shutter speed as the P310, and is also equipped with a new GPS function.
Both the P310 and P510 are also equipped with a backside illumination CMOS sensor with an effective pixel count of 16.1-million pixels for significantly less noise with shooting at high sensitivities. This results in the beautiful images with little noise that users expect, even with shooting in dimly lit surroundings. They also offer a noise reduction burst feature that utilizes automatic image overlay technology, which is applied with shooting in Night Portrait, Backlighting, and Night Landscape scene modes, to produce images with minimal noise.
The P310 and P510 are also equipped with a number of other shooting and editing functions, including COOLPIX Picture Control, which can be used to adjust the vividness of colors or degree of sharpening applied to images prior to shooting according to the type of subject or scene, shooting conditions, or intent. What's more, frequently used shooting menu items can easily be assigned to the new customizable function button, making the full-scale photographic capabilities demanded by users even more simple.
The cameras are equipped with a backside illumination CMOS sensor with which each pixel receives light more efficiently for superior high-speed processing performance. The image overlay and advanced noise reduction technologies made possible by this CMOS sensor allow the camera to adjust sensitivity and shutter speed according to the subject or scene which is then saved as a single image, for photos that reflect user intent, even under difficult conditions such as dim lighting. Images exhibiting very little noise can be captured at high sensitivities up to ISO 3200 or a setting of Hi 1 (equivalent to ISO 6400).
In addition to Night Portrait, Backlighting, and Night Landscape scene modes for which image overlay technology was previously adopted, Landscape* and Close-up scene modes also utilize image overlay technology with the noise reduction burst option for photos of crisp and clear subjects exhibiting very little noise.
Equipped with a lens-shift vibration reduction (VR) function that offers camera shake compensation equivalent to a four-step increase in shutter speed, the cameras support capture of sharper images with less blur, even with hand-held shooting. This optical vibration reduction is effective not only with still-image shooting, but also with recording of full-HD movies.
COOLPIX Picture Control, not available with the cameras' predecessors, has been built into the P310 and P510. This feature can be used to adjust the vividness of colors or degree of sharpening applied to images prior to shooting according to the type of subject or scene, shooting conditions, or intent. It can be used in all four exposure modes–[P] programmed auto, [A] aperture-priority auto, [S] shutter-priority auto, [M] manual–and offers four preset Picture Controls and six options for fine tuning Picture Controls. Users can also register up to two custom Picture Controls reflecting frequently used settings.
Four Picture Controls
-Standard (default setting)
Standard processing for balanced results.
-Neutral
Minimal processing for natural results.
-Vivid
Produces pictures that are more vivid and alive. Use for pictures of flower and the like to emphasize primary colors.
-Monochrome
Take black-and-white, sepia toned or other monochrome pictures for a nostalgic effect.
Options for fine tuning Picture Controls
-Quick Adjust, Image Sharpening, Contrast, Saturation*1, Filter Effects*2, Toning*2
The cameras are equipped with functions for recording full-HD movies (1920 x 1080 pixels) with stereo sound. Lens-shift vibration reduction (VR) function and optical zoom can be applied during movie recording, and Special Effects can be applied to movies. Movies recorded using the HS Movie function play back in slow motion at 1/2 or 1/4 the normal playback speed for a dramatic effect, or in fast motion at twice the normal playback speed. Full-HD movies recorded with the cameras can be played back on a TV with an HDMI connector, and the cameras' support for the CEC feature for HDMI enables playback control using the TV's remote control.
A bright, approximately 921k-dot TFT LCD monitor with anti-reflection coating has been adopted. This enables clear viewing of beautiful, high-resolution images even outside on sunny days or inside a brightly lit room. In addition, the expanded color reproduction range covers a broader range of colors for reproduction of nearly the entire sRGB gamut.
-NIKKOR lens with fast maximum aperture of f/1.8
A number of Nikon's optical technologies have been concentrated in the f/1.8 lens built into the P310, resulting in the fastest* lens available with a compact digital camera.
-High refractive-index lens for a more compact body
By adopting a high refractive-index lens with a refractive index of 2.0 or higher, which compensates for both curvature of field and spherical aberration, a smaller and lighter camera was achieved. The lens also enables sharper rendering for greater contrast throughout the entire frame.
-4.2x optical zoom lens with built-in lens-shift vibration reduction (VR)
Equipped with a lens-shift vibration reduction (VR) function that offers camera shake compensation equivalent to a four-step increase in shutter speed, the P310 supports capture of sharper images with less blur, even with hand-held shooting. This lens is perfect for capturing landscapes and large group photos with coverage for angles of view for focal lengths beginning at the wide-angle 24 mm to the telephoto 100 mm (equivalents in 35-mm [135] format).
The camera is equipped with a number of shooting and in-camera image editing functions that allow users to enjoy mastering the camera with manual operations. Among these are the four exposure modes–[P], [A], [S], [M], nine special effects, and five filter effects.
What's more, the P310 beautifully preserves exciting scenes with high-speed continuous shooting of up to five shots at approximately 7 fps* at the maximum image size setting (16M 4608x3456).
-9 Special Effects that can be applied prior to shooting
Images with the desired exposure and color adjustment can be captured with specification from the Special Effects menu prior to shooting. In addition to the Soft, High Key, Low Key, Nostalgic Sepia, and High-contrast Monochrome options available with the P310's predecessor, the P300, the P310 offers four additional options–a Selective Color option that results in black-and-white images in which only the specified color remains; a Silhouette option that creates silhouette photographs of subjects with a bright background; a Painting option that creates images that look somewhat like paintings; and a High ISO Monochrome option that creates monotone (black-and-white) images intentionally captured at high ISO sensitivities.
-5 Filter Effects for editing photos after they've been taken
The camera offers in-camera editing functions for simple image adjustment and enhancement without using a computer. In addition to the Cross Screen, Fisheye, Miniature Effect, and Painting filters available with the P300, the P310 offers an additional Selective Color filter effect.
The Q510 is equipped with a 42x optical zoom NIKKOR lens offering the highest zoom ratio* in COOLPIX history. With coverage for angles of view for focal lengths beginning at the wide-angle 24 mm all the way up to the super telephoto 1000 mm (equivalents in 35-mm [135] format), the camera supports capture of a wide variety of subjects, from those that are too far away for effective capture with previous models to macro photography and wide-angle shots.
With this feature, utilizing high-performance image analysis technology developed exclusively by Nikon, the user simply points the camera toward the desired subject and the camera instantly predicts the portion of the scene on which focus should be acquired and then selects the appropriate focus area and focus area size. As the active focus area is automatically specified in accordance with the size of the subject, resulting images are in clear focus. In addition, Target Finding AF not only works with subjects positioned at the center of the frame, but with off-center subjects as well. This capability is clearly exhibited with shooting of smaller subjects such as flowers, food, and the like.
The Scene Auto Selector mode built into the P510 is capable of more precise and specific identification of scenes than it was with previous models. With this feature the camera automatically identifies the scene and shooting conditions and then selects the optimal scene mode. Scene Auto Selector can choose from nine scene modes–two Portrait options, Landscape, two Night Portrait options, Night Landscape, Close-up, and two Backlighting options–but is actually capable of automatic identification of 16 scenes.
Shooting location information acquired by GPS is recorded with images. When ViewNX 2 is used, a map showing shooting locations can be displayed in the computer monitor. The P510 also offers a log function that records movement over a specified interval as a log data even when the camera is not in use or is turned off, allowing users to preserve a record of their movement on vacation, for example, as a file that can be viewed later. What's more A-GPS files can be downloaded to increase GPS satellite acquisition time when the camera is turned on for smoother operation.