Nikon 16.1 Megapixels Coolpix P510 42x SuperZoom First Look Review by DCR

On January 31 2012, Nikon announced two new P-series Coolpix cameras, including the world's longest SuperZoom. The P510 has the biggest zoom range of any fixed-lens camera with its massive 42x, f/3.0-5.9 Zoom-NIKKOR ED lens from 24mm to 1000mm equivalent. It features a 16.1 Megapixels Backside Illuminated (BSI) CMOS sensor with high-speed continuous shooting performance (at 5fps full resolution), fast autofocus (AF), 1080p HD video mode, 3-inch 921,000-dots LCD, an electronic viewfinder, full manual control and built-in GPS capabilities. Optical Vibration Reduction stabilization is included as well, though it'll need to be pretty strong to steady such a long zoom lens. 

The Coolpix P310 comes with a 16.1 Megapixel BSI CMOS sensor and a fast f/1.8 maximum aperture, NIKKOR glass lens at 24-100mm zoom range. Other features include a 3-inch 921,000-pixel LCD, zoom memory, manual control, and creative filters and effects. The P310 achieves superior image quality in low-light settings with a wide ISO range up to 3200 (Hi1 6400 equivalent) and a fast f/1.8 lens. The COOLPIX P310 incorporates optical VR image stabilization with several scene modes including Advanced Night Portrait mode, Night Landscape mode and Backlight/High Dynamic Range (HDR) mode. The Advanced Night Portrait mode combines consecutive images of the background while the subject is captured using the flash, while the Night Landscape mode combines a series of consecutive shots taken at a fast shutter speed into a single image with reduced noise. The Backlight HDR mode merges images of the same scene at different exposures to achieve a single image with a broad range of tonal detail. The COOLPIX P510 is listed for $429.95 in black and red colors. It's currently selling at around $379. Here's the summary of first look preview by DigitalCameraReview:

"Nikon recently introduced two updated cameras that replace (respectively) the Coolpix P300 and the Coolpix P500. These two new ultrazooms (P310 & P510), although they show no resemblance whatsoever to each other, are remarkably similar. Both cameras share identical GPS systems, EXPEED C2 image processing engines, COOLPIX Picture Control functions, 1080p HD video recording with stereo audio and the ability to utilize zoom during video capture, identical 16 megapixel backlit CMOS sensors, the same lens-shift vibration reduction (VR) system which provides camera shake compensation equivalent to a four-step increase in shutter speed and identical 3.0 inch 921k-dot flip-out LCD monitors. The most significant differences between the two cameras are in their physical sizes and their zoom lenses. The P310 is a pocketable little camera with a superfast f/1.8-4.9, 24-100mm (35mm equivalent) zoom (currently the fastest maximum aperture available on any P&S digicam), while the P510 is a compact DSLR-sized digicam with an f/3.0-5.9 24-1000mm (35mm equivalent) zoom - currently the longest focal length zoom ratio available on any point-and-shoot digital camera. Either camera would function nicely as an excellent general-use camera. As a veteran photographer I would love to carry both cameras simultaneously, since together they would be able to adequately cover essentially every photographic genre except studio photography - and both could be adapted to studio shooting. The pocketable and unobtrusive little P310, with its super fast f/1.8 zoom, would work beautifully for street shooting, available light photography, environmental portraits, documentary photography, and classic travel photography. The P510, with its monster zoom, could easily handle landscape/scenic photography, wildlife photography, event photography (festivals, concerts, family gatherings), and sports/action photography. Since the two cameras utilize the same sensor, processor, and imaging software and share identical 921k LCDs - composition/framing, shooting modes, basic controls, menu layout, color interpolation, resolution, white balance, contrast, and noise levels would be essentially identical.

Unfortunately, I usually only get one camera at a time to test, so from this point on we'll focus (no pun intended) on the Coolpix P510. I can't comment on the ergonomics of the P310, but the P510 was clearly designed for photography enthusiasts by photography enthusiasts. Camera makers have been trying since 1839 to develop a single all-in-one camera that will satisfy the needs of every single photographer. In my opinion, the Coolpix P510 comes remarkably comes to filling that order. I've only had the P510 for a bit more than a week, but so far I'm quite impressed with just how easy this camera makes it to capture the images you've visualized before you press the shutter button - and with more than forty years experience as a photographer (and demanding camera user) I am not easily impressed. For example, most point-and-shoots permit only limited user input into the exposure process. Enter COOLPIX Picture Control, a comprehensive new feature available only on the P310 and P510 used to adjust color saturation and sharpening applied to images prior to shooting based on the type of subject or scene, shooting conditions, or the creative intent of the shooter. CPC can be used in all exposure modes, including full manual, and provides four preset Picture Controls and six options for additional fine tuning. Shooters can save two frequently used settings as custom CPC scenarios."