Nikon Coolpix P1/P2

by Bob Atkins

Twin Wi-Fi enabled digicams from Nikon

Nikon recently introduced two new compact digital cameras with a unique feature - built in Wi-Fi LAN (IEEE802.11b/g) support. The Coolpix P1 is the 8MP version, while the Coolpix P2 has a 5 MP sensor, but otherwise they are essentially the same camera. Both have a 36-126mm/2.7-5.2 (35mm equivalent) lens.

However, before you get to excited and carried away with ideas about walking around NYC shooting away and having your images fly back home to your PC in Los Angeles, the Wi-Fi support only allows you to send pictures to a wireless Mac or Windows computer that is fewer than 100 feet, or 30 meters, away and is running Nikon's photo management software. You can also use the same setup to send photos straight to the printer. By October Nikon also expect to have available a $50 wireless printer adapter which will allow you to send images directly to a printer without a computer connected to it.

Here's a copy of the Nikon Press Release:

TOKYO – Nikon Corporation is pleased to announce the introduction of the COOLPIX P1 and the COOLPIX P2. Two truly revolutionary compact digital cameras, they redefine the compact digital shooting experience with versatile Wi-Fi capability, excellent imaging performance and an array of advanced features that can even improve images in-camera.

Providing versatility beyond any previous compact camera, the COOLPIX P1 and COOLPIX P2 add the advantage of built-in Wi-Fi LAN support (IEEE802.11b/g) to realize new picture-taking potential that does away with the need for inconvenient wires and cables. In addition to USB connectivity that makes it easy to hook them up to a computer or other peripherals, wireless transfer allows the photographer to send pictures from the memory card or the camera’s internal memory (32MB for the COOLPIX P1; 16MB for the COOLPIX P2) direct to a selected computer on command. Wireless shooting automatically transfers each picture to a selected computer as soon as it is shot and can be viewed with Nikon’s powerful, yet fun-to-use and easy PictureProject software. And wireless printing delivers the convenience of cable-free direct printing to PictBridge-compatible printers. All of the aforementioned functions are easy to implement, too. Just set them up with the Wizard utility to enjoy easy wireless capabilities that add outstanding flexibility to the digital photography experience.

The COOLPIX P1 and COOLPIX P2 also excel in terms of sheer image quality. Featuring the imaging performance of 8.0 and 5.1 effective megapixels respectively, they offer ample resolution for beautiful enlargements as well as offering plenty of leeway for creative cropping. The COOLPIX P1 and COOLPIX P2 feature the further compositional freedom of 3.5x zoom capability too, with both models incorporating a powerful 36-126mm Zoom-Nikkor lens (35mm equivalent) that enables users to zoom in for tight compositions or zoom out to capture impressive landscapes, for example.

A selection of 16 handy Scene Modes make it easy to take pleasing pictures in a wide range of common situations. All the user has to do is select the one best suited to the scene and the camera automatically selects the optimal settings for great-looking results. The COOLPIX P1 and COOLPIX P2 offer a selection of new Advanced Scene Modes for 11 of the Scene Modes. Comprising three different effects (Normal, Effect 1, Effect 2), these Advanced Scene Modes enable users to produce pictures better suited to their personal tastes. What’s more, the COOLPIX P1 and COOLPIX P2 offer even closer control still with an Aperture-priority Auto Mode that offers 10-step manual control over aperture settings in 1/3EV increments.

With the COOLPIX P1 and COOLPIX P2, images can also be corrected in-camera, thanks to the incorporation of three unique Nikon features. Available in Playback mode, the D-Lighting function has the power to improve images taken with excessive back light or insufficient flash— automatically creating a copy of the selected shot, but with enhanced detail and light applied exactly where necessary. The Portrait (Face AF) Mode has the ability to detect a human face in the frame achieving sharp focus for it when the subject is facing the camera from a typical portrait distance. The COOLPIX P1 and COOLPIX P2 feature the handy In-Camera Red-Eye Fix function too, which corrects for the unfortunate red-eye effect that can sometimes be caused by flash to produce more attractive portraits at night. In addition to these functions, the COOLPIX P1 and COOLPIX P2 also feature a useful Blur Warning function that alerts users when a shot may have been compromised by camera shake, thereby allowing them to recompose and shoot again before leaving the location.

Taking photographic enjoyment beyond still shooting, the COOLPIX P1 and COOLPIX P2 can also record high-quality movies at a smooth rate of up to 30fps. There are a total of seven movie modes to choose from, comprising six with the capability to record sound as well as a Time-lapse mode that enables the user to capture events occurring over an extended period of time.

As for design, the COOLPIX P1 and COOLPIX P2 instantly impart a sense of high quality. Both cameras are compact (with a depth of approx. 39mm, 1.5 inches) and lightweight (approx. 170g, 6 oz.), making them comfortable to shoot with and easy to carry virtually anywhere. They also feature a newly designed grip for more confident shooting and the advantage of a large, bright and easy-to-view 2.5-inch LCD that makes camera operation easier, enables simple composition and makes it a cinch to play back and share images right after shooting.

The COOLPIX P1 and COOLPIX P2 are also highly responsive, offering swift start-up and continuous shooting at up to 2.3 and 2.5 frames per second respectively. What’s more, the COOLPIX P1 and COOLPIX P2 even speed the search for recorded images with a new Date Search function that allows users to confirm images shot on specific days, make individual images for available for wireless transfer and even allocate print settings.

Rounding out the exciting new performance for these models is the complimentary PictureProject software provided. With the newly updated version, customers can import images via cable connection or wirelessly as they please. PictureProject also makes it easy to organize and edit images, create slide shows, make muvee presentations with music and special effects, share images and do much more – putting additional performance at the customers’ fingertips and adding fun to their photography.

Note: Specifications, design, product name, standard accessories, and release schedule may differ by country or area.

Nikon COOLPIX P1/P2 Feature Highlights

Wireless LAN support (IEEE802.11b/g)
Offering built-in Wireless LAN support (IEEE802.11b/g), the COOLPIX P1 and COOLPIX P2 present new potential in the field of compact digital photography and offer unprecedented photographic freedom. Supporting wireless transfer, the COOLPIX P1 and COOLPIX P2 are able to transfer pictures from the memory card to a computer at the user’s command. Enabling wireless shooting, both cameras can transfer each individual picture to a computer literally as soon as it is shot. The COOLPIX P1 and COOLPIX P2 also offer wireless printing, (requires optional Wireless Printer Adapter), which combines the advantages of wireless transfer and PictBridge direct-printing technology to achieve simple printing of pictures without the inconvenience of cables.

Advanced Scene Modes
Providing users with much closer control over the appearance of the final image, the COOLPIX P1 and COOLPIX P2 offer a selection of Advanced Scene Modes in addition to their ample range of conventional Scene Modes. Giving a choice of three different effects (Normal, Effect 1, Effect 2), these Advanced Scene Modes can produce results that match personal preferences more closely.

Aperture-priority Auto Mode
The COOLPIX P1 and COOLPIX P2 also come with the advantage of Aperture-priority Auto Mode. Offering 10-step manual control in 1/3EV increments, it lets the user decide depth of field while the camera automatically ensures optimal exposure.

Features for in-camera improvement
The COOLPIX P1 and COOLPIX P2 even feature a range of functions that give users the ability to refine images in-camera. Nikon’s unique D-Lighting Function is available in Playback Mode for the correction of images with insufficient flash or excessive backlight. Just select the image you want to improve and D-Lighting creates a copy with automatically added detail and light wherever necessary. Portrait (Face AF) has the unique ability to detect human faces in the shot, providing sharp, appropriate focus, when the subject is facing the camera from a typical portrait distance. There’s also In-Camera Red-Eye Fix, which corrects for the unfortunate red-eye effect that can be caused by flash to make for more pleasing portraits in low light.

High image quality
In addition to offering such an impressive array of capabilities that go beyond the norm, the COOLPIX P1 and COOLPIX P2 deliver excellent imaging quality. Equipped with a 1/1.8-inch CCD featuring 8.0 and 5.1 effective megapixels respectively, they offer outstanding resolution that can stand up to significant enlargement. What’s more they are also both equipped with a powerful, high-quality 3.5x Zoom-Nikkor lens, which delivers 36-126mm (35mm equivalent) performance for broad compositional freedom.

PictureProject
The COOLPIX P1 and COOLPIX P2 both come bundled with a complimentary copy of Nikon’s PictureProject software. As well as offering accelerated speed, this latest version of PictureProject also offers support for the Wi-Fi functions of both cameras and includes a handy setup utility as well as intuitive controls. It also offers intuitive controls over the various wireless image transfer options and features improved speed and an enhanced set of functions. Whether you are new to digital photography or a seasoned user, PictureProject fulfills your desire by complementing your picture-taking experience with in-computer activities that are fun, easy, and productive. PictureProject software is a convenient tool to help you Transfer, Organize, Edit, Design and Share your images.

Nikon COOLPIX P1/P2 Other Features

• Highly portable dimensions of 91 x 60 x 39mm (3.6 x 2.4 x 1.5 in.) (W x H x D)
• Minimized weight of approximately 170g (6 oz.) (without battery and memory card)
• BSS (Best Shot Selector) identifies and saves the best exposure automatically from ten sequential shots
• Choice of Graphic User Interface (GUI) lets users select functions by either name or icon
• Handy HELP button displays easy-to-understand explanations for functions on the main menu
• Menu available in a choice of 12 languages (German/ English/ Spanish/ French/ Italian/ Dutch/ Swedish/ Japanese/ Simplified Chinese/ Traditional Chinese/ Korean/ Russian)
• In addition to a selection of 16 Scene Modes, Nikon adds a new level of fine control by providing Advanced Scene Modes for 11 of the Scene Modes.
• Rechargeable EN-EL8 lithium-ion battery is capable of shooting approximately 180 shots on a single charge*
• Macro mode lets the user compose as close as 4cm from the subject
• e-VR (Electronic Vibration Reduction) automatically compensates for camera shake during movie shooting
• Noise Reduction produces clearer images at shutter speeds slower than 1/4 second (in Programmed Auto Mode or Aperture-priority Auto Mode)
• Time zone function lets users set the camera clock to local time, anywhere in the world
• All buttons are positioned on the camera back for easy, intuitive access
• 4x digital zoom provides further compositional freedom
• Single AF and Continuous AF are available for selection in Movie Mode
• Choice of White Balance: Auto with TTL control, 5-mode manual (Direct sunlight, Incandescent, Fluorescent, Cloudy, Shade and Speedlight) and White balance preset
• Playback options: Single, 4- and 9-segment thumbnail, Slideshow

  * Approx. 180 shots with the COOLPIX P1/ approx. 190 shots with the COOLPIX P2; figures based on CIPA standard, image mode set to Normal, image mode at 8M for the COOLPIX P1/ 5M for the COOLPIX P2

Where to buy

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