Nikon Unveils its P7000 – A Point-and-Shoot with the Heart of a D-SLR

Nikon unveiled a few releases earlier this week, including the S80 and S8100 advanced point-and-shoots, with an emphasis on style and performance. It was the P7000 (P for performance) that really caught my eye, though, because as Nikon states, it’s a model that helps bridge the gap between D-SLR and point-and-shoot, and from its specs and capabilities, that sure seems to be the case.

While point-and-shoots will never replace D-SLRs, models like the P7000 offer people to get extremely good picture quality for far less money than a full D-SLR kit, and for those who don’t want to fiddle around with every possible setting, or Photoshop after-the-fact, the cameras can also deliver better images in some cases right out of the camera.

The P7000 features a 10.1 megapixel CCD sensor and uses the recent EXPEED C2 engine to help deliver the best images possible. As expected, it also features more than one vibration-reduction mode, including optical, hybrid, motion detection, high ISO modes and BSS (Best Shot Selector), which represents the technique of taking multiple shots in rapid succession, so that you can keep the best one.

For those looking to save space in their bag, the P7000 also captures 720p/24 video. I was once starkly against the idea of recording video with a digital camera, but it’s been growing on me a bit since the quality has increased so much. For those looking for better audio, there’s even a spot to plug in an external microphone.

All in all, the P7000 looks to pack an amazing punch for its $500 price tag, and we’re hoping to receive one soon  for testing. If you’re looking for a less-expensive option, the S80 and S8100 are also good choices, and feature things that the P7000 doesn’t even seem to, such as a night portrait mode that actually looks to deliver the best possible night portraits. And if you’ve ever tried to take those yourself, you probably understand how difficult they can be to pull off well.

Your wait is over, introducing the Nikon COOLPIX P7000, a compact, high-performance digital camera offering superb image quality and precise imaging control. An ideal traveling companion to your DSLR, the COOLPIX P7000 will be found in gadget bags of advanced amateurs and pro-shooters alike. Powered by Nikon’s leading-edge technology, the P7000 is designed for no-limits shooting. In low-light or tricky light, for fast-moving subjects, dramatic landscapes and detailed close-ups, here’s a camera capable of keeping pace with your imagination to deliver your take on your world.