Nikon Releases 18X Super-Zoom, Makes Us Drool

Holy shnikes. As much as we love Nikon’s entry-level DSLRs, the company is giving amatuer photogs another reason to consider high-end super-zooms instead. The CoolPix P80, announced today, packs 18X optical zoom, 10.1 megapixels, and a variety of features tailored for more advanced users, including Aperture-priority, Shutter-priority, and Manual Modes. It also has Nikon’s Optical Vibration Reduction (VR) technology for steadier shots, and features a new shooting mode: Sports Continuous, which allows users to shoot up to 30 consecutive shots at four, six, or thirteen frames per second. It also has ISO up to 6,400 (but, unsurprisingly, you have to downgrade to 5MP to take advantage of it), and a large 2.7-inch LCD. All this for $399. Not bad at all when you consider that you’re getting the manual creativity of DSLRs (minus the steep learning curve), and way more zoom than you’d get with a standard lens kit.