Nikon Coolpix P60

published : Wednesday, February 06, 2008 | model : NIKON Coolpix P60

Theme : Digital Photography | Compact digital camera

Nikon prosumer level compact camera of the PMA 2008 will be the P60, an 8 megapixels with a stabilized optical zoom ranging from 36mm to 180 mm.

Nikon COOLPIX P60 Digital Camera

Beach Camera.com

199.95 $

BuyDig.com

184.95 $

ButterflyPhoto

183.99 $

Abe's Of Maine

184.00 $

TigerDirect.com

199.99 $

Stabilized 5x Lens

Digital compacts have more and more sophisticated lenses : here on the P60, we have a 5x optical zoom equivalent to a 36-180mm. In addition, the P60 offers a Nikon VR optical stabilization that helps making beautiful shots even when light is missing. As usual, we think the zoom is not wide angle enough at its shortest focal length and, we'd prefer a shorter telephoto lens offering a real 28mm large angle at least.

ISO 2000 and EXPEED

The 8 megapixels CCD sensor is a small one as found on the bridge cameras. We'd like to see a nice Nikon compact camera embedding a larger CCD but a little and cheap sensor allows larger focal range and a more compact body, like here (and a nicer pricetag !). Thanks to the image treatment and the EXPEED processor, this sensor is ISO 2000. Besides, the P60 offers a "HIGH ISO" mode that adjusts sensitivity according to light and avoid the fuzziness movements. What can we expect of ISO 2000 on such a little sensor ?

Nikon P60's 3 key technologies

The Nikon P60 contains three intelligent technologies. Of course, we find the AF face priority but the P60 can automatically correct red eyes in portraits mode. Finally, the famous Nikon's D-Lighting treatment will save dark zones.

Electronic viewfinder

Unfortunately, the Nikon P60 doesn't offer any optical viewfinder but only an electronic one. The rear screen is 2.5" wide for 150 000 pixels. Yes, we had been expecting a 230 000 pixels screen on such a camera. Manual and semiautomatic modes (Aperture and Speed priority) are available on the P60