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Nikon has introduced a new advanced point-and-shoot to update the existing Coolpix P5000. The 12.1-megapixel Coolpix P5100 sports an optically stabilized f/2.7-5.3, 35mm-123mm (35mm camera equivalent) 3.5x zoom lens; a 230,000-pixel, 2.5-inch LCD with an antireflective coating; an optical viewfinder; and a rounded grip. The lens takes wide and telephoto converters, and there's a hotshoe on the P5100, with support for Nikon's i-TTL external flash control system. The camera also provides face-detection technology, and Nikon says its performance has been improved over that of the system used in the P5000. Aside from the resolution boost and updated face-detection system, the P5100 remains very similar to its predecessor.
The P5100 offers a good range of exposure controls, including manual and priority modes, a top light-sensitivity setting of ISO 3200, and a live histogram. Like Nikon's less advanced Coolpix models, it also has 16 automatic shooting modes, in-camera cropping and redeye removal, and Nikon's D-Lighting feature, which automatically opens up dark shadow areas in playback mode. The camera records smooth video with sound, as well as audio-only files.
The P5100 retains the barrel distortion correction function that was first made available in the P5000. It displays a live corrected image when a wide-angle converter is mounted on the P5100's lens. Another notable new feature in the P5100 is an effect that adds black borders to photos
The P5100 will be available in September 2007 for a $399.95 retail price.
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