Steve's Digicams - Breaking News - Nikon 02/16/2005 Press Release

New Nikon Coolpix 5900 And 7900 Further Strengthens Nikon's Offering To Consumers Looking For A Refined, Intuitive And Sophisticated Digital Camera

Download the Coolpix 5900/7900 pamphlet

MELVILLE, NY, FEBRUARY 16, 2005 – If you are a photographer who likes to travel, and have a compact camera with you at all times’, Nikon has a two great solutions for you. Nikon today unveiled two versatile new compact Coolpix digital cameras that bring more quality features and more refined technology to step-up consumers. The 5.1-megapixel Nikon Coolpix 5900 and the 7.1-megapixel Nikon Coolpix 7900 combine state-of-the-art technology, image quality, and speed, with a unique all-metal design to give consumers what they truly desire in a digital camera. These sleek all-metal digital cameras feature state of the art digital technology, such as the first, big two-inch LCD screen in the Coolpix lineup and the new Face-priority AF feature, along with a sharp design that is perfect for the customer who values style along with substance.

"The new Coolpix 5900 and 7900 are two dynamic compact cameras designed to capture sharp, pristine images quickly and easily," said Bill Giordano, General Manager of Marketing for Nikon, Inc.

In-Camera Solutions to Common Photo Hang-Ups

Nikon has provided the new Coolpix 5900 and Coolpix 7900 with more features that improve the image directly within the camera and streamlines the process of receiving great prints using a favorite retailer, online service or home printer. Furthermore, with their big, bright two-inch LCD screens, images are easier to review and correct than on most consumer digital cameras.

Imagine a camera smart enough to find a face in a portrait. Nikon’s new Face-priority AF function can do just that when selected using the Portrait Scene Mode. As its name suggests, Face-priority AF ensures crisp focus when shooting portraits by automatically sensing the presence of a human face within the frame and setting accurate focus accordingly. The result is crisp, sharp portraits with the press of a button.

Beyond faces, Nikon Coolpix cameras can also automatically detect and remove red-eye directly within the camera. Both the Coolpix 5900 and 7900 boast Nikon’s renowned In- Camera Red-Eye Fix™ technology, which detects and corrects red eyes in most typical situations without the need to press buttons or select and highlight the eyes in playback. Without the hassle of additional software, photographers will experience less red-eye photos in the print-ready portraits.

Both new Coolpix cameras also use intelligent technology to help ensure a balanced exposure and sharpness. Nikon’s exclusive new D-Lighting function is another new addition that can literally turn throwaway shots into frame-able memories. The D-Lighting feature can be selected in Playback mode — automatically compensating for insufficient flash or excessive back lighting in order to obtain balanced exposure throughout the frame. Both Coolpix cameras are also equipped with Blur Warning, another feature unique to Nikon which alerts the user when a shot is compromised by camera or hand shake, allowing another shot to be taken before leaving the scene.

To further address a common need among digital camera users, Nikon has also focused its technology to reducing power consumption, allowing the Coolpix 7900 and Coolpix 5900 to take significantly more shots per battery charge. In fact, the Coolpix 7900 is able to take an impressive 220 shots (approximately) with a single fully charged EN-EL5 lithium- ion battery, while the Coolpix 5900 is able to shoot as many as 270 (approximately). Both cameras are also compatible with widely available disposable Duracell CP1 lithium batteries.

To add speed to precision, the Coolpix 7900 and Coolpix 5900 offer continuous shooting at approximately 1.7 and 2 fps respectively. They also feature high-precision Multi AF with a choice of 99 manually selectable areas, 5 choices for Auto select AF.

More Features in a Sleek, Compact Design –

• Coolpix 7900 – 7.1 effective megapixels, 3x Zoom-Nikkor ED Glass lens with a focal range equivalent to that of a 38-114mm lens in 35mm format.

• Coolpix 5900 – 5.1 effective megapixels, 3x Zoom-Nikkor ED Glass lens with a focal range equivalent to that of a 38-114mm lens in 35mm format.

• Compact dimensions of 3.5 x 2.4 x 1.4in.

• Light weight of approx. 5.3 oz. (without battery and memory card)

• Selectable AF: 5-area Auto, 99-area Manual, Center-focus area selection available

• AF-assist illuminator can be switched on and off at will

• 256-segment Matrix Metering with Center-weighted, Spot, or Spot AF metering

• 7 manual white balance settings and White Balance Bracketing

• Direct printing with PictBridge compatibility

• 4 of the 16 Scene Modes offer Scene Assist (Portrait, Night Portrait, Sports, Landscape)

• World Time function allows local time to be set easily anywhere

• USB compatibility enables swift transfer of image data to computers

• Voice memo function records up to 20 seconds of sound that can then be attached to an image

• 4x digital zoom capability

• Choice of Single AF and Continuous AF

• Options for playback: Single, 4- and 9-segment thumbnail, Slideshow, 10x magnification

• Built-in Speedlight: features settings for Auto, Red-eye Reduction by pre-flash, Anytime flash, Flash cancel and Slow sync.

The Coolpix 5900 and the Coolpix 7900 also make it easy to capture action in an expressive manner with the power to record VGA-size movies with sound at a smooth rate of 30 frames per second. They can also be easily connected to a TV, using the included video cable, to share the fun with friends and family.

With a redesigned graphic user interface that lets the user navigate functions by either menu item list or icon, the cameras enable the total beginner to find the right mode at the right moment to achieve the best results time after time. It’s all part of Nikon’s dedicated effort to give users what they demand in a top quality digital camera.

The announcement of the Nikon Coolpix 5900 and 7900 digital cameras is centered around making the entire digital process more convenient. Their PictBridge compatibility makes it possible to print directly to a printer, without the need for a computer. For those who enjoy organizing and sharing their photographs on a computer, all Nikon Coolpix cameras ship with Nikon’s proprietary PictureProject software, a user-friendly photo management software designed expressly for use by Nikon Coolpix photographers, that offers a broad selection of cataloguing, editing and sharing functions. This software package is aimed at providing a central location that is simple, intuitive and seamless for Coolpix digital photographers.

The Coolpix 5900 will be available at retail nationwide in March 2005 at an MSRP of .95. The Coolpix 7900 will be available at retail nationwide in April 2005 at an MSRP of .95.

* All prices listed in this announcement are MSRP

Nikon...If the picture matters, the camera matters?. Nikon Inc. is the world leader in precision optics, 35mm and digital imaging technology and is recognized worldwide for setting new standards in product design and performance for its award-winning consumer and professional photographic equipment. Nikon Inc. distributes the Nikon Total Imaging System of professional 35mm film and digital SLR cameras, Nikkor optics, Speedlights and System Accessories; 35mm compact cameras; Nikon Coolpix® compact digital cameras; Coolscan® digital film scanners; Nikonos® underwater photographic systems; and Nikon sports and recreational optics.