Free NIKON Coolpix P90 24X Ultra Superzoom Bridge Camera

Here's the official Nikon press Release:

"MELVILLE, NY (Feb. 2, 2009) - Photographers seeking high performance with a long zoom in a compact body now have the ideal camera with Nikon's unveiling of the new P90. As part of the flagship Performance Series of COOLPIX cameras, the P90 offers new features that include a 24x Optical Zoom, a new 3.0-inch vari-angle LCD monitor with tilt function and anti-reflection coating; and 15 frame-per-second (fps)* high-speed capability (up to 45 frames). The P90 is the ideal photographic tool for photo enthusiasts, travel photographers and consumers with more advanced photography skills.

"Our portfolio of cameras is designed to ensure that any photographer, at any level can find the camera that feels right for them," said Bill Giordano, General Manager Marketing, COOLPIX for Nikon Inc. "The P90 blends the best of the digital compact and D-SLR camera worlds, allowing the more advanced consumer to really stretch their photographic capabilities."

The key to the versatility of the P90 is its 24x Optical Wide Angle Zoom-NIKKOR ED Glass Lens. This lens offers unbeatable compositional freedom, with its wide angle (26mm) to super telephoto coverage (624mm). The broad range lets consumers capture a variety of shots and scenes, ranging from sweeping landscapes to close-up action shots taking place on a sports field." Read more.

This camera is simply amazing. Think what you can do with a zoom as powerful as this. The possibilities are endless. It should work well in nature photography. No more sneaking and crawling to get a shot of a wild boar. Well elephants would mind I think. No need to get closer to that lion without getting eaten. That is if you have a lion nearby.

One of the miracles this camera offers is an extremely fast burst mode.The Nikon Coolpix P90's burst speed is a whooping 14 frames per second. Compared to my Sony DSC-H50 which only maxes at 1.9 frames per second... comparing them is unthinkable. Even a Canon 40D with 6 frames per second (based on experience) offers no competition.

If it is as good as Nikon claims... then Bye-Bye DSC-H50!!!

Nikon Coolpix P90 12.1MP Digital Camera with 24x Wide Angle Optical Vibration Reduction
(VR) Zoom and 3 inch Tilt LCD

Sensor
>> 1/2.33 " Type CCD
>> 12.1 million effective pixels
>> 12.7 million effective pixels

Lens
>> 24x Zoom-Nikkor (26 - 624 mm equiv.)
>> F2.8- F5.0

Image dimensions
>> 4000 x 3000 (12M)
>> 3264 x 2448 (8M)
>> 2592 x 1944 (5M)
>> 2048 x 1536 (3M)
>> 1600 x 1200 (2M)
>> 1280 x 960 (1M)
>> 1024×768 (PC)
>> 640 x 480 (TV)
>> 3984 x 2656 (3:2)
>> 3968 x 2232 (16:9)
>> 2992 x 2992 (1:1)

Movie Modes
>> 640 x 480
>> 320 x 240

Image stabilization: Optical
Digital zoom: Up to 4x
Focus: Contrast-detect TTL AF

Focus distance
>> 10 cm to infinity (?)
>> Macro close-up mode: 1 cm to infinity (?)

ISO sensitivity
>> Full res: ISO 64, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200, 6400

Scene Modes
>> Portrait
>> Panorama Assist
>> Close Up
>> Sunset
>> Night Landscape
>> Fireworks Show
>> Night Portrait
>> Copy
>> Beach/Snow
>> Dusk/Dawn
>> Museum
>> Landscape
>> Back Light
>> Food
>> Party

LCD monitor
>> 3.0-in tilting LCD
>> 230,000-dot

Other features
>> Smile Timer
>> Blink Warning

Storage
>> SD / SDHC card (optional)
>> Approx 50 MB internal memory

Power
>> Rechargeable Li-ion Battery EN-EL5
>> Approx 230 shots
>> AC Adapter EH-62A

Supplied Software: Software Suite CD-ROM

Supplied Accessories
>> Li-ion Rechargeable Battery EN-EL5
>> Battery Charge MH-61
>> USB Cable UC-E6
>> Audio/Video Cable EG-CP14
>> Strap AN-CP18
>> Lens Cap LC-CP19
>> Software Suite for COOLPIX CD-ROM

Weight (no batt): Approx. 400 g
Dimensions: Approx.83 x 114 x 99 mm (3.3 x 4.5 x 3.9 in)

There is a lot to like with Nikon's Coolpix P90. What I really see is Nikon trying to make superzooms very much like DSLR's without making it a complete DSLR. Why? Well making superzooms function like DSLRs with the same quality would completely destroy the DSLR industry. Leading camera manufaturers wouldn't like that. But sooner or later... something is gonna give. So here are some of the things that would make the Nikon P90 the king of all superzooms and ultrazooms.

Rose No. 1: A large 3" tilting full color LCD. The Sony DSC-H50 has this too. The advantage is tremendous. Here's an example. Suppose you want to take a picture of the underside of your ferrari. How would you do it with a camera. Perhaps you need to squat like crazy to take the shot. Now what if you have a gigantic beer belly of the likes of Asterix or a sumo wrestler? Squatting is out of the questions. So with a tilting LCD... you can kneel as far as your belly allows you and shove your camera under the car, tilt the LCD and compose your shot.

Rose No. 2: An unbelievable 14 frames per second burst mode. This would theoretically capture even the fastest bird or sport. A Canon 40d can do only 6 frames per second... my Sony DSC-H50 can do only 1.9, do the math and see which wins.

Rose No. 3: If my Sony DSC-H50 has a Smile Detect Mode then the Nikon Coolpix P90 adds a Blink Detect Mode. It captures two shots and selects the image were the subjects eyes are open. Coupled with Niko's own Smile Detect Mode... well those portraits better be perfect. I wonder how this mode works. Does it detect the whiteness of the eyes? What if the subject has sore eyes? Or perhaps the subject has a patch? Would it work on dog eyes... or cat eyes? Hmmm.... points to ponder.

Rose No. 4: Program, Shutter Priority, Aperture Priority and Manual Exposure... The Coolpix P90 offers all of this. It give you full manual control of the cameras settings. The controls are very DSLR like... which makes the camera DSLR like without the burden of the lenses.

Rose No. 5: Macro shots is possible at 1 cm. Now I love macro shots. Macro shots for DSLRs would require a macro lens or an extra diopter. I'm sure the shooter can discover new worlds at the head of pin using the Macro mode.

Rose No. 6: I was never a fan of the megapixel race but 12.1 megapixels is nothing to laugh at. This would mean bigger photos and better looking printouts. The Sony H50 has only 9.1 megapixs.

Rose No. 7: Let's not forget the lens. the lens is manufactured by Nikkor and brand that has for quite sometime ruled the lens universe. With powerful 24x zoom reach (624mmm) and a digital zoom of 4x... whew. Only the shooters imagination limits the possibilities. This camera is capable of taking the widest and farthest shot available in superzooms. Just imagine the lens required by a DSLR to have this kind of reach.

Every camera has a strong point and a weak point. Based on the realeased features of the Coolpix P90, I see several thorns that may pull down its versatility. Note that the points I am about to list is based on my experience on superzooms and entry level DSLR's.

Thorn No. 1: A powerful zoom is cool. But it comes with a price. The more zoom juice you use the harder it is to focus on subjects. On my Sony H50, shots taken at full zoom without a tripod tend to be jittery even with the image stabilization turned on. On a Canon 350D and 450D, using a 300mm lens (around 10x for superzooms) with a tripod, images taken were not that sharp. It could have been the settings I used used but the bottom line is at zooms this powerful focusing would really be a problem.

Thorn No. 2: Nikon incorporated their BSS (Best Shot Selector) into the camera. This feature basically shoots 10 frames and selects the sharpest image. Although a great advantage, I predict images would not be what the shooter intends as a lot of things can happen in 10 shots. The photgrapher would probably have lots of unintended shots and angles since most people move the camera to take a peek of the picture while the camera is still completeing the 10 shots.

Thorn No. 3: A fast burst mode is very useful especially in sports mode and nature photography. I think this would exert a great toll on the shutter and the motors. This is actually on of my fears with my Sony DSC-H50. I try to limit using the burst mode. But then what would its use be if I don't take advantage of it.

Thorn No. 4: The lens offers a maximum lens apperture of F5.0. The Sony DSC-H50 offers F8.0. It sure would have helped if it has greater apperture control. Although it uses a Nikkor lens, limiting the Fstop to 5.0 makes me wonder on the quality of the lens.

Thorn No. 5: I think it would have been better to make the megapixel to around 9-10 megapixels. This would make drastically reduce the noise and artifacts. Cramming that much megapixel into a sensor that small would probably result into more noise.

Thorn No. 6: Their was no mention of RAW file storage. It would be a boon to have this feature.