Nikon Coolpix P3 and P4

Press Release:

Maxwell Optical Industries, National distributor for Nikon Imaging products, has announced NEW premium COOLPIX P3 and P4 compact digital cameras. Higher performance, further functionality and extended photo enjoyment in a stylish body, both designed to take more than your everyday picture.

The two new COOLPIX P models combine exceptional 8.1 effective megapixel resolution, with an array of advanced features, to maximise picture-taking enjoyment. Both cameras deliver outstanding imaging power that’s not only enough to show beautiful skin texture and capture the myriad colours of the human eye; but also enough to ensure shots stay breathtakingly clear even when significantly enlarged.

The COOLPIX P3 and P4 both feature a 1/1.8-inch CCD imaging sensor, while also incorporating a 36-126mm (35mm equivalent) Zoom-Nikkor optical zoom lens. This offers ample freedom to zoom-in close for tight telephoto images, or zoom right out for stunning wide-angle scenery or group portrait shots.

Perhaps the most exciting element of the COOLPIX P3 and P4 is the innovative VR (Vibration Reduction) capability. Originally developed for Nikon top-end SLR lenses, lens shift VR capability is available in two modes. This compensates for camera movement to realise a shooting experience akin to shooting at shutter speeds three stops faster than actually used. ‘VR Normal’ compensates for the minor movements that can happen all too easily during handheld shooting, while ‘VR Active’ compensates for more pronounced movements – so you can even achieve rock-steady results while shooting from a moving vehicle.

Delivering further photographic fun and freedom through built-in Wi-Fi capability, the COOLPIX P3 comes with built in Wi-Fi LAN support. Surprisingly easy to set up and use, it lets users send images instantly to a selected computer, wirelessly! Wireless freedom also extends to printing too, so users can carry out cable-free printing to PictBridge-compatible printers*.

A range of advanced imaging features make the COOLPIX P3 and P4 stand out from other compact digital cameras, giving photographers greater control to produce shots better matched to discerning personal tastes. 11-zone wide-area AF achieves more accurate autofocus through analysis of a wider area of the frame, not just the centre. As a result, photographers can experiment with more imaginative compositions, with main subjects positioned away from the centre, or even multiple subjects, while still being assured of crisp, sharp results.

Both cameras also offer Aperture-priority Auto mode, allowing photographers to benefit from aperture control in 1/3EV steps, so they can select large apertures for attractive background blurring or stop down to small apertures to extend crisp focus into the distance. All this occurs while the camera automatically selects the most appropriate shutter speed for optimised exposure. Surprisingly easy to understand, both cameras provide advanced display of shadow levels on the left and highlight levels on the right of the large LCD, so users can avoid under- and overexposure, even before pressing the shutter.

There is also a range of 16 Advanced Scene modes (9 Advanced Scene modes; 7 regular Scene modes) that give photographers the ability to capture a single scene with entirely different moods through the use of three effects that vary brightness, colour intensity, sharpness, noise reduction and more.

The COOLPIX P3 and P4 feature continuous shooting at up to 1.8 frames per second, helping photographers capture the action as it happens. This capability is also complemented by a 5-shot image buffer, that allows users to keep shooting in a continuous burst and have the camera record the last five images taken. Such functionality can be great when trying to capture an event that could happen just when it’s least expected.

The COOLPIX P3 and P4 make it easy to shoot movies with sound, with a choice of three modes offering up to 30fps performance. There’s also a Time-lapse movie mode that uses pictures shot with the Interval timer shooting function to create a movie in which the action occurring over an extended period appears speeded up.

Images can even be improved in-camera through the use of three innovative Nikon functions. Face-priority AF** cleverly detects people’s faces to achieve sharp focus on them, no matter where they happen to be located in the frame. In-Camera Red-Eye Fix helps users make red-eye a thing of the past; detecting the annoying red-eye effect that can sometimes occur in flash photography and eliminating it. There’s also Nikon’s unique D-Lighting function available in playback mode, which can improve underexposed images or shots taken with too much ‘backlight’, by creating a copy of an image that adds brightness and detail wherever necessary, but leaves well-exposed areas left exactly as they were.

Operation of the COOLPIX P3 and P4 is exceptionally smooth and user-friendly. The COOLPIX P3 and P4 have also been made even more desirable through attention to sophisticated ergonomic design. In fact, the exteriors convey a distinct air of quality, with attractive yet simple lines that also make the camera fit more comfortably in the hand. The use of aluminium throughout the exterior builds on this sense of quality, while the lens and grip sections have been given a flatter, more space-efficient form.

Like all COOLPIX cameras, the COOLPIX P3 and P4 come bundled with Nikon’s complimentary and exclusive PictureProject software. Now featuring special Wi-Fi functions for use with the COOLPIX P3, PictureProject adds even more possibilities to digital photography. Complete with an interface that’s easy for virtually anyone to use, it makes for simple image editing and supports easy image organisation and sharing, while compatibility with a range of plug-ins lets users add exciting new capabilities on demand.

* Requires optionally available Wireless Printer Adapter PD-10.

** Face recognition capability may be limited in some shooting conditions.

Both camera are expected to be available in Australia from March and pricing has yet to be announced.

Available at all leading camera and consumer electronics stores.

Nikon COOLPIX P3/P4 Camera Feature Highlights

Vibration Reduction

The COOLPIX P3 and P4 feature the VR (Vibration Reduction) system originally developed for Nikon SLR cameras. Comprising two modes, it allows selection of VR Normal mode that compensates for the minor camera movement commonly encountered when taking handheld shots, and VR Active mode that compensates for more pronounced movements, such as when shooting from a moving vehicle. Providing a shooting experience akin to shooting at shutter speeds three stops faster, it enables photographers to shoot without blurring in lower light, keeps subjects clear when panning, and also helps support faster framing on the LCD. What’s more, the benefits of VR (Normal mode) assurance also extend to movie shooting so users can capture action with welcome stability.

Built-in Wi-Fi capability

The COOLPIX P3 comes with built-in Wi-Fi capability that’s easy to set up and virtually effortless to operate. Adding greater freedom and versatility to compact digital photography, such IEEE 802.11b/g support means users can send individual images from the camera to a computer the moment they are shot. Users can also send a whole batch of images to a computer simultaneously and even carry out cable-free printing with PictBridge-compatible printers*.

* Requires optionally available Wireless Printer Adapter PD-10.

Advanced imaging features

The COOLPIX P3 and P4 also offer a range of imaging capabilities extending beyond the norm. Covering a broader area of the frame, 11-zone wide-area AF achieves better results in more diverse compositions – leaving photographers free to concentrate on the shot while the camera automatically achieves superior, sharp focus. Advanced Scene modes allow photographers to produce pictures better suited to their own personal tastes – offering a choice of three effects that vary brightness, colour intensity, sharpness, noise reduction and more so that the same scene can be captured to convey entirely different moods. The COOLPIX P3 and P4 also offer the versatility of Aperture-priority Auto mode, which gives photographers control over aperture while the camera automatically selects the optimal corresponding shutter speeds, so users can choose larger apertures to achieve attractive background blur, for example, or select a smaller aperture to extend sharp detail into the distance.

Features for in-camera image correction

The COOLPIX P3 and P4 feature a selection of three Nikon innovations that give the photographer the ability to actually improve the quality of images in-camera. The Face-priority AF* function has the ability to cleverly locate the presence of human faces in the frame and then provide optimised focus accordingly for sharper portraits time after time. In-Camera Red-Eye Fix helps to eradicate the annoying red-eye effect that can sometimes be encountered during flash photography by detecting red eyes in the shot and compensating automatically. There’s also D-Lighting, which can improve underexposed images or shots taken with too much back light by creating a copy of a selected image with light and detail automatically added wherever necessary and well-exposed areas left exactly as they are.

* Face recognition capability may be limited in some shooting conditions.

Nikon COOLPIX P3/P4 Cameras: Other Features

- Highly compact dimensions of (W x H x D) 92 x 61 x 31mm (3.6 x 2.4 x 1.2 in.) excluding projections

- Carry-anywhere light weight of approx. 170g (5.6 oz.) (without battery and SD memory card)

- USB connectivity enables fast data transfer to computers and other peripherals

- Battery Charger MH-61 supplied

- Ample 23MB (approx.) of internal memory, SD Card compatibility

- BSS (Best Shot Selector) identifies and saves the sharpest image automatically from ten sequential shots

- Date Search function makes it easy to locate a desired shot

- Menu available in a choice of 20 languages German/English/Spanish/French/Italian/Dutch/Swedish/Japanese/ Simplified Chinese/Traditional Chinese/Korean/Russian/Thai/ Portuguese/Polish/Indonesian/Finnish/Danish/Norwegian/Czech

- Rechargeable EN-EL5 Li-ion Battery (supplied) can shoot approx . 200 shots on a single charge

- Direct printing with PictBridge-compatible printers via USB cable

- Macro Mode lets users compose as close as 4cm from the subject

- Noise Reduction produces better results when shooting in low light

- Time zone function enables the camera clock to be set to local time, anywhere in the world

- 4x digital zoom extends compositional freedom

- Continuous shooting at up to 1.8fps so you never miss a shot

- Choice of White Balance Auto with TTL control, 7-mode manual (Direct sunlight, Incandescent, Fluorescent, Cloudy, Shade, Flash and Custom White Balance Preset)

- Voice memo appends 20 seconds of audio to a selected photograph

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The Nikon Coolpix P3 and Nikon Coolpix P4 are currently available at Elizabeth Digital Camera Centre. They also stock the complete range of Nikon Coolpix digital cameras.

For more information please visit the Nikon Australia Website.

Check back soon for a review of the Nikon Coolpix P4.